I did not like the Rio Othon Palace Hotel in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

Although this blog is mostly about Salvador, I decided it would be okay to also write about other places when I travel. Salvador is a great place to live and visit, but is also limited in many ways, so traveling to other places is often necessary.

On Monday I went to Rio de Janeiro for business meetings. Cunha, my travel agent, booked me at the Rio Othon Palace (tel. 2522-1522) hotel in Copacabana, which according to him was the cheapest 5-star hotel in Rio. If the travel agent pre-pays the hotel, you can get a cheaper rate than if you give your credit card when checking in.

I did not like the Othon Palace, and I will not stay in it again. I thought the rooms were old, and needed renovations. Use of the gym is not included, and you need to pay extra. They do not have broadband Internet, so you need to dial up to check e-mail.

On the plus side, they have a great view of the beach, comparable to the corner rooms at Caesar Park in Ipanema. The gym, although not included in the room rate, is very well equiped, and even has Pilates. Also they have very strong water pressure in the showers. Taking a shower was the best thing I did at the Othon.

Although the price of the Othon was low, I will stay elsewhere next time I go to Rio. My favorite hotel in Rio is Caesar Park in Ipanema (tel. 2525-2525), but they are usually very expensive.

I have also stayed many times at the Rio International (Av. Atlântica, 1500, tel. 2456-8000) in Copacabana. It is not a five-star, but still quite nice, and has been recently renovated.

I stayed once at the JW Marriott (tel. 2545-6500) in Copacabana, and although it is very new and has broadband Internet access, I would not stay there again because the rooms have no views! I think it is unacceptable that a hotel on Avenida Atlantica in front of Copacabana Beach does not have a view.

I also stayed once at the Sheraton (tel. 2274-1122) in São Conrado. The hotel is nice, and the rates are relatively low, but I did not like the fact that you must take a taxi go step foot outside the hotel. Also I am personally upset at them because when I arrived at 10 AM from the airport and tried to check in, they told me I had to wait until noon or pay an extra half day. What jerks!!!