Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana

We were last in Copacabana in 2008, and stayed in a beachfront hotel. The place was clean, quiet and felt pretty safe. We went back in March and were disgusted by what we found. The whole of Copacabana had a pervading odour of sewage, which was overpowering if you went 1 block back behind the end of the ocean-front road. The traffic is appalling and continuous. The nice, serpentine-patterned cobbled pavements are now broken up by wear and tree roots, and nobody has seen fit to repair them. There is litter everywhere and lots of homeless people. The restaurants along the oceanfront are almost exclusively sports bars with huge TVs showing football and with very predictable and samey menus. As for the Hilton, most of the rooms are clustered around the lift shafts, and the booming noise whenever a lift goes up or down is horrible and goes on late into the night. The sewage smell creeps in through the a/c. The restaurants and bars are typically crowded and the menus limited and uninspiring. There were always long lines at reception when we were there, either trying to check in or out - or complaining about the lift noise or the dilapidated rooms, as we were. Friends who visited Rio last year stayed in Ipanema and had a much better experience.

What I loved most about this hotel was the view. Right on Copacabana Beach I had a room on the 37th floor. When I opened the curtains and saw that view, I said wow.! I could also see sugarloft from my room. There were just two floors above me. On 38th the gym and spa and on the 39th at the pool another 360 degree view Food was very good. Staff friendly and helpful and you’re right on Copacabana Beach where all the action is.

Management does not prepare for large arrivals & departures so there are long waits. The breakfast buffet serves hot food & coffee cold. Appreciated the upgrade & club level access. The Club Lounge was excellent.

Perfect location - couldn't think of a better one, just a few steps to the Copacabana beach, bars, restaurants and shops but in a quite area at the end of the promenade, lovely swimming pools and rooftop bar with sunning views on Copacabana beach, Christ the Redeemer and the Sugar loaf. Spacious room with sea view and good breakfasts.

Great three night stay! Our room was perfect-big corner room on the 31st floor. The breakfast buffet was really good with an omelet station, fresh juicer and a great array of items. Both pools are lovely. We didn’t try only because it rained each day sadly. We used the jacuzzi and steam and saunas. The location would have been great but again its was raining. Right off the beach. We had a guide and van so we easily got around. Lots of traffic though. There are restaurants near and a small store right next door for water etc. Fyi we felt safe everywhere we went.