I am a single female looking for a great hotel in the Ipanema/ Leblon area. I would like an oceanfront room , between $100-$150.
I will be there for 4 nights, beginning August 28th.
Any recommendations?

Yes, take a look at the Ipanema Plaza.

I did not know that Ipanema Plaza was waterfront. I thought it was a block from the beach. I too am looking for a Rio Hotel and I can tell you that searching for the right place on the beach is somewhat difficult and it is not just about language or communication skills. This subject has not been adequately covered for some time. I will post the outcome of the contacts I make during the next week. So far I favour Caesar Park, Marina Palace (if I can ever get somebody to tell me what the distinction between the 19 room types they have offered me is), then maybe the Sofitel at the end of Copacabana and a short walk into Ipanema. I have tried BrazilNuts - refer to my post "Blame It On Rio" - they were offering a good rate at the Caesar Park Ipanema inclusive of sightseeing tours and connections. It seems to me that Rio is a place where you need to get everything well planned and on paper where possible. There appear to be all sorts of games players there !!!

I am now looking into the Praia Ipanema which offered me some special rates.You may want to look into that. It is on the beach, and seems like a nice place. However, I would love to stay at the caesar Park, but they seem way too expensive. What were the rates offered by Brazilnuts?

Yes the Ipanema Plaza is one block from the beach but it is a short block and it fits into her budget that's why I recommended it. Another option may be the Sol Ipanema which is right on Viera Souta but not as new as the Ipanema Plaza but the location desired.

I agree with Dondiega on the Ipanema Plaza. My daughter and I just returned last week from Brazil and that is where we stayed. When I opened my window I could see the beach, which took us less than 3 minutes to get there. If you book on expedia you can get a room for $105 per night (at least you could when I checked). However, since I had to constantly changed my plans since I was on an airline pass, so I just booked through the hotel.

Since I have my little map with me the following hotels appears to be directly facing the beach in order starting in Leblon all the way to Copacabana:
Marina All Suites
Marina Place
Caesar Park Ipanema
Sol Ipanema
Miramar Palace
Luxor Regente
Rio Othon Palace
Pestana Rio Atlantica
JW Marriott
California Othon Classic
Luxor Copacabana
Olinda Othon Classic
Excelsior Copacabana
Copacabana Palace
Hotel Rio International
GranDarrell OuroVerde
Le Meridien Copacabana
Leme Othon Palace

Hope this helps, Denise

As a single female, I would definitely recommend the Ipanema/Leblon area like you requested - possibly the furthest toward Copacabana being the Sofitel. I wouldnt stay in Copa as a single female. Also - as a side note, I visited (did not stay in) the Rio Othon Palace in Copa & was really turned off by the crowds there.

Hi ago - I have now received rates from 6 hotels on the oceanfront in Leblon, Ipanema and the Ipanema end of Copacabana. If you are limited in budget I believe you should contact the Sol Ipanema and ask them for their very best low season rate for an oceanfront room. I think you will be happy with the result. Second prize goes to Sofitel at about USD 160 for an oceanfront room. If I get better rates for Marina, Caesar Park, Sofitel I will post here. We will stay at the Sol if I cant get a better rate than the USD 290+ quoted by Caesar and I am trying to get Marina to understand my request.

Why are you lloking to spend so much money in a oceanfront view hotel room...any way you will be only sleeping there. Life is Brasil, is outside, street, beach....
I have stayed in a really nice hotel in Ipanema, 3x already, 2 block from the beach, right on the Visconde de Piraja...
Hoteis Vermont
Rua Visconde de Piraja 254
Ipanema,Rio de Janeiro
e mail: [email protected]
ph 2522-0058 fx 2267-7046
breakfast is included, stores, banks, restaurants all over. Also Feira Hippie is only 2 blocks away, you must go...only on Sunday.

Rua C

Miguel. I wish to stay in an oceanfront view location because that is my choice and I have worked hard to earn the ability to do it. We like water views and we will not be sleeping at all times when we are in the room. We will experience the life -- the music and the people.

Hi SydneySteve! Thanks for all the info. I have talked to a few people who continue to tell me that the Ipanema Plaza is great. They have a standard room with a "lateral" ocean view for $125 including breakfast. It sounds wonderful, but I am thinking that one of the ameneties should be a chiropractor .The Meridien sounds good too, but its a bit too close to Copa.
Let me know what you have found.

The Meridian is a fine hotel but if you are a single female you might enjoy it there more than the Ipanema Plaza as the hotel is right on Princessa Isabelle Blvd well noted for being Rio's red light district, you would not be lacking for a date I can assure you. On the other hand if you stay at the Ipanema Plaza which is on a more upscale residential street with nice restaurants and bars then you may be staying in your room more trying to bend and look at the side view to the sea as nobody will give you a second look on that street as there are many beautiful girls in Rio to keep everybody busy.

We are off to the renovated section of Marina Palace with views both out to sea and down the beach. They have a good honeymoon package !

Dear Dondiega, You would be surprised at how many second looks I get,on any street, all over the world.And since I am also a professor at Yale University, that's not so bad.Thanks for the warning about the red light district. I just crossed the Meridien off my list.
Sydney Steve, I will look at the Marina Palace. It sounds like it has potential. So you will be on a honeymoon How wonderful!

Ago, thank you for that information, when did you say you will be in Rio?

I stayed in the Ipanema Plaza last Feb. in one of those "lateral" ocean-view rooms. No neck-twisting required. There are windows along two walls---the primary windows have a city view, and there's a smaller window on the adjacent wall that directly faces the beach. So you can clearly see surf conditions and how quickly the crowds are arriving.

Thank you, Boswell. Did you like the Ipanema Plaza? was it a nice room? Do these rooms have a balcony?

Yes, I enjoyed staying in the Ipanema Plaza and I intend to stay there again. (I prefer it to the Sofitel, where I stayed on my first trip to Rio. The Sofitel is nice too, actually---well located if you want to explore both Copacabana and Ipanema, and the view from the pool terrace is unbeatable. But now that I know the city a little better I prefer an Ipanema location. And the the Ipanema Plaza isn't so huge and impersonal.)

The room was quite nice, without being particularly luxurious. Bathroom was a little small but adequate. Breakfast buffet was good, and you have a choice of eating in the dining room or on a sort of veranda overlooking rua Farme de Amoedo. I enjoyed the rooftop pool, where I always went for an afternoon swim and caipirinha after the beach.

The hotel is a block away from what is considered the gay section of Ipanema beach, but the crowd is always very mixed.

Ago, I told you that your wern't going to get a second look near the Ipanema Plaza as Boswell has confirmed here. But anyway, Farme Amoeda has one of my favorite restaurants in Rio which is Mio's which is right across the street, its Italian and great wine list. Plus on that street there are plenty of bars and restaurants, great spot.