Hi.. .. . any help would be appreciated.. .. .

I am goingto Rio De Janeiro for a wedding and need to find a cheap (or reasonable) place to stay. I need to be in the area of Leblon or Ipanema. I don't need anything fancy, just safe and clean. Any information or ideas would be appreciated! Thanks!!!

I stayed at the Hotel Angrense about 3-4 blocks off the beach at Copacabana during April of 2005. The rate was about R$180 (off season). .

You can google them and find the website. It was clean. As far as safety.. .. . I don't know which areas are more or less safe than others in Rio. I suppose since it's a hole-in-the-wall hotel, you don't get the rich foreign tourists (and the associated muggers). .

Tip.. .. . if you don't have much luggage, take a bus for R$2 because a taxi from the bus station to Copa or Ipa will cost you R$200. Or, if you do have luggage, try to get a shuttle bus from airport/bus station to your hotel.

Oops.. .. . I didn't realize this topic was over a year old. I guess not many people visit this site!