Benefits of renting a short term apartment in Rio de Janeiro

Short term apartments in Rio de Janeiro

Renting an apartment to stay in can be a great way to save money while you visit Rio de Janeiro. Not only can apartments more easily accommodate larger groups; you can often prepare simple meals in the apartment and do laundry in the building, yielding even greater savings. Short-term apartment rentals also offer visitors the chance to get an idea of what it's really like to live in Rio de Janeiro -- away from the concierge and crowds of hotels.

1. Understand What You're Getting
Hosted apartments may or may not include breakfast, and you also might have a bathroom you share with the host. Many hosts are interested in meeting visitors and share great tips and insight with their guests -- others are most interested in the financial gains of hosting. Know the condition and amenities available in whatever property you rent. It's important to request references and recent photos.

2. Ask About Pets, Children and Smoking
If you have pets or children traveling with you, check with the agency to ensure that you get appropriate accommodations. With most apartments, young children are not a problem, but they may be in hosted accommodations. Apartments tend to be non-smoking, but ask to be sure. If you're a smoker ask about appropriate properties. Many Copacabana, Ipanema and other Zona Sul apartment buildings do not accommodate pets, but again, clarify when you reserve (& be aware you will probably be asked for a security deposit.)

3. Book Ahead for the Best Choices
While there are frequently apartments available on short notice, you'll have the most options for location and amenities the further out you reserve your accommodations.

4. Know the Cancellation and Payment Policies
Cancellation policies vary widely, so be sure that you understand the policy and charges associated with canceling your reservation or changing the dates of your visit. Even if you reserve with a credit card, payment for your accommodations may be required in cash or Traveler's checks -- clarify when you reserve. Some services charge a cleaning fee when you leave, and others include the cleaning fee in the cost of the apartment.

5. Get Details in Advance
Unlike a hotel where there is always someone at the front desk, you might have a shorter window of opportunity to get the keys to your apartment. Be sure to confirm where/when you'll be picking up the keys, and bring along contact information in the event that your flight is delayed or your plans change.

6. Maid Service
Short term apartment rentals rarely include daily maid service, though you can often pay extra if this is essential to you. This means you'll need to make your own bed and you might need to reuse the towels provided for several days before they are replaced. Ask when booking to find out the specific policy.

7. Apartments Might Need to Be Juggled
"A hotel has hundreds of rooms in the event that a room number needs to be changed or client needs to be moved. Approximately 25% of the time the original apartment number which is booked needs to be changed within a building. Approximately 10% of the time a client needs to be relocated to another building. Often long term clients extend and the short term bookings are the ones which need to be juggled."

8. Save Money With Self-Catering
You can save quite a bit of money by staying in an apartment -- particularly if you choose to have breakfast or lunch in your apartment. This is a great chance to check out some of Rio de Janeiro´s fantastic supermarkets and gourmet stores and save money at the same time.

9. Be Courteous
Keep in mind that you'll often be staying in apartment buildings where many people live full-time. In Brazil, and Rio especially it is very important to get along with the doorman (or doormen). These people can help you in case of a problem. Greet them when you leave and arrive at the building. Try your best to keep walkways clear if you're waiting in the lobby and don't crowd yourself into elevators with all your luggage when they are full of tenants. Also, keep in mind that folks have to go to work in the morning, so keep your voices down in hallways and other common areas.

RONALDINHO WILL DEBUT FOR FLAMENGO !

RONALDINHO GAUCHO, one of Brazil´s most famous footballers of all time, will make his debut on February 2. He will play his first match for his new club, Flamengo, at Rio´s Engenhao Stadium. The match will be against Nova Iguassu, as part of the fifth round of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship. Until now Flamengo is doing very well, since it has won the first 4 matches.

Meanwhile, Flamengo´s archrival, Vasco da Gama, is in a completely different situation. The team has lost all three matches, and after losing the game against Boavista by 3-1, captain Carlos Alberto nearly hit club president Roberto Dinamite when he came into the dressing room and complained to the players for their poor performance. The day after the match, Dinamite fired coach PC Gusmao, and banned Carlos Alberto from playing in the next matches. The situation became worse on Sunday, January 30, when Vasco da Gama lost to archrivals Flamengo by 2-1, in the fourth round of the Carioca (Rio State Championship).

Majority of tourists approve of Rio de Janeiro

According to Destakrio, a local newspaper, 88% of tourists will be returning for holidays in the city. The majority of tourists that visit Rio are from Europe (45%) and North America.

a) 40% of the visitors approved of the local hospitality.

b) 30% liked the natural scenery of the city

c) 5% approved of local food

The most visited places where:

1) Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf) (36%)

2) Corcovado and Christ Statue (32%)

3) Beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema (27%)

PRICES OF APARTMENTS IN RIO DE JANEIRO (DECEMBER 2010)

AVERAGE PRICES BY DISTRICT:

COPACABANA:

1 BEDROOM APART: R 1600

2 BEDROOM APART: R2600

3 BEDROOM APART: R3000

IPANEMA:

1 BEDROOM APART: R 1700

2 BEDROOM APART: R3450

3 BEDROOM APART: R6990

LEBLON:

1 BEDROOM APART: R 3230

2 BEDROOM APART: R4480

3 BEDROOM APART: R7325

CENTRO:

1 BEDROOM APART: R 600

2 BEDROOM APART: R800

3 BEDROOM APART: R1500

FRENCH COUPLE BUSTED WITH "MACONHA"

FRENCHIES ARRESTED BY POLICE OFFICERS AT Chapéu-Mangueira FAVELA
by Dan RJ

A year ago the Mayor of Rio had a great idea: set up police stations in the favelas. They are called UPPs (Police Pacifying Units in the Portuguese acronym). Since then all the favelas on the border with Copacabana are relatively peaceful. Before the UPPs were established, it was frequent to hear shots fired by automatic weapons, and the noise of fireworks being set off . There were two reasons for the fireworks to be exploded : 1) to warn the trafiickers that the police were to enter the favela 2) to alert buyers that the traffickers were selling maconha, cocaine or crack. One of the most troblesome favelas was that of Chapeu-Mangueira, near Princesa Isabel Avenue in the district known as Leme, on the northern side of Copacabana. On January 17, 2011, EXTRA, a local newspaper,informed that the cops from the UPP at Chapeu-Mangueira, arrested a French couple, identified as Rolse Antony Fransos, (34 years old )and Maria Cristalli Marcadon, (23). They were living at the Favela , and after searching their home, the cops found that they had 400 grams of "maconha" (marijuana, cannabis sativa) hidden in the fridge.

To make matters worse, Rolse had a great idea and offered the officers a payment of R$250 in order to be left free. Both were taken to the 13th Police Station at Ipanema and jailed accused of drug trafficking. They will go on trial in a few months.

RIO´S ECONOMY IS BOOMING AS URBAN VIOLENCE DECLINES

BY DANRJ:

According to "O Globo" , a local newspaper, the industrial production in the State of Rio de Janeiro increased 5,5% in November, while the national average went down 0.1%. This is just one sign of recovery for the Rio economy, that had been lagging behind for decades compared to the rest of Brazil. After being chosen to host the 2016 Olympics de 2016 and the final of the 2014 Fifa World Cup, Rio has become the center of global attention. There has also been a drastic reduction in urban violence urbana and a more optimistic atmosphere for business. For example in October 2010 there were 317 murders in the city, while in the same month of 2008 there were 454 violent deaths. In a recent Global Metro Monitor report published by the London School of Economics and the Brookings Institution. of the 150 main cities in the world, Rio has seen the biggest leap in the rankings, from the 100th position to 10th.

RONALDINHO FINALLY SIGNS UP FOR FLAMENGO

by DANRJ

RONALDINHO GAUCHO promised Flamengo fans to give his best effort during the 2011 Brazilian championship. The famous midfielded was confirmed today as the new signing for Rio´s most popular football club.
"I was well received by the Flamengo fans when I arrived in Rio de Janeiro . They can expect the best from me. I am glad to be back in Brazil and I am keen to play for Flamengo, " said the player in the Flamengo website.
Ronaldinho´s contract is until 2014, and also he wants to recover form and play in the 2014 World Cup. Ronaldinho always said that he wanted to live in Rio, where he has beachfront apartment in the exclusive Barra da Tijuca neighborhood,where he likes to play "foot-volley". Meanwhile, in the southern city of Porto Alegre, the fans of Gremio, (Ronaldinho´s first club in Brazil), have attacked his brother´s house with stones and have published threats in several websites. The fans were expecting Ronaldinho to return to Gremio, but after his decision to play for Flamengo, have accused the player of being "a mercenary" and a "sellout".
Ronaldinho Gaucho, was fundamental during the 2002 World Cup in Korea, when Brazil won the trophy for the fifth time. He was elected Best Player of the World by Fifa in 2004 and 2005.

RECONSTRUCTION OF MARACANA STADIUM MAY TAKE LONGER

The cost of remodelling Rio´s Maracana Stadium may cost up to 1 billion Brazilian Reals, and also will take longer than expected. A local press article stated that the Consórcio Maracanã Rio 2014, the company in charge of the project has discovered that more parts of the original structure of the stadium, that was built in 1950, are deteriorating. Therefore the reconstruction will not be ready by December 2012 as was originally planned, but only six months later, in time for the Confederations Cup in 2013.
At present the cost of the project is estimated at R$712 million. A local expert called João Luiz Casagrande, said that the original metallic and concrete structures were planned to last 50 years, but Maracana Stadium has been in use for 60 years.

BOPE SOLDIER MURDERED IN RIO DE JANEIRO

BY DAN RJ:

On December 29, 2010, a member of BOPE (aka Tropa de Elite , Rio´s elite police special forces) identified as Alessandro Costa Lopes was shot to death in a suburb on the northern area of the city. It is still not clear who or why killed Alessandro, but it was a big blow for the morale of this organization. The funeral was held on Monday 2nd of January. Even so, in its 30 years of existence, only 19 BOPE soldiers have been killed in action, while the numbers of drug traffickers killed by BOPE reaches thousands. During the New Year´s Eve weekend, apart from Alessandro, two other police officers, (but not members of BOPE) were murdered in Rio, one was shot to death as he arrived at his home, and another as he tried to stop men from stealing his car.

TROPA DE ELITE 2
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