Adventure in Brazil : 2011 Trip Report
Jan 30th, 2012, 08:23 PM
#61
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Yes Femi, you must go to Salvador. The colorful architecture and the drums on the street will linger long in your mind.
Glad to hear from another Brazil visitor Marija. And why the scare about hang gliding ? After all, you only live once - got to experience all that life has to offer !
Glad to hear from another Brazil visitor Marija. And why the scare about hang gliding ? After all, you only live once - got to experience all that life has to offer !
Feb 12th, 2012, 05:55 AM
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From dancing girls to pink dolphins. Those dolphin shots are superb. Really magnificent creatures!
Your selection of shots gives a great overview of the trip.
I hang glided with you vicariously, which is the only hang gliding I'll do, so thanks. I'm with Marija on that. My tummy doesn't even like merry-go-rounds.
Your selection of shots gives a great overview of the trip.
I hang glided with you vicariously, which is the only hang gliding I'll do, so thanks. I'm with Marija on that. My tummy doesn't even like merry-go-rounds.
Mar 20th, 2012, 07:22 AM
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Hello
First let me thank you for the wonderful report on your Brazil trip. I'm planning to visit Brazil in the month of July.
would you please send me a list of restaurants you found in Brazil. I'm a vegetarian too. What was the cost of the trip?, excluding Mumbai to Sao Paulo air travel.
I will be there from July 1 till 16th. How much money I need to carry ( Not planning on shopping in Brazil).
I appreciate all the help you are doing to our travel community.
Once again Thank you.
Happy traveling
First let me thank you for the wonderful report on your Brazil trip. I'm planning to visit Brazil in the month of July.
would you please send me a list of restaurants you found in Brazil. I'm a vegetarian too. What was the cost of the trip?, excluding Mumbai to Sao Paulo air travel.
I will be there from July 1 till 16th. How much money I need to carry ( Not planning on shopping in Brazil).
I appreciate all the help you are doing to our travel community.
Once again Thank you.
Happy traveling
Mar 20th, 2012, 09:43 PM
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Thanks for the kudos amazonian. I think I have mentioned the names of the restaurants we ate in, on each day of our stay in Brazil, in my Trip Report. If you have difficulty in placing any one of them, do let me know, so that I can furnish the exact address.
We spent approx US $ 6500 for the two of us together, not counting the airfare from India and back, and excluding shopping. The above amount includes the cost of TAM airpasses, and the cost of the Amazon riverboat cruise. Also included are all hotel nights, food, entry tickets, local travel etc.
Hope this was helpful.
We spent approx US $ 6500 for the two of us together, not counting the airfare from India and back, and excluding shopping. The above amount includes the cost of TAM airpasses, and the cost of the Amazon riverboat cruise. Also included are all hotel nights, food, entry tickets, local travel etc.
Hope this was helpful.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 10:50 AM
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Indiancouple, Please suggest a best way to handle currency.
Cash or credit card? I'm thinking of taking a laptop with me, is it safe? My 2 week trip includes 3 places( Sao paulo, Iguacu Falls, Buenos Aires. Do you speak Spanish & Portuguese? How did you manage negotiations with cab drivers in RIO and currency exchange deal with a bus driver in Iguacu falls?
I really admire your trip research skills.Any tips and pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for mentioning about border crossing tips (Brazil & Argentina).
Cash or credit card? I'm thinking of taking a laptop with me, is it safe? My 2 week trip includes 3 places( Sao paulo, Iguacu Falls, Buenos Aires. Do you speak Spanish & Portuguese? How did you manage negotiations with cab drivers in RIO and currency exchange deal with a bus driver in Iguacu falls?
I really admire your trip research skills.Any tips and pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for mentioning about border crossing tips (Brazil & Argentina).
Apr 4th, 2012, 05:30 AM
#69
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Amazonian, I used a combination of Cash and Credit cards. Usually paid my hotel bills by credit card, and carried cash for most other transactions. You could just as well carry your ATM card and withdraw cash as you need it. Just carry enough cash for the day's requirement, leaving the rest secure in your hotel safe.
I had carried a mini-laptop with me, which I would leave at the hotel room. Never had any problem of security. Sao Paulo and Iguacu Falls are very very safe, so nothing to worry at all. I had bought a small language handbook from amazon.com : the GLOBETROTTER series book on Brazilian Portuguese (they have a different one for general Portuguese !). It is a small pocket handbook, costing about $15 or less, which teaches you enough Portuguese to survive in Brazil. It is very well designed for a tourist, and very easy to master the rudimentary words and phrases that you need. All you need to do is to make a genuine effort to speak their language and display a little humility, and they will gush forth to help you and understand you. Language problem in Brazil is greatly exaggerated on these sites - we did not encounter any significant problem anywhere at all. Not even with cab drivers. And when all else fails, sign language always works everywhere on the planet.
As for researching my trip, I used the Lonely Planet guidebook, supplemented with other internet sites. Best of all was to post questions on travel forums like Fodors and Tripadvisor. I am a dedicated Fodors fan, but for Brazil I found the traffic on the Fodors forum to be somewhat low, compared to Tripadvisor forum. I used both, and received answers to all my questions.
Any other questions, please let me know.
I had carried a mini-laptop with me, which I would leave at the hotel room. Never had any problem of security. Sao Paulo and Iguacu Falls are very very safe, so nothing to worry at all. I had bought a small language handbook from amazon.com : the GLOBETROTTER series book on Brazilian Portuguese (they have a different one for general Portuguese !). It is a small pocket handbook, costing about $15 or less, which teaches you enough Portuguese to survive in Brazil. It is very well designed for a tourist, and very easy to master the rudimentary words and phrases that you need. All you need to do is to make a genuine effort to speak their language and display a little humility, and they will gush forth to help you and understand you. Language problem in Brazil is greatly exaggerated on these sites - we did not encounter any significant problem anywhere at all. Not even with cab drivers. And when all else fails, sign language always works everywhere on the planet.
As for researching my trip, I used the Lonely Planet guidebook, supplemented with other internet sites. Best of all was to post questions on travel forums like Fodors and Tripadvisor. I am a dedicated Fodors fan, but for Brazil I found the traffic on the Fodors forum to be somewhat low, compared to Tripadvisor forum. I used both, and received answers to all my questions.
Any other questions, please let me know.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 06:09 PM
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indiancouple, this is an excellent trip report. I really enjoyed your trip report on Switzerland too, I remember reading it shortly after I'd visited the country. I will be in Brazil later this year and your trip report is full of excellent tips and useful information. Thanks for sharing details of your trip on this forum.
Jun 5th, 2012, 08:43 AM
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Indiancouple
My 15 day trip to Brazil is confirmed. Will be staying in Sao Paulo for 4 nights , Iguazu (both sides and stay at Argentina side 2 nights) and Buenos Aries 5 nights. Again 2 nights in Sao Paulo.(July 1 till July 15.) Will be staying in Mercure Jardims Hotel. Agian Thank your for yor detailed TR. It is really helping me a lot.
Based on your advice I bought GLOBETROTTER series book on Brazilian Portuguese. Book is really good. Thank you so much.
Thanks for forex & credit card suggestions.
I know it sounds silly but now I need your help with packing list.Items to pack and any special items I would be needing for this trip?
I need to prepare a list of veg friendly restaurants in SP, Iguacu and Buenos Aries.
Once again Thank you so much.
My 15 day trip to Brazil is confirmed. Will be staying in Sao Paulo for 4 nights , Iguazu (both sides and stay at Argentina side 2 nights) and Buenos Aries 5 nights. Again 2 nights in Sao Paulo.(July 1 till July 15.) Will be staying in Mercure Jardims Hotel. Agian Thank your for yor detailed TR. It is really helping me a lot.
Based on your advice I bought GLOBETROTTER series book on Brazilian Portuguese. Book is really good. Thank you so much.
Thanks for forex & credit card suggestions.
I know it sounds silly but now I need your help with packing list.Items to pack and any special items I would be needing for this trip?
I need to prepare a list of veg friendly restaurants in SP, Iguacu and Buenos Aries.
Once again Thank you so much.
Jun 6th, 2012, 06:05 AM
#75
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Glad to be of help amazonian ! You will really like the Mercure Jardims hotel; cannot beat the location.
As for things to pack, I guess it depends all on what you intend to do. I am not sure what the weather will be like in those parts in July (since we went in December). You can easily check that out on any website / travel book, and take clothes accordingly. Otherwise, I do not recall packing anything special for the trip - just regular clothes, good walking shoes, a light jacket etc. Brazil is a pretty informal place dress-wise, and I imagine so is Argentina. So I cannot imagine what special item you may need.
As for veg restaurants, look at www.happycow.net ; it is a great site for locating veg restaurants anywhere in the world, along with user ratings. Also, just google for "veg food sao paulo" and so on for each city; you will be surprised as to how much information is available. There are a very large number of veg restaurants in the Jardims area of Sao Paulo (unfortunately most were closed for New Year when we visited). Do not know much about Argentina.
Have a great trip !
As for things to pack, I guess it depends all on what you intend to do. I am not sure what the weather will be like in those parts in July (since we went in December). You can easily check that out on any website / travel book, and take clothes accordingly. Otherwise, I do not recall packing anything special for the trip - just regular clothes, good walking shoes, a light jacket etc. Brazil is a pretty informal place dress-wise, and I imagine so is Argentina. So I cannot imagine what special item you may need.
As for veg restaurants, look at www.happycow.net ; it is a great site for locating veg restaurants anywhere in the world, along with user ratings. Also, just google for "veg food sao paulo" and so on for each city; you will be surprised as to how much information is available. There are a very large number of veg restaurants in the Jardims area of Sao Paulo (unfortunately most were closed for New Year when we visited). Do not know much about Argentina.
Have a great trip !
Jun 6th, 2012, 06:47 AM
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indiancouple, I'd like to trouble you. I have sent an email to the Bahiacafe Hotel in Salvador asking about room rates and airport transfers. They have not responded. Did you book directly with the hotel, if so how? Their website doesn't allow online bookings.
I am thinking of the Mercure in Sao Paulo. I do understand that many places in the city were closed because of the New Year Holiday. I've read some negative comments on the Mercure's location, mainly that it's not in Jardin district. Are there many shops/restaurants, etc within walking distance of the hotel? I am thinking of spending two days, three nights in Sao Paulo and plan on hiring a private guide for the first day and sightseeing independently on the second day.
Any information you can provide will be appreciated. Thank you.
I am thinking of the Mercure in Sao Paulo. I do understand that many places in the city were closed because of the New Year Holiday. I've read some negative comments on the Mercure's location, mainly that it's not in Jardin district. Are there many shops/restaurants, etc within walking distance of the hotel? I am thinking of spending two days, three nights in Sao Paulo and plan on hiring a private guide for the first day and sightseeing independently on the second day.
Any information you can provide will be appreciated. Thank you.
Jun 6th, 2012, 07:34 AM
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Hi RJames - I remember that I had booked Bahiacafe Hotel through Venere.com ; but booking directly with the hotel should work as good. Immediately after I had done my booking through Venere, I started getting emails from the owner of Bahiacafe - I recall his name was Michel (or something close). I sent several emails to him after that, and I always received a very prompt reply. He arranged the airport transfer. If he has not replied to your email, he is probably traveling or something, because he was extremely prompt each time I wrote. Highly recommend that place for a stay.
As for Sao Paulo, Mercure has several hotels in that city, and one of them (Mercure Jardims) is located in the heart of the Jardin area. This is where we had stayed, and it was within perfect walking distance of everything in Jardin area. There are probably two dozen restaurants within a 5 min walk.
Hope this helps.
As for Sao Paulo, Mercure has several hotels in that city, and one of them (Mercure Jardims) is located in the heart of the Jardin area. This is where we had stayed, and it was within perfect walking distance of everything in Jardin area. There are probably two dozen restaurants within a 5 min walk.
Hope this helps.
Jun 6th, 2012, 07:53 AM
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amazonian, I could look up my notes and locate various veg restaurants of Sao Paulo that we had researched :
1. Gopala Prasad : Rua Antonio Carlos 413 & 429
2. Sattva : Alameda Itu 1564
3. Vegacy : Rua Augusta 2061 (probably disappeared)
4. Apfel : Rua Bela Cintra 1343
5. Cheiro Verde : Rua Peisoto Gomide 1078
6. Piola : Alameda Lorena 1765
7. Margherita : Alameda Tiete 255
8. Vegethus Veg : Rua Haddock Lobo 187
One or two of the above may have disappeared; some may not be pure veg but veg friendly. They were all within a short walk of the hotel.
Have fun !
1. Gopala Prasad : Rua Antonio Carlos 413 & 429
2. Sattva : Alameda Itu 1564
3. Vegacy : Rua Augusta 2061 (probably disappeared)
4. Apfel : Rua Bela Cintra 1343
5. Cheiro Verde : Rua Peisoto Gomide 1078
6. Piola : Alameda Lorena 1765
7. Margherita : Alameda Tiete 255
8. Vegethus Veg : Rua Haddock Lobo 187
One or two of the above may have disappeared; some may not be pure veg but veg friendly. They were all within a short walk of the hotel.
Have fun !
