Rio De Janeiro Travel Guide
Tags: Twitter / Sao Paolo Hotels / Brazil Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / → All Tags
P. Diddy Has a Killer View From The Hotel Fasano; Killer Moves Not So Much
P. Diddy is definitely moving into "Old Man in the Club" territory but there is something charming about how desperate he is to cling onto his "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" days. PopWrap has a photo of P. Diddy trying to break it down on his balcony at The Hotel Fasano in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which is quite scary (click at your own caution) but P. Diddy also Twitpic'd the view from his hotel, which is something we are far more interested in.
We're guessing Diddy was shacked up in the hotel's deluxe suite which boats a king bed that is positioned to look out over the beach. While we wouldn't blame him for picking the best suite in the house, could he see all those beautiful bootys from way up there?
Since he tweeted this precious gem that is sure to be oft-quoted in high school yearbooks and listed in books of inspirational quotes for centuries to come, we know how important Brazilian bootys are to him:
BRAZIL!!!!! Ass! Ass! Ass! Phat round beautiful ASSES!!!!! Everywhere! Its a ASS suniami!!!!!!!! I think I like it here!!! Lol
Like we said, Old Guy in the Club.
Follow HotelChatter on Twitter--we promise not to Tweet about asses!
Tags: Cubicle Dreamin' / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Brazil Hotels / → All Tags
Daydreamin' and Time Travelin' To Rio in 2016
With Rio winning the 2016 Olympics, I've been doing a little daydreaming about where I might stay in seven years' time. Assuming, of course, that I'm a millionaire by then, or at least have some great contacts in Rio, I figured I should stay at one of the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro: the Porto Bay Rio Internacional Hotel. Right now it's the #1 Rio hotel on TripAdvisor and has one other big advantage: it's directly on the beach at Copacabana. What more could I want?
The Rio Internacional (their abbreviation, not mine) has rooms overlooking the beach, and a bunch of facilities I'll be happy to use: two bars, both of which serve caipirinhas, a roof-top pool, free beach services like sunshades, chairs and showers, and fresh flowers and chocolates in your room. Room choice ranges from the superior and deluxe rooms up to the 40 square meter suites which have a veranda balcony and views over the beach.
Not surprisingly, bookings haven't quite yet opened for the Rio Internacional during the 2016 Olympics. I guess there'll be a massive price hike before then, but for now I'm budgeting on the price I'd pay this week: 745 Real ($400) for a suite, per night. Anyone want to guess how much more expensive it'll be when the athletes are in town?
Tags: NYT Reviews / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Philippe Starck / → All Tags
The Girl from Ipanema Would Have Gotten Down at Hotel Fasano
Since Mondays suck (by definition), we thought we’d brighten the mood today by checking in with too-sexy Hotel Fasano in Rio. The 91-room hotspot perched right on Ipanema Beach opened back in 2007. We’ve checked in with the hotel a couple times already, but this weekend the NYT finally gave it their official hotel treatment.
“While the initial hype may have faded and celebrity sightings are less common, the Philippe Starck-designed hotel still retains an aura of exclusivity, especially from its bossa nova-chic lobby and sexy rooftop pool,” writes Times-er Lionel Beehner. These days, you’re less likely to see Yoko Ono or Madonna than middle-age men with their “much younger arm candy.”
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Tom Cruise / Katie Holmes / Rio Hotels / → All Tags
The Copacabana Palace Now Hosting the Cruises
As usual, while the rest of the country is buzzing about the Super Bowl, drinking cheap-o beer and munching on processed snacks while Hollywood-ers throw each other lavish parties and spend the whole night in 'da club, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Suri are existing in their own little universe.
And that own little universe just happened to be, in this case, located in Rio. The fam packed up Suri (and whatever else they pack on trips; we cannot even imagine) and headed down to the Copacabana Palace Hotel, which is apparently the only place anyone ever goes in Rio. According to Gossip Girls, the clan jetted to Brazil together so Tom could attend a press conference and the premiere of his new movie Valkyrie.
For as lavish as this hotel is (rates start around $390), it seems to be pretty kid friendly — recall that this luxe hotspot is where we last spotted Jude Law, who was also chillin' there with his kiddies.
Also notable: Tom Cruise is wearing what, at first glance, appear to be jean shorts, but upon further inspection they seem to be denim-hued board shorts of some sort.
[Photo: Gossip Girls]
Tags: Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Kimberly Murgatroyd / Brazil Hotels / Philippe Starck / → All Tags
Jet Set Girl Flashes Her Black Card at The Fasano Hotel
Brightening up our dreary lives once more is Jet Set Life's Kimberly Murgatroyd who has graced us with another hotel review from an exotic location, making us eternally envious of her jet-setting ways. This time, she's touched down in Rio de Janeiro.
When speaking to the über-chic guests at the roof top pool of the Fasano Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, your conversation always turns to where you stayed B.F. (Before Fasano). You will get a variety of answers, yet everyone agrees that with the Fasano, Rio de Janeiro finally has a star on the hotel scene.
There was a lot of hype about the Fasano hotel opening in Rio. So, my husband and I decided to stay at this Ipanema property for ten-days during our second trip to Rio for New Year’s Eve. When we pulled up to the perfectly located Fasano, it was rather unassuming. Once inside we found a beautifully designed lobby pulling us in three directions.
To the right is the check-in and elevators, to the left are the plush couches of the lobby lounge and straight head, we can follow the narrow white curtain enclosed, lit pathway to Londra, one of Rio’s sexiest bars.
One thing we did notice is a lack of music in the lobby. No faint sexy beats of any kind can be heard, just guests chattering in multiple languages. This is something that we will determine is a consistent, yet easily correctable flaw in many areas of the hotel.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Jude Law / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / → All Tags
Jude Law Finally Gets Noticed Again at The Copacabana Palace
Yo, remember Jude Law? Anyone? You know, the dude from Alfie we haven't heard from in a long time and somehow never really noticed how we hadn't heard from him? He used to be engaged to Sienna Miller? Yeah. Where's he been?
According to Just Jared, he's been spotted chillin at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro with his kiddies:
The 36-year-old British actor and his kids were seen playing soccer on the beach, lounging poolside at the Copacabana Palace and exploring the island of Ilha Grande.
Rates start around $390 (so he's apparently not short on income, in case you've been worried) at the luxe resort, which — fun fact! — has been a hotspot since Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced there in the movie Flying Down to Rio.
[Photo: Just Jared]
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rates / → All Tags
Hotel Fasano Rio Opens Amidst Design Drama
Ricardo Freire a travel blogger based in São Paulo alerted us to his recent stay at the Hotel Fasano Rio by Ipanema Beach which is still in a pre-opening stage.
Apparently, this hotel has quite a backstory. Not exactly in the same way as Six Columbus but still high-drama.
Ricardo tells us the place was intended to be run by the Faena hotel people in Buenos Aires but at some point, the Fasano group took over (these people already run one of Rio's hot restaurants, the Gero).
However, the new owners design style did not sit well with Philippe Starck who was originally set to do the interior. Ricardo writes:
They've spent the past 18 months quabbling over every detail and piece of furniture, with a clear victory on Fasano's side, who managed to de-Starck the hotel considerably. You can still see Starck almost everywhere, but there's a lot of chic and no shock.
Chances are, the designer guests will be talking about after their stay is Sergio Rodrigues, who back in the 60's designed the chairs that are seen in rooms, balconies and at the lounge off the lobby.
Very interesting indeed. Ricardo also gives us helpful room choices. For instance, the "courtyard" rooms start at $405 but he says not to bother with them. Instead splurge on the sea-view superior or deluxe rooms at $515 and $620 respectively.
Check out the lot of pictures Ricardo has posted over at his blog. But the descriptions are all in Portuguese.
Related Stories:
· Buenos Aires Hotel Guide [HotelChatter]
Tags: Killer View / Hotel Crime / Rio de Janeiro Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Real Life Peter Parker Saves Hotel View Shot In Rio
Don't believe in real world Peter Parkers? Check this out.
Flickr photog Mistca was enjoying a birthday dinner at Le Saint Honore, the restaurant atop Le Meridien Hotel in Leme, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and snapped the above excellent photo for posterity.
After dinner, things got downright ugly:
I took a nice stroll along the beach on Av. Atlantica. It was very beautiful warm and romantic.... until 3 guys approached me with a big knife and wanted me to surrender my backpack in which I had my camera.
All my subsequent action were on auto-pilot: I kicked the guy's hand that was holding the knife, screamed like a wild animal, and ran away towards the street with passing cars. At that point I tripped and spilled on the pavement..... The would-be-robbers however got scared and ran away. If they succeeded I would not have had either my camera or this image....
The things travel super-heroes will do for the perfect hotel view shot. What do you bet the attackers names were Eddie Brock and Flint Marko--beach, photos--had to be, right?
[Photo: mistca]
Tags: Festival Hotels / Carnaval Hotels / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Helipad Hotels / Party Hotels / → All Tags
2007 Festival Hotels: Shirts Off Breakfast at Hotel Glória
Carnival (Feb 17 - 20) is in full swing, and according to The Guardian, plenty of American soldiers on leave are turning the sensual Brazilian celebration into a sexual conquest game.
Companies like Tours Gone Wild make a mint packing soldiers and other tourists into Rio de Janeiro hotels this time of year, and it takes a toll on the hotels.
One such Carnival party hotel is Hotel Gloria. On the Saturday of Carnaval the Gloria hosts an insane costume contest early in the evening, which is considered one of the best Carnaval parties by many long time attendees.
Heaven for doughboys, no doubt, however, guests of the hotel see the post party fallout year round:
Our room was a huge disappointment. Paint off the walls, tv entertainment system not working.
Lots of loud Brazilian guests with getto blasters at the pool. Staff did nothing. People with bare upper bodies at breakfast.
Where we are from, we call these places topless donutshops, in Brazil sounds like they call 'em "luxury hotels".
We are sure Hotel Gloria cleans up nice at some point after Carnaval. After all, they have a helipad on the roof, and guests who check-in via helicopter tend to like a clean room.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Gloria [TripAdvisor]
· Hotels in Brazil [HotelChatter]
Tags: Killer View / → All Tags
Room with a Killer View: Rio Baby, Rio
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Now we're talking. If you're going to Brazil, do it right. Get your Rio room right on the beach and score one of the world's most killer views. Although this Flickr photographer didn't list the hotel name, there are plenty of hotels right on the beach to choose from, just make sure you specify an ocean view. Then, get your caipirinha and enjoy.
[Photo: Filipe Thompson]
Tags: Hotels / → All Tags
Rolling Stones Start Things Up in Brazil
While Rio de Janiero might undergo some turmoil when the Rolling Stones hit town, the aging rockers will be safe and comfortable in the Copacabana Palace Hotel. This hotel and several others have been booked up by fans in town to see them perform.
No doubt the Stones are staying in the finest suites the hotel has to offer, but if you are thinking about heading there one day yourself, then make sure you get a renovated room. A few guests had "mixed emotions" about the older, wet and moldy rooms in the main building of the hotel, which was built in the 1920s.
The first room they had shown me was the WORST room I'd ever seen in a hotel that I'd actually stay at. [The hotel]looks far better from the outside than the inside. Most public areas remain unremodeled and surprisingly dowdy. I finally got the tower room I was promised in the reservation. And it was GREAT! The newly remodeled suites are fantastic, among the nicest I've stayed in anywhere (unless you expect a marble bathroom at these prices, which I did).
The prices they are talking about are pretty steep, close to $500 a night. But that's just chump change for Mick and the fellas, even for a moldy room.
Related Stories:
· Rio police to occupy slums for Rolling Stones show [Reuters]
· Copacabana Palace Hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Hotels / → All Tags
Copacabana Palace Still Rules Rio
Let's continue hacking on Rio today, shall we?
Why is such an "it" destination so behind the curve when it comes to hotels?
There are barely any hotels in Rio that pay any attention to interior design, and besides Starck's coming Rio Universe on Ipanema (scheduled to open in '06) there isn't a great deal to talk about on the Rio hotel scene, besides the Copacabana Palace that is.
Yes, yes, you have to stay on Copa and not Ipanema, but if you want to stay like rock stars and royalty, the grandaddy of all beach hotels is calling.
A recent guest raves:
From the perspective of service and attention to details, this is one of the finest hotels I have ever stayed at in the world. The Copacabana Palace has remarkable rooms, beautiful public areas, a pool surrounded by trees from which orchids bloom, and personal touches that make this an ideal hotel.
So it is up to you: do you walk to Ipanema and bask in the glory of the Copacabana Palace, or find lesser digs in Ipanema? Choose wisely.
Related Stories:
· Bo Bo Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Copacabana Palace [WGuides]
Hotels In: Africa | Asia | Australia | Caribbean | Europe | North America | South America
Our Publications:
Jaunted | HotelChatter | VegasChatter
