Billie Jo

I have found a very good deal to go to Rio but staying on Copacabana's beach instead of Ipanema. Is it worth the extra money to stay on Ipanema or is Copacabana OK?

Erin

The main difference between the two is that Copa is a much busier beach area. More people are on the beach, more vendors, more shady folks. If you eat at one of the outside restaurants on the main drag across from the beach, vendors will approach you are try to sell maps, t-shirts whatever. You don't have as much of that (if any) on Ipanema.

Surlok

Billie Jo,<BR><BR>Copacabana is not what it used to be. It's a Babel tower, meaning that commuters from Niteroi and whatever suburb in Rio come there to work. The worst area is between Rua Figueiredo Magalhaes and Santa Clara. and Barata Ribeiro and Av. N.S. de Copacabana, it's called the death block because of pollution, air and sound wise.. The beach is not that bad, but the shore has been enlarged, and one has to walk a lot to get to the sea.<BR><BR>Also, the (badly reputed) night clubs are in Copacabana, some of them at Av. Atlantica, the beach avenue. There are lots of "camelos", the street vendors, trying to seell you everything, all the time, on the streets and at the beach. Some tourists even like it, I surely don't.<BR><BR>Ipanema is much better, I'm telling you this as a carioca, someone who was born and raised in Rio.<BR><BR>If you want me to recommend you a hotel in Ipanema, let me know. The above address is real.<BR><BR>Anyway, it doesn't matter that much where you're staying, Rio is beautiful, it truly deserves the title "The Wonderful City", believe me.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

Tania

I couldn't agree more with the above answer ! My opinion is that if money is really an issue and you have a very good deal at Copacabana, that's okay, because despite Copacabana is a big beach, it is not that far from Ipanema anyway....Have fun !

mel

I stayed in Copa three years ago at the Sofitel Rio Palace.. It sucked and it was the second most expensive place to stay on Copa after the Copacabana Palace.. It was old and rundown.. I was really disappointed.. I liked Ipanema so much better, much cleaner, better atmosphere.. The hotel that really looked great was the Ceaser Palace,I think in Ipanema, or maybe the next beach over... A lot of the hotels on Copa are REALLY antiquated despite their brochures so be careful..

Nicole

My fiance and I already purchased our airfare/hotel to Rio for March 02. We are booked into a hotel in Copa, but I have a question...How far is it to get to Ipanema from Copa? If we take a taxi, about how much should it run? Or is there a public bus there?

Surlok

Of course there are busses, Nicole, and depending on where in Copa ( Copabana beach is nearly 3 miles lenght) your hotel is, you could even walk to Ipanema.<BR><BR>There are many types of busses, the smaller, green busses that ride on the coast, the regular busses, and the special busses, that we, cariocas, call " Frescao", or highly fresh because they are air conditionnned, whereas the others are not.The latter are safer and more expensive than the "quentao" or "hot" regular busses.<BR><BR>A taxi ride from mid Copa to Ipanema won't cost you more than 4 American Dollars.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S<BR><BR>

Nicole

Thanks for the info Surlok! Where I live (mid-west U.S.) some neighborhoods, even some cities like mine, aren't serviced by public bus. When I travel I usually enjoy taking public transportation, but I've just started researching Rio and so far, all I've read is that the metro isn't comprehensive. Is that true in your opinion?<BR>

Surlok

Nicole, <BR>the metro would be useful only if you were from going Copababana to Botafogo, or downtown. There aren't so far lines linking Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, heading to the Southern zone of the city ( the nicest area, from the nature point of view). There are, however, museums and churches, like the Candelaria, that are downtown.<BR><BR>Otherwise, if you mean to travel from Copa to Ipanema and Leblon, and touring the Corcovado and Sugar Loaf, I'm afraid you won't have other alternatives than using busses or taxies.<BR><BR>regards,<BR><BR>S

riobound

There are *many* buses is absolutely right! I always asked for number of a bus to take to a certain place, like "Centro". Then I would see all the buses witn "Centro" on them, but with different numbers from the one given to me. Not being too adventurous, I never got on any other buses other than the one suggested to me. I thought I might have wasted a lot of time waiting for *the* bus.

Surlok

Riobound, that's absolutely true-- way too many...<BR><BR>Being a Carioca myself, not always I know which bus shall I get-- there are so many busses and different routes whose final destination is "Centro" that you could have ended up in a totally different location than the one you wanted...So, I'd rather say that you "saved" a precious time, and spared yourself from an unecessary hassle..

dave h

Message: Personally, I would stay in Copa if I was travelling alone but in Ipanema if I was taking a girlfriend. Evening is nice for unattached persons in Copacabana. Daytime and evening are pleasant in both areas. I would suggest staying on the main beach avenue at night, concerning Copa. The farther you walk away from the direction of the beach in Copa, the more I would keep tabs on my surroundings and people during the night. Copa has some beautiful sights on the beach after nightfall, such as the Copacabana Palace Hotel, as well as the natural vistas which you see from Copa's viewpoint. Taxis are cheap for Americans so why not take them at night and walk to Ipanema during the day. It can be a long stroll but Rio has such natural beauty that you might not notice the distance. To hail a taxi, just point your hand toward the ground at a 45 degree angle. Getting a taxi on the beach is simple late at night in Copa. Late in the evening, no cars including your taxi will make a full stop at stopsigns. Don't think that your taxidriver has gone nuts. This is the way to get you to your destination at night, not to mention the fastest. Read the travel books about the ins and outs of using taxis and public transit in Rio. I would say this is mandatory. You'll have a great trip. I say "oi" to all the Brasileiros out there.

Nicole

Dave - Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate the etiquette on how to hail a taxi because I have seen drivers drive right past people because they weren't using local moves to hail them down! Anyway, thanks to everyone for the great advice. Many of the bookstores up here have very little in the way of guide books for South America.

Jared

All this info is awesome! My girlfriend and I are going to Rio and staying at Hotel Debret. Feedback would be appreciated. More importantly however, we would like to go white water rafting or see a football match. Is this reasonable? Ipanema.com says they can reserve these trips but we don't trust them to much because they already screwed up our original reservation at the hotel. We would not have had a room if we had not called the hotel directly to confirm. Just a warning to everyone who booked through ipanema.com-check your res. through the hotel! Any info would be appreciated.<BR>thanks<BR>Jared<BR>P.S. Surlok-you rule!<BR>

Surlok

Shish---Although I'm a carioca, meaning that I was born, raised, and I'm still living in Rio, I know nothing about white water rafting. If you had asked me about hang gliding, or surfing, or even skin diving, or sailing, I'd be able to say something, but white water rafting, sorry, I can't.<BR><BR>Now, football, again, I'm an ignorant about football. I never watch to the matches, don't even know which tournament or championship is happening now. Of course I know where Maracana is, I've been there many years ago, and often pass by, but that's all I know, unless for Romario and Ronaldinho..<BR><BR>I wish there was another carioca reading this thread, that can be more helpful than I am being.<BR><BR>Hotel Debret: maybe you should blame the hotel itself. Probably, they are blocking the rooms: since it's high season , the hotel is expecting to sell the rooms sooner or later, and doesn't want to pay Ipanema.com any commission. <BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

Helena

Jared,<BR><BR> you said that you'd like to watch a football match. Only one team in Rio ( called Fluminense) is classified to the final playoffs. You didn't mention the date you will be visiting Rio so, I don't known if the brazilian chapionship will still be running since it is the end of the season. Ask at your front desk if Fluminense is still playing and I am sure they will get you good tickets. It is safe and I bet you will enjoy it!!<BR> Feel free to e-mail me at the adress above. <BR><BR> Regards, Helena

Don

I have been going to Rio since 1980 and have stayed in a few different hotels during that time. To the person who asked about the Debret, I have stayed there recently and would reccomend it for the price. Great location, great staff, great breakfast and view. This is an old hotel but clean and noisy especially if you have a room towards the front and want to sleep late like I do, sometimes it's not possible. To the girl and her fiance who is going to Rio March 2, 2002, I will be there starting on March 1, 2002 maybe Ill see you and your fiance at the cafe in front of the Rio Atlantica which is a very nice hotel. During that time I am possibly planning a side trip to Buzios, the last time I was there was 15 years ago, I heard it has changed, can someone tell me if the night life is any good and if it is and I go during the week, is there any night life during the week, like Monday through Friday?