Rio De Janeiro
Brazil
Date: 15 Oct 2006
Hotels in Rio de Janeiro featured in this programme
La Suite
Located in Joa, the Beverly Hills of Rio, La Suite
is the second boutique hotel from the creator of La Maison, and has been named one of the most romantic places in the world. La Suite enjoys all the perks and some of the pitfalls of being somewhere independently owned. It may not have all the five-star frills, this cliffside retreat has all the boutique-hotel design requisites, and an ocean view that's a sight for sore eyes. Guests can choose from seven dramatically colour-contrasting boudoirs. There is no restaurant, but breakfast and dinner are available upon request, and caipirinhas will happily flow until the cows come home. The hotel opened in May 2006 and is not fully completed, but guests will enjoy the soon-to-be-finished infinity pool and cabanas, where they can enjoy massages and beauty treatments.
La Maison
La Maisonwas the first boutique hotel of its kind to open in Rio, and its sophisticated decor appears straight from the pages of a fashion magazine. Located just ten minutes north of Ipanema, the hotel feels like a private residence. So stylish is this stopover they don't need to wow guests with in-room minibars or audiovisual equipment (this is a world away from corporate chain hotels) as the breathtaking surroundings and relaxed atmosphere, plus a swimming pool with a view, are usually more than sufficient to win the heart of most discerning travellers. Each room has a completely different design to match guests' personal fantasies: from the Changay (Shanghai), to the French Recamier. Breakfast and dinner, available upon request.
Hotel Relais Solar
Hotel Relais Solar is a hub for local artisans, located up in one of the oldest parts of Rio, in the cobbled hillside streets of Santa Teresa. The owners are proud of their new concept, ‘creative tourism’, which sees them offer more than a reasonably priced bed for the night in pretty surroundings. As Gwenaël Allan, the proprietor, says, 'Guests who have a passion for art, will be able to enjoy many initiatives beyond hotel services, such as tastings of regional Brazilian foods and drinks, local music and rhythm workshops, community tours – where guests can visit a number of social and cultural projects in the favelas, not to mention the rich and enchanting traditional tourist tours.' Activities such as food and drink tastings, music workshops and tours of favela communities are all on offer. The furnishings are all handmade by locals, and the colourful arts and crafts on display throughout are for sale.
