Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Copacabana

The hotel underwent a major overhaul ending in 2015, and the result is truly welcome in the aging hotel scene in Copacabana. Public areas offer a fresh, contemporary, and clean look with eye-catching art work (both paintings and photographs), design furniture, and areas decorated with fresh orchids and anthuriums. Hallways and various sitting areas are furnished with comfortable brown or white leather sofas and armchairs. The floors feature shiny pearl-gray ceramic tiles. White walls and spot lights enhance the overall clean look. The Club Lounge echoes the same style and elegance. Many of the guests are couples and families, though local business travelers often use the hotel's plethora of meeting and event spaces. 

The hotel is located on Avenida Atlantica, near thePosto 5 area, often considered the best stretch of Copacabana beach. This world-famous, roughly four-kilometer-long beach, is full of life: swimmers, joggers, gawkers, sunbathers, and beach volleyball and soccer players all crowd the sand.

The kiosks along theOrla walkway offer Caipirinha drinks, ice-cold beer, coconut water, and snacks. Ipanema and Arpoador beaches can be reached within a 10- to 15-minute walk. The nearby, small Arpoador public beach offers an outdoor free fitness center with cement weights a la The Flintstones, and phenomenal views for an outdoor workout.

The closest metro station of Cantagalo is 500 meters away. Copacabana Fortress -- featuring a military museum and the popular Confeitaria Colombocafe -- is a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Restaurants, bars, cafes, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and laundry places are all available in the neighborhood, particularly along Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. The Christ Statue or the Sugarloaf Mountain cable-car station can be reached within a 20- to 30-minute drive. Jardim Botanico (Botanical Gardens) is best reached by a 15-minute taxi drive. Parking at the hotel isn't available. Airport transfers can be arranged for a fee. 

The 303 rooms at Golden Tulip Rio Copacabana were renovated in 2014 and 2015, though they still feature relatively bland decor. Rooms are dispersed among three separate towers. Room decor, size, and overall condition differ considerably from one room to another, though all are comfortable. Standard and Superior rooms are approximately the same size, Executive rooms give a bit more space, and the most spacious are Deluxe rooms. These have acoustic insulation and face the ocean. Standard rooms in Block B have partial sea views. Some rooms face neighboring buildings have slivers of the ocean visible between walls.

Rooms include either 30-, 40-, or 43-inch LED-TVs, minibars, safes, and small desks. White bed linens are accented by colorful bed runners. White walls and drapes are a little dull, but look fresh. Floor materials include wood laminate or light beige ceramic tiles. The bathrooms vary in size and all consist of small shower stalls, single sinks, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Deluxe rooms offer Natura toiletry products and bathrobes. All rooms are non-smoking and have free spotty Wi-Fi. Past guests have reported issues with housekeeping standards. 

There are a lot of nice features at Golden Tulip Rio Copacabana. The highlights of the property are the rooftop swimming pool and fast access to the public beach. The hotel is built just across from Posto 5, with bars, sun loungers, and water toys for rent. Towels and umbrellas are free for guests. Upstairs, the rooftop pool is on the smaller side but there are two levels of sun deck set with sun loungers and umbrellas. Wicker furniture makes the space feel like a living room. Views of the beach and Sugarloaf Mountain are almost uninterrupted.

A free breakfast buffet with a selection of juice, fruits, fresh bread, hot dishes, and cold cuts is served in theForno E Fogao restaurant facing Copacabana beach. International and Brazilian dishes are served a la carte for lunch and dinner. On Fridays, there's a traditional Brazilian Feijoada (bean and pork stew) lunch buffet. Room service is available 24 hours a day. The lobby bar provides cocktails throughout the evening and into the night.

The modern fitness center includes a steam room, dry sauna, and two massage rooms. Those who booked the most expensive rooms get access to the Club Lounge, which serves free soft drinks, continental breakfast, and afternoon cocktails.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi both in public areas and in the rooms. However, several guests have complained about the poor strength of the signal (a common problem in Rio de Janeiro). Business guests appreciate a small Internet corner with two desktop computers and a good selection of equipped meeting rooms and conference halls.