Planning a trip to Brazil next year.. Where should I go?

Question

I heard the popular cities there are Rio de Janerio and San Paulo... Which one is better to stay at for a hotel (keeping in mind- less expensive,more things to do, better people)... How much money would I need to bring (American dollars) to Brazil if I am staying for a week? (not included airline money)

Is there a unique item(s) that I should bring on this trip?

Answer 1

Well, since I'm half brazilian and and live in america I think I could help.

You will defenatly need to bring beach items!

For money..hm...I would say.....$700 or somthing because since they do different money $700 dollars in america is like $1400 in Brazil. That should pay for hotels,food, and suvineers. My spelling sucks, I know. Anyways hope that should help.

Answer 2

hum.... I went to Brazil for my honeymoon.  I went to Rio and Salvador.  I like Salvador much better.  But Rio was cool also. I wouldn't recommend San Paulo, as it is not a great vacation destination.

Answer 3

I'm a Chicagoan, and have been to both São Paulo (note: it's Portuguese São, not San) and Rio.  For a week, Rio is much more manageable.  São Paulo is a monster.  That bus from one to the other will eat up nearly an entire day, and the ride isn't scenic.  Do take a bus, not a taxi, from Galeão (airport) to downtown Rio.

The advice on ATMs and credit cards is good.

I like the Flamengo district in Rio.  The Ferreira Viana is an inexpensive hotel, about $25/night, on a side street with a four-star hotel.  The Metro is right around the corner, and you can take that to go to Copacabana.  You can walk up to the artsy Santa Teresa neighborhood, or to Flamengo Park (closed to traffic on Sundays--a quiet run), or downtown (longer).

My "one unique thing" recommendation (besides the required visa in your passport) is Lonely Planet's little plastic map of Rio.  (If it hasn't been updated, it'll have dotted lines for the extension of the Metro to Copacabana, which has been operating for several years now.)

Boa viagem!  Don't let anyone talk you out of this trip, wherever you decide to go.  

Have a drink for me at Carlito's in Flamengo!

[LATER] Gigi (below) corrects my faulty memory of the bus time between your two cities ... but talk about commuting when you get to SP (so big).

The Metro is a quick commute to Copacabana ... and so are the buses, to Ipanema ... and that is part of city life, anyway.

Beijos!

Answer 4

Hi Rhonda,

São Paulo and Rio are from different styles. São Paulo it´s more like New York City, and Rio de Janeiro it´s more like Miami...both are worth to visit and not far away from each other.

Executive bus ticket between São Paulo and Rio cost around US$40 each way, and are of very good quality and reliable service.

Here in São Paulo there are well located hotels, with nice rooms from US$70 each night...you may find much cheaper hotels, but without standard quality and location.

For meals expect to pay from US$15 to US$30 each person (price included taxes and tip) in nice restaurant...you can also eat nice burgers at countless bakeries around town and pay from US$5 to US$10 for a meal.

Except for any special medication you may use, you don´t need to bring any thing special.

Answer 5

Check the site:<www.socaltur.com.br>

                                           and

                           <www.braziltour.com>

Answer 6

You should split your time between Sao Paulo and Rio.  (A bus ticket between the two isn't that expensive.)  As for how much money to bring, don't bring too much cash to begin with since you get a better exchange rate when you withdraw from an ATM.  And you get the best exchange rate when you use a credit card, so charge things whenever possible.

Answer 7

Expensive huh? well I live in an apartment by my self in the middle of SP 20 years old brown skin green eyes perfect teeth..interested? hahahahah

j/k though I would not mind the company taking the fact you would be single and atractive.

anyway SP and RJ? depends...we have places here that a motel for the night would be 10 dollars, of course is the worst and most dangerous part of the city and we have places where a night is 800 dollars....go to Aruja if you are coming here to SP things are moderately cheap and you get good quality for your buck and is 30 minutes away by car to come here the most touristed places on this state.

Aruja for a week:600

Where I live for a week:1,300

Answer 8

Here is what you need and should do:

You should definitely go to Rio de janeiro because you can't come to Brazil without visiting Rio, the exciting, beautiful and very unique city. You must go. There are many hotels by the beaches and they don't cost much special because you have dollar (although the brazilian real is very strong right now and Brazi is relatively expensive, however not as much as USA).

Try to choose a hotel near to the beach because you want to enjoy as much as you can and you don't want to commute to get to the beach. Although Copacabana and Ipanema are the most popular places, you still should find a hotel in those areas. Why? Because it is in the center of everything, it is relatively safe for been a tourist area, and although the beaches are not the best ones, it is a fun area and very "typical Rio de Janeiro place". You can visit Redentor Christ, Sugar Loaf, and many other famous attractions around there.

Sao Paulo (where I am from) is a big crowded city and very exciting. You can always come to Sao Paulo for 2 days. It takes 6 hours by bus and 1 hour by plane. Sao Paulo is like New York City if you have ever been to. Try to stay in a good area because Sao Paulo is a huge city and very spread out like LA. You don't want again to commute. There are fabulous restaurants and the night life in SP is fabulous!

If you have money and/or time to spare go to Salvador which is about 3 hours flight. Salvador is one of the most popular touristic destinations and it is beautiful. If you don't have the time or the money stay in Rio and go to SP for 2-3 days only.

Hotels in Rio:

http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehote...

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservati...

Again try to choose a hotel in Copacabana or Ipanema

Hotels in Sao Paulo:

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/reservatio...

Some good areas in Sao Paulo are: Itaim, Itaim-Bibi, Ibirapuera, Higienopolis, Moema, Jardins (My favorite area), Pinheiros, and Morumbi

To find out what's going on at night in Sao paulo, check this website for cool bars, clubs, and restaurants:

http://www.guiadasemana.com.br/detail.as...

For Rio check this site:

http://www.via-rio.com.br/default.asp

Some Brazilian airlines with frequent flights from Rio-Sao Paulo:

www.gol.com.br

www.tam.com.br

Check this site to find out bus schedule and info from rio-Sao paulo. It takes 6 hours by bus.

http://www.brasilcontact.com/Transport/b...

And remember Brazil is not a super safe place, so always make sure not to wear too much jewelry, always take a cab or car service at night and stop right in front of your hotel, and becareful with your purse at all time.

In terms of money it all depends how much shop you wanna do etc... I think US$1,000 is a lot of money for a week but believe me you can easly spend this much there specially in SP and Rio. But US$500-$700 for a week staying in a relatively cheap hotel should be more than enough.

The real today was $1.72.

Have fun.