RIO QUESTIONS AND HELP REQUEST
Dec 27th, 2007, 02:13 PM
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RIO QUESTIONS AND HELP REQUEST
Hi everyone,
Great site you all have been a help to me in the past and I wanted to thank you all for it.
My questions/ situation is the following. My wife and I were given a friends "points" (as he has many types of timeshares and often lets us use them.) We decided to go to Rio,as we have never been there before. Just for background info we travel a lot, mostly to Europe however we have been to Mexico several times as well as other beach destinations. We love history and enjoy the beach. We don't really drink or enjoy the night club scene. The timeshare got us a place at the Rio Orthon Palace on the Copacabana beach. My questions are as follows:
1)I have seen mixed reviews of the orthon palace either absolutely loved it or hated it. Since it is free we would like to use it and not book where we would have to pay. What rooms are the best what should we watch for and any other info about it would be great. Also is is safe around this hotel? I have heard (on the web) about some concerns about the nightclub party scene particularly a club called Help. Is this a concern as we are not partiers. (I can't even keep my eyes open past 11:00pm.)
2) what do suggest as Itinerary there as we are there for a week?
3) finally any suggestions cautions must see don't kind of info would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
David
Great site you all have been a help to me in the past and I wanted to thank you all for it.
My questions/ situation is the following. My wife and I were given a friends "points" (as he has many types of timeshares and often lets us use them.) We decided to go to Rio,as we have never been there before. Just for background info we travel a lot, mostly to Europe however we have been to Mexico several times as well as other beach destinations. We love history and enjoy the beach. We don't really drink or enjoy the night club scene. The timeshare got us a place at the Rio Orthon Palace on the Copacabana beach. My questions are as follows:
1)I have seen mixed reviews of the orthon palace either absolutely loved it or hated it. Since it is free we would like to use it and not book where we would have to pay. What rooms are the best what should we watch for and any other info about it would be great. Also is is safe around this hotel? I have heard (on the web) about some concerns about the nightclub party scene particularly a club called Help. Is this a concern as we are not partiers. (I can't even keep my eyes open past 11:00pm.)
2) what do suggest as Itinerary there as we are there for a week?
3) finally any suggestions cautions must see don't kind of info would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
David
Dec 27th, 2007, 06:19 PM
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Let me just start off by saying if I had an opportunity to stay at the Rio Othon Palace hotel for free I definitely would, no problem.
The hotel is probably 20 years old but I think they have been refurbishing it in recent years. It used to be one of the best hotels on Copacabana, so it has good bones, the hotel will be fine.
The best rooms are probably on 2 floors, they have a business/club floor but I don't know if your timeshare will allow that but of course then ocean front in any room would be great.
If you go to bed at 11 PM then generally you will not have any problem there as far as safety, Yes Help is close by the hotel and most of the girls who go there are working girls looking for lonely gringos so sometimes very late at night the area might attract muggers who are looking for a lonely drunken gringo so they can take his money. That's pretty much it with that neighborhood.
Also right next door is a very lively cafe called Meia Pataca which also attracts the same type of working girls but earlier in the evening starting around 5 PM after the beach, but no safety problems.
One other thing, the beach directly across the street also attracts the same element but it is very peaceful plus has good security. Just be careful of the guys renting chairs and selling drinks. Do not let them run a tab for you, pay for one beer or water at a time and know the price first, they tend to pad the bill, that’s how they make money. Generally if a beer is 3 reais they will ask for 5 or 6 but know the current price and tell them that you will only pay current price and not stupid tourist price. If you don’t want to deal with this just move away a block or 2 lets say in front of Bob’s hamburgers, no other vendors will try to rip you off except for the guys in front of the Rio Othon Palace.
The hotel is probably 20 years old but I think they have been refurbishing it in recent years. It used to be one of the best hotels on Copacabana, so it has good bones, the hotel will be fine.
The best rooms are probably on 2 floors, they have a business/club floor but I don't know if your timeshare will allow that but of course then ocean front in any room would be great.
If you go to bed at 11 PM then generally you will not have any problem there as far as safety, Yes Help is close by the hotel and most of the girls who go there are working girls looking for lonely gringos so sometimes very late at night the area might attract muggers who are looking for a lonely drunken gringo so they can take his money. That's pretty much it with that neighborhood.
Also right next door is a very lively cafe called Meia Pataca which also attracts the same type of working girls but earlier in the evening starting around 5 PM after the beach, but no safety problems.
One other thing, the beach directly across the street also attracts the same element but it is very peaceful plus has good security. Just be careful of the guys renting chairs and selling drinks. Do not let them run a tab for you, pay for one beer or water at a time and know the price first, they tend to pad the bill, that’s how they make money. Generally if a beer is 3 reais they will ask for 5 or 6 but know the current price and tell them that you will only pay current price and not stupid tourist price. If you don’t want to deal with this just move away a block or 2 lets say in front of Bob’s hamburgers, no other vendors will try to rip you off except for the guys in front of the Rio Othon Palace.
Dec 31st, 2007, 06:08 AM
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The business/club floors, I don't know what floor they're on but they must be high floors. You will get a fabulous view from the hotel on a high ocean front/view room. But I have stayed in rooms in that hotel that had no view at all and it was fine. The only difference between one room and another is just going to be the view.
Feb 1st, 2008, 09:54 AM
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You didn't say what timeframe is your trip because I read the other day in the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that the Disco Help that you had concern about in that location is going to close. So it looks like the Government is looking to clean up that area.
Mar 2nd, 2008, 02:33 AM
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hi, when are you coming and how long for, also what are your interests ? Let me know and I will try to help you. You must of course visit the various beaches, go to the statue of christ, go to the sugar loaf, do a tour of the historical centre, I advise getting a guide to show you around for the first day or so to get your bearing s and good safety tips and get the rundown on the place, historically, culturally etc. Let me know if I can help more. Help has finally closed down. Right in front of the othon palace is an evening market every night, fun and not noisy.
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