My wife and I visit Rio de Janeiro regularly, and on this occasion, we chose to stay at Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro for the first time to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
I would first like to highlight the staff, who were consistently kind and attentive, including the General Manager, Carolina, who made us feel very welcome.
However, there are several important aspects that, in my opinion, should be improved for a hotel of this category and price level.
The beach service was particularly disappointing and poorly organized. There was only one person handling the entire service, doing his absolute best, but the chairs and umbrellas were not set up in advance. He had to go across and retrieve them every time a guest arrived. This is simply not what one would expect from a luxury hotel of this level.
The hotel facilities are also surprisingly small, particularly the spa, which is extremely limited in size for a property of this category. The breakfast area is located on the first floor and has no view whatsoever, which is quite disappointing considering the hotel’s exceptional location in Ipanema and the expectations associated with the Fasano name.
If I had to recommend a hotel in Rio within a similar category and price range, I would personally choose the Copacabana Palace without hesitation. The difference in infrastructure, size, organization, and overall level of service is significant. The professionalism of the staff is also noticeably superior. In addition, its swimming pool is outstanding, and its premium beach service is, in my experience, on an entirely different level.
The main advantage I see at the Fasano is its excellent location in Ipanema, as well as the spectacular views from its rooftop pool.
Overall, while we appreciated the kindness and attention of the staff, we expected a considerably more complete luxury experience given the hotel’s reputation and price point, especially since we chose the Fasano to celebrate such a special occasion as our wedding anniversary.
