Travelling in Brazil

Andrea, re: 'I apologise for all the spelling mistakes in the last post however I was sat in a bus station waiting for the bus to return after a 30minute clean'

At least you had an excuse, my sellins prety bad nost of the tine (that sounded a bit northern did that)! Reply to this

Here is a related thread.

Please help me plan my very big trip Reply to this

Mark

The main way that I am able to keep writing on this forum is because I have brought a netbook with me. For a long time I debated about whether to bring one or not as I didn't know how much of a burden it would be but in all honesty it has been really useful in helping me and my friend make hostel reservations as well as enabling be to stay in contact with friends and most importantly family!!

I have found so far that every hostel has had free wifi except one and that was the place I stayed in in Rio. A lot of cafes/restaurants seems to advertise wifi and as I recently found out qite a few bus stations also have free wifi connections!!

I do have a laptop at home however decided for the price and weight of a netbook it was going to be a lot easier especially if someone robbed it. Basically my netbook cost £170 and weighs 1kg!!! Reply to this

Just a note on the netbook front. Whilst it is not as efficient as laptop (well mine isn't as I went with the cheaper option that runs on linux so can't download itunes or the like) its weight and cost far out weigh its cons to be honest. I have been able to download a linux version of skype and whilst linux takes a bit of getting used to its easy enought and skype was one of the big sellers for me!! I happily travel with mine hidden in my hand luggage.

I haven't found a hostel yet that doesn't have lockers. Some a larger than others but to be fair all I ever want to lock away is my debit card, passport and netbook. Anything that I have in my large rucksack I don't care about and if someone is that desperate for my clothes or dirty washing then they are welcome to them!! Most hostels give you lockers with keys however some have lockers available but you use your own locks. i am happy to use ether in the circumstances..... Reply to this

OK you have to think travel light - my rucksack weighs 15kg and that includes winter and summer clothes!!!!!! My rucksack is 75ltr and it isn't full and bear in mind I am traveling for just short of 8 months. The theory is that I will bin my clothes that get worn and but more as I go along.... I am also meeting my parents in Malaysia so they will be taking my winter clothes home with them.

What me and my friend are trying to do is book our next hostel the day or days before i.e we are moving to Bariloche tomorrow but only decided today so my job tonight has been to hut out and contact a hostel. That way when we arrive after a 13hour bus journey and carrying our packs we don't have to mess around with trying to find somewhere. We have only had one hostel where we checked in and checked back out again and that was due to them doing major building works!!

I have got a sleeping bag with me but it is a small one (weighs 870g). All hostels I have stayed in so far have provided sheets etc however I will confess that I also have a silk sleeping liner with me so often use that between the sheets as at least I know its clean and where its been. I actually got it as a present from two friends who had been traveling and they said it was their best buy and most used thing and I would now have to agree!!! Mine came from Scottish Silkworm and you can get them from the guy on ebay and they are cheaper than most you can buy in the shops. The only downside is that mine is a bit short (I'm 5ft 8 and find that i hang over the end but it does what I want it to do but he may do longer ones).

Hope this helps you..... I best get off and write some catch up e:mails before I get shouted at!

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Must admit, didn't realise netbooks were that cheap.

Neither did I. I am almost considering getting one.
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Mell "Neither did I. I am almost considering getting one"

You may be interested if you are consider one in near future. Done some research since last night and now purchased a MSI WIND U90X 8.9in (screen) includes Windows XP installed and camera/mic and 120GB HDD etc. Weight 1.1Kg. Got from Argos clearance via Ebay. These are refurbished (normally around £250) but have 1 year full guarantee and with discount code cost £177. I think this is a bargain!

Hope that helps.

With respect to hostels/hotels/guesthouse on main routes, thanks for advice. Reply to this

Hey Mell
I´ve been in Brazil for about 5 months now, have basically been from the very south from the border of Uruguay up to Recife and Fernando de Noronha. Are you only staying in Brazil for a short amt of time? If you haven´t decided yet, I would fly into Rio over SP hands down. SP is fun but only if you have friends there, the city overall seemed much more dangerous than Rio (still really dangerous, actually) but the main downside is that without a car it is hard and expensive to get around SP. The subway system doesnt span well, and taxis in Brazil are expensive. So its not a walkable city. And, personally, I only ate and partied while I was there, not that much to see either. Rio on the other hand is easily enjoyable with a car, and honestly has so much more to do.
The bus SP to Rio I have taken like 5 times, about 70 to 80 BRL, not 35 GBP, and 6 hours. Always on time, and very easy to take though. There are overnights. Buses in Brazil can be very comfortable.
Then I saw something else about where to go around the cities... Paraty, Ilha Grande, all good I think. I personally didnt go to either, bc I spent 2 months in Bahia where the beaches are fabulous. Around Rio I did go to Buzios. Nice. Rio has surf to the south, in fact I spent 1.5 months just surfing down in Prainha, just left a month ago. Ardoun the south there, Uruguay is good for surf, I went a month ago, you have Punto del Diablo right over the border. Paraguay is skipable - spend your time in Brazil instead. Or, yeah check out Rio, or go into Minas Gerais if you want inland, or head up to Bahia - doable on an overnight bus.
Rio also has the best samba, has an amazing football stadium, also has great food and tons of culture. And... it has the beach, the jungle behind it, amazing rock climbing, also good nightlife. If you don´t have hosts in SP, i vote Rio all the way.
Anyways if you have any more questions on Brazil at all, please dont hesitate. I am in love with this country, big fan, and I am now back from Colombia to max out my 6 month visa here. I have had such a good time I havent even had time to stop and blog since I arrived in December!!

LAPIN - as for Salvador and BA... well how well do you want to know Salvador? I have not been myself, I have concentrated on Brazil and Colombia. However, I have heard good things, and also some bad things about BA. BA is apparently very much South America trying to be European. Its good for nightlife, yeah... but so is Rio and other big cities in Brazil. Salvador is a whole other side of Brazil, the African side, different food, different people, different dialects, different music and dance. Bahia is amazing. I would not miss Salvador.

Anyways good luck to evyerbody and be excited you are coming to Brazil. Best country in South America. Reply to this

Hello Amy 😊

Yes, I only have a couple of weeks in Brazil. Lucky you, with having so much time there.

I will be going to Uruguay too, but just for a few days.

My plane ticket is to Sao Paulo, but I think the plane will also land to allow passangers off in Rio too. I may be able to get out there.

Are taxis in Brazil safe both day and night? I wont be using them to get around in general, but if I ever am out too late or get lost..... I will be travelling alone.

And, personally, I only ate and partied while I was there,..

That would actually be good enough for me. :D Sitting around eating and people watching and somtimes enjoying the night life is what I generally spend a lot of my travel time doing anyway. If you will be in Brazil in November, what about you meet me for a coffee and some sitting around. 😊

...you have Punto del Diablo right over the border.

That is exactly where I am going to spend a few days.

Paraguay is skipable ...

I was going to go there, but from what I have read it seems just a bit too dangerous for me to go to alone, so glad you dont think I will be missing much, by not going there. 😊

...how well do you want to know Salvador?

I dont know it at all, but I have a Lonely Planet book now, so I can check it out. But my current plan is to head South from Rio or Sao Paulo and hop along the coast until I get to Uruguay. Anyone think I should go north instead?

Mel
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Hey Mell
I think the taxis are safe enough to not have to worry. Perhaps try to take taxis with another person, or call for them.
Unfortunately, I won't be in Brazil in November!! I am maxing out my 6-month visa which ends in July...
What do you like?? The south could be nice come november... but Floripa is very much a party scene not sure if you are into that. I would vote you go north but i'm not sure how much time you have either....

Hey Faieriedragon,
There are tons of beaches in SP state, maresias, camburi for surf, etc... I was in Juquehy for NYE 2009 and it was only about 2 hours in traffic... so relatively close. but the beaches near SP tend to be flooded and crowded bc SP is such a big city. the traffic from sp can be really unpredictable though. Reply to this