My wife and I are visiting Rio in early March for the first time. I booked Le Meridien in Copacabana at $160.00 US per night. I have been reading a lot of postings that say to stay in Ipanema - but the Cesar Park, at over $300.00 a night, is out of our budget. Should we (1) stay where we're at, or (2) book somewhere comparable, but in Ipanema? Please, any suggestions? We love to walk and explore, and want to be near shopping and restaurants.

Both locations are very nice. I personally prefer Ipanema, lot more residential, lots of stores and very nice restaurants. Also I find Ipanema much safer than Copacabana.
There is also Leblon, very similar to Ipanema.

We stayed in Copacabana 2 years ago and loved it.Took a cab to Ipanema, it was less crowded, just as many restaurants, cafes etc. Our only disappointments was when we realized the "Girl from Ipanema" was 54. Copa is a more central location and you'll be near lots of shopping and a mall or two.

do a search on comments by xymox, lot on copacabana and ipanema

Kingachgook, you will be fine exactly where you are, dont worry, whatever problems Rio has with petty theft is equally distributed among Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana, just use all precautions. The Meridian is in a fabulous location and taxis are cheap and you can go anywhere for just a few dollars. I stay in Copacabana all the time and as others never see a problem and I doubt statistically you will too. Enjoy and don't listen to the people who have been there just 1 or 2 times. You are near one of the biggest shopping malls in Rio (Rio Sul) plus Marius restaurant is right down the block.

Try the Everest Rio or Praia Ipanema. Both good choices, nice places. Another one that I like is the Sol Ipanema.

Definitely stay where you are. The Caesar Park is NOWHERE close to being worth double the price of Le Meridien, and IMHO, Ipanema is vastly overrated. Personally, I far prefer Copacabana, which has a better, wider, longer beach. Copacabana also has a FAR better range of hotels from the absolutely incomprable Copacabana Palace (which is where royalty and the true upper crust tends to stay) all the way down to more, uhh, earthy digs.

If you're looking for a real bargain, and don't mind staying a block off the beach, check out Luxor Continental. Good quality digs, excellent service, and rates that make a bargain hunters heart beat just a tick faster...

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

King,

I have some good friends who lived in Rio for many years and they all tell me not to hang out in Copa. Hey many here may have been and don't have a problem but when my friends, who are Brazilian, tell me this I know to listen.

My thought is if I really want to see Copa then I can take a taxi but to stay where people tell me not to wouldn't be smart. Actually if I do go I will be there before you so I can let you know how it was.

I guess then 50,000 tourists in Rio now are staying in the wrong place LOL.

Brazil: 2 Million in Rio Beach to Ring In the New Year
Written by Daisy Nascimento
Thursday, 30 December 2004
Hotels along the beaches of the Southern Zone of Rio are practically full for New Year's celebrations. In Copacabana, there are no more places left for people who want to see the fireworks display.

According to the vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Rio Hotels, Ângelo Vivacqua, this year's demand is greater than last year's, mostly due to foreign tourists.

According to Vivacqua, the tragedy that occurred in Asia may have made some tourists who had reservations in those countries change their plans and choose Rio de Janeiro.

The city's hotel network has 23 thousand rooms with a capacity to receive 50 thousand tourists. The estimated revenues, just from the room reservations, amount to US$ 14 million (40 million reais) during the New Year period.

When spending on holiday suppers, purchases, and tours are added in, revenues may attain US$ 44 million (120 million reais).

The eight rafts that will be used to launch the New Year's fireworks in Copacabana are all set to go. Nearly 200 tons of fireworks will be touched off in a presentation that will last 15 minutes, synchronized with a sound track composed of Brazilian songs.

These year's novelties include designs and effects that will color the sky, accompanying the rhythm of the music. The effects will range from flowers and circles to palm tree trunks.

In addition, a 300 meter-long firework cascade will illuminate the wall of the Copacabana Fort.

Over two million people are expected to participate in the festivities in Copacabana, which will have a stringent security scheme.

Two thousand military policemen will be spread along the entire beachfront, and 17 cameras installed on lampposts along Atlantic Avenue will monitor everything that moves.

Hey you can listen to Don and take your chances, no problem with me Personally I will listen to friends who have lived in these areas for several years and know first hand what happens. Yes crime is everywhere but it is just a fact that certain areas are worse than others.

Caliguy, Im just curious when your friends lived in Brazil, did they ever hang out in Copacabana?

I have lots of Brasilian friends and they never hang around Copacabana. I asked them the reason, prices was one and also they said there are much better places for locals to hang around.

Don,

I work with a company where the majority of workers are from Brazil. Not all are from Rio, in fact a lot are from Sao Paulo, but some are or have lived there. Each has told me that Copa is just not a good area to be in or is worse off than Ipanema. Now at the same time I understand that there is crime in all areas and you can't predict what will or will not happen, but still when people who have either lived there for periods of time or their entire lives tell me this then I have to listen. I am not sure in terms of dates when most of the people were there, I didn't really ask, but it wasn't like 10-20 years back, more like 2-5 years max before they came to the US.

I don't mean to argue with you about this because it is all personal opinion really. Everyone should be careful regardless of the area they are located. Plus there are many people who have probably had good and bad experiences at both locations

your right, I have been to Rio over 50 times and most of those times I stayed in Copacabana and everything has been cool. Just a couple of months ago I met a new friend in Rio she lives in Gavea which is 10 minutes outside of Copacabana. One night she came to visit me in Copacabana and we went for a walk on Ave. Atlantica and sat at a quiosk by the beach. She told me she never does this and I asked her if she liked it and she told me that the atmosphere was nice because of the hustle and bustle and all the people, we were perfectly happy there and safe.