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Airbnb host defends renting out his bathroom for $26 a night

A man who turned his bathroom into holiday lodging says it's been a great success.

With intense competition for accommodation for visitors to the Rio Carnival, one enterprising flat owner has raised eyebrows by turning his bathroom into a "mini suite" on Airbnb.

The accommodation offer was made as tourists flooded into the city for the annual celebration last month. Regarded as the biggest carnival in the world, the event hosts two million people a day on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, so it's no surprise that finding somewhere decent to stay can be tricky.

Airbnb bathroom rental in Rio de Janeiro
Vistors to Rio Carnival can save big by booking this bathroom on Airbnb. Source: CEN/Australscope

The owner of the mini-suite, Jose Elias Pereira Duarte, appears to have put a mattress on the floor next to a shower and toilet. Photos of the Airbnb listing reveal a modest space with a mirror, wardrobe and television - all clearly located in a bathroom.

Mr Duarte said he'd been letting the room to carnival visitors since 2020 after suffering financial difficulties, and with hotel accommodation costing hundreds of dollars, his mini-suite rental has been a popular option at just $26 per day.

Airbnb rental in Rio de Janeiro
Finding your way to the toilet is never a problem at this Airbnb rental. Source: CEN/Australscope

Surprisingly positive reviews

Bookings for the room have been helped by surprisingly positive reviews, with guests saying the lodging was clean and tidy, and in a "great location" for visiting the rest of the city including the carnival.

Despite some initial shock and jokes on social media, Mr Duarte defended his Airbnb listing, saying he set up the mini-suite up with "great care" and the feedback has convinced him it was a good move to offer the low-price option to budget-conscious Rio Carnival visitors.

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