Hello ozbargain, I'm going to spend the first two weeks of march in Brasil https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/260209 and I'd like to have some advice from this community.
So far, I've booked flights and hotels and I'm going to stay about 4 nights in each city (Foz do Iguazú, Curitiba, salvador, Rio).
I'm planning to use my Citibank debit card to get local currency. Is any other bank that accepts Citibank cards with no extra fee?
What is the be$t SIM card?
Activities not to be missed and where not to waste my money?
I'm going with my wife and we're in our mid 30's.
NO NO NO! I'm not getting a Brasilian!!! :)
Thanks in advance.
Going to Brasil / Brazil in March
Rogaor on 05/02/2017 - 10:40
Last edited 05/02/2017 - 21:22
Last edited 05/02/2017 - 21:22
Comments
Insect repellent
Thanks, I'll keep that Zika away.
Just in case you're a novice traveler to developing countries, don't wear jewelry (necklaces, watches etc) when going out. Same goes for big-ass camera lenses.
And only take what you need to the beach.
Get your SIM card from whichever airport you land in first. Always the cheapest/fastest I've found when visiting countries.
Just out of curiosity, are you Portuguese? I get that in UK English we are realise not realize and recognise not recognize etc…. However I have always thought Brazil was Brazil unless you lived there?
I'm Colombian but have never been to Brasil… and yes, I did use the Spanish/Portuguese spelling.
hi! I'm from Rio and be careful hehe don't walk on streets with cameras hanging on your neck etc… theres Uber English available.. you going to GIG or SDU? where are you staying? city centre is pretty crappy, go see the tourist things, Copacabana, Ipanema beaches, Christ and Sugar loaf.. if you have time, cross the bridge Rio-Niteroi (by boat) and see the beaches on that side… Itacoatiara and Camboinhas are amazing!
Foz you just go to Cataratas do Iguacu.. beautiful! again, if you have time, get the local bus and cross the bridge and go to Paraguay..the famous duty-free zone…ciudad del leste.. cheap cheap stuff there!
Curitiba when I went there, I took the tourist bus, the hop on and off one, and saw the main sights..
Salvador .. people say its a dangerous place, I find Rio worse.. you have to be careful anywhere u go, don't stand out as tourists.. Buses are cheap, beaches are beautiful, Go to Pelourinho, then take the Elevador Lacerda to the lower level (street level) and head to the market.
Eat local food like Feijoada, Bolinho de bacalhau (fried cod balls), Pastel, in salvador try the Acaraje.. just watch everything in SSA they cook with chilli so you might gonna have to spend a few hours a day in the loo hehehe
Don't know how foreigners get a sim in there, we need to show our CPF to buy one, costs around 10reais . I'm sure for a foreigner will be waaaaaaaaaaaay more….
Let me know If you need any other advice.. going out, bars etc…
Thanks for all the info. We are originally from Colombia, so we think we can handle the street dangers, lol. We will arrive to GIG and will be staying in Botafogo. Ciudad del este is a really good tip, I had not considered before. Sounds great!
Salvador seems amazing as well, and we'll be wary of the food.
Can you recommend any good places to have Carioca food? (not tourist traps)
What would you prefer between Maracaná and Olympic Stadium? Or both?
Is there any chance to watch the sunrise from the sugarloaf or Corcovado? I can't find anything online.
Is there any good park for a morning run near Botafogo?
My wife is this "small market" crazy woman, is there any other you recommend apart from the one in SSA?
Thanks once again, your reply has been helpful heaps!No problems! morning run you can go to Aterro do Flamengo, near you, its a popular place for jogging and cycling, Quinta da Boa vista is near Maracana, or your beach..botafogo beach I think you can have the view of Christ at some point hehehe
any restaurant smack down in front of the beach etc are more for tourists, but its nice food, the price is the same for tourists and locals. My friends and I dont really eat massive amounts of food because its too hot, so we snack a lot… any corner pub like "dirty" places have snacks hehehe you can have a look, if you like it eat it hehehe Joelhos (ham and cheese baked sandwich type), coxinha (fried chicken snack), bolinho de bacalhau (fish cake).. they are all tasty. Feijoada is a heavy dish, black beans and meat and sausages etc, nice but you will feel full ehhee you be ok!
Markets… in Copa beach i think from 6pm they have stalls, Sunday they used to close the car access to the beach so its all pedestrians, cycling, jogging etc..its nice.Sunday as well the hippie market in Ipanema (Praca general Osorio)
Pelourinho in SSA is one big market hehehe dont wear necklaces and watches in there… they are fasttttttttttt hehehe and they will stop you to sell necklaces "silver" with Bahia symbols… they are not silver and overpriced… they will aproach you offering a free bracelet thing of Senhor do Bomfim… dont fall for it. nice church too .. tourist attraction.
Thanks for taking the time to reply all of my questions. This was really useful information. We will definitely follow your recommendations!
So you're thinking about a Brazilian… lol
Seriously though, get Travel Insurance.