Copacabana or Ipanema?

QUESTION: We have always dreamt of staying at a hotel on Copacabana Beach in Rio. However, friends who have visited Brazil recently say that the area around Copacabana is unsafe and we should rather stay at Ipanema Beach. We would hate to give up on our dream. What do you think? - Gina White

ANSWER: Ipanema is generally regarded as a safer and more upmarket area than the more famous Copacabana these days. However, if you are staying directly on the beachfront, you should not have too many problems wherever you stay. Copacabana has some great hotels, like the historic Copacabana Palace, the Le Meridien and the J.W.Marriott. I would not recommend staying in a cheaper hotel on one of the back roads or down a sidestreet. If you are on a tight budget, the smaller hotels and guest houses in the Ipanema area are probably a better bet. It doesn't matter where you stay, don't walk around with cameras, jewellery or other tourists trappings and keep to the busier areas.