Review: JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro

The JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro is one of the most iconic landmarks on Copacabana Beach, which is arguably the most famous shore in a city renowned for its beaches. Its pink stone construction is designed to be a throwback to the glory days when Rio was the capital of Brazil.

Of course, as beautiful as the hotel is and as ideal as its location may be to central Rio de Janeiro, the main reason I personally chose it was because I could use 35,000-point Marriott Bonvoy free night awards. I wasn’t disappointed by this, nor by the quality of the service and amenities, which are always top notch.

One thing visitors to this hotel, and many other high-end properties in Brazil, should note is that due to the weakness and volatility of the local currency, the Brazilian real, prices are often quoted in USD but charged in reais. With that in mind, let’s take a look at my review of the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro.

Booking & Check-in

Booking the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro was easy. I simply logged into the Marriott Bonvoy app and selected a couple of nights in May, most of which were priced under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. I did have to top them up a little, ultimately paying an additional 2,000 Bonvoy points for my three-night stay in addition to three free night certificates, but my main goal was to avoid paying cash out of pocket.

Rack rates are often north of $250 USD, so I felt redeeming my Marriott Bonvoy points resulted in a decent value when converted into Canadian dollars. On the other hand,  if you’re only trying to maximize cents per point, other hotels may serve you better.

If you are interested in getting more value out of the Marriott Bonvoy program, Canadians can add either the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card or the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card (or both!) to their wallet. These cards offer an annual free night certificate, 15 elite qualifying nights towards status, and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

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Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card offers benefits that include an annual Marriott Bonvoy free night certificate and 15 elite qualifying nights towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy card review for more details.

OFFER
50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

MINSPEND
$1,500

EST. VALUE
$450+

ANNUAL FEE
$120

FOREX FEES
Yes

EXPIRY
–

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the pinkish-red stone building and lots of friendly staff who took my baggage and made things easy for me.

During check-in, I was also offered my full Marriott Titanium Elite benefits, such as free points and a room upgrade.

I snapped some photos of the lobby as it’s open and made for relaxation.

One thing I noticed about the hotel was that even when at capacity, it rarely was too active inside, though it does have a dedicated relaxation breakout space.

Location

The JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro is located on Copacabana Beach, one of the most stereotypically beautiful beaches in Brazil. I had a great view from my room:

Along with Ipanema, this is the most widely known beach outside of Brazil, and also offers plenty of amenities like restaurants at every price point and from all over the world within walking distance.

Due to this being a strong tourist area, there are a lot of attempted tourist hustlers during the day, so be on your watch, and I do not recommend wearing visible jewelry such as a chain. Due to strong police presence, crime is low during the day but can become elevated after about midnight when the police no longer maintain a permanent presence.

Parking

If you are insane enough to attempt driving in the cacophony of traffic that is Rio de Janeiro’s streets, the hotel does have available secluded valet parking for $17 USD per day.

I strongly advise against trying to drive in Rio because the traffic is insane, and the drivers are reckless by the standards of developed countries. Additionally, many neighbourhoods are exceptionally dangerous. Finally, most vehicles are manual transmission only. Proceed with extreme caution.

Room – 1 King Oceanview

The room that I had initially booked was a standard King room. However, my status gained me an immediate upgrade to an Oceanview room on the fourth floor the moment I checked in. These rooms aren’t much longer than those looking into the interior of the hotel, but they do offer a much nicer view.

On my way into the room, I used the elevators, which require a keycard for access 24/7.

The room itself was small but luxurious and comfortable. The styling felt much like the rest of the hotel: late 19th-century tropical chic. A lot of the buildings in downtown Rio are of the same aesthetic. The view, which you could see earlier in its full glory, certainly delivered! 

Located near the beautiful view is a small desk, ample for working, and a chair in the corner of the room with a side table.

The king-sized bed is standard issue, and bottled water was provided bedside.

The safe, ironing board, robes, and storage space for clothes can all be found in the closet.

The room provides free water and a coffee machine under its large television; it’s very important you only drink the bottled water and use the same to make coffee, as the tap water in Brazil is not safe to drink.

There was also a very expensive minibar. I definitely ate at least one overpriced Snickers. Sue me.

Finally, the bathroom, while small, was made from what appeared to be solid marble and featured a combination bathtub and shower. The toilet is located on the left side of the bathroom, with the shower and bathtub across from it.

Several proprietary amenities were supplied by the hotel. I found all of them to be of great quality, and also appreciated the hotel restocking consumables such as the miniature mouthwash every day.

The shower and bathtub combo was nothing outside of the ordinary. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were all provided in full-size bottles.

Overall, I was satisfied with the room and found it easy to sleep there as it was well soundproofed from the outside world.

Restaurants & Bars

Carioca Lobby Bar

On the ground floor in the lobby is where the Carioca Lobby Bar can be found. This seemed to be empty at all hours of the day and night, even during soccer games (which are practically the Brazilian state religion).

There’s also a bar on the rooftop pool, but I talk more about that later in the article (watch out: it isn’t cheap!).

Carioca Restaurant – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

On the other hand, the Carioca restaurant (yes, it has the same name as the lobby bar) on the mezzanine above the bar was always buzzing during the breakfast hours, as this was the main area where breakfast was offered for guests. 

Breakfast is offered between 0700 and 1100 every morning. The food selection is excellent, though, with an omelette station and every other pastry, meat, and dessert your heart could desire.

I believe there might be some exclusions on which rates get breakfast or not, or who is permitted; however, I’ve always given my room number and been served without being charged an extra real. 

This is most likely a result of my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status or above as part of the Marriott breakfast benefit. However, in conversations with other guests, it appeared many of them were just comped at check-in. Great customer service on the hotel’s part if this is the case.

Executive Lounge

There is also an Executive Lounge on the ninth floor. My Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status gave me access 24/7, and the main appeal of the lounge was its quieter surroundings and free 24/7 soft drinks.

Aside from that, it had a happy hour between 1600 and 1800; however, I didn’t partake because I was exploring the city. There was a breakfast option also provided in the executive lounge, but the front desk staff told me it was just about 50% of the same options as those in the Carioca restaurant, so I skipped it, too.

Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center is one of the better-apportioned ones I’ve seen during my travels. Gym culture has been undergoing a resurgence in Brazil, and so I guess hotels are trying to be better stocked.

There were a variety of cardio machines as well as weight machines of a decent variety. If you’re a runner or swimmer, though, I’d recommend just doing so along the beach boardwalk, as it’s much more scenic and there are also dedicated bicycle lanes on the road.

Pool

The rooftop lounge and pool area is one of the most famous features of the JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro. While the pool is small, its location atop the hotel is breathtaking, giving an amazing view of both the waterfront and the city itself.

There’s also plenty of relaxation space up there if all you want to do is read, as well as a hotel bar for your convenience. It charges hotel bar prices, though, so be wary! A craft beer with service charge was north of $8 USD, which is high for Canada, but absurd in Brazil.

Spa

On the roof, there is also a spa across from the gym, but I didn’t partake; massages there run north of $80-100 USD, and while I’m sure they’re of excellent quality, I had no inclination to use them.

Conclusion

To sum up, my stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Rio De Janeiro was pleasant and enjoyable. I really enjoyed the breakfast and think the customer service was top-notch. 

The room, while a bit older and smaller, was very comfortable, and I am certainly looking forward to returning. If you find yourself in Rio, I can highly recommend this hotel without issue… just watch out for the rooftop pool bar prices.