Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel - Rio de Janeiro

Pros: One of the best locations. Located 1 block from Ipanema beach and boardwalk. Close to restaurants and bars, juice shops. A good view from roof top. Very tiny roof top though Cons: 1. Front desk is not courteous and doesn't pay attention to Guests. Staff is just rude ! I experenced it rudeness about 3 times in 3 day stay from diffrent people. […] They just don't care about the questions you have about the neighbourhood or restaurants or the city. They act too casual and are definitely not attentive to your needs. When you pay so much money, you expect good service. 2. Hotel isn't maintained well. Bathroom door was almosst broken.Bathroom shower was leaking water and they find it normal. 3. They don't clean the room unless you call them. 4. Bathroom in the lobby isn't clean. and Toilet is very old and not maintained very well. 5. We called Room service and they transferred 3 times before we could speak to someone and ordered coffee. When Coffee arrived it was cold. in addition there was no milk. They just don't care ! 6. Always a long wait to call front desk. When you get the hold of them, you rarely get satisfactory answers 7. Horrible room service. Takes forever to get the food. My wife said no meat in noodles, they still brought meat and took another 45 mins to prepare that. 8. he pool is very very small and there are only few chairs. You would be lucky if you get a spot! and they close at 8 PM. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I witnessed a discussion of a receptionist with a client in front other guests, without remorse. The receptionists do not have in general a good attendance. They do not have smiles on their faces. Prices to hight.

Genuine Expedia guest review

If you are travelling with your family (children) and/or you are heterosexual, this is not the hotel or area to stay in Ipanema. Research this area before you book your stay in Ipanema.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This hotel requires major renovations. Nothing is right about the hotel. Here is our experience after a recent stay at this hotel for 7 nights 1.The room had smell of mold probably because their AC doesn't work ! We called the maintenance to fix the AC and he concluded that the AC was working fine while we were sweating and finding it difficult to breathe. […] We finally requested them to send us a table fan and that gave us some relief for next couple of days. 2.After a couple of days, the AC situation became unbearable. We called the maintenance staff again and this time, he agreed that the AC was broken for the entire hotel. We went back to the front desk and told the staff that we had been dealing with this crap for 4 days now and we needed a solution. They finally put us in their Ipanema floor that had a far better AC. 3. Internet is spotty - it disconnects every few minutes. The hotel charges around 20 Brazilian Rials for the internet. When we complained about it, they took off the internet charges from the bill. Why would they even charge a penny for such a terrible internet connection ? 4. They closed their pool early every single day we were there because they had rented out pool area for parties. When I brought this up with the staff, we were told that they provide this info at the time of check-in that the pool will be closed early in December of parties. Shouldn't this info be on their website so that one can make a decision at the time of booking the hotel? Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Great value for a very nice hotel with a lovely breakfast buffet.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

If you're used to Rio's hotel pricing you should be ok with this hotels cost/benefit ratio. This hotel is much better than others but also more expensive. Room was ok but had a lot of street noise.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We arrived in Rio on a redeye flight and went straight to the hotel. We tried to check in. "No," said the desk clerk, "check in is 3:00pm." Were no rooms available? Yes, there were many rooms, but he would charge us a full night to check in early. Any discounts? Not on your life! It was insinuated that perhaps we didn't understand how hotels work. I […] understand hotels not allowing early check in when they are full. But when they aren't, not allowing early check in is just nasty. They aren't losing any money, just making guests uncomfortable. They probably lose money not offering it, since the first thing we would have done is order room service. After wandering around Rio with no sleep for the morning, a little after noon, we tried to check in again, and explained to the new front desk staff that we were going to collapse in their lobby if we did not get a bed soon. Luckily they let us check in. This unpleasantness behind us, the rooms were decent and spacious and the bed was quite large and comfortable. Location is good and the complimentary breakfast in the morning is nice. It is a decent hotel. Not impressive or anything, but a quality midsize hotel. It should have been a much better experience, but when your initial impression is that of a weary traveler being told you are unwelcome... it is difficult to overcome that. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Staff was very nice and helpful. Location is great! Lots of restarants and bars close by. Defenitely coming back!

Genuine Expedia guest review

The location of the property is superb, in the best area of Ipanema, one block to the beach and close to bars and restaurants. However, the hotel is old and run down in every aspect: the rooms need a serious update, the pool area and the bar are terrible, the gym is too small. The staff is mostly unfriendly and rarely helpful. We stayed twice on two […] separate occasions within one week, and the first room we stayed in had not even been properly cleaned: instead of putting us in a different room, they sent in the cleaning crew without an apology or a word. Overall, the hotel does not deserve the 4 star status and the price tag is not justified. The location is the only plus. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Even though front desk people did their job it felt more like they were doing us a favor then giving us a service. Another gap is that although the central guest areas and rooms were well kept the doors to maintenance and storage areas were often left open and looked like a war zone. Totally functional hotel but don't come here for warm and fuzzy levels […] of service. ( contrasting this hotel to Melia 21 in Brasilia which has addressed all these issues favorably). For perspective we are First time visitors to Brazil from US and travel widely throughout world developed and emerging countries generally staying in high end but not most expensive hotels. Location is great-- ipanema has a nice energy even off season. Bkfst location is nice but food is lacking a bit in quantity and variety. Bed was firm and comfortable. Room seemed quite up to date and clean Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great hotel! Just the internet doesn't work... at all.... I mean, if you are going to pay for internet that doesn't work, you may as well provide it for free. Word of advice: business folks- if you need to do actual work during your business trip I would advise you to try to get your work done ahead of time.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Rio is just an expensive place. We paid 2X of a similar place in Buenos Aires, although that was 3X less than the price posted on the door. However, we loved the location. It is just a few steps from Ipanema Beach and 15 minute walk to Copacabana Beach. The immediate surrounding is quite active with lots of nice restaurants shops, banks etc. We particularly […] liked the restaurant 'Girl from Ipanema' where the song was born. They have really good steaks served over a hot skillet. Another good place is a Brazilian barbecue with great sushi called Carretao which is a 5 minute walk. On the down side, the bathroom fixtures need a little upgrading. The worst thing here is the WiFi. First of all, it is not free. Moreover, it is pathetically slow. I ran a speed test and here is what I got the first time... Ping=1764ms, download=0.97Mbps, upload=0.05Mbps. On my second try, the ping timed out altogether. The speed test graph shows zero activity for half of the download test. So, forget getting any of your photos uploaded. Even getting email is a struggle. I am knocking the hotel service to 2 stars because of this. Well, I used the WiFi for 2 days and they only charged me for one. So I can't complain too much. I was told all hotels in Brazil charges for Internet. The free WiFi in the nearby restaurants are much better. Overall, I would still recommend this hotel. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Good hotel, fantastic location, but the restroom is very old, ugly, and the shower is inside the bathtube, so if you are old and have problems to move you are going to have troubles to get inside the shower. beside that, there is no glass between the shower/bathtube and the restroom, but a plastic thing, not so higienic. They should invest to modernize […] the restrooms. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great location: 1 block from Ipanema beach. Wonderful and delicious buffet breakfast. Reception staff could be more helpful. Room service staff very friendly. Comfy beds but old towels. Complimentary chairs, towels, umbrellas on Ipanema beach.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Good location - close to Ipanema Beach and a decent walk to Leblon. Lots of stuff goping on right on the adjacent corners. Room was big. Breakfast was fine. Staff was usually friendly and tried hard with English. No complaints.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

For first timers, this place is more than PERFECT! Location is incredible; a street full of great restaurants, cafes, and bars, famarcies, supermarkets, shops. Best of all, is one small block from the beach. It's also a good deal for the money in such an expensive south american city; we took a deal where breakfast-buffet was included and saved us a […] lot of money eating that much outside during the day. The hotel's restaurant "Opium" is an awesome sushi/asian fusion place. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

I liked this hotel but I didn't love it. It had the basic necessities but for the price we paid, I thought it would be nicer. It's in a GREAT location though and only one block from the beach. Breakfast was inclusive and it was decent. Good coffee. What I liked: 1. Location 2. Big, working TV 3. Breakfast 4. Pool and fitness area on the roof top What […] I didn't like: 1. the AC in our room was weak 2. Toilet didn't flush all the time (had to wait a while for it to completely flush). 3. Bed was not the most comfortable 4. Front desk didn't have a lot of tourist information on display and they gave you a list but it was outdated 5. Slow elevators 6. Slow service. I asked for extra towels, 1hour later, no one came to give us new towels. I called again and they finally did. 7. Slow service again. When we first got to our room, the safe was not working. I called to have someone check it out. We left to check out the beach, came back 2 hours later, it still wasn't working. I called again, we got something to eat outside, and when we came back, it still had not been tended to. So we called again, and really complained, finally someone checked it out and fixed it. Like I said, I liked it, but the next time I visit Rio, I would stay at another hotel. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I was extremely dissatisfied as the hotel was overrated. (www.hotels.com did not represent this hotel well) I would not recommend for the following reasons: Staff RUDE!!! No concierge (front desk made you feel like imposition if you asked them anything) Pictures on internet made it look like it was beach front (you walked a 1/2 of a block and crossed […] a major intersection before you reached the beach) Extremely over priced for experience. We would not go back nor would we recommend this to anyone else. I hope the Golden Tulip Inpanema Plaza Hotel makes some incredible changes prior to Brazil hosting the Olympic games or they might as well close the doors. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The hotel is well located, the Asian restaurant and the top floor pool are very nice and recommended. Staff very friendly. My gripe relates to the room condition and upkeep: there is a tired feeling about the rooms and bathrooms, they clearly need an urgent update. The air conditioning in my room was extremely noisy and difficult to manage: either too […] cold or too hot. There was also a humid sense which the AC would not eliminate. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Indifferent staff with "take it or leave it" attitude combined with "down at the heels" property; offset by 3/4 block walk to Ipanema Beach and several nice restaurants within walking distance.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

My girlfriend and I stayed here for our week long trip to Rio. It really was very nicely located in Ipanema, easy walk to Copa, ~$20 US to downtown Leblon. We were a little hesitant after reading certain reviews but they must have been very picky travelers. This place was excellent. The attached restaurant had some of the best food around too. We plan […] on staying here our next trip to Rio. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The hotel was well located in Ipanema, great breakfast, wonderful assistance from the staff with questions. The cost was a bit expensive... but that is Ipanema!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Older hotel with adequate accommodations. 3rd stay here. Always a daunting check-in process. Booked & paid for an executive king & was given a double bed. When I complained, they tried to tell me that it was a king. Then they told me that a tour group had come in & they had sold all of the king rooms, even though I had paid reservations. After arguing […] with them. Out of thin air, a king room became available. The next day I was given a larger king room. Free breakfast buffet is ok. Good hotel, but be aware of the old bait & switch. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great location one block from Ipanema beach. Restaurant good. Staff were pleasant & helpful, speak Englsih adequately. Sign on exterior of hotel says Ipanema Plaza which is the name it is known by locally. There is another hotel a few blocks away which features Golden Tulip name--there is big possibility of confusion unless one refers to this hotel […] as Ipanema Plaza. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

A very well run hotel in a good location in Ipanema. Like all hotels in Ipanema these days it is expensive. It is near the beach for those who are on vacation. I was working and found it perfectly acceptable as a base for work

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I was very pleased with my stay. There were a few comments about being asked to pay some 'fee' at the point of checkout. It was mentioned that this was something that was spread across the staff, since they have low wages there. Maybe that was true some time back, but Brazil did raise their min wage and I didn't have any issues. Everyone was super  […] nice. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Very well located in the Impanema beach area with restaurants/music/subway within three blocks . The hotel was in excellent condition, clean and comfortable with a nice breakfast.

Genuine Expedia guest review

This hotel is on a great street in Ipanema - very close to the beach, restaurants, bars, and the metro. It is also safe to walk around the night, which is a huge plus. However, the service at this hotel is subpar at best. The hotel concierge/receptionists are not very friendly, which is a surprise because everyone else that we have encountered in Brazil […] has been very willing to help. For example, they told us that it would take 30 minutes to go to the bus station by car. It took 10 minutes. They of course charged us for a cab ride that would "take" 30 minutes. They were also 10 minutes late to pick us up. There was one receptionist who works early mornings and late nights who is friendly, but none of the others barely crack a smile. If you don't plan to rely on the hotel service at all, then this hotel is fine for the location. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The location was great and the staff both helpful and friendly but the accomodations were sparse and dreary at best. The light switch cover came off in my hand when we entered. The shower/bathtub look like they've been there since the grand opening. . . whenever that might have been (80s maybe so about 30 years ago!) The baseboards where not aligned […] with each other or there where large gaps between floor and baseboard. We stayed two nights and the first night there was a loud knocking sound that went on all night the second night was much better but it did go off occasionally. I'm guessing it was the plumbing. If you looking for a good location, want to pay exorbitant prices and you plan on not being in your room much then this is the hotel for you. I think my husband and I will try somewhere else next time. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Bad experience with noises starting at 6 in the morning, strong mold smell, outdated furniture, and 1 hours of wait for checkin .. the room was not ready until 4 pm ... Location however is great.

Genuine Expedia guest review

The hotel served our needs. The location on Ipanema Beach is great. The breakfast spread was good: lots of fruit and a wide assortment of baked goods as well as other typical breakfast items. The hotel was clean, I liked the view from the pool on the roof. Very small, but serviceable gym.

Genuine Expedia guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We had a clean and comfortable room with exemplary service all at a very affordable rate. Ipanema beach was a block from the hotel's front door and the roof top pool and bar gave us a place to go when we wanted to get away from some of the crowds. Throw in what's supposed to be one of the best breakfast buffets in Ipanema and there's really nothing […] to complain about. We stayed for 10 days and have recommended Royal Plaza to family members who are planning their own trips to Rio. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Overall the hotel was very nice. The front desk staff were polite. The restaurant staff were a little unattentive, almost annoyed at times that we were there to eat a meal. While we did enjoy the hotel, it was a little frustraiting that we paid for an upgrade for a room with a water view but did not get it and did not get back the extra money we pa […] id. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Very Disappointing. Bathrooms very tired. Did not supply Bathrobes and slippers as described. Deep soaking bathtub was a shower base! Ocean view is only is you hang out the window and look down the street!This hotel was overpiriced and not 4 star. Internet was also very expensive everyday.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This is a great hotel in a great location - I much prefer Ipanema to Copacabana, and this is just 3 minutes from the beach. The rooms are comfortable, and the rooftop pool and bar are lovely. The staff are mostly very friendly and helpful ... a special mention to Rafael in IT who was a wonderful help with computer issues. It is only small things which […] bring my rating down from a 5 to a 4 - the double bed is two singles put together with a somewhat uncomfortable join in the middle; the shower curtain does not stop the bathroom from getting drenched when the shower is used; and the towels are a bit tired. But these are only minor, do not let them put you off staying. I'll be back! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The swimming pool was rented out for private parties and closed at 16.00 during our four days stay. The reception staff are arrogant and unhelpful. On the positive side the location is good and rooms are clean. Yet, the comparably high price is unjustified. All in all I would not recommend this hotel.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We had a twin room for 2 friends staying and it was really nice. The bathroom was very outdated however. Our safe broke whilst we were there but the safe resolved this immediately. We were a minutes walk from the beach and the hotel has a service providing free sunbeds and umberella on the beach which was great. If you don't want the beach there is […] a small but nice pool upstairs with views of Christ the redeemer. Opium restuarant, in the hotel is delicious for evening dinner, but not so great for breakfast. All in all though we would definitely stay again as it was nice, well located and we even had a view of the sea. Not bad we think they could just do with updating some parts of the hotel like the halls and bathrooms. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The front desk staff was really friendly and helpful; they booked all tours and made reservations for dinners for us. The room itself was just average but the location made up for it as you're steps away from the beach and tons of great restaurants.

Genuine Expedia guest review

fantastic spot , good service and lots to see around.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This hotel is in a fabulous location, just one block from Ipanema Beach (poste 8 - predominantly gay area), surrounded by lots of great bars and restaurants and two blocks walk from the metro station. The hotel itself is nice, if a little tired. It is clean and functional but the bathrooms could do with a refurb (think chipped baths and all looking […] a little shoddy). Also, there was a light in my bathroom that did not turn off (no one could get it to turn off including hotel staff). Breakfast is also disappointing with some bread, fruit and cereal and a couple of very unappetising warm options. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

My other half was staying in the hotel for a work trip and I met him at the end so we thought easiest to stay in same place. Front desk staff were great, but overall expected more given the price. Breakfast was usual Brazilian affair (fruit, cake, bread rolls, ham and cheese (also had cereal)) and had outside area to eat in which was good. Rooftop pool […] looked nice, but we didn't use it with the beach minutes away (big plus). Mini bar, bar and restaurant are pretty expensive, caprihina's over R 20. Also wifi access is very expensive - r10 for 30 mins, r15 for an hour and r20 for a day. All the other hotels i stayed in whilst in brazil had free wifi. Our room wasn't cleaned one day which was a but poor, and needed with trips to and from the beach. Great if your work is paying, but if not would look or better value for money. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

good location poor service of hotel personnel in relation to high prate paid, expected for better value for money

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We really liked our stay. Yes it's more expensive than a comparable hotel in Europe or the US, but that's Rio and hotel staff were all really friendly and helpful especially when we needed anything for our little daughter. The location was superb. 2min away from Ipanema Beach in a nice neighbourhood with good restaurants and shopping streets. Nice pool […] on the rooftop was an asset too. We would choose this hotel again! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review