Denise Werneck

If you are planning a trip to Rio and would like to get some advice on how to get off the touristic circuit, ask me your questions. I have a large experience of showing the city to friends from abroad and have collected a lot of useful information about what to do and see in Rio and around it.

Katinka

I am going to Brazil next week. We are flying into Rio and were planning on spending time in some on the national parks around Rio such as Itatiaia and Serra do Bocaina. We are also interested in Iguazu and Prati. Any suggestions?
Katinka

cjchef

We are planning a possible trip to Brazil at Christmas time and want to go to Bahia and Rio. I am interested in some cooking classes in Bahia and any info on nice hotels in both places. Thanks also any other info you wish to share.

Tom Wilson

Could you recommend a moderately priced hotel in Ipanema?

Antonio Barros

Reply to Tom:

A hotel - 3*** - with moderate prices is Hotel Vermont.
I live 2 blocks from it..in Ipanema.

Regards,

Antonio

Priscilla

I was thinking of planning a trip to Rio during Carnival. Can you give me some good reasonably priced hotels to look into? Any tips or advice for staying during that time?

Thanks.
Priscilla

Alice

My friends and I are going to Rio for New Year's. Any recommendations on what to do for New Year's Eve? Also, what are some good local resturants and bars that we can visit.

Thanks.

Alice

danny

hi denise (or anybody else):

do you know how i can go about setting up hang-gliding in rio? i'll be there for 5 days in january.

danny

Susan Block

For how long would you recommend going? People have said crime is rampant there. Is that true? Is it any different from Italy (pickpockets)or Chicago?

danny

susan,

if you look at other cities statistically (like chicago, new york, etc.) they actually have more crime than rio de janeiro. for some reason, crime and danger seem to be more sensationalized in brazil.

we are all afraid of the unknown, and with what we are not familiar and comfortable.

i'm telling you right here and now, rio is the most gorgeous and amazing city i have ever visited. it is so rich with landscape and people and what-have-you.

denise, can you vouch?

danny

Erin

Danny, I believe they do hang-gliding at Pepino beach (past the Sheraton, near the Inter-Continental hotel). Your hotel should be able to arrange that for you.

I agree with you that Rio is more safe than most US cities.

danny

i've been reading a lot about rio and the crime there.

most of the violent crimes such as murders are committed either by or against juvenile delinquents, plus most of THESE occur in the favelas. i've been reading something about the police death squads killing off these street urchins and it disturbs the hell out of me.

but for us travelling through the safer areas of copacabana, ipanema, etc. you may get mugged, but still kinda unlikely if you're a smart person. i must agree that there must be a higher level of caution in rio than in chicago.

however. the city is about 10 times more beautiful, and the people are warm and passionate.

danny

Fred

Denise,
Planning to do Rio Aug. or Oct. 01...Can you suggest Sites to see and entertainment for the Barra de Tijuca Beach area? Also please recomend a good place to stay and eat? Thank you.

Fred

Dinho

Fred:

Try www.ipanema.com.br. It's a interesting site about Rio also in english version.

Enjoy yr trip

Dinho

Holzmant

We will be in Rio in September and would appreciate your sharing information and advice about what to do and see while visiting.We enjoy spending some of our tme exploring off the tourist curcuit as well.The experiences you shred with friends would truly make you our new found friend.

Holzmant

Denise,
I forgot to mention that we will have only five days to explore Rio.Thanks for your input.
Marv Holzman
Long Beach,California

Dondiega

This is so funny, Denise posts originally on 10/12/2000 almost 5 years ago, several people ask her questions about Rio and she never responds once. Now today on 5/29/2005 people are still asking her questions. People get the hint, she ain't out there.

cordon

Just browsing the site and came across dondiega's post. Too funny. However, it shows how much people rely on this site and crave info from "natives." We all want to hear other American's views on travel but want to hear the lowdown from people living there. Shame on the poster who offered help and disappeared. Since I've been "researching" Brazil - along with lots of other S.A. possibilities, I want to thank dondiega and all of the other posters who have been so responsive and given such good advice.

MelissaHI

Yes, I want to thank Dondiega and miguelgcuadra for their wonderful advice regarding my Rio trip earlier this year. They were/are wonderful!!! That's so wierd about Denise!