Novotel Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca

Location straight opposite the beach, good access to main rods in Barra.

Breakfast was rather messy. Only a limited selection of foods. Very busy and crowded, tables pushed too close leaving no room to pass through. Staff slow in cleaning / setting tables (and refreshing food). No central area for picking up extra cutlery. We asked staff for extra spoons, they did not get back to us. Reason we had to ask: spoons were only placed on tables randomly - for instance on atbale with 4 settings only 2 ghad spoons. Other tables none... in bathroom, shower tap was broken and always fell off in our hands. Surely housekeeping would pick this up when cleaning. Why hadn't this been addressed? When we arrived late in the evening, there was no signage for car parking. Satnav guided us to the car park entrance around the side. Gate was locked, camera working. But nobody came, and no bell / intercom. Walked back to the lobby, asking for car parking. Staff appeared to acknowledge, so walked back to the car hoping the gate would open. waited rather a long while, nothing happened. We walked back to lobby again - only now to be told that parking is by valet. But no signage! And staff apparently don't speak english, no apology for the first misdirection. So we drove back to the lobby (with difficulty due to one-way systems). Then faced a deserted lobby and desk, and ended up waiting for 15 minutes until somebody bothered to come out and process the check-in, collect car keys, etc. An extremely bad first impression. When visiting pool, picked up towel there (and handed over towel card). about an hour later tried to return towel and get card back - but no staff to be found anywhere! Waited for rather a while, but still nothing...