Ipanema in der Nähe der U-Bahn und Strand

This review is long overdue (over two years, to be exact). I stayed with Vitor and Carlos for nearly a month when I worked at the Olympics. It was my first experience with Homestay.com and I could not have had a better experience. Vitor and Carlos welcome guests to their home from the moment they arrive.

The apartment was very clean and they provide you with everything you need for the perfect stay: keys, towels, closet space, a desk, etc. The bathroom, kitchen, and living areas are kept extremely clean and I absolutely felt at home during my visit. After you get settled in, they will take you around the neighborhood to get acquainted, which is in the middle of one of Rio's best neighborhoods, Ipanema. This was super helpful and really helped put me at ease in as a first-time solo traveler in a brand new city.

As hosts, Vitor and Carlos are as involved or uninvolved as you want them to be. They are extremely nice and accommodating. Don't worry if you are unable to speak Portuguese, as Vitor is fluent in English; however, Carlos only speaks Portuguese, so it's the perfect situation for any Portuguese learner visiting Brazil! They manage a wellness shop in the neighborhood that you can visit, which has some really neat organic products. At home, I loved spending time watching TV in the living room with them and their small dog, who's also great. We even went out to a bar one night as well.

Overall, I would highly recommend booking with Vitor and Carlos. The location, the amenities, and the hospitality are top notch. I wouldn't even think about staying with anybody else during my future visits to Rio, if I can help it. Looking forward to staying with them again soon!

Vitor might be new in the homestay business but he did it professionally and enthusiastically. The room which I stayed is so clean and comfortable that it makes me feel at home. Although it might not have the luxury of a star-rated hotel, it doesn't lack of real warmth and coziness. Vitor had never failed to prepare me a simple but heart-warming breakfast daily during my stay. Worth mentioning is Lilica, a pet dog which is part of the welcoming committee to usher me into the homestay. It took less than two days for Lilica to get used to me as a guest, and get close to me. Vitor is a good ambassador for Rio's tourism. He alleviated my fear about the high crime rate in the city by offering me tips to stay away from potential troubles. As Vitor was going downtown to handle some paper works, he offered to bring me to downtown with Metro and showed me the various places of attractions. That very small gesture was in fact a useful beginning for my big exploration into the city for the rest of my stay. And you can count on Vitor too on where to get the best street food or fine dining. My only slight regret is that I did not stay a little longer. I will look for Vitor again, if I have the chance to come back to Rio again.