Hotel Philipp

Hotel Philipp is right up the hill from the town of Teresopolis. We saw the battered old sign by chance and walked through the slightly dodgy neighbourhood to the very end of the street to find the hotel. Inside we were greeted by dated decor, old Parquet floors, stair carpets and interesting electricals! ( don't miss the old bell board on the stairs if you stay ). The room was clean and basic, no air con or fan, but extra blankets for those visiting from the sun. Fridge and TV included and a clean recently decorated bathroom. The view was of the city below and we felt rather exclusive once settled. It's also a great viewpoint for the lightening which accompanies the bands of thunder which pass by in the night.?) The pool was a bit dated but full and looked raring to go. Access is out the front and around the side through the street. The service was excellent! Mum and son dealt with our terrible Portuguese very calmly and the little green parrot was very friendly too. Grandma is a little deaf and spoke some English too as does the son. Breakfast in the once glorious dining room overlooked the city and made up for the hot night. Food was okay but accompanied by excellent and friendly service made the Hotel Philipp a place we will never forget.

Perched on the hills of Teresópolis, with magnificent morning mist-covered views over the town and iconic 'Dedo de Deus,' this place screams of former glory days long gone. Awards of excellence from the 1950's (!!) still hanging on the walls attest to this hotel's prestigious legacy - at one time a most exclusive establishment, catering to Cariocan elite seeking a cool mountain retreat from their lives of privilege. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Unrenovated for decades, this place is but a tragic shadow of its former self: Peeling paint, chipped plaster, ageing furniture, and empty, at least when we stayed. Cold at night, no heating, though extensive blankets. Patchy, slow, free WiFi. Very hot, somewhat scalding showers. On the plus side: Basic but plentiful breakfast. Very quiet. Clean. Reasonably comfortable beds. You will need a car to get to this place. The caretaker, Ricardo, is a pleasant and accommodating gentleman. For all its neglect, this place has an oddly preserved sense of authenticity, and remnants of Hotel Philipp's former charm still persist. Though luxurious no more, this well-priced option will remain attractive for some budget travellers seeking to detour from the standard hostel circuit, and perhaps venture back a few decades. You can just about picture it. Worth a stay for a night or two. DETAILS: Group of friends, 2 males, mid-20's. 1 night in a private twin room with bathroom, breakfast included. July 2014 (n.b. DURING WORLD CUP). Paid US$75 total (i.e $75/night).