| Tips and photos for Rio de Janeiro vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and Rio de Janeiro locals. Rio de Janeiro Map |
 | Rio de Janeiro General Tips | Tips 1 - 10 of 345 |  |
Here some examples of pronunciation in Portuguese.
Vowels
a: babaca (jerk) ba-BA-ca
ã: anã (midget) a-NUN
ão: razão (reason) ra-Zoun
e, é: meta (goal) ME-tu
ê: nenê (baby) nay-NAy
i: alpina (alpine) au-PEE-na
o,ó: pó (powder) PO
ô: avô (grandpa) a-VOU
u: abutre (vulture) a-BOO-tree
Consonants
b: bala (candy) BA-la
c: canto (corner) CUN-too
ç: maçã (apple) MA-sun
ce,ci: cicerone (host) see-say-ROU-nee
ch: chamada (call) sha-MA-da
d: dado (dice) DA-doo
di: dia (day) DJEE-ya
f: facil (easy) FA-seeoo
g: gato (cat) GA-too
g: gengiva (gums) jayn-JEE-va
h: hálito (breath) A-lee-too (mute)
j: jovem (young) JO-vayn
l: lata (can) LA-tu
lh: alho (garlic) A-lyoo
m: mato (woods) MA-too
n: nada (nothing) NA-du
nh: ninho (nest) NEE-nyoo
p: pato (duck) PA-too
qu: aquilo (that) a-KEE-loo
qü: cinqüenta (fifty) seen-COOay-tu
r: rato (rat) HA-too
r: parada (parade) pa-RA-da
s: sábado (Saturday) SA-ba-doo
s: casa (house) CA-za
s: pasta (paste) PASH-ta
t: tatú (armadillo) ta-TOO
v: velho (old) VE-lyoo
x: xícara (cup) SHEE-ca-ra
z: zona (zone) ZOU-na
Practice makes perfect!
Above table found at ipanema.com
For more basic Portuguese help, check out: http://www.sonia-portuguese.com/ Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Rio de Janeiro?
Read reviews about Rio de Janeiro Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Traveler's Checks
Yes, it's the safest way, couldn't agree more, but... you will get a worse rate than you would for cash. It may be a good idea to bring some checks for an emergency, though.
Cash
Cash is always convenient to bring as spending money and you may use a money belt inside your pants until you get to your hotel, and any decent hotel will offer a safety box in the bedroom closet.
Credit Cards & Debit Cards
Plastic is very popular in Rio, and it will avoid carrying too much cash around. Visa, AmEx, MasterCard and Diner's are the most widely accepted, probably in this order. Cards are great to pay your hotel bill, most restaurants, and shopping sprees. If your bank or credit card uses the Cirrus system, you may also withdraw cash at many ATM's.
Visa card holders may withdraw cash from the Banco do Brasil and Banco Itaú and Bradesco. Card holders with a PIN number may obtain cash from the 24-hour machines; those without will have to await verification, available from 10 am to 4 pm - banks working hours from monday to friday ( mind public holydays! )
MasterCard holders with a PIN number may obtain cash from any 24-hour machine which lists CIRRUS among its participating banks.
Cash withdrawals on American Express card: Call 0800-785050.
Remember... ATM machines here will "speak" portuguese. Maybe it's better to ask some help from BANK STAFF ... never from "helpful" strangers....
In a Nutshell...
Whenever you exchange money, you lose money, so try not to exchange too much more than you think you will need.
ATM's with Cirrus system are your best bet. They use the same exchange rate that your credit card company will use back home, when your expenses in Brazil are due.
Before departure from home, visitors are encouraged to check the acceptability of their credit and/or cash cards with their local bank.
ATMs can be found almost everywhere; some machines provide 24-hour cash withdrawal (R$) facilities for major credit cards.
Travel agencies with currency exchange desks offer attractive rates, followed closely by major banks like Banco do Brasil or Citibank.
Luxury hotels have an exchange desk, most times offering offensively low rates. On weekends or after banking hours they are your only choice, though.
Of course, do not never, ever, exchange cash with strangers in the street
For reasons of the laws of supply and demand, any currency other than US$ or Euros could not be the best choice to bring to Rio... ( There is a strong demand for US$, so this is the currency that gets the best rates ). Leave a Comment
|
| | |
If you are insterested in learning a little bit of Portuguese before your trip to Brazil or even looking for a course in here, this link may be useful:
Portuguese Online Leave a Comment
|
 brazilian currency by dvideira
There are R$100, R$50, R$20, R$10, R$5, R$2 and R$1 bills ( as a matter of fact there are two types of R$ 10 bills )
In the 80's we had a plague of a galloping inflation, as in 50% a month. The currency changed names frequently, and trying to keep up to date was quite hard even for us.
Brazilians finally started to enjoy some economic stability in the 90's, with the creation of the real and we had a time when
the real was originally quoted US$1.
In 1999 the government stopped interfering in the exchange rate, and the real underwent a major devaluation.
This devaluation couldn't be better news for travelers visiting Brazil.
The current exchange rate is around US$1=R$3 Leave a Comment
|
 sunrise from my window - rio
de janeiro by dvideira
This link may be helpful not only to your trip to Rio... It is great when we are planning a trip and wanting to know at which time of the year the weather would suit more our purposes...
The "History & Almanac" part of it shows the variations of temperature, winds, etc, hour by hour of a day. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Rio de Janeiro?
Read reviews about Rio de Janeiro Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 brazilian currency - coins by dvideira
The real is divided into 100 centavos.
Coins are handy for a bus ride, gum, and the coffe ( cafezinho ), of course.
The value of the real against the US dollar varies according to the daily rate. Banks and exchange bureaux charge a commission on exchange transactions, which the visitor should check beforehand. As elsewhere, the rates of exchange for cash and travellers' cheques are marginally different, and coins are not exchangeable. Money changers are obliged by law to display net rates of exchange. Receipt notes must be issued by law; it is advisable to keep these until after departure Leave a Comment
|
The currency used in Brazil is the Real (R$) and it is made up of one hundred centavos. Notes come in denominations of R$1, R$5, R$10, R$50 and R$100 and the coins in use are 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, and 50c and R$1.
When changing cash or travellers cheques you will usually find the best exchange rates in a ‘Casa de Cambio’. The other option is to use any of the major banks but in the larger cities only the head offices offer an exchange facility. It is also worth noting that the foreign exchange departments often close at 1pm, although some do remain open until 2pm or 3pm. Certain branches will only change a minimum of US$100 while others impose a fee of $20 no matter how large or small the amount being changed. Therefore, it is worth looking around before exchanging any foreign cash. US dollars are the most convenient currency to change.
Credit cards and bank cards can be used at ATMs to withdraw cash, once they show the Cirrus symbol and credit card logos.
I personally used only my ATM card with the visa symbol. While I couldn't use it at every location, it worked well enough. (Before going to smaller cities, make sure you have enough cash to get around and a little cushion) Leave a Comment
|
| | |
The majority of European nationals need nothing more than a valid passport and a return ticket to enter Brazil. You will need to fill in an entry card on arrival which allows you to stay for a period of up to ninety days. The immigration officials will keep one part of this card and attach the other to your passport. Make sure you don’t lose this part as your departure will probably be delayed.
Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and US citizens need a visa which you can acquire from the Brazilian embassy in your home country. To ensure you are aware of the full entry requirements for entering Brazil contact your nearest embassy before travelling.
Once you have your tourist visa, you can extend it for up to another ninety days if you apply at least fifteen days before the first one expires. You can only do this once. After this you need to leave the country and re-enter if you want to stay on. While there are no rules stipulating that your return cannot be on the same day, it is customary to wait at least one day before re-entry. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 by dvideira
If you are coming from a country which requires Visas from brazilian people, you will probably need to get one to. This is not a revenge... just what is called "reciprocity rules" in the world of diplomacy. That is not supposed to be a big deal. Just make sure you apply for it.
Most people go for the regular tourist visa, which allows you to stay for as long as three months (you can renew if necessary). There is also a transit visa, good for ten days only. Both are easy to get.
There is a link when you can check if you need it or not.
List of Countries
In case you are going to need it, there is a list of things you will need to get it:
. passport valid for at least an additional 6 months
. copy of round-trip ticket
. 1 recent passport-size photo (color or B&W)
. some kind of proof you have spending money to bring
. certificate proving you took the right vaccines, depending on where you are coming from, or going to
. a visa application form (available at the Brazilian consulate or embassy). Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 by racheljapi
http://discoverbrazil.com/riodejaneirotraveltips.cfm (good for general info)
Ipanema.com (good info for first timers to Rio and even some people who have been there briefly).
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_america/brazil/ (one of the best guides out there. Good for less opinion, more facts)
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil.html (interesting facts and opinions. View of a local)
http://www.braziltourism.org/ (Site by Brazil's dept of tourism in Washington)
www.weather.com (look up under countries to Brazil for weather for each city) Leave a Comment
|
|
| Best Rio de Janeiro Travel Deals |
Lodging Hotel
Up to 50% off Hotels at Expedia. No Expedia change or cancel fees! Local Hotel Review
Read Reviews & Listings for Local New York Hotels at Switchboard. Travel to Rio de Janeiro
Discount airfare to Rio and more Hotels, packages, tours. Newark NJ Hotel
Minutes from Manhattan. Save 75% Over NYC Hotels in Downtown Newark! Hotel in Rio de Janeiro
There's more to enjoy! Book unique offer. Instant Service 800-980-6429 Sponsored Links
More Rio de Janeiro Travel Deals Hotels Rio de Janeiro
Super savings; instant bookings Brazil hotel deals! Live support. Rio Airline Tickets
Save as Much 65% off Published Fare With Our Exclusive Rio Air Deals Hotels Rio de Janeiro
Hotels with Info, Photos & Reviews Free reservations at Best prices ! Sponsored Links - Hotel Mar Palace Copacabana
Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, 552 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Rio's Presidente Hotel
Rua Pedro I, 19 Centro, Rio de Janeiro - Mercure Apartments Rio De Janeiro Leblon
Rua Joao Lira 95 Leblon, Rio de Janeiro - Royalty Copacabana Hotel
Rua Tonelero 154, Rio de Janeiro - Hotel Bandeirantes
Rua Barata Ribeiro, 548 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Hotel Novo Mundo
Praia do Flamengo, 20 Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro - Caesar Park Rio de Janeiro Ipanema
Avenida Vieira Souto 460 Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - South American Copacabana Hotel
Rua Francisco de Sa 90 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Real Residence
Avenida Princesa Isabel 500 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Gloria Hotel
Praia Do Russel 632, Rio de Janeiro - Pestana Rio Atlantica Hotel
Avenida Atlantica 2964 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Rio'S Nice Hotel
Rua do Riachuelo, 201, Rio de Janeiro - Lancaster Othon Hotel
Avda Atlantica 1470 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Copacabana Palace
Avenida Atlantica 1702, Rio de Janeiro - Windsor Palace Hotel
Rua Domingos Ferreira, 06 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Local Merchants in Rio de Janeiro
|
