One of the best moves I made on coming to Rio for a week was to rent an apartment rather than opting for a hostel or hotel room.
Renting gave me a much greater sense of connection to the city - I felt much more like a resident than a tourist (even though my uneven tan, pasty white upper forearms and dubious sense of style set me apart from true cariocas). I also got to indulge my passion for cooking - delighting in shopping for the gloriously succulent fruit and vegetables available in Brazil.
The studio apartment I rented was clean, nicely laid out and had a fabulous large window overlooking some bustling Rio street life. The location was ideal - just a two minute stroll to Ipanema beach, I was located in one of the most desireable locations in all of Rio.
I paid R$130 per night (about 50 Euro or US$73), plus an extra R$70 cleaning fee once I vacated the apartment. I rented my apartment from Fantastic Rio (http://fantasticrio.vilabol.uol.com.br) and dealing with this company was a delight. Peter Corr, who runs Fantastic Rio is a real gentleman - knowledgeable, friendly and straightforward. I highly recommend contacting Peter to anyone planning to visit Rio for a few days.
When I returned to Rio two weeks later for New Years I again rented from Fantastic Rio. Prices had doubled - as is the case across the city during the New Years and Carnival periods - but I did at least have an apartment just a stone´s throw from the main fireworks celebrations on Copaacabana Beach.
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