Rio: The Rio Dolphin Inn

Rio hostels Ipanema: The Rio Dolphin Inn, Cobacabana/Ipanema

Featuring only a couple of rooms, this little hostel is right in the middle of things, between the Ipanema och Copacabana beaches in Rio. While not listed in the Lonely Planet, it ranks high in other forums. It’s easy to understand.

Owner John Maier, a Time magazine and TV freelance journalist, has let his peace, love and understanding personality – spiced up with a good old surfer’s theme – spin into full gear here, and the house is filled with corious things to look at. It might not attract every visitor’s liking, but will at least become an unusual experience.

And it’s clean, the location is great, and the area safe, if not Rio’s cheapest. Maier himself wants all the best for his visitors, never short on ideas on what to do or simply a good story.

Time of visit: Feb, 2012, right after the carnival.

Dolphin Inn on the web: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/brazil-rio-de-janeiro-riodolphininn-page.html