La Suite

TI reviewer Georgina Guedes



La Suite, a seven-room boutique hotel in Rio de Janeiro

is so exclusive

that it has no sign at the entrance. Instead, it's secreted away in a sealed-off road in an elite suburb which is a ten minute drive from Rio's famous Ipanema beach

.

La Suite combines five-star luxury

with laid-back ambience. Jack-of-all-trades employees are there to attend to your every need but are more casually attired in Bermuda shorts and white shirts so as to add to this boutique hotel's casual, relaxed feel. Also, owner Francois-Xavier is a constant presence, he welcomes each of his guests in his diligent attempt to make sure that hospitality and comfort

are top notch in this luxury boutique hotel.

The facilities



The plush, wooden-floored entrance, hall and lounge is unspoiled by a reception desk and is comfortable and decadent

without being cluttered. Every piece, from the Baccarat black crystal chandelier

to the Andy Warhol prints

in the white room, has been hand-picked at antique shops and auctions.

La Suite's roof terrace

not only boasts a stunning view, but is also utilised by many guests who arrive to the boutique hotel by helicopter. Depending on the weather, dining tables can be set up either around the indoor reception area, or out on the patio which has a dizzying view of the seafront and looming mountain

.

If you're feeling adventurous, activities like surfing

can be arranged. But, if you're looking for a more relaxing day, golf trips can also be set up on request. Or, if you're in the mood for such grand relaxation that you're not even up for the ten minute walk from the boutique hotel to a nearby private beach, you can relax and cool off in the circular pool on the patio

.

The rooms



The rooms are spread over the two lower levels. Each room at this boutique hotel is basked in light and individually styled

and themed by colour. The spacious bathrooms

are finished in matching marble - no mean feat when you consider that two of the colour schemes are lavender and shocking pink.

From the decadent bawdiness

of La Suite's black room (think a four-poster bed with a fringe of silk tassels) to the ladies' boudoir-like lavender room (antique Chinese screens and gentle tones), each space and interior is completely unique

. The only uniformity at this boutique hotel comes from the omnipresent breathtaking view

. Try and nab the corner rooms for the best views of all.

Children and pets are welcome

, and while a cradle or extra mattresses are available

, certain rooms will need to be reshuffled to accommodate them. Each room at the boutique hotel has an iPod dock complete with an iPod loaded with an eclectic music selection

. It is also possible to arrange massage and stretch or yoga classes

in your room.

Located in the Joatinga area, Rio de Janeiro's "Beverly Hills", above the Sao Conrado area, La Suite is like a boat sitting on the sea.

At the foot of the Pedra da GavA©a, La Suite offers a 180A° view of the ocean, the Cagarras Islands, the Corcovado and Rio's beaches.

La Suite boasts an unparalleled location; few minutes by car from the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema, and from the Fashion Mall of Sao Conrado for those who like shopping.

The "secret" beach of Joatinga is accessible by foot and is where celebrities in search of privacy and surfers in search of good waves go.

Completely quiet and immaculately decorated, La Suite is the indulgent alternative to its highly successful sister property aEUR˜La Maison'.

It is a luxurious retreat offering 7 very spacious suites, each with a coloured marble bathroom, dressing room and private balcony overlooking the sea.