Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza

The best way to describe this hotel is that it’s a 3 star hotel in a 5 star location (so I’ll split down the middle and give it 4 stars). The hotel itself isn’t anything special. It’s small and a little on the dated side (a renovation couldn’t hurt) but the location is fantastic. Seriously, it’s in the heart of Ipanema Beach just steps away from the beach.
I originally booked a standard room but was upgraded to a deluxe room upon arrival. The main difference between the standard room and the deluxe room is the size. Standard rooms come with either two single beds or a queen bed and deluxe rooms come with either a queen or a king bed. Additionally, some deluxe rooms (see my pictures), have a separate sofa bed sleeping area that can be closed off from the main room. It’s not really a separate room so I won’t call it that but just a small sitting area with a sofa bed and table.
My deluxe room with a king bed was large and spacious. It’s not the most beautifully decorated room but whatever. It was clean, simple and furnished with a flat screen TV, work desk, mini-​bar fridge and in-​room safe. The enclosed bathroom had a shower tub combo, single sink, toilet and bidet and was stocked with generic bath and body products.
The staff was fantastic. They all spoke English fairly well and did their best to help me with everything from setting up day tours to providing me with an electrical adapter because I forgot mine at home. Total noob mistake, I know. The on-​site restaurant was a little on the expensive side (Asian fusion) but it was tasty and had the best people watching views of the strip. Daily breakfast was included in my rate and it was delicious. There was a good mix of hot and cold dishes from eggs and sausages to fruits, pastries and cold cuts.
Hotel amenities include a rooftop pool, lounge and sauna. But you’re just steps away from one of the best beaches in the world so I recommend you walking across the street to Ipanema Beach. The hotel has complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas. They are first come, first served so get there early to reserve one (or two).
Overall, was this my favorite hotel? Not really. But would I stay here again? Absolutely. The prices are decent. The location is fantastic and the hotel itself is not bad.
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Quando escolhi o hotel Ipanema Plaza foi por três motivos: a bandeira Golden Tulip, o café da manhã incluído na diária e a excelente localização. O check in foi rápido, com atendimento atencioso. Ao entrar no quarto, o forte cheiro de umidade nos fez solicitar novo quarto, no que fomos prontamente atendidos. Em ambos os quartos me chamou a atenção a reforma meia boca que fizeram. Atrás do espaldar da cama, nota-​se uma parede descascada e com aspecto de suja. O ar condicionado faz barulho e pinga água sem parar, deixando o piso do quarto sempre molhado. Ainda bem que o piso é de cerâmica, pois se fosse de carpete, o mofo dominaria o ambiente. O banheiro é antigo, tendo a louça também aspecto de suja. O bidê (sim, nada de ducha higiênica) não saía água de forma adequada. O pior era o chuveiro, cuja água fria não tinha nenhuma potência, saindo só um fiapo de água. Abrindo a quente melhorava a potência do jato, mas esquentava tanto que era impossível ficar debaixo da água. Não há box, mas sim cortina de plástico que sempre deixava vazar água e molhava todo o chão. O serviço de limpeza dos quartos foi lento. Em dois dias, eram 17 horas e o quarto não tinha sido arrumado, mesmo com a etiqueta de arrumar o quarto pendurada na maçaneta da porta. Pedimos toalhas limpas e demoraram mais de meia hora para levar ao quarto. Por mais de uma vez sentimos um cheiro de esgoto na recepção do hotel. O café da manhã é muito bom, com uma ótima variedade de itens. A piscina, situada na cobertura, também merece destaque pela limpeza e pela vista sensacional dos morros do Rio, da Praia de Ipanema e do Cristo Redentor. E a localização é insuperável, perto da praia, de bares, restaurantes, lojas e de fácil acesso ao transporte público. O atendimento na recepção foi sempre simpático e atencioso quando necessitei. Precisa de uma boa reforma urgente, com modernização dos quartos e banheiros. As amenities são de boa qualidade e sempre foram repostas nos dias em que estivemos hospedados.

Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful destination, but not when staying at this hotel.
I arrived on a very hot and humid day, the air conditioning was broken and the windows locked. Much cooler outside. Had to ask for the windows to be unlocked.
The hotel offered me nothing and did not tell me about the air conditioning. (I paid a lot of money to stay here!)
A friend that I was emailing called the hotel on my behalf, and negotiated for them to move me to another hotel (In Portuguese.) The hotel made no effort to contact me about this arrangement. I do not speak much Portuguese and could not communicate much beyond hello and thank you. Certainly not able to negotiate anything.
I overheard the front desk telling others about the A/​C problem. Made no effort to talk to me.
Despite my best efforts, I was bitten my many mosquitos and spent most of my time outside, day and night, because it was cooler outside. No sleep in this miserable hotel for four days. Very unpleasant.
I am an experienced world traveler and accepted the fact some things do not go as planned, it is an adventure. I was willing to accept the A/​C problem as part of my adventure. Until I discovered the agreement to move me to another hotel, but made no attempt to contact me. Then I remembered how much I spent on this room! It would have been too expensive at half the price. I have paid less at all-​inclusive resorts.
They did give me a $ 1.50 beer from the mini bar. That makes up for it, no?
Would have enjoyed it more by sleeping on the beach!
My opinion, your mileage may vary.

Já começa muito bem pois a localização é extremamente privilegiada. Encontra-​se em uma das ruas mais bombadas do Rio de Janeiro, rodeado por bares e restaurantes. Sem contar a proximidade com a praia e com a principal avenida comercial de Ipanema. O hotel trabalha com o conceito de hotel boutique com um extremo bom gosto, requinte e qualidade no serviço.
Possui 3 categorias de apartamentos, com diferentes constituições internas para satisfazer todos os gostos. Você pode escolher com vista para a Lagoa ou o Cristo Redentor. Se preferir com anti sala e um sofa cama, muito bom para famílias. Todos os quartos são equipados com ar condicionado, wifi, minibar, tv a cabo, cofre e banheira.
Possui um restaurante, o Opium que é uma delicia a parte. Baseado na cozinha asiática contemporânea, conta com chefes que tentam trazer um pouquinho dos principais países da Ásia.
No terraço oferece uma piscina maravilhosa, ótima para relaxar e de quebra apreciar a vista maravilhosa.
Os funcionários são todos bilingues e muito prestativos. No restaurante também o serviço é impecável.