Late Plans Put Secret Service, Press at Rio’s ‘Love Motels’
Secret Service agents and the White House press corps will stay at two of Rio’s many “love motels”--where rooms normally rent by the hour--because of President Bush’s belated decision to attend the Earth Summit.
That was the best the U.S. Consulate could manage after Bush finally confirmed that he would attend. The President arrives Thursday and is booked at nicer digs--the Sheraton Hotel, one of Rio’s very best.
The Secret Service has booked all 39 rooms at VIP’s motel, which is top-rated with four hearts in one local guidebook and five bunnies in the Brazilian edition of Playboy.
The White House press corps will be lodged at the more modest Dunas motel, which merited a rating of two hearts or five bunnies.
“The U.S. delegation has the entire place,” said Elson, a manager of VIP’s motel on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. “We’ve got nothing available for our regular clients.” He declined to give his last name.
At VIP’s, the best accommodations--the presidential suite--usually rents for $65 for up to 12 hours. The agents who check in there will be able to take a sauna or steam bath, relax in a hot tub, view pornography films or keep watch on themselves in the mirrored ceiling.
Elson would not say how much the Secret Service was paying for the rooms.
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