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Reviews of Gavea Tropical Boutique Hotel

3.5 out of 5
Gavea Tropical Boutique Hotel
R. Sérgio Porto, 85, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 39 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 10 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 105 reviews" "

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Andrew, Philadelphia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
very nice, and off the beaten path
The hotel is up the hill away from the madness of the beach and downtown areas, but still a 15 minute walk to the heart of Gavea and a 15 minute cab ride (download Uber or app called "99" before you go!) to Ipanema and Leblon. Everyone at the hotel is friendly and helpful. The breakfast each morning is superb, especially when the monkeys come and join you. The pool is small but the hot tub is great (you have to ask them to heat it up 40 minutes in advance, though, and they shut it down early - at 10pm even on weekends). The view from the balcony in our room and from the gym is one of the best in all of Rio!
view from our room
breakfast companion
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017
Response from Staff on 27 Nov 2017
Thank you.,

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely boutique hotel with great views
Brilliantly run, very friendly, delicious breakfasts. Great views - but that does mean you do mostly need taxis to get around.

8/10 Good

Andrea, Connecticut USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Comfortable boutique hotel in the trees
Our family stayed here for two weeks. We were pleased with the friendly staff and comfortable room. The setting is beautiful - tucked away in the trees and separate from the beaches, whilst still close. Monkeys came to eat bananas from our hands in the mornings.

10/10 Excellent

Jason, Leeds, England

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely local and friendly hotel.
It is a lovely and friendly hotel, the staffs are really nice and the view is beautiful!! Staffs were so helpful and our stay went smoothly, we also stayed with our children and they enjoyed their stay. It is a bit far away from the beach but the room comfort and view is lovely. Good value for money as well I must say. Breakfast is typical Brazilian and it was very nice, fresh fruits are lovely!!

10/10 Excellent

melissa, San Diego

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great area of Rio very different from the tourist beach scene.

10/10 Excellent

Michael, Fargo, ND

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Gavea Boutique Heaven on Earth B&B
5 Star B&B!! We loved this place! Amazing omelettes for breakfast=Check, Feeding the baby monkeys=Check, Sweet view of the Christ Statue=Check, Hot Tub=Check!! This helped make our 1st trip to Rio that much more memorable! Now, trying to find the place can be quite an adventure! But its only 10 min. from Ipanema, AND away from the crowds. Book it before it sells out!!

8/10 Good

S&B

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing hotel, few cons
This hotel was the highlight of our trip to South America. The suites were amazing. Dont get the villa though. Pros: Gorgeous views and we got to feed little monkeys every morning! My better half absolutely loved this. The rooms were well decorated and clean. Get a suite and pay the extra $10-20 per night. Its well worth it. Customer service was top notch. Being a boutique hotel we regularly interacted with the owner and manager, both of whom were very helpful and spoke English! Con: We originally booked the villa. The Villa is actually a smaller room rigjt above the street. No scenic view unless you like a dirt hill. The sewage from the street had a tendency to linger in the Villa if you left the doors closed. We moved to the suite (next size up) the first day. Perfect for couples even though it can fit more.

2/10 Terrible

Marvin, North Vancouver

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room smells like a sewer
Stayed in room #7 which is advertised as a Villa. The room could be good if it didn't smell terribly, didn't have a mosquito pest and didn't need to escalate very steep steps to the lobby area, maybe 70 steps. The staff is very nice but impossible to compensate for not being able to sleep at night.

8/10 Good

dawn, united kingdom

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
a hotel in the city with a real tropical feel
my husband and i had a relaxing pleasant stay the staff are first class and really helpful nothing was too much trouble .

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disappointed with the hotel
The hotel details showed a room for 5. It only had one double bed and a sofa bed that is very uncomfortable. The baths did not have any doors, so there was no privacy for anyone who wanted to take a bath or use the toilet. It shows that is is 0.3 miles from Leblon, but it is much further and there is a Favela slums directly above the hotel. We had to move out, and the owner promised us a reimbursement for the difference. But when I requested one from Expedia, the owner did not give the difference that was owed.

10/10 Excellent

Ana, El Paso, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Serene and outstanding view
I believe this hotel is the best kept secrete in Rio...no party scene around. It is tucked away in a mountain in Gavea neighborhood. This hotel caters to visitors who appreciate superb personal customer service as well as beautiful city views... You MUST upgrade your room to obtain the view! The hotel rooms are spotless; I was very pleased about it since I am somewhat of a "germ freak." The complementary breakfast is quite complete. Sipping my coffee in the breakfast area and watching the small monkeys being fed by the staff was my favorite part of the morning. The setup of the hotel is in 6 or 7 levels, one to three rooms per level. There is a lot of walking involved so if you have difficulty walking, this will not be the hotel for you. I personally loved the exercise of going up and down the stairs; however, as much as I loved the hotel, I would not be able to bring my elderly father here. We stayed here a week and loved every minute of it; however, the hotel it is not perfect... a little too much chlorine in the Jacuzzi, lol, and the wireless internet drops from time to time... made us remember that there is no perfect world, lol. Rauber and Flavia, the managers, are multilingual and always are available and willing to help with suggestions of where to go or how to get there. I fell in love with every single staff member of this hotel; they are wonderful and are very gracious people. I will definitely come back to visit them again!

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia , Scottsdale, Arizona

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Gave a Hotel Tropicana
It was a wonderful experience. We felt like we were on our honeymoon. The Staff was amazing and very helpful. The only downfall was it was difficult to get Internet but other than that we loved the place.

10/10 Excellent

Anne, SC

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Personal touch - great staff - wonderful stay!
Our family of 4 stayed in the suite at the Gavea Tropical and we had a FABULOUS time! We got to know the staff quickly and appreciated their helpful recommendations on where to go and how to get around. Wonderful breakfast every morning and delightful visiting monkeys on the patio, We never would have had this type of experience in a high rise on the beach. Many thanks to Zoila, Henrique, and Silas for truly making our vacation special. I would definitely recommend this hotel.

10/10 Excellent

Maxine, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stunning views from the balcony
Arrived a little bit shell shocked as taxi driver had trouble finding hotel - but all worthwhile when waking to such a spectacular view. We soon got our bearings and walked into Gavea and Leblon each day - taxi ride home as hills are steep. The staff at Gavea Tropical Boutique do everything in their power to make your stay as enjoyable as possible with a very friendly attitude - fresh towels each day, wonderful breakfasts - but the views in all directions make this hotel a little piece of heaven!

8/10 Good

Nick, Rio Das Ostras, Brazil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Tranquiity Away from the Beaches
Very small, yet very tranquil away from the beach fronts and with a wonderful vista looking down over Rio. Comfortable, clean and the staff were warm and friendly. Yes, all the basics of a good hotel, but this is not your normal hotel, If you want to experience something a little different away from the normal sanitised, formal blandness of the 'chain' hotels, then this is a little treat for the more adventurous, romantic hearted traveller. It does lack all the facilities of a big chain hotel, but who really needs to go to the gym and then dress fomally to go to dinner, when you can have a wonderful uniquely designed room, with a small veranda overlooking Rio and with Christ the Redeemer keeping an eye on you too. The manager, Kyle, has a great grasp of english and is very welcoming which makes you feel relaxed, before you even get to your room. I was just a little disappointed I was only there for one night, with my lovely lady and 1 year old son .. so the 'romance' had to be put on hold, but a cot was placed our room ( I had arranged this before I arrived) and he did sleep soundly, so we did get a chance to sit out and watch the lights of Rio twinlking in the background.. The one issue which may be a problem to the less fit among us is that it is only accessed by narrow stone stairways; if you don't travel light, don't worry the handyman/porter will carry everything to your room as he did for us!! I hope I can return one day child free.. and soon.

10/10 Excellent

K, San Salvador, El Salvador

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect Rio Experience
The staff at the hotel are amazing, everyone is welcoming and willing to help however they can. The view of the room is priceless, I could see the Christ from my balcony and the mountains were always lit by the city. I fell in love with Rio, and when I return I will be going back to the same hotel.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
ok
difficult place to find, requires better directions

6/10 Okay

Juan, Colombia

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
It was a nice hotel; however its location wasn’t the best. Room could be cleaner. Great service provided by the attendant Jonathan.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very comfortable, great food, great view
We recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a more uniquely Brazilian experience. The staff was very helpful and our stay here couldn't have been more enjoyable. Russell and Tami Baze

10/10 Excellent

Any, Tel Aviv

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing hotel off the beaten path
Perfect for a quiet romantic getaway away from the hustle and bustle of Copacabana and Ipanema. Like a vacation away from Rio without ever leaving. Would definitely stay here again for a relaxing weekend.

10/10 Excellent

Sandy, upstate New York

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderfully secluded with an amazing view!
My husband and I loved our stay here. While it's not really walking distance to the beach areas, the view of the city from the balcony can't be beat and the surrounding vegetation really heightens the serenity. The staff were terrific and provided local transportation whenever desired. If you're looking for a little slice of heaven that's both near and yet so far from the bustle of the city and beaches, this is definitely the place for you!

10/10 Excellent

mike, sacramento, ca

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Can't wait to come back
Beautiful place with a very friendly staff. Great view of the city but away from the madness. It's not easy to find you'll definitely be taking cabs but well worth it.

10/10 Excellent

Stacy, Naperville, IL

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Totally loved this hotel!!
We have been to Rio once before, but we stayed near the beach before. I would go back in a minute to this hotel... It was quaint, quiet, beautiful! The manager, Ranier, was extremely helpful. He speaks excellent english and had great tips on things we wanted to do. He also called for taxis anytime, or if he wasn't busy would drive us himself. Our room was beautifully decorated and the breakfast was delicious! From our balcony we could view the Cristo Redentor, which was especially amazing at night (when it was lit up) and at sunrise.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
True Boutique Hotel experience
Gavea Hotel is a beautiful place with people who make you feel like you are at home. The location is a taxi ride away from everything so keep that in mind. There are also many steep steps to climb so beware if you are elderly or have problems walking. The staff are wonderful and always accommodating. The manager Raniere is the only one who really speaks English, besides the owner and his wife. We stayed in Room 6 which to me was the best. Its a large room, on its own floor with views of Rio and Christ the Redeemer. Each morning we ate food made with love by Louisa who would round up the Mikos (little monkeys) so we could feed them. We had the pleasure of making friends with the owner who treated us like family. My husband and I left our daughter to study in the University and he assured us if she needed anything he would be a phone call away. Raniere took care of our every need and had a lot of information about the area. We loved it here and will be back.

10/10 Excellent

Ashley, Tulsa, ok

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Just plain wonderful.
I can not say enough good things about the hotel. The view was wonderful, the breakfast delightful, the staff so warm and charming. We will be staying there again when in Rio

8/10 Good

Bellafychan, Cardiff, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Relaxed Rio Hideaway.
Arriving on a very rainy night the exterior of the hotel is very nondescript but once the door opened I was warmly welcomed into a quirky, terraced hotel with the views looking down over Rio and Christ the redeemer in the distance. The four poster bed was superbly comfortable and watching the monkeys and toucans from the terrace was magical. Set away from the beach area it was a wonderful retreat at the end of the day. The staff were very helpful in sorting out taxis, day tours,or massages.Despite the fact that the hotel is near Roscinia I felt safer here than anywhere else in Rio. - As the hotel is terraced this may be difficult for any persons who have difficulty in walking or infirm.. I came away revitalised after a week's stay. .

8/10 Good

cellogoddess

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
far from the madding crowd
The staff were incredible and this little tucked away place was easy to get to everywhere by the #593 van. Very quiet and much personal attention. I found i a little more fun NOT staying on Ipanema or Cococabana, although we went there every day as part of something we were doing- surfing, eating, on he beach and then home to our retreat. Great for me, the grandmother, and my 18 year old gd. Very romantic to come again with my husband as well. Ranier, the concierge, speaks 5 languages, so you're set to explore Rio from this little gem of a basecamp.

10/10 Excellent

Malik Duffie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Fantastic Getaway
I enjoyed myself...... everyone was great!!!! The Staff treated me as if i was there Family. i will never For get Marcelo, or Rahmeer, Or Mr. Matez, and his Wife Louisa..........Every Body was wonderful especially The owner John, and his wife Elena..........Every Morning Viviane and Louisa would always check on me and my roommate to see if we were ok.

8/10 Good

travelcouple1107

charming.
Gavea tropical was charming and lovely. The location was somewhat inconvenient, but not too out of the way. Simple amenities, but Its beautiful views and the charming property made it a very nice stay.

8/10 Good

Debbie, Dallas, texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Get away from the city
We enjoyed our stay here. The people at the hotel are very helpful and friendly. The balcony of our room looked over the forest with a view of Christ the redeemer. There were monkeys which would come up to be fed by hand. While it is in a beautiful and serene setting, it is a ways from the city and it can sometimes be difficult to get a taxi. The hotel staff actually drove us when possible which was extremely helpful. It was just what we hoped!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Off the Beaten Path, but Very Nice
I really liked the hotel. It is off the beaten path, but close enough to Leblon and Ipanema. The view is great and the staff is excellent. I lived in Rio and have seen a lot of hotels in Rio. This one is worth a few days.

10/10 Excellent

LN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
beautiful secret hideaway
This is a lovely boutique hotel with warm friendly staff, super comfy beds and stunning forest views, I can't recommend it enough

10/10 Excellent

Levart

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Romance you think you will never experience!
The Gavea Tropical Boutique Hotel is one of the most amazingly romantic and exotic hotels I have ever stayed in. Although it is a bit of a distance from the city life - it is only a five minute drive to downtown - you feel as though you have gone to paradice! We never wanted to leave our room!!

8/10 Good

Cisco1931

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Honeymoon Cloud 9
We stayed at Gavea Tropical Boutique Hotel for our honeymoon in July 2012. Needless to say the Presidential Suite (Room #1) offers the same splendid view offered on the hotel's site. The breakfast included is not your typical continental bkfast, it is far more than that and worth getting up in the morning to savor. You can feed the monkeys sliced bananas! (macacao) The staff: Ranieri, Marcelo, Matias, Luiza, Tatiana, Eleinha, and John were formidable and made our stay very pleasant. The Hotel's proximity to the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema made it very easy for us to enjoy Rio de Janeiro. Since it is situated just ten minutes away from the beaches, the fact the property is situated in a private condo owned and housing real estate made it rather easy for us to commute back and forth during all hours of the day. In short, we could not have asked for a more pleasant hotel to enjoy our honeymoon. You will not be disappointed...

10/10 Excellent

K., Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very Nice Boutique Hotel
Pros: This hotel is a very nice boutique hotel. Very well kept with nice decor. From the owner to the maids, they were very helpful and treated us with full respect. The manager knows good English and always willing to help. The hotel has one of the most beautiful views of Rio from all the rooms. At first the hotel does not seem and look like it is located in the safest area, but after staying there for a couple days, we realized that the area is actually very safe. 7-10 minute cab drive to the beaches of Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana and 12-15 min to Barra. I truly recommend this place and will stay here again next time I go to Rio. Cons: Not a beach front property (some may look at this as a pro because it is much more peaceful than a beachfront property).

4/10 Poor

matto715

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
good intentions / but not enough value for the money
The hotel is situated very near the Rocinha Favela, high up at the upper end of Gavea. Taxis have difficulties to find the place, walking at night not recommended. The hotel makes a deserted impression, we were the only guests, breakfast (in relation to the high price) poor, no glasses in windows in the room (noisy and insecure feeling at night), shower poor, toilet not separated from rest of bathroom, small TV screen, not well visible from the bed. Employees chatting and giggling in the kitchen while guests around (during breakfast). All in all the relation between price and value is not good at all, half the price would be ok.

10/10 Excellent

c, houston texas

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hotel.
Great hotel. Set 20 minute walk from the beaches / 5 mins taxi ride in peaceful hillside location with superb views of Rio and its famous statue.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service
Pretentious and overpriced
Either you're a luxury property or you're not. Gavea Tropical wants to be, but isn't. For the rates it charges, even in overpriced Rio, the hotel is a ripoff. Sure, it's clean and it's pretty, but the amenities are a long way from being upscale. And I've had better service at tiny pousadas. As for breakfast, they go to no effort -- you're better off at a corner bakery. Except, of course, there aren't any nearby. You need a cab to get anywhere from this property.

8/10 Good

Leonardo

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

8/10 Good

Regina Celia

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Antonio

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Não indico
Tivemos problemas, ficamos sem água, a limpeza não é boa,café da manhã bem simples! Uber não aceita ir no hotel! Único ponto positivo, os funcionários são mto solícitos e educados!Valor mto alto para o que é oferecido!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2019

2/10 Terrible

marduk

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
0
Experiência um horror. Site deveria rever a inclusão de de hotel e verificar o que é hotel e o que é pousada ou hotel favela. Por não ter cartéis indicando o lugar , chegamos na rocinha e recebidos com fuzil. Estrangeiro não pode ir aí de jeito nenhum.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Orlando

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Muito satisfeito
O hotel é muito bom. A localização é ótima para quem busca sossego. O único porém é que fica no outro lado da Rocinha. Tem um posto policial na esquina. Nos sentimos seguros, mas apreensivos com os tiroteios na favela. A vista é maravilhosa e o atendimento é excelente. O pessoal é muito atencioso. O café é muito bom. Vimos macaquinhos nas árvores, ararinhas e até um tucano. O acesso aos quartos e ao café/piscina/jacuzzi é por escada, mas nada que atrapalhe. O bairro da gávea tem tudo (shopping a 10 min de uber). Recomendo.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2017
Response from Alessandro on 23 Jan 2018
Obrigado!

8/10 Good

Felipe

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

GAP, Rio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Regular/bom
Minha estadia foi curta, passei só uma noite. Mas pude perceber que a equipe é prestativa e as acomodações não surpreendem. A vista do quarto é boa e a gavea é bonita.
Vista do quarto

10/10 Excellent

Alexandre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excelente atendimento, extremamente agradável. Apenas o café da manhã deixa um pouco a desejar e é em uma área aberta e muito quente.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
pessimo
escadaria enormes. cama adicional sofá duro. tv com problema, etc ar condicionado barulhento

10/10 Excellent

Luana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Vale muito a pena!
Local incrível, com uma aura romântica e espirituosa. Fomos muito bem recepcionados pelo Sr Ricardo que se dispôs a tornar nossa estadia numa experiência inesquecível. Café da manhã bem completo, saboroso, com bolos, torradas, sucos, ovos e bacon (é só pedir que vem fresquinho da cozinha), pão de queijo, etc. O quarto... nossa! Que delícia! A cama possui em dossel que quando é fechado te deixa em outra dimensão... ;) , sugiro só aos gerentes dispensarem uma melhor atenção no reparo do dossel, é um dos charmes do quarto <3 A pousadinha é bem pequenina, bastante escada para acesso das dependências, piscina, jacuzzi e saunas que ficam no pavimento inferior, o que para nós não foi problema. Fácil acesso a Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas e pontos turísticos, a pé não dá mas táxi ou Uber sai bem baratinho. Enfim! Valeu a pena cada centavo! Certamente voltaremos!