Anyone know where to get a good/great bikini in the Copacabana or Ipanema areas? Am reading a book How to be a Carioca and really don't want to look like a tourist on the beach!

Thanks a lot... Am planning way ahead and will be there in October

Heidi, one problem you will not have in Rio and that is finding a great bikini. First of all they sell them on the beach, people walk around all day with racks of biquinis and you can try it on right there as most Cariocas do, what a sight. Another option if you are shy is 33 Rua Santa Clara in Copacabana which is at least a 10 story building with hundreds of shops inside and many many sell biquinis, you will have no problem finding all sorts of clothes the locals wear. I just bought myself 2 bathing suits for the beach there. Keep your american clothes at home and go in there the first day and pay carioca prices, also along Copacabana avenue there are all stores for shopping and well as close by the big shopping mall Rio Sul. Have fun.

Dondiega - Thanks for the information. I am so excited about going and want to look like a Carioca and not an American! I'm sure that will make my trip even better. I'm also trying to learn a little Portugese while I'm at it.

My friends and I bought ours from the F! shopping mall in Ipanema. But ya know, it's not the bikini that will make you look American....it will be the lack of color!

Well we don't know what color Heidi is but usually a couple of weeks before I go to Rio I do some tanning sessions to get the color up to speed.

Heidi, also, you have several months to learn Portuguese, plenty of time. A little Portuguese goes a long way in Rio, in restaurants, on the beach with the natives checking out your new biquini and so on.

Aaah, good point Dondiega. I knew NO PORTUGUESE before going to Rio, and had to rely on my friend who was fluent. When he was not around, I was very lost. Of course, I only decided to go on this trip 2 weeks before, so....