World City Guide

Hotels

Room rates incur a sales tax of 5% and a service charge of 10% which are usually added to the bill at the end of a stay. Some hotels also charge a tourist tax of R$3 per night. Tips to individual members of staff are made at the guest’s discretion. Tourists planning to visit Rio during Carnival or New Year should book well in advance and bear in mind that many hotels raise prices during these periods.

The prices quoted below are the lowest standard rates for a double room, excluding tax and service charge. Rates change depending on the season. Many of the more luxurious hotels do not include breakfast in their room rates and the prices below exclude breakfast, unless otherwise specified.

Business

Guanabara Palace
Situated in the hub of Rio’s commercial district, the Guanabara Palace is a reliable option for the business traveller looking for a reasonably priced hotel with a few luxurious touches. The recently renovated façade is ultra modern and the rooms are tastefully decorated, with cream bed linen and wooden floors. All are equipped with telephone, TV, mini-bar and air conditioning. For business purposes, there is a convention centre and a business centre with Internet access, while leisure facilities include a rooftop pool with fine views of Guanabara Bay. The restaurant serves up extravagant buffet meals, as well as à la carte Brazilian and international cuisine.

Avenida Presidente Vargas 392, Centro
Tel: (21) 2195 6000. Fax: (21) 2516 1582.
E-mail: reservas.guanabara@windsorhoteis.com.br
Website: www.windsorhoteis.com.br
Price: From R$325 (including breakfast).

Hotel Rio Internacional
Hotel Rio Internacional is unique in that all of its 117 rooms have wonderful sea views – most with private balconies. It is conveniently located close to the beach and the business district. The rooms are simply decorated with clean white walls and modern furnishings and are equipped with a safe, air conditioning, mini-bar, cable TV, radio, voice-mail telephone and a second line for Internet connection. Primarily aimed at business travellers, this beachfront hotel offers a bureau de change, meeting rooms and a 24-hour business centre comprising two fully equipped offices. For relaxation purposes, a sauna, fitness centre and rooftop swimming pool are available. The Sabor e Vista restaurant serves Brazilian and international cuisine.

Avenida Atlântica 1500, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 2546 8000 or 2543 1555. Fax: (21) 2542 5443.
E-mail: reservas@riointernacional.com.br
Website: www.riointernacional.com.br
Price: From R$330 (including breakfast).

Le Meridien
This French-owned hotel is one of Copacabana’s top establishments and its close proximity to the business district makes it ideal for corporate guests. The modern structure towers over the seafront with its 496 rooms, including 54 suites, all of which have been furnished in an elegant, tropical style. Business travellers can use the hotel’s bureau de change, convention centre and business centre or relax in the fitness suite, swimming pool or on the beach. Live music is played in the Bar de La Paix and an executive buffet is served in the Cafe Fleuri. The 37th-floor Le Saint Honoré restaurant (see Restaurants) is considered one of the best in Rio, boasting fantastic views over Pão de Açúcar and Corcovado.

Avenida Atlântica 1020, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 3873 8888 or 3873 8850. Fax: (21) 3873 8788.
E-mail: reservas@lemeridien-riodejaneiro.com
Website: www.rio.lemeridien.com
Price: From R$460 (including breakfast).

Pestana Rio Atlântica
Convenient for Rio’s main tourist attractions and the city centre, Pestana Rio Atlântica is ideally suited to business travellers. The hotel has 218 rooms, 114 of which are luxury suites with ocean views, decorated in soft hues and natural woods and featuring a mini-bar, cable TV, telephone, Internet connection and air conditioning. Fax machines, mobile phones, computers and secretarial services are available on request and the business centre features meeting rooms and private office space with Internet access. The hotel also boasts a rooftop pool, fitness centre, sauna, beach service, lobby bar and a recently renovated restaurant serving Portuguese and international dishes.

Avenida Atlântica 2964, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 2548 6332 or 0800 266332 (Brazil only). Fax: (21) 2255 6410.
E-mail: reservas@pestanarioatlantica.com.br
Website: www.pestanahotels.com.br
Price: From R$370.

Luxury

Caesar Park Ipanema
Situated along the Ipanema beachfront, this elegant hotel has 193 apartments and 29 suites, all with air conditioning, cable TV and Internet connection. The rooms are spacious and airy and many have large windows with sea views. The bilingual staff provides an excellent service, which has attracted the custom of distinguished guests over the years, including King Juan Carlos of Spain, Madonna, Pavarotti, Elton John and Pelé. Facilities include the renowned Galani restaurant (see Restaurants), a bar, a rooftop pool, a modern fitness centre, a sauna, shops, 24-hour room service and a bureau de change. As well as conference and meeting rooms, business visitors can make use of a secretarial service. Fax machines and laptop computers are available for in-room use.

Avenida Vieira Souto 460, Ipanema
Tel: (21) 2525 2525. Fax: (21) 2521 6000.
E-mail: comment@fiestaamericana.com.mx
Website: www.caesar-park.com
Price: From R$860.

Copacabana Palace
This elegant establishment has become almost as famous as the beachfront upon which it is located. Since it was built in 1923, many famous figures have granted their seals of approval, including Robert De Niro, Marlene Dietrich, Orson Welles and Princess Diana. The hotel is one of the grandest buildings in Rio and is protected by a preservation order. The plush interior is yet more impressive, with its marble floors, pillars, chandeliers and grand ballroom, which hosts a famous masked ball during Carnival. Facilities include a rooftop tennis court, the largest hotel pool in Rio and a well-equipped fitness centre. No two rooms are the same but all are elegantly decorated and well equipped. Business travellers have use of the convention centre and a business centre. The two restaurants, Cipriani (see Restaurants) and Pergula, offer fine dining.

Avenida Atlântica 1702, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 2548 7070. Fax: (21) 2235 7330.
E-mail: reservas@copacabanapalace.com.br
Website: www.copacabanapalace.com.br
Price: From R$940.

Moderate

Hotel Glória
Located near Rio’s Centro district, Hotel Glória is ideal for guests who wish to be close to the city, the airports and beaches. Built in 1922, its French-style architecture and antique interior furnishings give this hotel an aura of the past, yet its facilities are very much up to date. There are two buildings with over 600 suites and rooms, many of which have stunning views over Botafogo Bay to the Pão de Açúcar. All rooms are en-suite and decorated in a traditional European style, offering cable TV, voice mail telephony and Internet access, as well as 24-hour room service. Two swimming pools (one heated), a sauna, a fitness centre, running track and a garden meditation area are also provided for guests.

Rua do Russel 632, Glória
Tel: (21) 2555 7272. Fax: (21) 2555 7282.
E-mail: hotel@hotelgloriario.com.br
Website: www.hotelgloriario.com.br
Price: From R$240 (including breakfast).

Hotel Santa Clara
Located on a quiet street in Copacabana, Hotel Santa Clara is one of the cheaper options for comfortable, private accommodation. Rooms are decorated in bright white and blue, featuring wooden furnishings, TV, air conditioning and a communications socket for both telephone and laptop. The hotel’s owner seems to have a penchant for art and the halls are decked out with elaborate creations of modern art, while prints of famous paintings by European artists are displayed in the rooms. A continental breakfast is served and the bilingual reception staff is happy to assist guests with tours and visits to attractions.

Rua Décio Vilares 316, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 2256 2650. Fax: (21) 2547 4042.
E-mail: reserva@hotelsantaclara.com.br
Website: www.hotelsantaclara.com.br
Price: From R$115 (including breakfast).

Other Recommendations

Portinari Design Hotel
Rio’s first design hotel is a stylish establishment just 30m (32 yards) from Copacabana beach. All 66 rooms have been individually styled by top Brazilian artists, giving the hotel an exclusive and contemporary feel. Opened in 2003, this hotel has become a popular choice with discerning visitors who want somewhere fashionable as well as comfortable. All rooms have queen size beds, flat screen TVs and broadband Internet access. There is also a business centre, fitness studio with spa and sauna, and a rooftop restaurant.

Rua Francisco Sá 17, Posto 6, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 3222 8800. Fax: (21) 3288 8803.
E-mail: hotelportinari@hotelportinari.com.br
Website: www.portinaridesignhotel.com.br
Price: R$255.

Parthenon Arpoador
This is another smart, new hotel conveniently located between Copacabana and Ipanema. Modern decór and furnishings make it an appealing place to stay. There are 56 ‘apartments’ in total, each with air-conditioning, TV and Internet access. The hotel also boasts a business centre, fitness studio, swimming pool and restaurant/bar, all within a minute’s walk from the beach.

Rua Francisco Otaviano 61, Copacabana
Tel: (21) 3222 9600. Fax:(21) 3222 9605.
E-mail: mailto: reservasarpoador@accorhotels.com.br
Website: www.accorhotels.com.br
Price: From R$250.