The hotel lobby is elegant and large, with chic leather sofas, Persian rugs, marble arches, and fresh orchid arrangements. The ground-level lobby bar serves drinks and snacks. The second floor features an excellent selection of meeting rooms and conference halls, as well a business center.The rooftop pool offers a great area to relax and has fabulous views over the Barra da Tijuca Beach. The hotel caters to both business clients and tourists alike and regularly hosts major conferences. Famous repeat guests include the Brazilian President and Hollywood stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

The Windsor is located in Barra da Tijuca, a fast-growing residential and business area in Rio de Janeiro that was developed around 30 years ago. It offers good shopping, dining, movie theaters, and nightclubs. The biggest shopping mall in South America -- Barra Shopping-- is about 20-minutes away by car.Copacabana and Ipanema take about 30-minutes by car and the Galeao International Airport takes around an hour-and-a-half. Buses to Copacabana/Ipanema leave from a bus stop just by the hotel every 15-minutes. The hotel is located in a safe residential neighborhood, right on the famous white sand Barra da Tijuca beach, the longest in Rio de Janeiro.

The Windsor Barra offers 338 rooms in six different categories. Rooms were last updated in 2008 and are comfortable and clean although the decor is basic. Rooms have carpets or wood laminate floors and simple color schemes with beige walls and light-wood furnishings. All come with writing desks, flat- screen TVs, minibars, and safes. Wi-Fi is available in all areas, but for a steep cost, as many guests have complained of slow Internet speed. There are no balconies, but oceanfront rooms -- particularly on higher floors -- offer spectacular views over Barra da Tijuca Beach or the mountain of Pedra de Gavea. Bathrooms are in good condition and have a mix of black marble and beige granite. Lower-category rooms are made up of small shower areas, whereas suites come with whirlpool tubs. Higher-end rooms have L'Occitaine products and plush bathrobes. Note that smoking is allowed in rooms on the 16th floor. 

Perhaps the most popular spot in the hotel is its medium-sized rooftop pool and adjacent bar, which offer phenomenal views of the beach and Pedra de Gavea in the distance. Adjacent to the lobby is an elegant bar and a large restaurant serving a free gourmet buffet breakfast as well as a la carte lunch and dinner. Room service is available 24-hours. There's a small fitness center and a small steam sauna with a relaxation area on the rooftop. The hotel is known for its conference facilities and there are several different sizes of meeting rooms and a staffed business center on the second floor. Expect to pay for spotty Wi-Fi.

The beach is across the street and towels, umbrellas, and lounge chairs are free for guests to use. Local beach kiosks serve drinks, coconut water, and snacks. The beach is popular among surfers, windsurfers, and kite-surfers, but swimmers should be wary of strong undercurrents.