Review: Sheraton Grand Rio de Janeiro Hotel & Resort (2026 Update)
✏️ April 2026 Update — A lot has changed since I first wrote this! As many of you may know, I ended up living in Rio de Janeiro for almost 4 years — 3 years in the city itself, and almost a year just outside in the state of Rio. In that time, I visited the Sheraton Grand MANY times. Not just as a traveler passing through, but as a local, for staycations, for celebrations, and honestly just because I love the place. I have become good friends with the management and many of the staff members over the years, and that changes how you see a hotel. I’ll call out what’s changed below — you’ll see strikethrough text for anything outdated, with the current info right next to it. The original review follows, with updates woven in throughout.
I decided to spend my 41st birthday in Brazil this year, and we decided on the Sheraton Grand — I am so glad we did! The two hotels we were considering were the Sheraton Grand and the JW Marriott Copacabana. I am sure the JW was an ok hotel, but the reviews weren’t the best, and the Sheraton Grand was the only hotel in Rio that has direct beach access — as all other hotels are built across a road, street, or highway from the beach. For these reasons we decided on the Sheraton Grand! My friend and co-worker Shane went with me on this trip and also had a room at this hotel.
Booking
I detailed all the ins and outs of booking on this post HERE, but I will sum it up… I saved about half price using the Marriott Bonvoy Best Rate Guarantee. Enough said!
If you’re not a Marriott Bonvoy member yet, sign up before you book — you’ll get member rates and start earning points immediately. Always book direct.
📱 Skip the expensive roaming. Grab an Airalo eSIM for Brazil before you fly. Works perfectly and costs a fraction of what your carrier will charge.
Transportation
We used Uber from the airport to the hotel. I think it cost around $20 USD, and it was in a clean, safe car. Uber in Brazil is very cheap, easy and plentiful! It took about 30 minutes from GIG airport. Still true in 2026 — Uber remains the easiest and cheapest option.
Arrival / Check-In
Being an Ambassador Level Elite with Marriott Bonvoy — I’ll be honest, I am no longer Ambassador, nor Titanium. I am now Lifetime Platinum, which I earned by spending over a year of my life in Starwood and Marriott properties over my lifetime. So the perks have changed — on paper, at least. But here’s the thing: at THIS hotel, it doesn’t even matter anymore. After years of visits and living in Rio, I don’t think they see my status card — I think they see ME. More on that in the Staff section.
On that first birthday trip though — this was NO EXCEPTION to elite treatment. My FABULOUS Ambassador, Brandi, made all the arrangements beforehand. Upon arrival, once I gave my name, the clerk made a quick phone call, and the Front Office Manager came out to greet me personally and hand me my keys. It was all done for me!
The Room / Suite
What can I say about this suite, other than WOW! I was upgraded to the Petropolis Suite — the Vice Presidential Suite — and it was absolutely fabulous. The suite had a dining area, living area, office area, bedroom, guest bath, and master bath. There were 2 balconies, one facing the ocean and the other facing the pool and mountain.
The décor and furniture were very nice and stylishly appointed! My dining room table had seating for 6, and there was a sectional sofa in the living room — the suite was definitely equipped for entertaining!
💼 What I travel with: I never go anywhere without my Briggs & Riley luggage and my Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for the long flight.
The Lounge
If I had to make any complaint at all about the hotel, it would have to be the lounge. It was very nice and furnished well, but it was small, and the food options were VERY LIMITED, especially for me as a vegan. BUT if you are going to do something, do it well — so if they are going to have a lounge, maybe put a tad more effort into the food!
The Food — Updated!
I have to update this section significantly. When I first wrote this review in 2019, I said the food was “OK.” But after MANY stays over the years — the food was OK — the food is GREAT, and the chefs are genuinely creative in a way that surprised me every single time.
What really gets me is this: the chefs here have a gift for what I can only call edible artwork. EVERY single visit, they find a way to surprise me with something I didn’t expect — a beautifully presented vegan dish, a creative plating, something that makes you stop and say WOW before you even take a bite. And for a vegan, that is NOT easy to do at a hotel of this size. Here’s just a small sample of what they’ve created for me over multiple visits:
Every single one of those was created specifically for me. THAT is what this hotel does.
The breakfast spread for elite guests upstairs at L’Etoile is excellent, the pool bar food is fresh and well-prepared, and the pizza spot is still a solid go-to.
The Spa
The spa was nice — not the most spectacular I’ve been to, but a solid, relaxing experience. I had 3 massages during that first stay, just because I was in full relax mode! The massage rooms overlook the pool and ocean — you can hear the waves with the doors open. Very relaxing.
The Pool
There are 2 pool areas — the main adult pool and one for children. The pool itself is clean, a good size, and the bar staff are very attentive.
The best part — and this is what truly sets the Sheraton Grand Rio apart from EVERY other hotel in Rio — is that directly below the pool, down a flight of steps, is the ocean. Direct beach access. Nobody else in Rio has this. That alone is worth the booking.
The Staff — Something I Have to Say
I said it in 2019, and I’ll say it with even more conviction now: the staff at this hotel are exceptional.
After years of visits and living in Rio, I have genuinely become friends with the management and many staff members. When I walk into the Sheraton Grand now — even after being away for well over a year — people recognize me from years past. I am treated as if I’m visiting family. That is NOT something you can manufacture. That is culture, and it comes from the top.
Which brings me to someone I have to mention by name: General Manager Sintia Gomes. Sintia is a wonderful person and an outstanding General Manager. She was the first woman in Brazil to serve as General Manager of a major hotel — and has held that distinction for many, many years. That tells you everything you need to know about the caliber of leadership at this property.
After living in Rio and watching how DIFFICULT it is to run any kind of business in Brazil, I give this hotel — and Sintia’s team — even MORE credit. The bureaucracy, the logistics, the challenges that come with operating in Brazil are enormous. And yet this hotel runs like a well-oiled machine. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Wrap-Up
I recommended this hotel in 2019 after one stay. I recommend it even MORE now. The Sheraton Grand Rio is not the flashiest or most modern hotel in the world — but it has something that flashy, modern hotels often lack: soul.
If you’re planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, book this hotel.
- ✅ Direct ocean beach access — unique in ALL of Rio de Janeiro
- ✅ Staff culture is genuinely exceptional
- ✅ GM Sintia Gomes — legendary leadership
- ✅ Marriott Bonvoy points — great value for elite members
- ✅ Chefs create edible artwork — will SURPRISE you every time
- ⚠️ Lounge food options are limited
- ⚠️ Building is showing its age, but the experience compensates
📋 Before you go — your Brazil checklist:
- International data? → Airalo eSIM for Brazil
- Luggage? → Briggs & Riley
Thanks for reading, and PLEASE, TRAVEL MORE!
Have you stayed at the Sheraton Grand Rio? Drop it in the comments — I read every single one!
Beautiful resort! The suite looks lovely and spacious – I love the modern decor. It’s fabulous that the staff were able to provide such thoughtful care and so many personal touches.
The view from the pool is gorgeous and I love that they have an area for adults to enjoy some much-needed peace and quiet. This is exactly why I travel. I think if I stayed there I’d never want to leave!