The "Big Mike" Honorary Rio FAQ

Q: Why the "Big Mike" Honorary Rio FAQ?

A: Well, we had a guy with us who went by the name "Big Mike."  He must have asked more questions via email than any client we've had in history.  Anything you can think of, Big Mike probably asked it.  When he got down here, though, he was pretty squared away and prepared.  And he said, "You know, you guys should put up an FAQ for guys like me.  You can probably use my emails as a starting point."  And we did.  Hence, "The Big Mike Honorary Rio FAQ."

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Brazil?

A: If you are American, yes you do.  We require visas of Brazilians, so they require them of us. A visa cannot be granted in Brazil.  They'll just send you back to the US.  Be sure you apply within plenty of time before your trip. You must enter Brazil within 90 days of the date your visa is issued.  If you plan to make multiple trips, you can request a 5 year tourist visa, but don't expect it to be granted automatically.  Contact your local Brazilian Consulate for exact requirements (links on the Links page), but here's some general requirements: valid passport, passport photo, roundtrip ticket or itinerary, application form, and your contact info in Brazil.  If you're not from the US, contact your local Brazilian consulate to find out if you need a visa.

Q: Should I change money at the airport?

A: Generally, no.  They'll give you a much worse rate than you'll get around town.  Think, "ripoff."  If you're riding in with us, we can help you change money when you get here.  That said, there are special situations where you might need Reals and can't wait to get to your destination.  In that case, change as little as you can get away with.  Money changers (cambios) are open normal business hours Monday thru Friday, and Saturday til around 1pm.  After that, almost no one will change money except for hotels which also give a bad rate.  So if you land Sunday, take that into account.

Q: Should I use traveller's cheques?

A: Generally speaking, NO!  No one will take them.  The only place you can change them is at the American Express office in the Copacabana Palace hotel.  They are open normal business hours.  If you have an emergency on the weekend, your traveller's cheques are just useless paper.

Q: What's the best way to get money?

A: Some people prefer to bring down US cash and change it here. Banks will not change money, only cambios will.  We can tell you where the best ones are located.  ATM is not a bad choice either.  You'll need to use an international cash machine, but they're not too hard to find.  They have the usual VISA, Mastercard, Cirrus stickers on the front.  We can help you locate one if you need.  And you can pull money out 7 days per week until 10pm.

Q: What's all this about ID?

A: In Brazil, you are required to carry identification at all times.  For you, this means you should carry a copy of the information page of your passport, and the Brazilian visa page, at all times.  Don't carry the originals; you don't want to lose your passport in Rio!

Q: What language do Brazilians speak?

A: Portuguese.

Q: I speak some Spanish.  Will I get by?

A: Maybe.  The Portuguese accent is very different than Spanish.  So you'll probably find that they understand about half of what you say, but you might not get much of what they say.  The reports vary.  Some people say they get by reasonably well with just Spanish, while other say they can't understand Portuguese at all.  Your milage may vary.  Being able to chat with the locals can greatly enhance your experience, so if you've the will, by all means, every little bit helps.  If you don't pick any Portuguese up, you'll still have a great time.

Q: How did you learn Portugese?

A: Well, for first timers, the best way of starting is probably Pimsleur's Brazilian Portuguese course.  If you really want to learn, the deluxe course has 3 levels, 90 lessons total, half an hour each.  It's not cheap, but it's a very good start.  From there, Ken learned on the ground, talking to people every day, and also advises reading Portuguese as much as possible to improve your vocabulary.

Q: What's the best time to visit Rio?

A: Any time is a great time to visit Rio.  It's always a wonderful time.

Q: What about Carnaval?

A: Carnaval can be a lot of fun--if you like large crowds.  Basically, everything shuts down for 4 days, and the city just parties. You'll find that prices on accomodations are a lot higher during the Carnaval and New Years periods--up to double or triple normal rates--so be aware of that when making plans. Dates for future Carnavals can be found here. Honestly, you're not missing that much by coming at another time of the year.  Like we say, "Any time is a good time in Rio." 

Q: Will I need an adapter for my electronics?

A: Well, Rio is a mixture of 110 and 220 volts.  Most any place will have 110v outlets, but the older plugs accept only 2 round pins.  Generally, though, you'll find that most items will plug in just fine here.  For items with a 3 prong plug, like laptops, you will probably need an adapter (3 pin to 2 pin).  Bringing one with you is probably best, but if you happen to find yourself here without one, they're widely sold.  Just ask for a "Benjamin."  (Pronounced "ben-jah-MEEEN.")

Q: What's the best way of getting around?

A: Taxi, usually.  Look for a yellow taxi with a blue stripe. When you get in the cab, make sure he turns the meter on.  A very popular scam is to not turn the meter on at all, or to try to negotiate a flat (expensive) rate.  Don't go for it.  Insist on the meter and if he refuses, get out and take another taxi.  Meter should start at about R$4.30 and go up from there.  It should be on the number 1 during the day, number 2 (slightly higher rates) after 9pm and on Sundays and holidays.  Few taxi drivers in Rio speak English, and a startling number can't seem to find even major landmarks, so it's always a great idea to write down the name and exact address of your destination on a piece of paper and present it to him.  Also, drivers rarely carry change for larger bills, so break your R$50 notes at the restaurants or bars and save your change for taxis as much as possible.

The Metrô (subway) is becoming another great option if you know where you're going.  It's currently about R$2.80 per one way trip.  It currently runs between Copacabana, downtown, and points much further north.  The first Ipanema station is supposed to open in December of 2009.  A great interactive map of the stations can be found here.

Q: What about tipping?

A: Taxi drivers do not get tipped in Rio.  You can throw them an extra real or two if you feel, but they're probably not expecting it.  That said, if it comes out to, say, R$10.60, I wouldn't expect to get your R$0.40 back.  It's quite common to round up to the nearest even figure.  If you get your hair cut, he's probably not expecting a tip--at least, a Brazilian wouldn't give him one.  Also, at restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually included on the bill.  If you want to leave more, it's entirely up to you, but not automatically expected.  You can also refuse to pay the 10% service charge if you feel the waiter has been exceptionally slothful.  Finally, lots of people in Brazil may ask you for a tip.  That does not mean that it's common practice to give them one.  That said, workers here often earn very low wages, and if you are feeling generous, they will certainly appreciate it.

Q: What's the current exchange rate?

A: You can get an estimate here.  Actual rates vary a little here on the ground.

Q: Is Rio really as dangerous as I hear?

A: No, not at all.  It's actually very overstated.  It's like any big city.  The violent crime is almost always restricted to the parts of the city that you will never wander into.  In any tourist area, there may be petty crime like muggings and pickpockets.  Therefore, we recommend that you only keep what you'll need while you're out with you and leave the rest in your room.  Don't wear any flashy jewelry or wristwatches.  Keep a good hand on any valuables while you're on the street.  Put your money in your pocket before you walk out of a store.  Keep your wallet in your front pocket.  Don't attract attention.  Always take taxis after dark.  Muggings are really relatively rare, but you should minimize any invitations.  Also, no one is really looking to hurt you.  They usually just want cash.  I honestly can't remember the last time one of our guests was robbed.  It's been a long time.  Follow these common sense safety tips, and you'll have a great vacation.

One last point with regard to the beach: don't leave anything unattended.  Don't take anything you don't absolutely need.  Don't plan on falling asleep with headphones in your ears and expect to wake up with them still there.  And don't set foot on the beach after dark.

Q: Is that all?

A: No!  We've got a lot more coming.  This is only the beginning.  Stay tuned...