Safety in San Paulo
Jan 6th, 2006 | 03:13 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
The long answer......
Sao Paulo is a very large city with all the usual big city problems. There's a lot of opportunity for the bad guys and since people generally don't trust the police, a feeling that you have to protect yourself. My coworkers have been shot at, had their cars carjacked, and had their purses stolen from the seat beside them. Same stuff as in other big cities, just in greater numbers.
I've been to Sao Paulo at least 10 times on business with no trouble. Here are the rules we follow, some will say this is overly cautious, but I don't care.
1. Driving yourself is very difficult unless you know where you are going. Signage is iffy and it's a big place so you can get really lost in a hurry. So don't rent a car.
2. Have your company arrange for a car to pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel or office. Ask someone at your company if they can recommend a driver service to drive you between the hotel and office. (Some companies keep drivers on staff to do this.) If they can't provide a name, ask at your hotel.
3. Taxis are generally safe in the sense that they are not going to express kidnap you. But if you are going anywhere out of the way or crossing through multiple neighborhoods, my experience is that they are not very good at finding their way (only one instance of deliberately taking the foreigners the long way around, the other guys seemed genuinely semi-lost). Also, they like to make the rear seatbelts inaccessible, and I hate driving without a seatbelt, even in the back seat. So taxis are ok for short trips, but use the driver recommended by your company or the hotel, even if it costs more. Always bring the address and phone number of where you are headed. Keep the doors locked and the windows up.
4. Stay at a decent hotel. You don't need to stay somewhere expensive, there are plenty of good lower priced choices. We use a hotel in the Moema neighborhood, which is a nice middle-to-upper class area.
5. Where you can go by yourself after work depends on where you are staying and the hour. Ask your coworkers or ask at the hotel. Even though my usual hotel is not fabulous, I like it because I can walk to the local mall or for ice cream and feel safe. Good and bad neighborhoods exist side by side so somewhere may look close of the map, but you still may not want to walk there.
6. Dining alone. In most cities, I will happily eat alone in even the fanciest restaurants. But in Brazil, as in many Latin American places, people just don't eat alone in restaurants. If you stay at one of the big international hotels, they will certainly be accustomed to single female diners, so no problem, but in a restaurant on the street you'll probably feel out of place and somewhat vulnerable.
7. And the standard rules for traveling to less developed places apply -- do not bring or wear fancy watches, rings or other jewelry (no gold other than a plain wedding ring, definitely no diamonds) or fancy handbags or anything else that would mark you as a good theft target.
8. The level of English usage in stores, restaurants and smaller hotels is quite low, so learn a few key Portuguese words and bring a small phrasebook in case of emergency.
Sao Paulo is a very large city with all the usual big city problems. There's a lot of opportunity for the bad guys and since people generally don't trust the police, a feeling that you have to protect yourself. My coworkers have been shot at, had their cars carjacked, and had their purses stolen from the seat beside them. Same stuff as in other big cities, just in greater numbers.
I've been to Sao Paulo at least 10 times on business with no trouble. Here are the rules we follow, some will say this is overly cautious, but I don't care.
1. Driving yourself is very difficult unless you know where you are going. Signage is iffy and it's a big place so you can get really lost in a hurry. So don't rent a car.
2. Have your company arrange for a car to pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel or office. Ask someone at your company if they can recommend a driver service to drive you between the hotel and office. (Some companies keep drivers on staff to do this.) If they can't provide a name, ask at your hotel.
3. Taxis are generally safe in the sense that they are not going to express kidnap you. But if you are going anywhere out of the way or crossing through multiple neighborhoods, my experience is that they are not very good at finding their way (only one instance of deliberately taking the foreigners the long way around, the other guys seemed genuinely semi-lost). Also, they like to make the rear seatbelts inaccessible, and I hate driving without a seatbelt, even in the back seat. So taxis are ok for short trips, but use the driver recommended by your company or the hotel, even if it costs more. Always bring the address and phone number of where you are headed. Keep the doors locked and the windows up.
4. Stay at a decent hotel. You don't need to stay somewhere expensive, there are plenty of good lower priced choices. We use a hotel in the Moema neighborhood, which is a nice middle-to-upper class area.
5. Where you can go by yourself after work depends on where you are staying and the hour. Ask your coworkers or ask at the hotel. Even though my usual hotel is not fabulous, I like it because I can walk to the local mall or for ice cream and feel safe. Good and bad neighborhoods exist side by side so somewhere may look close of the map, but you still may not want to walk there.
6. Dining alone. In most cities, I will happily eat alone in even the fanciest restaurants. But in Brazil, as in many Latin American places, people just don't eat alone in restaurants. If you stay at one of the big international hotels, they will certainly be accustomed to single female diners, so no problem, but in a restaurant on the street you'll probably feel out of place and somewhat vulnerable.
7. And the standard rules for traveling to less developed places apply -- do not bring or wear fancy watches, rings or other jewelry (no gold other than a plain wedding ring, definitely no diamonds) or fancy handbags or anything else that would mark you as a good theft target.
8. The level of English usage in stores, restaurants and smaller hotels is quite low, so learn a few key Portuguese words and bring a small phrasebook in case of emergency.
Jan 15th, 2006 | 05:27 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
lovesprada,
Thank you for all your details and important tips and information! It is very valuable and certainly considered and useful! I've been hoping for additional input, but your message really says it all! I appreciate you kindness.
Thank you for all your details and important tips and information! It is very valuable and certainly considered and useful! I've been hoping for additional input, but your message really says it all! I appreciate you kindness.
Jan 15th, 2006 | 05:51 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
wow! I think lovesprada says it all. I cannot speak as a pro; I've only been to Sao Paulo once but I was alone. I'll tell you, though--my hotel had a contract with one taxi company. This enabled them to assure guests that their ride to ((wherever)) would be safe and that the drivers would not overcharge. Hopefully your hotel will have the same service.
(For the record, I stayed at the Melia and it was absolutely wonderful, not to mention it's brand new.)
As with any other city, walk confidently and be aware of your surroundings. Be careful with your digital camera; it's probably better to have the disposable kind. Keep your purse close and don't carry too much cash on you.
(For the record, I stayed at the Melia and it was absolutely wonderful, not to mention it's brand new.)
As with any other city, walk confidently and be aware of your surroundings. Be careful with your digital camera; it's probably better to have the disposable kind. Keep your purse close and don't carry too much cash on you.
Jan 20th, 2006 | 02:47 AM
#6
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Hi!
I live in SP area for 26 years. I know the city, the dangerous places, safe ones, etc. But when we're out home, it's always vunerable because we don't know the place. Rio is half-size as São Paulo, but for me it's much more dangerous, after all I don't live there and "know the city" with tourist eyes. But as people say "the occasion makes the thief".
Yes, the traffic is insane - more than 5 million cars is the city. Taxis are very good, but expensive. Abuse the subway if you can; it's extremely efficient, clean and safe, but have a small network.
Enjoy the best of SP: shopping and food. Eat a pizza (not in Pizza Hut please). Local pizzarias have more than 50 pizzas flavours.
And finally, about english... brazilian schools have english as a second language since 5th grade... but most don't learn nothing... if you stay in upper-middle-class neighbourhoods, it's ok, people can understand you. And remember: Portuguese is not spanish, although many words may be common.
I live in SP area for 26 years. I know the city, the dangerous places, safe ones, etc. But when we're out home, it's always vunerable because we don't know the place. Rio is half-size as São Paulo, but for me it's much more dangerous, after all I don't live there and "know the city" with tourist eyes. But as people say "the occasion makes the thief".
Yes, the traffic is insane - more than 5 million cars is the city. Taxis are very good, but expensive. Abuse the subway if you can; it's extremely efficient, clean and safe, but have a small network.
Enjoy the best of SP: shopping and food. Eat a pizza (not in Pizza Hut please). Local pizzarias have more than 50 pizzas flavours.
And finally, about english... brazilian schools have english as a second language since 5th grade... but most don't learn nothing... if you stay in upper-middle-class neighbourhoods, it's ok, people can understand you. And remember: Portuguese is not spanish, although many words may be common.
