Mar Ipanema Hotel Rio de Janiero

As part of my South American business trip, I spent 5 days in Rio. A friend from Rio recommended me to stay in Ipanema area, a really pretty one.

It's not cheap, but according to Rio's standards is ok. The rate includes also a buffet breakfast. This breakfast is really good, different fresh fruits, yogurt, Brazilian coffee, bagels, bread, cheese, etc.

Regarding the location. It is very well located, just two blocks away from the famous. They even give you towels, chairs and umbrellas to take to the beach - free of charge.

The restaurant of the hotel is really good too. It's just next door and you can access directly from the hotel. This restaurant is always full, not just by guests, but also by local people who want to have a drink and eat. It has a great atmosphere.

The staff is also really kind and helpful. Maybe not all of them speak good English, but they do their best to help you.

The thing I didn't like much is that they don't have a free business center or wireless. Anyway, if you are there just for fun you don't really need it. And if you want to connect your laptop, just have to ask for a cord. They will charge this.

At the end I'd recommend you to stay in this place is you want to stay in Ipanema area. It might be a bit pricy, but the location & staff make the difference.

The staff at the Mar Ipanema Hotel was absolutely exceptional. Any needs or questions you had they would handle immediately. They have a wonderful restaraunt downstairs called Maddellena's where the food is amazing. The location is two short blocks from Ipanema Beach and is surrounded by streets lined with shops and great food. The location is very safe; I went with just one other girl and we never felt threatened in any way. The area is very classy and beautiful. The rooms are nice but not extravagant; this hotel is a great choice for traveler's who want comfortable, clean, and safe accomodations but would rather spend most of their money on their experiences than on having a king sized bed. I definitely recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Brazil, check out the hotel's website for more information and pictures.