|
Rio for a family trip?
My husband and I are thinking about going to Rio with our two teens next summer. My husband has a conference there, and we could extend it into a family vacation.
We've never been to Latin America, so it would be a big adventure. We'd probably be able to stay about 12 nights. My first question is whether or not Rio is a good place for our family to visit. I guess I have a notion that it's very jet-setty and high fashion-- in which case we wouldn't fit in! Can anyone describe its ambiance for me? If we do go, we'd want to move to one or two other places for 3 or 4 nights each. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. |
I guess I have a notion that it's very jet-setty and high fashion-- in which case we
Wrong, Rio is a very relaxed city..it is for everydody. You will have a great time. It all depends where you go and what you do!!!!! Just an advice. when it comes to dressing and sexual lifestyles, THEY ARE very open minded and not oppressed like most in the USA. If you are bothered by skimpy bathing suits, do not go. Ipanema is very GAY friendly, if that bothers you, stay home. It is an incredible country.. food is great, natural beauty is spectacular, people are extremely friendly Go in www.google.com and check PARATY, a two hour bus ride from RIO and spectacular .... |
Thanks for your reply. I have been researching Rio, and liking what I've found. Our "kids" will be 17 and 20 next summer, so old enough to deal with cultural differences.
The conference would put us at the InterContinental Hotel, which looks nice. Is it? Would you suggest we have a car? Are there good daytrips from Rio where we could see the inland tropical environment? Another location to stay several nights? Any suggestions are welcome. |
I do not think you need a car in RIO, if you enjoy walking, it is a perfect city for that..most of the walking is either in COPACABANA , IPANEMA and LEBLON. Also buses are really good and cheap, most tourist walk. Food is excellent and cheap, specially at the all you can eat places.
Not so sure about the Intercontinental location, but sure it is well located.. THERE IS NO NUDITY, BUT THEY DRESS ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER AND VERY SEXY LOOKING. I PERSONALLY LIKE PARATY, IT IS 2 HOURS BY BUS FROM RIO AND BEAUTIFULL..NICE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. PARATY HAS BEEN DECLARED BY UNITED NATIONS A PATRIMONY OF HUMANITY. YOUR KIDS SURE WILL LOVE THE BEACH IN COPACABANA AND IPANEMA, LOTS OF PEOPLE PLAYING VOLLEYBALL AND SOCCER... LIKE IN ANY BIG CITY, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND AWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE.. NIGHT TIME I DO NOT LIKE COPACABANA, TOO MANY PROSTITUTES BUT IPANEMA IS IDEAL AT NIGHT TIME, LOTS OF RESTAURANTS AND NICE STORES...YOU DAUGTHER WILL GO CRAZY WITH THE FASHION AND NOT EXPENSIVE. |
PLACES TO SEE IN RIO:
1- THE CHRIST 2- THE PAU DE AZUCAR (SUGAR MOUNT LOAF) 3- THE ECOLOGICAL GARDENS 4- ON SUNDAYS THE HIPPIE FAIR IN IPANEMA...NICE THINGS TO BUY AND FOOD TO TASTE. 5- A DAY TRIP TO POLIANAPOLIS THERE HAVE BEEN POSTING ABOUT ARRIVING IN BRASIL AND INMIGRATION TAKING PICS AND FINGERPRINTS...DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT..IT TAKES SOMETIME BUT NO ONE WILL HARRASS YOU...BRASILIANS ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND THEY DO NOT HARRASS AMERICANS.. |
I Googled Paraty and it does look beautiful. I'm looking for a place on the beach, someplace we could be happy for 5 or 6 nights, with lots of natural beauty to see there, in addition to beach time and downtime for us all. Thanks for the recommendation. Any other ideas you can provide will also be appreciated. Now I'm getting excited about Brazil. Do you live there?
|
|
The Intercontinental is perfect for a family as it has a big pool and is away from the hustle and bustle of Copacabana and Ipanema and it is secure but do not wander on the baech across the street alone as it is near the biggest favela in Rio, Rocincha. I have been to Ipanema many times and can't say I have ever noticed any gays but they say that there are on the beach at Farme de Moeada street. You may want to look into Buzios as a side beach trip for several days look at the Colanna Park hotel. Be careful to let your kids roam free in Rio unless they are very very street smart, its not the place for some country kids to be on the loose to be taken advantage of. Do not rent a car, this is not the type of place for US drivers unless you are a race car or professional driver. Taxis are cheap. Try and learn some basic Portuguese.Your kids will love Buzios as the baeches are filled with young brazilian tourists and tourists from all over the world plus it is safe and fun.
|
Oh, my gosh-- I am getting totally hooked on Brazil! So beautiful. It could be ideal for us. We usually go to Hawaii for beach time, but this looks like a fantastic destination. Thanks so much for your ideas, especially about places not to go and how to keep kids safe.
Dondiega, you're so right-- we're not race car drivers, so will skip the car! Keep ideas coming, please. |
Maureen, PARATY is not the place that you walk from the beach to the Ocean. You walk to the pier and for about $15. US dollars you get your own boat with sailor (driver) to take you from island to island...all surrounded by beautiful mountains and crystal waters. I highly recommend this hotel in PARATY
www.hotelcoxixo.com.br Also look for porto de galinhas..it is beautiful... and beach in front of hotels. www.portodegalinhas.com.br I want your comments after you come back from BRAZIL... beauty of country and power of US dollars, will make you fall in love easy...good bye hawaii. |
another good site www.ipanema.com
go in and look at the RIO map, that way when we start throwing ideas, you know that COPACABA, LEBLOn,LEME AND IPANEMA ARE one right next to the other and are walkable... I am in the USA, Miami |
miguelgcuadra, thank you for all your thoughts. Is Buzios a place to stay for a week and have easy beach access from the hotel? Because we'd like a place where we can just walk to and from the beach during the day, at our whim.
I have already received a very nice e-mail from the Casagrande Hotel (www.casagrandejfb.com) there, just 50 meters from the J Fernandez beach, sea views, good prices and looks very nice. Do you know it? Are you from Brazil? |
|
Hello Maureen, no am not Brazilian, went for first time 2 yrs ago and fell in love with the country.
I have never been to BUZIOS, but have heard excellent things about it. |
I have been to Buzios several times and it has about 23 different beaches all with easy access by foot or by renting a dune buggy which many people do. It is only 2.5 hours outside of Rio and is an ideal destination with great restaurants, nightlife and the best beaches. Just google it and see all the sites, the one mentioned above is a good one. This place is safe it is called the St Tropez of south america, discoverd by Brigit Bardot.
|
Rio is a fabulous place to visit. I loved it and plan to return next year. IMHO the Intercontinental is not is the best location. It is away from everything. If you are able to change to a different hotel after your husband's conference, go to a hotel in Ipanema or Leblon across the street from the beach. You will be near great restaurants, night clubs, shopping and in a very safe area of Rio.
|
I second that about the Intercontinental - if you can switch, I would FOR SURE to Ipanema. If you need help with hotels, let me know your budget and I will give you some suggestions.
|
You guys are right about the location of the Intercontinental but if I was with my kids I would prefer it because they can walk around freely without you having to worry about them, the compound is secure. Plus the pool is nice and clean and great for swimming.
|
We'll need to stay at the InterContinental where the conference is. Then we can move after those 5 days, to another location.
The InterContinental is at the beach, I hope--?? That will be our priority. We aren't interested in being in the hustle and bustle of the city proper. And it will be nice to let the teens be on their own at the hotel, and not worry, because they really aren't street-wise per se. Buzios looks great. Any other favorite beaches or hotels? |
Rio is awesome. You can't help but have a great time. After all, there's even beachside cabanas selling caipirinhas, coconuts, or cold beer 24 hours a day. Awesome scenery, great casual atmosphere, low prices.
I have one suggestion for a side trip if you're into history and culture: Ouro Preto. The place is very cool --- an old colonial mining town set in the mountains, maybe a 4-hour bus ride from Rio. Lots of excellent 1st class boutique hotels, lots of charm, lots of local color. Have fun! Mark www.tiogringo.com |
Once we leave Rio-- perhaps to stay in Buzios the final week-- would we want/need a car? I'm really liking the Casagrande hotel at the tip of that peninsula. So I'm wondering if we'd want to drive elsewhere for dinners and daytrips.
What are caipirinhas? |
What are caipirinhas
Are alcoholic beverages...delicious. Made out of CACHASSA (local liquor) lime juice and sugar... they taste like lemonade, so be very careful, LOL. |
Hey Maureen, you are really getting into this BRASIL trip. Where are you?
Just walking along the sidewalk along the beach is quite an experience...with so many kiosks to have a cold beer or a capirinhia.... You will see how many brasilians excercise along the beach after work ...it is so invigorating... if any of you is into jogging...bring running shoes, running with the locals along copacabana and ipanema in an experience...... |
Thanks, miguelgcuadra. We live in Colorado, so with cold weather approaching it's wonderful to plan a beach get-away. And this forum is to helpful, I love to get everyone's ideas who have been there.
|
Maureen, my suggestion if you go to Buzios is to hire a taxi to take you there. You can ask the hotel that you are going to to arrange to pick you up or find someone in Rio. The fare should be about $100 each way. I wouldn't drive it myself as you do not know the way and you do not want to get lost. When you get to Buzios all the restaurants are more or less in one local area in centro rua das pedras, so you wont need a car but a dune buggy would be ok
|
I am wondering about the visa requirements for entering Brazil. Do I just contact the consulate?
|
It is $100. for each of you.
Process is very simple, go to consulate with valid passports, CASH and tickets...pick up passaports following day. No question asked.. Visa is granted for 5 years and first entry must be within 90 days from date visa was issue. Five years life of visa is validated when you enter country and get stamped. so make sure each one of you get a stamp on passaport from inmigration officer. Cause you are going back, right |
Since you are interested in Latin America, look at these web sites from my home country. I was born and raised in Nicaragua.
www.granada.com.ni www.morgansrock.com www.marinapuestadelsol.com |
Thank you again, miguelgcuadra. I am concerned about going "in person" as our nearest consulate seems to be in Houston and we live in Colorado. I'll check into it further.
|
I did my Visa application via mail thru the Los Angeles office. No problem at all. Everything was quick and efficient. Look up the website Consulate Generral Brasil and you can download the application and requirements. No need to pay an intermediary company to do this for you.
|
Hello Maureen, do not worry about the VISA thing, call the consulate or read instructions on web site. Do it with plenty of time, in case something goes wrong.
Remember that first entry MUST be within 90 days from date visa was issued. Keep that in mind when applying. |
Thanks for your replies, everyone. I'll time the Visa application process appropriately.
I'm wondering if the ocean temps are warm enough for snorkeling and swimming the first of August? I see they are about 20C, but that doesn't mean much to me. Would a wet suit be needed, or not? Are some beaches warmer than others in Buzios? Like on the west side? We are liking the Casagrande hotel there. Thanks again in advance! |
Buzios is very beautifull http:www.buzios-explorer.com/ The peninsula of Buzios is 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro. Links to information on the city, history, culture, weather, location map, tourism, accommodations, foods, carnaval, and related links. In Portuguese, Spanish and English.
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:10 PM. |