Acapulco Copacabana

The Acapulco Copacabana has been entirely renovated over the past 18 months. Everything is new, bright, and clean.

Rooms are spacious and furnished with twin or queen-sized beds, two stuffed chairs, a desk and chair, and large cabinets that house closet space and safebox. Overhead lights and bedside lamps offer good nighttime illumination. Room air conditioners are efficient and quiet.

The four 'deluxe' rooms on each floor have large balconies that face either Rua Gustavo Sampaio (and the side of the luxury Meridian Hotel) or the end of Avenida N S de Copacabana. Both the rooms and the balconies are larger than those in the main building of the five-star Copacabana Palace.

Bathrooms are nicely done in marble and complementary tile. Facilities are state-of-the-art. The shower had the strongest water pressure I've experienced in Brazil (17 hotels), with also water so hot it would have pleased a Japanese accustomed to scalding ofuro.

Unique Quality: The hotel offers a complimentary buffet breakfast in its spic-n-span dining room. Lunch is also available, though not dinner.

Two computers in the lobby offer internet access; their use is free to guests (who are asked to limit themselves to 15 minutes per session); the lobby is spacious, well appointed, and includes a small bar.

Three fast elevators whisk guests to the upper floors; in five days I never experienced a wait of more than a few seconds.

Because my plane was leaving at 9:00 I asked for an extension, to 6:00, from the normal 12:00 check-out. I offered to pay for an extra night. The desk clerk agreed. But when I did check out, I was told the extra stay was free.

Directions: Just off Av Princesa Isabel, at the southern end of Leme (or northern end of Copacabana).

The hotel's façade was being redone during my visit; my photo is of the rear of the hotel -- from Ave N S do Copacabana.

Large selection of hotels and ‘pousadas’ everywhere in Brazil, I am Brazilian and this is where I find my hotels :

Example: 14 hotels under 80 Reais (US$ 30) for a double in Rio.

Unique Quality: 100's of hotels and pousadas in Rio, 1000's all over Brazil for all pockets

Directions: Portuguese web page for hotels all over Rio and every Brazilian city