Where to Go, Where to Stay?

Almost nine years ago, when we started renting apartments in Rio, about 80% of our requests were for Copacabana, and no one knew Botafogo. Nowadays, the majority of our requests are for Ipanema, and we get quite a few for Botafogo as well. Not to say that Copa is no longer a contender, but people have gotten more savvy as the internet has grown. For me, it is a question of preference, and budget. If you have the money to stay in Ipanema, I say, "Go for it!" But if you are planning to stay a month, then it is going to be expensive, so you may choose Copa or even Botafogo. I have people who are requesting an apartment for a year, and for them, it has to be somewhere that is affordable and convenient. Most of the time, they end up in Botafogo, since for the money, you can get a larger apartment in a safe area. Speaking of safety, used to be people chose Ipanema because it was safer than Copacabana, not any more! You have to be careful no matter where you are in Rio. The recession has caused people to resort to crazy stuff, so I recommend more than ever to only carry the money you need and never resist an assault. It is cheaper and safer just to give them the goods and walk away unharmed.

Beach Town

Growing up in South Carolina, I think I only went to the beach a few times before I was eighteen years old. We lived three hours away and it was not a big priority. After meeting my wife, she promised me that one day I would be able to live in Rio de Janeiro. After moving there in 1994, my whole perspective of life changed. Living near the ocean changes you. You can feel it in the air, you know when the weather is about to change, you have a different feeling about life. When we started renting apartments there, it excited me to see people arrive at the airport. Their whole demeanor changed once they arrived. They were on vacation, in one of the most magical beach towns in the world. I take pride in introducing them to the things Rio de Janeiro has to offer. But the greatest thing is her beaches.

The Weather is Great!

One thing you can count on most of the time is the weather being great in Rio. There are storms like anywhere else but for the most part, the weather is beach friendly. That nice tropical breeze coming off the water. I think that the months of April and November are the best since it is not too hot or humid, but really any time of year is nice. I always tell people to go to the mall if it is raining, but travelers would be advised to take a good book along on their trip. Having someone to spend a rainy day with doesn't hurt much either!

Making the Most of Your Time and Money

When I lived in New York I once realized that our experiences are somewhat comparable to putting coins in a parking meter. Wherever we are, whether we are living day to day in our home cities or maybe on a vacation or business trip, we are feeding a meter. Through our rent or house payment, or hotel or apartment rentals, we are paying for time spent in a certain spot. We are paying some source that allows us to stay in that place. So we have to make the most of our time and money wherever we are. The friends we choose, the restaurants we frequent, the way we spend our time and money is important. When I lived in Rio de Janeiro, I realized even more that people on vacation are really feeding meters. They wait all year to take that special trip, they want a nice place to stay, and a good experience. That`s one reason we are in the apartment rental business, since we know the importance of making the most of your time and money.

Now More Than Ever!

I used to look forward to going to Brazil every year on vacation. We would usually spend three weeks or a month there. The weather was always nice and we usually traveled around a bit while there. So many places to see, from Petropolis and Teresopolis to Cabo Frio and Buzios, there are a host of cities around Rio de Janeiro that are incredibly beautiful and historical. Accommodations are cheap nowadays, and you can budget seeing more than just one city if you plan ahead. Airfares are cheaper outside the summer months, and the weather is perfect in September and October. The biggest problem is not staying long enough!