Amazing location overlooking Urca Bay. Safe neighborhood, several juice shops, bars, convenience stores and drugstores within walking distance.
The staff insisted that payment be made in cash and would only provide a handwritten receipt. Whilethismight have been for technical reasons, I couldn't help but wonder if they were skirting taxes or something.
Think of the Hotelinho as staying with a friend who has a guest room in an amazing location and you'll probably be satisfied. It's one step up from a hostel, and one step below a Bed and Breakfast. The common areas are all shared with other hotel guests, but rooms have individual keys. Furnishings are a bit mismatched - with everything from antiques to simply 'old' sofas, but everything was clean and the linens were fresh. The free wifi was a bit spotty, but the cable television provided plenty of channels (many more than the 5-star hotel I stayed at in Rio). The only thing was that this friend charges for their guest room, and I felt the price was a bit high for the level of accommodation. You're paying for the location, I suppose.
