Socialtel Copacabana — Hotel in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

Amazing location with amazing window view to the beach Room was quite spacious, had air conditioner (some old model with no remote control and quite noisy, but better than nothing)

The room was not so clean (for ex. because the windows are from glass only, you can see the marks from other people using it, shower, hairdryer was too dirty to touch, all bottles with shower, conditioner, soap were dirty (also not sure if this way of providing the soap etc are safe from the cleanness perspective).

All the room facilities are already old and need renovation as well as all hostel from 0 floor (I had this total feeling) - elevators look old and not safe, you see the broken walls and electricity wire outside etc.

Also in the process of booking, after we done everything in the Booking app, Selina pushed to install their App, put all thee data again, answer too many questions. So if they use this way to convert the guests to their customers for other world destination, I'm not sure it's good customer experience scenario, because when you're travelling, you have a lot of things to do and when receive more and more requirements (and you stressed because you think they will cancel the booking if you will not provide the data) and not all the time you have time to complete it.

At the time of checking in they just gave to sign some application with no paying attention that these are rules of the hostel and you need to understand in the more details their rules and your rights.

They offer a special price for the breakfast in the cafe on their rooftop but was not really enjoyable - the view from cafe is nice, but the people working there are not nice, food was less than average, the woman from the entrance was not welcoming checking us in at the entrance, after she started to complain to her manager, when he arrived, about how it's difficult to work here and how many things she is doing for the small salary, so they were talking quite loud. I think people in Rio got so used to always have customers so they don't care about them so much, also they think that nobody can understand Portuguese language, so they feel free to do what they want to do. Also was not pleasant the moment when us and 2 more tables were awaiting our breakfast, but when this manager came, the kitchen gave prio to make his food and drink...Also it was not very clean place - tables,...

The 6 people mixed room is around 6 squared meters that barely fits the 3 bunk beds. The ceiling is 2.3 meters high with not enough breathable air for 6 people. There is one tiny window leading to a wall and you have to leave the AC always on in order to not suffocate. The top bed of the bunk bed doesn't fit you if you want to sit. And there is a wooden box in the interior that you will certainly kick when you are asleep. The private bathroom is ok, big enough and clean. There are no common areas to hang out with other guests, the kitchen is small and with no natural light with a window that leads to the same wall as the room and of course ventilation is by an AC that is always on. Of course you can go to the beautifull rooftop, then again, overpriced and you cannot bring your food or berberages. You belong to the "Cave" they gave the name kitchen. They provide transfer service between Selina Copacabana and Selina buzios, but they know nothing about it. We struggled 2 days in order to get confirmation of price, availability and time of departure. The service is like a "free video game", everything is an extra fee. They don't provide room towels, so extra fee for a towel 20 Reais, more than 4 USD. Selina Copacabana doesn't have a laundry room, and that is ok, however they provide laundry service that is way overpriced. As a comparison we went to a self service laundry place that costed us 40 Reais, around 9 USD for 8kg of clothes. However Selina charges you 25 Reais for 1kg, 200 Reais for 8kg, around 43 USD. They gave us confirmation for the transfer the very last night that they were picking us up at 7 am, so we would miss our already payed breakfast. They offered to check us out at 6:45 and give us the Breakfast to go at 7. Of course they charged us 5 Reais extra, more than 1 USD for the packaging. They din't provide any cuttlery so they expected us to eat it with our fingers, the coffee and the juice without the lids and no case to carry them safetly. We were able to eate it in the hostel because the transfer was delayed, otherwise we wouldn't be able to bring it with us. I will never come back to Selina Copacabana and I hope Selina Buzios is better. If you can, check for other hostels. Being 1 block away of the beach is not worth it for this...

Having recently stayed at the Selina Copacabana, here's a balanced take on what you can expect from this spot in the heart of Rio.

Pros:

Prime Location: Nestled right next to the famous Copacabana beach, the Selina offers immediate access to a vibrant array of restaurants, bars, and essential stores. During the day, it's a safe haven, bustling with life. Coworking Convenience: For digital nomads or those needing a workspace, the coworking space here, equipped with a phone booth and meeting room, is quite handy. Just remember to book ahead! Cinema Room: A unique feature is the cinema room. Imagine chilling out on comfy beds, watching movies. It's a great way to unwind. Tour Operator Partnership: They've teamed up with a tour operator, providing an excellent full-day city tour at a reasonable cost (about $80, lunch included). It's a well-organized way to see Rio's highlights.

Cons:

Limited Common Areas: If you're familiar with other Selinas, this one might disappoint in terms of common spaces. The erstwhile library is now just a couch in a hallway, and there's no rooftop or pool to lounge around, except for the private restaurant rooftop. Restaurant Operations: Both on-site restaurants operate independently and can sometimes lack efficiency. Don't be surprised if your coffee arrives post-breakfast. Reception Responsiveness: Getting in touch with the reception can be a test of patience. It took multiple attempts to arrange an airport transfer. Common Kitchen Cleanliness: The communal kitchen's hygiene could be better, and the lack of windows doesn't help either.

Overall Impression: Selina Copacabana, while excelling in location and some facilities, seems to have focused more on maximizing revenue from every available space. This approach has somewhat diluted the community vibe that other Selinas boast, favoring more private and commercial spaces over...