What to Bring to Brazil

Hi all!

Ok, so you’re finally coming to Brazil! Good for you! I can almost guarantee you that you’ll have a lot of fun and have a memorable time.

You have your passport, visa, and airline ticket. You’ve rented an apartment in Ipanema. You’re ready to live large.

Now it’s time to pack. Then it hits you…

What to take?

Before moving to Brazil, I made about 15 trips here, so I’ve learned bit about packing for Brazil. Also, I consulted with my friend Cristiano Nogueira, author of the award-winning guidebook Rio For Partiers, which is currently in its 8^th edition.

Putting our heads together over a few caipirinhas, here are our thoughts:

• Clothes – Focus on casual. There a very few places that require you to dress up. Guys, think baggy or cargo shorts, flip flops and T-shirts. Nice clean jeans and a shirt with a collar will get you in just about anyplace at night. Ladies, well, you have better fashion sense than us, so you’ll probably be fine. But you shouldn’t need the high heels and the little black dress for this trip.
• Camera – Bring a small digital camera, one that you can slip into a pocket easily. If should have a good flash, for those group shots at the night club. Also, it should be able to shoot short videos as well – very handy in the Carnaval block parties!
• GSM phone – GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, which is the de facto world standard for mobile phones. Bring your phone, and you can buy a chip here. Pop it in and you are ready to go.
• Suntan lotion – Yes, they have it here, but it’s pricey. Also, do you really want to be looking for a drugstore when you could be going directly to the beach?
• One credit card – It’s not like back home, where virtually every store accepts every card. MasterCard seems to be the most widely accepted, followed closely by Visa. American Express and others are often not accepted. Maybe you bring a MasterCard, and your travel buddy brings a Visa. Before coming, notify your card issuer so that you don’t find your card blocked when you are trying to pay for your dinner!
• ATM card – Bring an ATM card so you can get some of the local currency (the real, plural reais, pronounced “hay-eyes”). Note that your 24-hour card only works from 6am to 10pm in Rio, so visit the bank during those hours. Again, notify your bank before you leave to avoid finding your card blocked.
• Hangover medication – Caipirinhas are tasty but pack a nasty punch, and you don’t want to have to go hunting for meds the next morning. I suggest after taking your hangover cure of choice that you walk across to the beach and have a chilled coconut, which will help to rehydrate you and restore your electrolyte balance. A splash in the ocean always helps me, too.
• Anti-diarrhea medicine – Actually, I’ve had only a couple of problems with the food or water here. In both cases, it was my fault for eating very suspect food. But better safe than sorry, no?
• A copy of Cristiano’s award-winning Rio For Partiers guide book. It is packed not only with tons of valuable information, but also hundreds of dollars worth of coupons. You can pick up a copy on Amazon, or check the bookstores here in Rio upon arrival.

See you here soon!

Rio For Partiers travel guide to Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Or visit www.RioForPartiers.com

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