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Rio de Janeiro Tourist Traps

Tips and photos of Rio de Janeiro tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Rio de Janeiro locals.
Local Time 11:39 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
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Rio de Janeiro Tourist TrapsTips 61 - 68 of 68  
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Rio Hiking
  • By valerieg on April 9, 2008
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  • Rio Hiking offers tours around Rio and in areas surrounding areas. I booked one of these tours and after I woke up at 6 am to go to Ilha Grande, nobody showed up to take us. Apparently when they couldn't reach us on our cell phone at 10 pm the night before, THEY CANCELLED OUR TOUR. (We didn't answer because we were at a football game). Do not use this service unless you want to wake up at the crack of dawn on vacation for no reason.

    Have a working cell phone that you answer all the time.

    Rio Adventures is a much more legitimate and responsive agency. I would definitely use them instead!

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    TAM Airlines Sucks
  • By VolsUT on June 23, 2006
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  • TAM Airlines is one of the main airlines that services Iguassu Falls but to not use them. My flight from Buenos Aires was suppost to leave at 8:00 AM but when I arrived at the airport at 6:50 AM the TAM agent informed me that they had neglected to inform me that the flight was now at 7:00AM! Instead of working with me to get me there or refunding me my money they simply told me I would have to find another carrier if I wanted to go that day! Luckly Aerolineas Argentinas saved the day with a flight to the Argentine side of the falls where I took a cab to my hotel on the Brazillian side.

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    HELP! Disco and Avenue Atlantica cafes
  • Updated By Jakartamike on January 10, 2003
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  • There are many pavement cafes in this area of Copa' and caution should be excercised. Whilst they are OK for a drink or a meal the type of women who hang around these places are undesireable and often cause serious problems for tourists. I do not know where you would go to find respectable types and gave up looking anyway when I realised no one speaks English.

    For other current info on security see my main feature article on Rio. I am still writing this page so keep in touch and happy travels.

    If u have to go to a disco like HELP! never leave your drink unattended, or it may be spiked with a Goodnight Cinderella. If u take a girl back to your apartment or hotel room she will probably have to leave her ID card at reception. The going rate for a girl is about 50 Reals for an hour or so (some ask much more) but don't expect to see her again and do not give email addresses or u will get endless requests for money. Some girls have half a dozen tourists on the go at any one time and make a good living out of the cash that is sent to them from abroad by weak willed and lovelorn men. It's just business, relationships are superficial and transitory.

    I do not know what the alternative is and if anyone has a suggestion please drop me a line. I live in Rio and would love to get over this hurdle!!

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    Order trip from local agencies
  • By ilyathemuromets on February 13, 2006
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  • We ordered one trip online just because I did not want any problems the first day I arrived to Rio (Sugerloaf and Corcovado Tour). It was no surprised that I overpaid substantially. My hotel offered the same trips at much lower prices. Better yet, some guys on the beach gave us fliers (it was easy to see that we were tourists), the prices were even lower. The expensive trip that we booked was not that great - the tour guide did not explain much, so it was mostly for transportation and take-pictures-for-the-next-hour tour. So we would be better off if ordered from a local agency.


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    Watch out at the business district in the weekend!
  • Updated By Groentje on November 7, 2003
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  • The safety mark! - Rio de Janeiro
    The safety mark!
    by Groentje
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    We stumbled across the business district coming back from the Rodoviaria to get tickets to Brasilia and found ourselves in the midst of hords of homeless people laying on the ground...
    We got off the bus and saw clochards everywhere. It gave a really bad feeling, and I was getting really anxious! It only ended when we were amongst 'normal' people again near the new Cathedral... The picture below was taken at great risk; I was feeling like I was being followed all the time, and I really wanted a picture, so I took the chance.
    Of course no one was following me, but I felt very paranoid. It was just the whole atmosphere, I guess. Knowing that you have more in your pockets than they will have in four or five months...
    Funny thing is that during working days the place is packed with people and you feel very safe, it's really like a different world then!

    You have absolutely no reason to go there, believe me! But if you do go, wear fast shoes :-)
    But no fancy sports shoes, they might nick them :-/

    Try Cinelandia or any other part of the Zona Sul ;-)

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    Airport Taxi- Make sure they are legit!
  • By travelingbunny on June 8, 2005
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  • When you get off tthe plane in Rio you will be barraged by "taxi drivers." Make sure that you ignore them and make your way to the desk in the terminal that dispatches the 'legitimate' taxis. We ended up with one of the private cars and it cost us twice as much to get to Ipanema ($60 versus $30).

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    Beware of Price of Imported Booze
  • By tijuca on July 7, 2003
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  • While not a true "tourist trap," Rio visitors should be made aware of the vast difference between alcoholic beverages made with Brazilian brands vs. the same drink made with imported alcohol.

    Many a tourist has been caught unaware when it was time to pay their tab. Many, I am sure, thought they were being ripped off because of the perceived expense. The truth is, imported booze is very expensive in Brazil (see warning about Duty Free Shop at airport). Make sure to specify "nacional" in some manner when ordering a drink at all local nightclubs.

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    beware
  • By jossiec on August 16, 2004
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  • we got cheated on the beach, by drinking the cochacha, (delishimooo) and not asking the price first. things are cheap but these were a rip off, and they bring you them none stop.

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    Overview
         		General Tips
    Tips: 329 - Photos: 272
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    Tips: 402 - Photos: 240    		Hotels and Accommodations
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    Things To Do
    Tips: 1,280 - Photos: 1,174    		Nightlife
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    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 277 - Photos: 254    		Tourist Traps
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    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 204 - Photos: 90    		Transportation
    Tips: 212 - Photos: 123
    Local Customs
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    Shopping
    Tips: 117 - Photos: 73    		Sports Travel
    Tips: 63 - Photos: 48
    Flights
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