In general I was very pleased with my stay at Marina Palace. I agree with most of the reviews: safe area, nice staff, great breakfast with a nice view of the beach.

I will therefore try to comment of the area surrounding the hotel.

* Dont take the hotels advice on going to the Christo statue. There is no reason to use 4 hours in a crowded bus when you for R$ 20 can take a cab enjoing the lake of Lagoa to the train station that brings you directly to charming train that climbs the mountain up to the Christo statue. The train costs R$30 and if you are more than 1 person then you save not only time but also money.

* The hotel is located just after beach tower number 11 (the beachtowers starts at number 1 at Cocabana and ends around number 12 at Leblon). The best place at the Ipanema beach is however at number 9 (where all the locals hang out). Finding a hotel ... i.e. Inpanema Beach Hotel will save you a 2km walk each day.

* The roof terace is beeing renovated these days. So dont get your expectations high if you wanna enjoy the view I never enjoyed.

* Make sure to check your bill when you leave. I spend 2 min adjusting it from R$ 469 to R$ 355. Worth a little effort.

* The hotel offers a great magazine called 'MyRio' free of charge. My advice is to read it when you arrive. It contains some great advice and also descriptions about the different areas of Rio. Especially the recommendations about dining and clubs are really good. But dont ask in the reception. They will send you to the most expensive restaurants in Rio. And being in Rio there is not any reasons for going to such places. Staying at the hotel my two favourite places were 'Guanabara' and 'Jobi'.

* Ask for a east-faced room (looking towards Ipanema/Cocabana). It gives you not only a view to the beach but also to the Christo statue ... and a stunning sunrise each morning.

Mick *

Just left Rio having spent 6 nights at Marina Palace. It's a very nice hotel, and as many have already said, the breakfast is outsanding, with a great view of the beach to boot!

On the first day I arrived I also sampled a buffet lunch which was spectacular.

The room was not particularly up to date but was spacious, comfortable, and had all the necessary amenities (although the safe costs an extra 3 reals per day).

The third elevator is STILL out of action and I expect it probably will be for eternity. I'd recommend requesting a low floor and just use the stairs to get to and from your room (they are marked 'staff only' but using them saved me several long waits for the two working elevators).

The roof top pool and gym are also being refurbished and were out of use but I was able to use the gym and rooftop pool at the Marina All Suites which is right next door. The gym there is reasonably well equipped, but small. There's also a Sauna, and the pool is tiny...but what a view!

The reception staff were very helpful and friendly and spoke excellent english. Vitoria recommended a company called New Rio Hiking for a 2 day trip to Ilha Grande, which was extremely good fun (although it rained both days!). It's a pricy trip compared with some others around but the Poussada that they use...''Porto Girassol" is absolutely fantastic, and run by the world's sweetest lady.

The only negative aspect that I encountered at the hotel was the rather unsavoury tactic of the bellboys quoting ridiculous rates for taxi rides to Copacabana. Luckily I had already taken plenty of yellow cabs and knew the correct rates (between 8 and 15 reals to Copacabana dependent upon traffic). Another guest at the hotel was quoted 50 reals for a trip to the Copacabana Palace! Myself and the other (american) guest pointed this out to the manager and he promised to address the issue. If you are going to use the 'hotel' taxis, I'd recommend asking at reception first and getting them to give you the fixed rates which are actually quite reasonable. But I'd also say that you shouldn't worry about using the yellow cabs.

All in all I would highly recommend staying here.

I just returned from Rio less than a month ago and I had a fabulous time! The Marina is located in a very safe and friendly neighborhood. Everyone in the hotel is extremely friendly and helpful! From the minute we walked in the lobby, we were in awe of how beautiful and clean the hotel was. Although our room was not the most updated it did have an ocean view. Do visit the rooftop pool and bar for an amazing view! The free daily breakfast is also more than I could ever expect! The exotic fruits, delicious juices, yummy pastries and rich coffee will leave you full and ready to go out and experience all Rio has to offer. Good restaurants to visit: Casa de Feijoada in Ipanema(beware of the extremely potent shot of liquor), Barra Brasa (very strong caipirinhas) and a Thai restaurant only a few blocks away from the hotel (creamy coconut soup is spicy and to die for!). Also, be sure to visit Bob's Burgers for a post drinking, I'm trying to prevent a hangover snack. Nightlife: try Carioca de Gema for live music, stroll through Lapa on Friday or Saturday night for awesome free live music outdoors, Bar Bracarense (Leblon), Jobi (Leblon and open very late) and Melt (pronounced Melch) for a club atmosphere. Beware of flip flop crooks on the beach! I had my flip flops stolen on day two by I suppose local teens who were camped out next to us in Leblon.

We stayed at the hotel for a week, and the room, the views from the room, and roof pool were excellent. The staff were very helpful and spoke good english.

The staff also recommended places to see and vist, which became very helpful.

The buffet breakfast was also good and the location was brilliant, close too many shops and restuarants, however more choice of resturants were further afield.

We filled in a survey form regards the hotel when leaving and received a personal email stating the points we raised in the form, which was nice to have the feedback.

Recommend the hotel......very good!!

We stayed at the Marina Palace from March 19 - 25, and the hotel was everything we expected. Our room was clean and updated. (Our friend's bathroom had not been updated, but the room itself was fine). The front desk was helpful and the breakfast overlooking the beach was outstanding. There was every kind of fruit, pastry and bread you could imagine. They will prepare waffles or an omlete if you ask. We used the internet several times with a small fee. We preferred the location in Leblon--it was quieter and less crowded. The Marina Palace was still within walking distance of restaurants (we loved Le Coin II) and shopping. We felt completely safe in Rio walking the streets in Ipanema and Cococabana with children. The Brazilians were very friendly and we had no problems with the language barrier. We used the hotel's drivers, Marco and Botelo to go sightseeing and I highly recommend them. The hotel has several drivers parked outside on the side street, and happened upon them accidently! They are not advertised so we were not sure if the Brazilian hotel guests just know they are available. They are easy to spot--all wearing black pants and green shirts. They even took us to the airport. Overall, this hotel is a great value. The only negative which has been mentioned before was one elevator was out of service the entire time we were there and the other two were slow!

I stayed at the Marina Palace for a week. The big selling points to this beach-front hotel include its proximity to nice restaurants in Leblon, and the gorgeous rooftop views. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the breakfast buffet with windows over-looking the beach is fabulous, with lots of fresh, exotic fruit. On the downside, one of the three elevators was consistently out of service. It's not unusual to wait more than ten minutes for an elevator. We also had a leak in our ceiling and I noticed mold growth in the hallway. So, overall, the building does need some work, but the safe and convenient location of the hotel, coupled with the mesmerizing rooftop views make staying here worthwhile.

Excellent choice...just got back from my first time ever to Rio...(1) loved the location--right across the street from beach in a very safe upscale area of town (crime very overrated, unless you stay in Copacabana area); (2) staff was most helpful; (3) rooms good size and adequate and clean; (4) good value. Overall, would definitely recommend this hotel.

I stayed at the Marina Park hotel for 4 days and really enjoyed it. It's a good 4 * hotel. The location is very safe and good, beachfront. Rooms were very confortable , buffet breakfast excellent and plentiful, with a wide choice. The staff couldn't be nicer and more attentive. The front desk staff recommended us a great restaurant nearby. A must was also the free internet .

I love Rio and my stay there was really amazing as by the time I was there a Brazilian soap opera that was also running in Portugal was being filmed at the lobby and at the front of the hotel. So, it was great to see many actors we use to see on tv right before our eyes. I really recommend this hotel.

November 2004

Good location but the room I stayed in (Deluxe room via Amazon) seemed a bit worn - not dirty apart from mysterious cigarette ash in the bidet when I arrived, but worn in the sense of having seen better days.

Only two lifts were working (out of three) when I was there - so service to the 26 floors was slow. Also the lobby seemed to be crowded always with lots of people hanging around.

Beware the doormen's offer to find you a cab. One offered me a cab to the train station at the bottom of the Christ Statue for 40 Reals - the driver turned out to be some unlicensed guy in a clapped out Ford Escort.

I hailed a licensed cab on the road outside which got me there for 15 Reals.

Breakfast in the morning was pretty good in a nice clean restaurant. Location immediately across from beach was also good.

Toiletries in room were interesting - first hotel I have been in that included a free pack of three condoms along with the shower cap and sewing set!

Marina Palace Hotel is located in the Leblon neighborhood, a most excellent and safe area - with a good number of restaurants at an easy walking distance, and situated right across the street from the beach. The room and bathroom were spacious and clean, the king size bed comfortable...we stayed in room 1603 which overlooks the beach...unfortunately, the windows were bolted shut. The breakfast is absolutely delicious; a buffet consisting of assorted fresh tropical fruits and juices, cereals, breads, pasteries, coldcuts, cheese, yogurt, milk and eggs (R22 per person) and is served in a room also overlooking the beach. In the afternoons, after running around the city, go to the pool patio on the rooftop, and enjoy the soft breezes as the sun sets while sipping on an amazing caipirmha. Should we return to Rio de Janeiro we would certainly stay here again.