Botafogo Vacations from $1,088

I booked Hotel Villa Rica because the rate was reasonable for my stay in Rio. Based on the listing, I wasn’t expecting a luxury hotel, but I was disappointed by the overall condition of the property. The first room I was assigned was spacious, but the bathroom—particularly the shower—did not appear to be thoroughly cleaned, and the furniture was extremely dated and heavily worn. The bed consisted of what felt like a thin mattress topper on a platform and was very uncomfortable. After speaking with the front desk, the staff kindly allowed me to inspect and choose another available room, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the second room had many of the same issues. Although the bed was an actual mattress, it was exceptionally firm and uncomfortable. The furnishings were again heavily worn, the window would not remain closed, and there was visible mold in the shower. After four nights, I decided to check out early because I simply wasn’t able to get adequate rest due to the bed. The breakfast was very good, and the front desk staff were friendly and accommodating throughout my stay. I also requested a prorated refund for the unused nights. The hotel initially responded promptly through WhatsApp and indicated a refund might be possible, but after Expedia submitted the formal request, communication stopped and the issue remains unresolved. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this property and would choose to stay elsewhere on a future visit to Rio.

Arpoador Hotel is truly amazing! The location is perfect—beautiful, convenient, and safe. The hotel is exceptionally clean, the food is delicious, and the staff provides five-star service. We had a wonderful stay and highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Brazil.

Amazing stay. The hidden gem we were looking for

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