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Forum Question Posted By: Replies:
Rio de Janeiro
Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Thu September 15, 2005 11:25 PM UTC
Question : Has anyone had any experience or is familiar with the following apartment rental websites:

www.riovacationrentals.com

www.blameitonrio4travel.com

www.rentinrio.com

www.spectralight.net

www.rioapartments.com

www.EZ-RioRentals.com

www.homesinrio.com/welcome~pageId~71.htm

www.telefonema.net/

www.riorenting.com/

www.gringomanagement.com/

www.apartmentsinrio.com/

www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/south-america

www.riorentals4less.com/apartments_hotels.shtml

www.ipanema.com/hotel/a.htm#augustos_copacabana

www.sublet.com/spider/LEsearchSubmit.asp?city=Brazil&state=SouthAmerica&Pricemin=0&Pricemax=750&Bedrooms=12&Furnished=Yes&Pets=&Apt_Share=Private&Priceper=Week&Areaname=Rio+De+Janeiro&Summer=&l_term=st&nocache=0%2E6092122

If so, please let us know your experience (whether good or bad) and whether you got what you paid for, security was good and location was worth it. And if you have others that are not mentioned feel free to respond. Also, state whether you would stay there again. Thanks !





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Rio de Janeiro
RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Thu September 15, 2005 11:56 PM UTC
Some of websites on your list have multiple sites that have the same apartments listed. Be warned that this is a way for one rental company to get your business one way or another. They are able to funnel in more business using multiple websites eventhough they are the same rental company or person. One example is the website www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/south-america . It has some aparments listed that are also listed through a rental company (http://www.rioflatrentals.com.br)that you do not have on your list eventhough they both use the same contact number in the ad. I was actually going to rent an apartment from RIO FLAT RENTALS for one week next March. After many calls and emails we agreed on the apartment and price...except for one thing. At the end of my last conversation with them, they told me that they could not actually guaranty me that I would get the exact apartment we had been discussing for weeks. If someone else wanted the apartment for a long term rental, then they would not be able to rent the apartment to me, but they would put me in another apartment. So, they also wanted me to give them a second and third choice of apartments on their list. They would not even notify me until my week of travel as to which apartment I would be staying in. They said that this was the way everyone in Rio did business. Keep in mind that this was being told to me after almost a month of emails. They never explained this until just before sending my deposit. It was a huge waste of my time. Thank goodness I didn't send my deposit before finding this out. Needless to say, I would never recommend RIO FLAT RENTALS.




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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Fri September 16, 2005 12:44 AM UTC
Thanks alot ! Very useful information...In that case would any recommend staying in a Hotel in Rio the first couple of days (1-2 days) and maybe scout the area, then move into an apartment once you've seen it. Has anyone tried this before ? If not, I'll stick with the fist option and rent from one of the webistes mentioned above. Please keep posting. Gracias !

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Fri September 16, 2005 12:51 AM UTC
This will be our first trip to Rio. After my experience with this rental company, I think that is a good idea. I know while we are there, I will definately try to find some trustworthy rental company or private party that I may want to rent from on our next trip. The apartment I had wanted to rent was absolutely perfect. I think it was just used as bait to get you to rent from them.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Fri September 16, 2005 04:59 PM UTC
I used www.rentaflat.com.br for four years. Reasonable gringo prices.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Sun September 18, 2005 07:46 PM UTC
Out of the agencies you listed I have used www.blameitonrio4travel.com, and have nothing but positive things to say about them. My first trip to Rio this past April I stayed in a hotel (Sol Ipanema) which was great, though it can be expensive in the long term. So I decided to look for an apartment to rent. And taking the advice from another member here, I called Bobby from Blame it on Rio and made the walk from Posto 9 in Ipanema to his office on Rua Xavier da Silveira in Copa, about 2 blocks from the beach. His staff was very friendly and they showed me to my apartment in Copa with a view of the beach for $60 per night. What I liked about their service is they served as not only a apartment rental office but also as a resounce of information on Rio. It's nice to have a place to go to ask questions and just chat.

Before my second trip, I made apartment reservations to again stay in one of their flats. On a layover in Dallas, I popped a cap off a tooth, which was not a good thing heading out on a vacation. I called their New York number which connects directly with their Rio office. One of his employees picked up and right then and there made an appointment with a dentist to fix my tooth the day I arrived. Their diver was there waiting for me, took me to my flat, and the girl who made my dentist appointment went with me to the dentist (I didn't know my way around Rio so well) and stayed to interpret for me. Evelini was awesome and so is the rest of the staff. This is the kind of extra service that is just not offered everywhere -- free I might add -- and is the number one reason why this past week I made my reservations with Bobby to return to Rio this coming New Years. Despite the fact that I know my way around Rio pretty well now, and may be able to find a cheaper flat (or maybe not), there is no way I would use another service. Once I find a good thing while traveling, I tend to stick to it. In Rio I like to maximize my beach time and prefer not to leave the logistics of a trip to chance.

And no, this is not a paid commercial, just a shout out to an agency that I feel deserves it.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Mon September 19, 2005 02:45 AM UTC
Sonador3:
You said that you had stayed at the Sol Ipanema. After the problems I had with Rio Flat Rentals, I ended up making a reservation at the Sol Ipanema in March of 06. I'm paying about $180 a night for an oceanview room with daily breakfast. Does that seem about right? Also, since you've been there before, is there any advise as to what rooms or which floors of the hotel are best or anything else I should know about this hotel. Any info would be great.

I'm not trying to derail this thread, but I thought I would try get some good info while I had the chance. :o)

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Mon September 19, 2005 05:55 AM UTC
Happy to answer your question. I paid about $130 a night for an oceanfront room on the 12th floor when I was there in April of this year. Quite frankly, I had no complaints at all. Great rooms, very friendly staff, excellent location directly across from Posto 9 and the best hotel breakfast I've ever had. I really couldn't believe the variety and quality of food, and the breakfast room has a view of the beach. Since I'm going during New Years, there was nothing with an ocean view available, something I really wanted for the holiday. Plus since I'm a chef by trade, I enjoy a room with a kitchen. A friend of mine stayed at the Hotel Orla in Copa and was quite impressed with the room and service, at about 50% less than the Mar Ipanema. And if you don't mind staying in Copa, then that is an excellent choice.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Mon September 19, 2005 06:01 AM UTC
Sonador3,
Thank you very much. I see that you paid quite a bit less for April. I booked through the Best Western Hotel website as they do not not charge your card until your arrival date. I wonder if $50 a day more is in line with March prices verses April prices. What do you think?

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Mon September 19, 2005 02:05 PM UTC
www.spectralight.net

used last week.

Nice guy transplanted from US to Rio.

Gorgeous apartments, inexpensive

all furnished
No problem with deposit at all.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Mon September 19, 2005 07:44 PM UTC
Probably March is more of a high-season rate than April, but hard to say really. More than likely the higher rate is due to a stronger Real.

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Rio de Janeiro
RE: RE: Best Apartments in Rio !!!
Posted: Tue September 20, 2005 01:35 AM UTC
SaoPaulo-Dude,

I checked the website and didn't find anything in Ipanema that was beachfront. One of the apartments had a partial oceanview a block or so from the beach, but still not quite in the area I want to stay. Thanks for the advise though.

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