I have traveled to many countries and always enjoy staying in hostels. Small things like, no air…read moreconditioner during the day, no hot water, dirty tubs, unorganized rooms. For example, I returned one day to find a girl in my bed! She had been assigned the same bed, not the way you want to return after a long day of walking around! Those were all minor mishaps that could have been overlooked but One major thing that has scarred me for life would be the BED BUGS. I thought the itching might be from mosquitos until I looked online.When I approached the staff about the issue, he seemed more worried about the beer pong tourney downstairs. I was told there was nothing he could do until I requested switching a mattress. He made me carry it up 3 floors, and he complained I was taking his time and he needed to be downstairs. The following day as I checked out, the mattress sat in the lobby! So disgusting and they didn't even offer any compensation and stated it was all part of the experience! This was the worst experience I've ever had and would not recommend this hostel to anyone.

I enjoy party hostels but at Books it was impossible to get away from the party, plus the…read morefacilities (bathrooms) are outdated and Lapa is a shithole in the daytime. But, if you're coming to Rio to have a blast and get hammered with other travellers then this is the place for you. The staff were awesome, and though it's far from the beach it's surrounded by supermarkets and cheap food

We recently stayed at Casa Cool Beans while I was on a 1/2 work and 1/2 vacation trip and it was…read moreone of the best "hotel" experiences I have had anywhere in the world. The owner, Lance and the manger, Sergio make sure to provide the type of experience that you would get from a much more expensive hotel. They go out of their way to make sure to help you actually achieve the most ambitious itineraries to the point that you almost feel like you have your own concierge. The location is spectacular. It is located in the older, more winding cobblestone streets of Santa Teresa. It has a much more neighborhood feel, with nearby pubs and eateries that serve as honest to goodness community gathering places. We never felt unsafe even when walking around late at night. It is not the beach, but it is convenient to get there from the hotel and they have towel and bags that you can use if you need them. Excellent decor. They employed local muralist to decorate the exterior walls and have been supporting local Santa Teresa artist for the art in the rooms. We stayed in one of the more modest rooms, but it was perfect for our needs. Breakfast has an omelet bar that you can choose you toppings. Local fresh fruits (like passion fruit!) that we became addicted to... heck, they even had cashew juice!

The place is in a historic neighborhood called Santa Teresa. The neighborhood has a lot of…read morecharacter. When it comes to the b&b it is very clean. By far the biggest plus is the people. The owners are very detail oriented and REALLY go out of the way to make sure that your stay is pleasant. The only thing that I can say was not perfect (and I'm reaching here) is that it seemed to me that taxi drivers don't like to drive into this neighborhood. it might be the tight winddy cobble stone streets but those same streets are what give the neighborhood it's flavor.

Went once, in the famous Jazz party (every first friday of the month)…read more Just amazing! I'm not going to extend much about the place because the other Reviews are very faithful and detailed. The band was outstanding and "Bob's chair" was a nice touch next to the stage! (the chair of the owner!). The place is very touristy-like (I can clearly picture foreign people loving it - if one knows, picture the Jazz scene of Chicago... but happening in the top of a slum, with a kickass view) One thing, I'm not sure if this is usual, but on the day I went, the bar only opened 10pm. What we did, and that I truly advice you to do also, was to sit in a cheap bar right next to where the van that brings you up stops, drink some beers and eat some pizza. (they also have some cheap Yakissoba). The one liter beer was 7 reais (about 3 dolars)! You can save a lot of money by going to this bar before entering the Maze! Finally, at first I thought kinda expensive (40 reais for the entrance), but the awesome music make it worth.... also, make sure you explore the upper part of the Maze, there is a great view and a lot of people hang out there. I'm definitely going back there next month! Ps: they started accepting cards!

The Maze is perfect for those in Rio interested in good music, interesting people and fair prices…read more(there is a way called "lista amiga" for you to get a good discount in the entrance fee - around 40 reais without this discount). It is located in the top of a slum (favela) in Rio's south zone called Tavares Bastos. Despite some people could think it is too cliche a jazz bar on the top of a slum where middle class guys usually go to have fun while local people stay away, it is not that simple in this case. The bar is a very important source of money for the locals (and for the owner, obviously). The Maze is a kind of business that is helping to integrate slums with the rest of the city. This is a matter of putting the walls and prejuice separating slums and the city down. The view from the bar is amazing, undescridible. You gotta go there and see by yourselves. Highly recommended!!

Voted the #1 hostel in Rio as well as Latin America...and I can see why…read more One friend arrived before two of us and he described Discovery Hostel as a house. When we arrived, I could see what he meant. You walk into a reception area which is in the living room area. You'll find that other people staying here will hang out and talk in the living room. There's a kitchen which you're able to use or store your perishables. The kitchen serves a complimentary breakfast during the early morning and has a bar with cheap drinks during the evenings. The rooms are clean. What I loved about the rooms was that there is a nightlight and power outlet at each bed. I stayed in the all female room which had two bunk beds (3 beds high) and a private en suite bathroom. My only gripe was having to stay at the top bunk (they're difficult to get up and down). This room is the only room with an en suite. Other than that, there are other male/female dorm rooms and I believe two private rooms for two people. Staff is helpful and friendly. Take advantage of their help for events and activities. Events and activities are updated daily at the reception board. You pay a bit more for some of the activities, but it usually includes transportation. We went to Marcana for a futebol/soccer match which turned into a hostel outing. Another night we went to a club in Lapa. WHAT TO KNOW: *Cash only!! You cannot pay anything by credit. *Price is right. We each paid 164 Real (About $55) for 3 nights. *Check-in is not until 2pm and they do make you wait until then. *Complimentary wifi...though it was a bit spotty for me. *Bring your own towel and lock for your storage locker. If you forget either, you can purchase a lock or rent a towel. *Short walk to Lapa and the colorful Escadaria Selaron steps. *Metro station located half a block away so sites like Copacabana, transportation to the Christ statue, etc. is just a ride away. *A cat lives at the hostel so beware if you have allergies.

Stayed here for ten days in May. Got mugged and lost my phone + wallet, so I had to use their phone…read moreto make several calls back to the USA. Wasn't easy, but eventually, I made it back home. 2 months later, I get an email from the hostel. Attached was a low-res screenshot of some charges and an invoice for ~$100 USD. They claimed I owed them payment for the international calls I made at the hostel. Additionally, they made a couple of claims to justify my debt: (1) I had no social media, and (2) they "did try to communicate our awareness of the cost" (their exact words). (1) is not true. I had social media, but how am I supposed to access it without either my phone (for 2FA login purposes) or my email (requires my phone to login)? So that is a moot point. (2) is also not true. Every time I asked to use the phone, for anything, the person working said of course, and handed me the phone. No one in the hostel ever mentioned anything to me at all, in my ten days there, about the cost. Paying for phone usage was nowhere on their website or in their terms, and I never saw something like that enforced or even talked about. So that is also a strange thing to lie about. To top it all off, they found my dad's boss online, and then contacted him to try to get me to pay? Very unprofessional behavior. *Despite all of this*, and despite no real way to enforce a flimsy charge like this, I paid the invoice. In exchange, I would strongly encourage anyone reading this to *stay literally anywhere else in Rio*. The hostel really isn't good enough to make up for such poor management. At first, I thought it was strange that Brazilians would act so miserly. And I have nothing personally against the non-working Brazilians I met, who were all very nice. But when you find out the hostel is, in actuality, owned and founded by a certain (((other))) group of people, this management makes way, way more sense.

The staff is friendly and there are extra showers and bathrooms in the halls in case the one in…read moreyour room is being used. Doors are locked to each room and lockers are in each room.

Nice large hostel, walking distance to the beach and metro. Friendly staff that help you find your…read moreway around Copacabana. Walking distance to an adequate amount of food options and shops. Bathrooms on every floor that have more than enough room for everyone on the floor. Great common areas with a bar.