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Botafogo Easy HostelRio de Janeiro (Botafogo) |
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 Location/Contact Details
Ratings & Comments
Would be great with a different owner Standing water in a pool nobody uses in the front, providing a friendly atmosphere for the creation of dengue mosquitoes. Anyone can see this when walking through the front door. Except, apparently, the people who make inspections about this very type of thing. Apparently the owner Sr. Carlos has bribed the right people at the Prefeitura of Rio because otherwise there is no explanation why is allowed to keep this dengue breeding experiment in his front yard. Never heard of dengue? There's no cure for it and it kills scores of people in Rio every year. This hostel is in open breach of the law by keeping an unused pool of stagnant water. Mosquitoes are everywhere, it really baffles me how the place has been allowed to function like this. Breakfast? Absolute worst of any hostel I have ever stayed in. In fact, it is a joke to even call it breakfast. I suppose the shortage of things like fresh fruit in a city like Rio can really limit your options in the hospitality industry. (sarcasm). Try any number of other hostels in Brazil -- in São Paulo, Salvador, Olinda, Ouro Preto, Belo Horizonte are some that I have been to -- and you will see just how chintzy and cheap this place is about their breakfast. I had no working electricity in my room. This would be a more minor inconvenience if I had not found this out by having left my cell phone charging the first day, only to go downtown to a meeting and realize my phone was still dead and I had to way to contact the people I was meeting up with. Beware of hidden charges -- The owner insists on charging people R$15 if you need to leave any luggage after checkout but before you leave Rio (if you have a flight any later than the 11 a.m. checkout time). The luggage is not locked up or in any kind of secure place at all. The charge for this "service" is actually robbery. No other hostel I have ever been to does this -- letting you leave your things for a while is a courtesy extended by most places that want their customers to come back someday, and I have never witnesses hostelers taking advantage of that courtesy. Owner is a tyrant over his employees who all fear him. He takes no interest in the interesting people from all over the world who make his livelihood, and is just an overall unpleasant person. The same owner allows smoking on the ground level inside the hostel. This is unfortunate for anyone staying in rooms on the level above this, since smoke rises and has an amazing capacity to move around corners and door frames into the bedrooms. If you have a heavy smoker staying there at the same time as you, and you have any smoke or dust allergies, forget about it -- your room will smell and feel like a filthy dive-bar when you head up to go to sleep. I had to crank up the overhead fan even though it was winter and not at all hot in the room. Need more reasons? I can give them. Do I sound too "picky"? Well for being on the higher end of what you will pay for a hostel in Brazil, I really don't think so. Depending on the amount of time you will be in Rio, I strongly suggest looking into other alternatives like renting a small place through one of the many agencies in the Zona Sul, staying in one of other hostels that aren't run by cheap-skate crooks, or even springing for a modest hotel. In more residential neighborhoods like Flamengo or Botafogo, there are better options. The staff, on the other hand, are all cool and deserve extra points for putting up with the huge #%!@# who is their boss. I will never stay at this hostel again, unless I hear it is under new management.
I stayed at this hostel in March 2006 for 24 nights and had an amazing time. This hostel is extremely beautiful and clean and nicely furnished and well maintained, also with an outdoor patio area. The vibe is laid-back and friendly... the staff are polite and helpful. The atmosphere is chill... it's a place to kick back and hang out, without being rowdy and stupid. On Saturday nights they have R$15 bbq which is an absolute feast. As a neighborhood, i like Botafogo because it's well located... accessable to anywhere in Rio via bus and subway; and because it's not a touristy area... like, say, Copacabana (which is extremely tacky by comparison). It was my first time in Brazil and this place totally felt like home by the time i (relectantly) had to leave. By the way... this place should not be confused with "Carioca Easy Hostel", which is over in Urca.
Very nice hostel with really great staff. The only problem is that it is a little far from Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. If you are looking for a cozy hostel that has a great atmosphere for getting to know other travelers you will like this hostel. They were so helpful that when I decided to move to another hostel a little closer to Ipanema, they called up and made the reservation for me!
This is one of THE BEST hostels I've ever stayed in! It has a great atmosphere, fabulous layout (you instantly feel at home) and cool people. Staff are friendly and very helpful. Activities are arranged if you want them; otherwise you can just hang by the pool with a beer, chill in the lounge or partake of the super BBQs! We ended up extending our stay in Rio, and returning for a second go! TOP HOSTEL!!!
This is a cool and friendly hostel in an amazing city. I'll be back!!! Have you visited this Hostel? Post your comments here.
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4.2 Average from 5 Ratings
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