The best and most luxurious of Rio's many hotels are on the coast, in breathtakingly beautiful beachside neighborhoods—Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Sao Conrado. Very few hotels are situated in Centro, but nearby Santa Teresa is experiencing a boom in bed-and-breakfasts. Reservations are recommended year-round, and they're absolutely crucial in summer months (December-March). The time of Carnival, especially, requires advance planning: Some city visitors book rooms up to a year in advance of the pre-Lenten festival. In general, most hotels offer lower weekend rates.
