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Summary of reviewsGamboa Rio Hotel attracts a wide range of opinions from its guests with a prevailing focus on budget-friendly and functional accommodations in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. Its central location is highly valued for easy access to transportation, including metro stations, bus stops and key transit hubs like the Santos Dumont Airport and Novo Rio Bus Station. Guests appreciate its proximity to the central downtown area, making it ideal for those with work-related or transit-focused needs. However, the surrounding neighborhood raises significant concerns regarding safety, noise and cleanliness, particularly at night.
The breakfast offerings at Gamboa Rio Hotel receive mixed reviews with many guests praising the freshness and variety of options available. The breakfast is often described as abundant and delightful with special mentions of delicious fruits and supportive staff. However, other guests find it basic and repetitive, featuring a selection of bread, eggs, processed meats, cheese and fruits that leaves some wishing for more variety.
When it comes to the rooms, guests generally appreciate their spaciousness and cleanliness. The accommodations are noted for being cozy with comfortable beds and sizable bathrooms. Some negative factors, such as outdated facilities, occasional maintenance issues and high humidity levels, occasionally detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the hotel retains a vintage charm from its older establishment days, adding character to the stay.
Cleanliness at the Gamboa Rio Hotel is predominantly well-regarded with rooms often described as very clean and organized. Guests appreciate the efforts of the cleaning staff in maintaining a pleasant and hygienic environment. However, certain areas do require improvement, as some guests have reported musty smells and instances of superficial cleaning.
The hotel staff receives positive feedback for their friendliness and attentiveness, significantly contributing to a pleasant stay for many guests. Notable praises are directed at specific personnel like Eduarda and the morning receptionist for their exceptional service. However, some visitors have encountered instances of rudeness and inconsistency in service quality, affecting their overall experience.
Wi-Fi connectivity at the hotel presents mixed experiences. While some guests report a reliable connection, many others face issues such as fluctuating signals, disconnections and login problems, indicating that Wi-Fi stability can be inconsistent.
Guests' experiences with the hotel's beds are varied, often leaning towards the need for improvement. Some find the mattresses too hard or too soft, adversely affecting their sleep quality. There are also mentions of old and deformed mattresses, though cleanliness remains commendable.
Finally, the hotel, broadly described as a good value for money option, receives praise for providing a satisfactory budget-friendly stay despite being an older building. The lack of in-house entertainment and occasional service lapses are noted, but many guests find the hotel reliable for short stays.
In summary, Gamboa Rio Hotel provides a functional and budget-friendly accommodation option with some standout positives like location convenience, good breakfast and friendly staff. However, prospective guests should weigh these against the noted drawbacks, particularly the neighborhood's safety and varying room comforts. Show more
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Categories
3-Star Hotel
This hotel is centrally located and offers easy access to the city center. It provides essential amenities and comfortable accommodation for travelers.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
Accessible Hotel
Room Types
Standard Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower. This double room has air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Superior Double RoomThe spacious double room provides air conditioning and a minibar, as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 2 beds.
Family Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a shower. This family room has air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 2 beds.
Standard Twin RoomOffering free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a shower. This twin room has air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 2 beds.
Superior Twin RoomOffering free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a shower. This twin room has air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 3 beds.
Family RoomOffering free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a shower. This family room features air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 4 beds.
Guest Reviews
6.7
Rated
Location
The Gamboa Rio Hotel boasts a strategically central location in Rio de Janeiro, offering easy access to transportation such as metro stations and bus stops. It is conveniently situated near the metro Pres Vargas and within close proximity to the central downtown area, facilitating quick commutes to workplaces and major transit hubs like Santos Dumont Airport and Novo Rio Bus Station. For those relying on public transport, the hotel's location proves advantageous, being just two blocks away from the Central metro/train station.
However, the surrounding neighborhood presents significant challenges. Guests describe the area as very dangerous, unsafe and unattractive, pointing out issues such as noise, cleanliness and a high incidence of bars that contribute to a less secure environment. Many agree that while the hotel’s central position provides good accessibility and proximity to various points of interest, the immediate vicinity is not inviting, especially at night when security concerns are heightened.
Overall, the location serves as a double-edged sword: it is beneficial for those needing quick and easy access to Rio’s central commerce and transportation, but the surrounding area’s safety and ambiance significantly detract from the overall experience.
Breakfast
Gamboa Rio Hotel offers a breakfast experience that garners diverse opinions from guests. Many find the breakfast to be very good or even excellent, appreciating its freshness and variety. Terms like abundant and wonderful describe the more positive experiences with some guests enjoying a full breakfast that meets their expectations. A few highlight the deliciousness of the fruits and the supportive hotel staff, which adds to the pleasant start of their day.
However, other guests mention that the breakfast can be quite basic and repetitive with limited options and not much variety. Some describe it as very simple, featuring items like bread, egg, processed meat, cheese and some fruits. There are also mentions of artificial juice and a greasy selection, which detract from the overall appeal for some.
In summary, while the breakfast at Gamboa Rio Hotel can be delightful and fulfilling for some, it leaves others wishing for more variety and better value.
Rooms
Gamboa Rio Hotel offers rooms that are generally appreciated for their spaciousness and cleanliness. Guests often find the rooms to be of a good size and cozy with comfortable beds and sizable bathrooms. Many reviews highlight the large and well-maintained spaces, adding that the rooms come equipped with amenities such as minibars and TVs.
Despite these positive aspects, there are recurring mentions of certain drawbacks. Some guests reported that the rooms and facilities feel old and there are occasional maintenance issues, such as malfunctioning air conditioning and showers needing upkeep. Additionally, the rooms can sometimes have an uncomfortable bed or hard mattress and some noted a musty smell or high humidity levels.
Furthermore, while the bathrooms are usually clean, they could benefit from better cleaning routines. The lack of windows in some bathroom setups was also pointed out as a flaw. Despite these mixed reviews, the staff’s positive attitude and helpfulness often enhance the overall experience. The hotel, renovated from an older establishment, retains a lot of its vintage charm, adding an interesting character to the stay.
Beds
At the Gamboa Rio Hotel, guest experiences with the beds have been mixed but tend to lean towards areas needing improvement. While some visitors appreciated the firm mattresses, others found them excessively hard and uncomfortable. The softness of other mattresses led to them sinking too much, indicating a lack of consistency in mattress quality. Various guests mentioned the presence of old and deformed mattresses, some even comparing them to those found in lower-end accommodations. Additionally, a few reviewers pointed out specific issues like impractical mattresses and aging bed components like pillows and headboards. On a positive note, the hotel maintains clean bed and bath linens and some guests highlighted the quiet environment enhanced by windows blocking street noise. Overall, while cleanliness is commendable, the comfort of the beds is an area that could use considerable improvement.
Cleanliness
Gamboa Rio Hotel presents a mixed bag when it comes to cleanliness. On a positive note, many guests have found the hotel to be very clean and organized, appreciating clean rooms, pleasant environments and the efficiency of the cleaning staff. Specific mentions highlight that the rooms are often spotless with no odor and that the bathrooms, despite needing some updates, are kept clean. Guests also noted that the hotel maintains good hygiene standards, often cleaning rooms without being asked and some even described the cleanliness as excellent.
However, a consistent theme in the reviews suggests that there are areas where cleanliness and maintenance could be improved. Some guests experienced issues such as old and seemingly dirty bedding, strong musty smells and instances of superficial cleaning. There are mentions of rooms having humidity and occasional lapses in the cleaning routine, such as finding a cotton swab next to the bathtub. Moreover, a few reviews indicated that while the hotel sticks to cleanliness, further modernization and attention to detail would enhance the overall experience.
In summary, Gamboa Rio Hotel generally upholds a standard of cleanliness that satisfies most guests, though there are still aspects that could benefit from closer attention and improvement.
Staff
Visitors to Gamboa Rio Hotel have expressed a mix of experiences regarding the staff. Many guests highlight the friendly and attentive nature of the team, noting their kindness and the excellent attention they provide. Several reviews specifically praise the receptionists with Eduarda receiving particular mention for her exceptional service. The morning receptionist is also noted for being professional, helpful and polite.
Guests frequently describe the staff as helpful and supportive, contributing to a pleasant stay with superb service from reception to kitchen. The team is often described as polite, kind and attentive, making the hotel a welcoming place for many travelers.
However, some reviews indicate inconsistency in service quality. Instances of rudeness and lack of care from staff, including management, have been reported. There are mentions of receptionists being harsh and unpleasant, which detracts from the overall experience for some guests.
In summary, while the Gamboa Rio Hotel staff often receives high marks for being friendly and helpful, there are notable exceptions where service quality falls short.
Wi-Fi
Guests have experienced varied Wi-Fi connectivity at Gamboa Rio Hotel. Some reviews mention a good Wi-Fi signal, highlighting moments when the connection met their needs. However, many others report issues such as fluctuating or nonexistent signals, particularly in the rooms and problems with disconnection and freezing. A few guests noted difficulties in accessing the Wi-Fi, either due to login problems or not receiving the Wi-Fi password. These mixed experiences indicate that while there is potential for a stable connection, it can often be unreliable.
3 Star
Gamboa Rio Hotel receives mixed reviews from its guests with a notable emphasis on positive aspects. Many reviewers highlight the good value for money and the satisfactory experience they had, often mentioning that the price to quality ratio and cost-benefit are appealing. Although the building is old, guests note that everything works adequately, making it a reliable choice for budget-conscious travelers.
Despite its simplicity, the hotel manages to satisfy many of its visitors. Some guests find their stay exceptional, describing it as a great and very good experience with a few even stating that they loved it. However, there are areas of concern, such as the delay in releasing rooms and occasional reports of disrespect towards guests.
The hotel's lack of in-house entertainment and absence of hand sanitizer in the breakfast area are noted drawbacks. Reviews also mention a need for attention to the location, suggesting that while the hotel itself offers good value, prospective guests should consider its surroundings.
Overall, Gamboa Rio Hotel seems to provide a functional and budget-friendly stay with a range of guest experiences from exceptional to disappointing.
No, Gamboa Rio Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Gamboa Rio Hotel.
No, Gamboa Rio Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Gamboa Rio Hotel.