Charlie NC Itaim

Aging. Clean. Nice staff. Weird check-in

Nice neighborhood

This was my second time staying at this location. I stayed twice (and will probably stay again) because the building is very close to where I need to be in Sao Paulo, the price is right, and the units have the most important items that I need when I am in Sao Paulo. This is however not a hotel. It doesn't have a front office, you can't ask for extra towels or pillows, there is no one to help you with luggage, etc... which is ok if you know ahead of time this is not a hotel. What I don't like is that all communicatios with "Charlie" are AI assisted and through an app. The check-in process is also through an app and it is not simple. You need to submit documentation before arrival to avoid delays getting into the room.

Check-in was problematic. Firstly, the property sign reads "Residencial Newciti", no mention whatsoever of "Charlie". Secondly, the facial selfie that will consume ten minutes of your time to properly take and send for the online check-in process (that whole thing was quite the ordeal) does not function to get you past the facial recognition lock on the front gate, nor the one on the front door. We were let in by tenants who just happened to be entering. Thirdly, once inside, we told the man at the front desk that we had a reservation with Newciti Itaim by Charlie. He gave us a blank look and explained that only a few units were available as the building was a condo. We repeated that we had a reservation (my wife is Brazilian and I speak Portuguese, so no language issues) with Newciti by Charlie and it finally sank in. We provided him with our passports and then had yet another photo taken which would work with the facial recognition locks. We were also provided with electronic key cards to actuate the door lock for the apartment, which they unceremoniously wiped clean the next morning before we had vacated the apartment.