Our Free
Reservation Center was implemented after suggestions
and requests from our webvisitors. We currently get about 20,000
hits a day, and have a tradition of listening to what
people say. Travelers complained that they had a hard time
booking hotels in Rio from abroad. They were not happy with the
high rack rates, nor the limited choice they had access to. Others
wanted more elements to choose the best alternative within their
budget. Our Reservation
Centerstarted operating in April 97.
You have to take two simple steps. The first is to fill out the reservation
form, and press the Send button. We will confirm
availability with the property of your choice, or provide the best
alternative according to information you submit. You will receive
an e-mail from us with all details of your prebooking. Your
reservation is final as soon as you confirm your interest.
Your booking request is answered typically in less than 24
hours on weekdays. On weekends many hotels in Rio close their
reservation desks, so we may have a final position only by Monday.
And you waited this long to tell us about it? Hello! Bookings
for New Years and Carnival may take a couple of days to get
answered, but weeks is ridiculous. Chances are we never
got your request to begin with (don't ask me why). Please send us
a new reservation
request.
The reservation service is completely free of charge for
travelers. You do not have to prepay, unless you are coming for Carnival or New
Years. You will be paying directly at the front desk of the
hotel of your choice.
It depends on which hotel you choose. Some properties charge a
no-show tax. This means they will charge the equivalent to a one
night's stay to your credit card if you do not show at the hotel
as scheduled, nor advise them about the changes in your travel
plans in due time (usually 48 hours prior to your check-in).
If the property of your choice enforces a no-show policy, we
will send you by e-mail a credit card form in their favor. You
will sign it, and send it by fax to our Reservation
Center in Rio, telefax 55-21-2512-5121 or 55-21-2513-3776.
To avoid paying the no-show tax all you have to do is contact us
by e-mail, fax or phone in due time.
If you do not have access to a fax at home or at work, we
suggest going to a commercial copy center. They usually have a
very helpful staff, and some (like Kinko's) are open around the
clock. Some post-office also offer fax services. Please do not
send your signed form as an attachment. We get loads of e-mail
every day. Attached messages get stuck in our server for 24 hours,
and then they are automatically deleted.
We will only confirm a booking after receiving by fax a voucher
signed and stamped by the hotel. This document is kept in our
files, and it is worth as a legal proof of your reservation. In
case of an unlikely overbooking, for instance, the hotel has to
find a room in another property of similar or better standard for
the same price.
Each message is answered by an experienced travel professional,
not a machine. We encourage you to make personal remarks, which
are always taken into consideration. We try not to leave questions
unanswered, and cater to people from all ethnic and age groups,
religion, budget, and sexual orientation.
Let's name a few... Our rates are usually considerably lower
(and never higher) than the rack rates. We offer prompt and
courteous service in English. We work with dozens of hotels and
flats, so we can give you unbiased advice on where to stay
whatever your budget. Our headquarters are conveniently located in
Ipanema, and we are within easy reach while you are in town. We
offer personal advice, and can help you with other travel needs,
such as city tours, extensions, trips Off-Rio, car rentals, etc.
We have a solid experience with incoming tourism, and our travel
experts have helped people from all around the world. We care.
Our reservations are made through Ipacom Travel, a full service
travel agency appointed by Embratur - the Brazilian Bureau of
Tourism. This means you are dealing with licensed travel
professionals, not a group of amateurs. Our travel agency is a
appointed by ABAV and SNEA.We are proud members of IGLTA since
1998.
We offer lodging options in all price ranges, from five-star to economy to
youth hostels and all-suite hotels. You will find charming inns with less than
50 rooms and a familiar atmosphere, legendary palaces, all-suite hotels that
offer the opportunity of enjoying the city like a local... All properties are in recommended areas, and have been visited and reviewed
by our team.
Yes, we do! We don't like to get our news second-hand, so our team visits in
person virtually all hotels and flats that take reservations online. We look
under the beds, turn on the shower and flush the toilet, take a peek into the
closet and refrigerator... You will find our impressions at Insider's
Hotel Reviews, or simply press on the lists the name of the hotel you are
interested in. You will find details about the accommodation, location,
services, amenities, and other aspects of the hotels or flats you're interested
in.
If you prefer not to choose a hotel yourself, give us your favorite area,
features and price range. And special needs, too. We will do our best effort to
get you the best deal around. Tick your favorite features on the reservation
form, and let us do the hard work for you!
If the hotel of your choice is booked solid, we will suggest the best
alternatives within the price range you requested. Our reservation form is
designed in a way to give us a pretty good idea of your expectations. There's
also a field where you can add details you find relevant.
We get a lot of feedback from travelers. Good words, and sometimes serious
complaints about hotels. We always try to clear out what happened. If we are not
satisfied with the turning of events, we may even remove the hotel from our
lists of recommended options (i.e. hotels by area and price
range). We do not like to do this, but our commitment is with the traveler.
Definitely not. This may happen for several reasons. It is our policy to
recommend only the hotels and flats that we have already visited. Maybe we
simply haven't visited yet the property you were thinking about. You are welcome
to suggest or ask questions like this at the reservation form.
Obviously the features vary a lot from hotel to hotel, and the details are in
our insider's reviews. Some basics are
always there, though. All hotels we work with offer air-conditioned rooms, a
must in Rio. Other staples are a phone, a double bed or a set of twins, a chair
or couch, a closet with a safety box, private bath, small refrigerator, and a
color TV. TV's always offer the open channels in Portuguese. Most properties
today also give free access to cable channels including 24-hour news and movie
channels in English and other languages. Some systems feature as many as 50
channels.
There's always a fee for using your hotel phone. Make sure to ask first, as
some hotels really overcharge. If you use ATT Direct or other card system to
make your international calls, use any of the payphones in the street. And you
may also buy a phone card (buy one with a lot of credits) and call direct from
payphones. Before your country code dial "0021".
The small refrigerator comes basically with overpriced drinks and snacks. Buy
your favorites at the supermarket or bakery around the corner, if you want to
cut down costs. Some all-suite hotels have full-sized refrigerators, and cooking
facilities.
The first is the cost. You may find hotels in Rio expensive when compared to
properties in small-town USA, or even Miami. The rates are slightly lower than
what is charged in NY or L.A., if it's any consolation. The second is that rooms
do not come with two double beds, like many properties in the US. In fact most
hotels do not allow quadruple occupancy. If you are a party of 4 the best way to
go is to book two rooms, or a two-bedroom apartment. The third is that the water
fountain next to the toilet in the bathroom is a bidet, the best
thing since sliced bread, once you learn how to use it. The faucet in the middle
controls the way the water flows, and the two others open cold and hot water.
It's no big secret... Our reservation service has been around for quite some
time now, sending thousands of guests to dozens of hotels. We always ask hotels
to offer us their best corporate and discount rates, and gladly pass them to you
without any markups. We also keep an eye for promotions and specials, like
weekend packages, and low-season discounts.
Hey, anybody that comes up with a claim like that is obviously trying to take
you for a ride. What we guarantee is that we do our best effort to negotiate the
lowest rate available with hotels - and most times we succeed.
Probably not. The discount rates quoted on our pages are available to clients
recommended by our Reservation Center. This means travelers who actually
requested a booking with us, and received a final confirmation. You cannot
expect the hotel to offer its best rates to clients off-the-street.
Rates quoted online are per room, with either single or double occupancy.
Most hotels allow triple occupancy, but charge an extra for the third guest.
Quadruple occupancy is usually not allowed. We may try to arrange connecting
rooms at selected properties.
Some hotels do not allow us to publish online their discount rates. It's as
simple as that. This policy is not uncommon when it comes to luxury or 5-star
properties, that have agreements with international operators. In this case,
instead of the rate you will see a please
ask link that will take you straight to our Reservation Form.
Not really. We cannot cancel a booking requested by a third party. If it's
any consolation you are not the first to be in a situation like this. Now that
you know better, keep a bookmark to our website, and contact us the next time...
Yes, we do! For high season periods we recommend requesting
your reservation as much as 6 months ahead, to avoid any disappointments. The
best lodging values get booked solid very fast, some as early as August or
September!
For Carnival and New Year's, hotels in Rio work with prepayble packages with
a minimum stay of 4 or 5 nights. Rates are considerably higher than those quoted
on our pages. Hotels will only confirm a booking upon full prepayment. Deposits
are usually non-refundable. These rules are tough, we know, but they are set by
the properties, not by us.
A package means a prepaid hotel reservation, with a fixed number of
mandatory nights. Some packages include breakfast, some do not. Packages may
have fixed dates, and when they do hotels will not alter them. Packages do not
include transfers, airline tickets, or any other extras. Credit cards are the
most convenient method for prepayment. Personal checks are not accepted, and
money wires take too long to arrive.
We wish, but unfortunately not. These are not our rules. If you need
fewer nights than the mandatory period, use them in your favor for an early
check-in, a late check-out, or both. All hotels and flats in Rio are
traditionally booked solid for high season events, so they are not willing to
negotiate these directives. It's the facts...
Yes we do, and they are even listed separately for your convenience. Visit Business
Class Hotels for tips, details, rates and free reservations. These are the
properties where you are most likely to find a good business center, a plug to
hook up your laptop, a bilingual secretary...
We would love to! Most hotels and flats offer special discounts for children
staying with their parents. Children under 5 are usually free, and some
properties extend this courtesy to children up to 10 years old. We may also
suggest a suite with a sofa-bed, or some other convenient alternative. Use the
comments field on the form to advise us about the age of your child or children.
That depends a lot. If you are staying in a 5-star or luxury property the
answer is a flat no. Other hotels may or may not let you take your guest up.
If they do, they will usually ask you escort to show or even leave some document
at the reception. Many hotels also charge a flat rate in a situation like this.
Even hotels with more liberal policies draw a line. If the escort you picked up has a reputation or is not properly dressed, forget it. Keep in
mind we pick out the properties we work with. A hotel where everything goes is really not our idea of a safe place to stay. Consider taking your escort to a honeymoon motel instead.
Yes, many. Explore Rio Gay Guide for
tips on what to do, see and expect. We will be happy to help you find gay and
lesbian friendly hotels and properties in areas of special interest to
alternative lifestyles. We are proud members of IGLTA, the International Gay and
Lesbian Travel Association.
No there aren't. There aren't any nude beaches in Rio, either, and topless is
not even that common (Cariocas love a tanline). If walking around in your birthday suit is part of your Rio fantasy, it may have to remain there, in
your dreams.
The only hotels in Rio with non-smoking floors are deluxe properties, so get
ready to spend accordingly. If you are budget-minded and have a very sensitive
nose, bring sprays, scented candles, whatever.
One of the most common complaints is when the guest writes dozens of
postcards on the last day, and gives them to what's-his-name at the
reception to mail with $20 bucks for the stamps (and even generously said keep
the change). But the cards never arrived... duh! Next time buy the stamps
(choose something colorful), and put the cards in the mail boxes yourself. Don't
say we didn't warn you. There are post offices in malls, and main commercial
streets.
The second complaint is usually from horny single men. They sometimes book
single rooms and want to take ladies up without paying the extra.
Sometimes the hotel will simply not let them bring in their escorts (they do
draw a line). And sometimes they score, and later complain that they
were stolen of the cash or jewels left in the safety box (obviously not by the
escort so carefully chosen yesterday, but certainly by the poor cleaning woman
who desperately needs the job). Our advice? Take your escort to a honeymoon
hotel, instead, and avoid a number of headaches.
Of course there's always an odd complaint, like the some gentlemen who wrote
a very serious message claiming that his white socks got dirty whenever he
walked on the corridor of the hotel (we suggested sandals). Or the guy that kept
complaining about the sloppy room service, yet stole all towels they dared put
in the bathroom (the hotel charged him). And a guy even called us names because
he had booked one room for double occupancy, and the concierge refused to let
him and his buddy take up a couple of working girls they'd just picked
up off the street (he ended up changing hotels).
Yes, we work with the best tour operators, car rental agencies, vans and
special taxis. Ask us about special weekend trips, extensions, adventure travel
and other topics of your interest. We will gladly help you secure your tickets
for domestic flights and international flights leaving from Rio and Brazil.
Yes, they are - right in the heart of Ipanema, of course! You are very
welcome to visit our travel agency. Our convenient location on the main street
is steps away from the Peace Square, just two blocks from the beach. See you in Rio!
Price ranges are based on the
low-season rate charged per room per night for a lowest-priced unit with
double or twin occupancy (2 guests). Additional daily taxes are not included, and may be applicable
(ranging from 5% to 15%). Many hotels include a complimentary breakfast in the rates. Click
on the names of individual
properties for rates, insider's reviews with details, photos, location maps. and use our free
booking service. Rates are
quoted online for reference only, and they are subject to change without
notice. To secure our lower rates you must have a confirmed
booking, and bring along your voucher. Carnival and New
Years package rates are
available upon request.
Price ranges are based on the
low-season rate charged per room per night for a lowest-priced unit with
double or twin occupancy (2 guests). Additional daily taxes are not included, and may be applicable
(ranging from 5% to 15%). Many hotels include a complimentary breakfast in the rates. Click
on the names of individual
properties for rates, insider's reviews with details, photos, location maps. and use our free
booking service. Rates are
quoted online for reference only, and they are subject to change without
notice. To secure our lower rates you must have a confirmed
booking, and bring along your voucher. Carnival and New
Years package rates are
available upon request.