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Pools Good, WiFi Bad At the Windsor Atlantica Copacabana

Where: Avenida Atlantica 1020, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 22010-000

If this isn’t one of the most iconic hotel room views, we don’t know what is. Our friend Tony snapped this from his room last month at the Hotel Windsor Atlantica, which claims to be the tallest hotel (37 stories) on Copacabana Beach.

Sadly, when he sent us a picture of the room itself, we weren’t so impressed. Look at those tiny windows! And that work area and color scheme looks a bit blah.

Our friend wasn’t so down on it though – this was his verdict:

Great location, right on the beach, a few steps from a bustling town with plenty of restaurants and bars, a 30 minute max walk to Sugar Loaf Mountain and handy for a large mall. Room's equipped with modern flat-screen TV, large comfortable bed, and is reasonably contemporary, but no WiFi - ethernet cable only.

So if you need WiFi, it’s only available in the lobby - and it's an enormous $30 plus a day, as is the ethernet in the room.

Air conditioning was rather hard to control and essential, too: one day I left it off with the window open and the room was covered in moisture from the humidity. Nearly fell over on the marble floor on the way in.

There are two nice pools - one on the fourth floor, a nice size lap pool, right next to the restaurant. The other is on the roof, an infinity pool with spectactular views of the beach, Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. There's a nice-sized gym, three indoor jacuzzis and both a steam room and sauna.

Worst thing in the hotel: the restaurant. Terrible food, very expensive, virtually nothing Brazilian. Burgers, pizzas and chicken sandwiches, and a $60 buffet of decidedly average quality.

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Celebrity Scoop / Amy Winehouse / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Brazil Hotels / → All Tags

Amy Winehouse Has Still Got It (The Knack for Odd Hotel Behavior, That Is)

Where: R Alm Alexandrino 660, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20241260

Last year at this time troubled but talented Amy Winehouse was doing a risque hotel balcony dance down in St. Lucia at the LeSport Resort and Spa. She was also spotted at the resort "begging for booze, draping herself over male employees, swearing like a sailor and smoking joints in the open.

This year, she's taken the act to Brazil to the Hotel Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro where rooms cost about $1,200 a night. Winehouse was spotted lounging around the pool in a bikini, jean cut-offs and some mysterious bruises. The Daily Mail is furiously investigating how this could have happened:

Looking suspiciously like a drunken sort of injury that one wakes up to after a boozy night out, the bruises stood out a mile as Amy chatted to her security guards at her hotel.

Or not.

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Celeb Hotels / Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Hotel Balconies / → All Tags

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Do a Balcony Dance at the Copacabana Palace

Where: Avenida Atlantica 1702, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The current big news on the celeb front has to do with the migration of the Twilight cast and crew down to Rio de Janeiro, where the honeymoon scenes of the upcoming Twilight: Breaking Dawn are being filmed. Stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are of course staying at the most iconic hotel in town, the Copcabana Palace, where their top-floor suite hasn't escaped the telephoto lenses of the paparazzi.

The Daily Mail claims that the duo briefly stepped out onto their terrace to wave and shimmy for the fans down below, but as you can see from the location of their suite on the picture of the hotel below, we doubt the fans without binoculars could even seen them.

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Brazil Hotel Guide / Florianopolis Hotels / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Scott Mitchem / → All Tags

When You've Had Enough of Rio, Seek Sanctuary in Florianópolis

Florianopolis: a mix of urban convenience and natural wonders

Brazil is hot and its going to get hotter in the next decade, thanks to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. That's why we're having journalist Scott Mitchem, who has been traveling to Brazil for years, give us the lowdown all week on the country’s evolving hotel scene as well as its top players.

We love Florianópolis. "Floripa" was one of our favorite Brazilian destinations long before earning its current status as a global hotspot. It’s a wonderful mix of urban convenience and natural wonders, both a state capital and a 300 sq. mile island with environmentally protected nature reserves, freshwater lagoons, sand dunes, rain forests, and 42 amazing beaches, many of which are surrounded by charming fishing communities and historic colonial villages. But we just haven’t had much to cover on the hotel front.

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Brazil Hotel Guide / Rio De Janeiro Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Hot Hotelier News / Scott Mitchem / → All Tags

Three French Boutique Hotels to Try in Rio de Janeiro

Hotel Santa Teresa

Brazil is hot and its going to get hotter in the next decade, thanks to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. That's why we're having journalist Scott Mitchem, who has been traveling to Brazil for years, give us the lowdown all week on the country’s evolving hotel scene as well as its top players. Never been to Rio before? Well, allow us to tell you where you virgins should stay. outside of Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro’s boutique hotel scene in is dominated by French expats, either experienced hoteliers or other professionals turned entrepreneurs after falling in love with life in Brazil.

There are dozens of small, French-owned properties across both the city and state of Rio de Janeiro, from La Maison, in the upscale residential neighborhood of Gávea to Pousada Picinguaba, near the charming city of Paraty, a UNESCO World Heritage historical center.

While there are many options to choose from, we'll make it simple by listing our favorite French boutique hotels:

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Rio De Janeiro Hotels / Five Best / Lists / Brazil Hotels / Scott Mitchem / → All Tags

The Five Best Hotels for Rio Virgins

Brazil is hot and its going to get hotter in the next decade, thanks to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. That's why we're having journalist Scott Mitchem, who has been traveling to Brazil for years, give us the lowdown all week on the country’s evolving hotel scene as well as its top players. Never been to Rio before? Well, allow us to tell you where you virgins should stay. outside of Brazil.

Welcome to Cidade Maravilhosa! Take our word for it: the holiday season is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro, particularly Thanksgiving, when the weather is great and there are fewer tourists. Rio is thriving, no economic doom and gloom here. The economy is booming and spirits are high, especially with the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, which have inspired improvements just about everywhere.

But its not the easiest place to book a hotel. Prices are higher than ever, truly great options are few and far between, and location matters – especially for first-time visitors. So we are playing it down the middle, skipping some of the more interesting options, and even some cheaper ones, opting above all for security, service and convenience in picking out the Five Best Hotels for Rio Virgins.

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Hotel Emergencies / Hotel Crime / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / InterContinental Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags

Worries About Hotel Safety Arise After Shoot-Out at The InterContinental in Rio

Where: Av. Aquarella Do Brasil, 75 Sao Conrado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

View of favelas from the InterContinental.

We can't even begin to imagine what was running through the minds of the 35 hotel guests at the InterContinental Rio de Janeiro on São Conrado beach after the hotel was taken hostage by 60 gang members over the weekend.

The gang was leaving a party in a neighboring slum (although the hotel is in a rather upscale neighborhood) and waving their guns around when they encountered police. A chase ensued and some gang member ran into the hotel. The NY Times reports:

The gunmen scattered, with some entering apartment buildings. Ten men went into the Intercontinental Hotel around 8:30 a.m., [Dirceu Silviana, a spokesman for Rio State’s security secretary] said. They seized 5 guests from Europe and about 30 hotel workers in the lobby at gunpoint, and forced them to a kitchen a floor below, according to a hotel spokesman, Roberto Falcão.

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Cubicle Dreamin' / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Brazil Hotels / → All Tags

Daydreamin' and Time Travelin' To Rio in 2016

Where: Avenida Avenida Atlantica 1500 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22021-000

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?

NYT Reviews / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Philippe Starck / → All Tags

The Girl from Ipanema Would Have Gotten Down at Hotel Fasano

Where: Av. Viera Souto 80, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22420-000

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.”

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Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Kimberly Murgatroyd / Brazil Hotels / Philippe Starck / → All Tags

Jet Set Girl Flashes Her Black Card at The Fasano Hotel

Where: Hotel Fasano Rio Edit This Page Av. Viera Souto 80, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 22420-000

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.

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Celebrity Scoop / Jude Law / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / → All Tags

Jude Law Finally Gets Noticed Again at The Copacabana Palace

Where: Avenida Atlântica 1702, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CEP 22021

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]

Carnivale Hotels / Rio de Janeiro Hotels / Best Western Hotels / → All Tags

Like Most Brazilians, This is a Hot Deal

Where: Av. Vieira Souto, 320, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22420-000

If you thought you'd never live to see the day where staying at a Best Western hotel actually came recommended, then brace yourself.

Just in time for Rio's Carnival, we've uncovered this discounted Brazilian gem, Best Western Sol Ipanema, off Ipanema Beach. For a Best Western, the décor is uncharacteristically trendy and rooms look on par with what you might find elsewhere at a more expensive price. The property also offers a rooftop pool and, like the girl from Ipanema, its restaurant looks straight at the sea.

And perhaps our mind is in the gutter today, but another reason we love this hotel is that its web site promotes a Carnival deal by announcing, "Check our package!" Really, how could you resist?

We didn't, and found that the promotion, starting at $2,585 for a deluxe beachfront room, requires a minimum four-night stay and offers a complimentary full Brazilian breakfast buffet.

[Photo: PapaWillie54]