Royal Regency Palace Hotel

WE WERE STOLEN FROM OUR ROOM BY HOTEL STAFF. I have over 15 years of traveling experience, from small hostels to nice hotels and everything in between, and this has by far been THE WORST PLACE I have ever stayed at. The worst thing that happened is that we were ROBBED IN OUR ROOM and by the way things played out I think a lot of employees from the Hotel were involved. 600 USD dollars in cash were stolen from one of our suitcases. We stayed at the hotel for 2 nights, December 30 and 31 of 2023. On December 31 we left the hotel from 1 pm to 4 pm and during that time someone entered our room, went through one of our suitcases and stole 600 USD. We realized the money was stolen around 6 pm that very same day. When we stepped outside of the room, the security cameras on the hallway had been turned around. Also, we didn't request room cleaning, so no one was supposed to enter the room (we specifically turned off the cleaning room light), and there was no security box at the room and no other available room to move us, so even after the robbery, we had to stay on that same room that same night. In sum: 1) the cameras in the hallway were turned around. (photo attached) 2) We didn't request room cleaning. 3) The room didn't have a safety deposit box to store valuables. (video attached) 4) We had $ 600 USD stolen from one of our suitcases. That very same night no one gave us an answer but said that the evidence clearly showed we had been stolen and that the manager would take care of it in the morning. Keep in mind this was New Years Eve so our night to enjoy in Rio was kind of ruined at this point. The very next day we spoke with Mr. Daniel Silva, the reception manager. After several hours of waiting, showing pictures, sending emails and presenting facts, and them checking the security cameras, he told us that we were right, that us a matter of fact we had been stolen by someone from the hotel while we were away and that the hotel general manager said they would reimburse the USD $600. However they didn’t have enough cash not in USD not even in REAIS to cover the stolen amount. Strange right, a hotel like that not having even $600 USD worth of cash? We were leaving Rio that very same day. After some insisting from my part they said they could give us REAIS 2000 which we later exchanged at the airport for USD 355 , and that the resulting USD 245 would be wired to my account. At this point we had to leave for the airport so I requested the reception manager Daniel Silva to sign this on a piece of paper (photo attached), and left. 5) Signed paper from manager Daniel Silva acknowledging the USD 600 stolen amount, the REAIS 2000 partial reimbursement and the remaining cash amount would be wired. To this date and after exchanging several WhatsApp messages with Mr. Silva and providing other forms of payment other than a wire, we still haven’t been reimbursed. On top of the horrible experience of being robbed in a hotel room for the first time in my life, and at a hotel that is supposed to be a 4 star hotel! In addition to having to spend an additional night in the same room, not sure if I would be robbed again, and then being promised reimbursement from management but actually only receiving half of the stolen money. 7)I have to say the rooms were dirty, the AC was dripping black water from the accumulated dust, the noise outside the room from other AC’s was terribly loud, the shower was not hot but warm, the room didn’t have a security box to store valuables, and the roof on the hallway was literally FALLING TO PIECES due to humidity (image attached). 8) In conclusion the Hotel is terrible and not even a 2 star hotel, the neighborhood where it is located is very ugly, but the worst thing which can’t be forgiven or overlooked is that we were stolen by hotel personnel with a very strong chance of hotel management being aware/involved.

Great place for a short or extended trip. I loved the free breakfast every morning and pool/sauna on site. I wish I would've taken advantage. Also be warned that the rooms do not have an iron and that you have to request it at the front desk. Availability is based on first come first serve.