When you think of Rio de Janeiro, one of the first things that probably pops into your head is a colorful image of Carnavalwith scantily clad women dancing through the streets while tourists and locals happily drink and dance the hours away. Of course Carnaval is an infamously huge party that attracts millions of visitors every year for a reason, but Rio has so much more for travelers to discover if you’re willing to do a bit of research.
Rio de Janeiro is an especially great destination for romantic getaways, but as with any vacation, a poor hotel choice could make-or-break the entire experience, so here are the top 10 romantic hotels in Rio de Janeiro for frugal romance seekers:
For the Beach Loving Couple:
Promenade Visconti
Located in the Ipanema neighborhood of Southern Rio, the Promenade Visconti hotel offers chic rooms with ocean or city views, and is only a few steps away from the infamous Posto 9 section of the beach, or Lifeguard Post 9, where the city’strendiest VIPs go to relax.
Marina Palace
Marina Palace is located on Leblon beach, which is an upscale section of the Ipanema neighborhood. Couples will love the ability to sip cocktails while enjoying the ocean view from the stunning rooftop pool.
For the Culture-Seeking Couple:
The Santa Teresa neighborhood offers the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional Brazilian culture, tranquility, and culinary hot-spots, yet it is easy to reach any of the other main attractions in Rio.
Relais & Châteaux Santa Teresa
Relais & Châteaux has a luxurious tropical chic design, offers relaxing spa packages and has an ideal location in picturesque Santa Teresa. The stunning design is enough to tempt any couple to stay indoors all day!
Mama Ruisa
Mama Ruisa is a glamorously Brazilian boutique hotel with a simple French twist. Since each room overlooks the lush tropical gardens and the outdoor pool is surrounded by palm trees, you’ll feel secluded enough to forget that the heart of Santa Teresa is only a five-minute walk away.
Mengo Palace Hotel
Not far from Santa Teresa, Mengo Palace Hotel is located in the Flamengo neighborhood, which is ideal if you’re hoping to split your time between exploring the cultural gems of Santa Teresa and lounging on the beautiful Flamengo beach. This hotel is perfect for gastronomy lovers as it offers a complimentary buffet breakfast and has an in-house expert chef preparing traditional and fusion Brazilian à la carte dishes.
For the Honeymooners:
Fasano Rio de Janeiro
The hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro is sleek, charming and sophisticated, and offers rooms with the latest technology, highly rated bars and restaurants on the premises, plus a stunning infinity pool with unforgettable sunset views of the Sugarloaf mountain.
Marina All Suites Hotel
Marina All Suites is a stylish boutique hotel with 39 spacious suites, all of which have an ocean view of Leblon beach. They boast two gourmet restaurants and couples have the option to choose their room based on the design that suits them best.
Photos via Flickr/Prestor & diogo86
Christina Gmyr is a writer for Hipmunk and is currently working on the #HipmunkCityLove project.
