Need To Know Info When Traveling to Brazil
What do you need to know before traveling to Brazil?
Well, lucky you! I had the pleasure of visiting Rio De Janeiro in mid December. I am more than happy to fill you in on some insight that will hopefully help your trip go a little more smoothly that mine did, lol.
PURCHASE A DAY TRIP
One of the best decisions I made on the trip! We had the most amazing tour guide. We started our day by being picked up at our hotel on Copacabana beach around 8:15 am. Throughout the tour you’ll visit famous sights such as; Christ the Redeemer, Selaron steps, the Cathedral of Rio De Janeiro, sugar loaf mountain and much more. The tour lasted approximately 8-9 hours and included lunch as well as entry tickets!
EXCHANGE US DOLLARS FOR BRAZILIAN REALS BEFORE LEAVING THE STATES
Please remember to do this. We looked everywhere to find an ATM or at least a bank to exchange our US Dollars and had no luck. It was extremely stressful to say the least. Certain banks will allow you to order Brazilian Reals in advance.. make sure you give yourself a few weeks in order to make sure you have received them.
REMEMBER THAT TIPPING IS NOT A PART OF THE CULTURE
Even though Brazilians are typically extremely friendly, they do not expect tipping. Now, it is not rude, so if you feel like being extra generous and tipping, it will make their day!
VISIT BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER- MARCH
December is the start of the hot season in Brazil. I don’t know about you, but I personally love the heat, especially since I am currently in a state that is -1 degrees fahrenheit! The average temperature in January usually ranges in the low 80’s. The weather was absolutely beautiful for us, although it did rain a few times which is expected! Keep in mind if you are going to be traveling during the hot season, prices are expected to rise for hotels, tours, etc.
PICKPOCKETING WILL HAPPEN, MAKE SURE TO BRING A FANNY PACK OR A SMALL SHOULDER BAG
When packing, make sure you leave the nice jewelry, bags and clothes behind. Unfortunately, pickpocketing can happen in any country but it is known to happen more frequently in Brazil. I wore a fanny pack at all times and it never left the front side of my body. A little extra safety can never hurt nobody!
CALL YOUR BANK AHEAD OF TIME TO APPLY A TRAVEL PASS ON YOUR ACCOUNT
PLEASE. When I am telling you I have not been more frustrated with a situation overseas than I was here. Brazil is a country that is known for fraud. Every time I attempted to use my card it would flag fraud. I called my bank at least 3-5 times a day. It seemed to damper our moods when we were spending most of our time on the phone with the bank. Therefore, if you put a travel pass on your account before leaving you hopefully can avoid your card being turned off. (:
BE WILLING TO TRY NEW FOOD
This may seem a little odd to say.. but like any other country, the food is extremely different than ours in America. It is okay to branch out but make sure you clarify what is cooked/ what is raw. I really enjoyed all of their fresh fruits, veggies and of course all the delicious breakfast pastries.
DON’T DRINK THE TAP WATER
Tap water is not recommended for consumption. Drinking bottled water is the safest route to take. However most the time the tap water from restaurants and hotels is safe to drink, it doesn’t mean its true everywhere. Stick to bottled water and keep yourself hydrated!
ESCAPE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
I know, this is by far the hardest one. I have noticed if I keep my guard up when traveling, I don’t get to experience as much as I should be. Riding the gliders up to Sugar Loaf is terrifying and was the longest few minutes.. however, once you are there you don’t even think about those long scary minutes. The beauty in Brazil is unlike anything you’ll lay eyes on, so make the best of it!
Thank you for reading! Looking forward to publishing more blogs on my trip to Brazil in the upcoming weeks!
Tata for now, XOXO Tay
Just a reminder, all the pictures are taken by myself. Feel free to email me with any questions or input! (:
Email: keepingupwithtayblog@gmail.com
