Thread: Rio de Janeiro Reports
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03-22-24 16:10 #29832
Posts: 2025Originally Posted by CCRider1008 [View Original Post]
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03-22-24 05:16 #29831
Posts: 269BR Entry
Originally Posted by JohnnyWalker55 [View Original Post]
Copa Airlines is great if in your or you can still search requirements w them. On the bottom left on their main page (https://www.copaair.com/en-us/) they have a "check your travel requirement" page where you can verify what you must have to enter Brazil. And yes that Yellow Fever vaccine section is on there and their answer is no. I searched and used them since they are correct on the E-Visa requirement that will be effective on 4/10/24 for US / CA residents whereas Avianca as the wrong date and had to ditch them LOL. Kudos to Copa!
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03-22-24 05:13 #29830
Posts: 1956Originally Posted by Vagabundo1 [View Original Post]
I'll take one for all Zohans out there by asking how much time this approach would save me. Specifically, there are two home bases I love to stay at when in Rio: Hyatt in Barra and Hilton in Leme. The first is 10 minutes away from Barra Shopping, the second is 5 minutes away from Rio Sul. Getting a sim card at either mall can take 1-2 hours depending on the crowds and TIM employee's level of ignorance, but you'll get it guaranteed.
Now Uruguaina. Commuting from Barra simply for a Sim card is just ridiculous. The trip from Hilton (if that's my first stop) is doable and will take 1-1. 5 hours RT depending on the traffic.
Of course, if you're going to Centro anyway for an architectural tour of its downtown buildings with their magnificent antique elevator systems, that's another matter entirely. The old, lazy me, however, balks at the prospect of long commutes on his first day in Rio after the 10-15 HR redeye. I'd rather take it easy -- with my phone fully functional.
Meaning: I either come here with a prepaid 1 G eSim card that would be more than enough for the first 1-3 days until I decide it's time for Centro. This card will cost me $10 (not reais), but to me it's worth the peace of mind. Or, I'll go to the nearby shopping mall even before I unpack to get this dreadful chore taken care of.
Zohan out.
Originally Posted by NiteRiderCal [View Original Post]
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03-22-24 04:53 #29829
Posts: 269Omw
Boots on the ground in few days, looking into Rio's smaller town Juiz de Fora although I may change my mind last min. Never been there but seems cozy and got a sweet luxury condo deal at normal pricing. Trying to stay away from party towns since I'll likely camp out 6 mo or longer. Any intel anyone can offer on that town let me know please in terms of P4P spots etc.
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03-22-24 01:36 #29828
Posts: 1077Card Fees and nuances
Originally Posted by NiteRiderCal [View Original Post]
You say you only take one card with you? I'd rethink that, specifically think about what you would do if you lost that one card you have.
There are only major two banks that take overseas cards: Santander and Bradesco. The commission is now 10% and 11%, up from 8% last year. Not good.
Itau, Banco do Brasil and God forbid, Caixa ATMs don't accept foreign cards, though someone told me Itau resumed handling foreign cards, an expat German woman told me it didn't.
Here in Porto Alegro, the main bank is Banrisul, and it has its own proprietary network. It doesn't take foreign cards, nor much of anything else. To make matters worse for the locals, not all merchants use the Banrisul network, you will see signs at businesses indicating it's not a payment option. The last GP I paid here with a CC, asked me what card I had. She accepted the Cap 1 Visa, but no Banrisul debit cards, nope. On that note, since the Schwab debit card got nicked, I've been able to use the Cap 1 Visa and acquire MILES through every sex provider. Prives, "escorts" and massage therapists accept Visa with a 8 to 10 reais surcharge. Still cheaper than all the fees that come with withdrawing cash from an ATM, if you don't have a card that reimburses the fees (like the Schwab bank card).
The Banco 24 Horas ATMs have a commission of 14%, so avoid them at all cost. Sadly, those are often the most convenient ATMs, as you will find them in Metro stations and grocery stores. And when the other bank ATMs don't work, theirs do. And those two banks have frequent network problems, which might have you going from on place to another.
Commissions on transactions with overseas cards are now up to 16% , which is displayed on the card reader, often to the amazement of the cashier, who is not familiar with all the extra screens that are generated when a foreign card goes through the reader. I recall my other lost cards, adjusted those fees.
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03-22-24 00:25 #29827
Posts: 2710Capital One
Originally Posted by NiteRiderCal [View Original Post]
P.S. They pay like 5% on savings so I keep all my girl money there and just transfer a few K to checking when I am going on a trip.
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03-22-24 00:11 #29826
Posts: 3341Originally Posted by Nounce [View Original Post]
I don't know how active the Chileans and Argentines are in our hobby.
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03-21-24 22:57 #29825
Posts: 2933Originally Posted by Steve9696 [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 20:41 #29824
Posts: 4053Originally Posted by CCRider1008 [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 20:41 #29823
Posts: 714Originally Posted by Steve9696 [View Original Post]
But what Ido know is that the only additional card I need to bring on a trip, after my favorite CC's, to avoid bringing gobs of $$$ cash, is a zero fee ATM card like the Schwab debit card which reimburses the card holder at the end of the month for all ATM fees and bank charges incurred for withdrawals in local currency ie Brazilian, in this example.
There is another free, no fee, ATM cash withdrawal debit card issued by Needham Bank. I tried it out on my last trip and it worked just fine, so I will use it again as a backup, emergency debit card in the case something should happen to my Schwab debit card. No minimum balance is required with a Needham Bank checking account. Just set the up a checking account online and Zelle some money into the new account. I have around $100 sitting in it now, but I will move $500 into it before I fly to SP. It is for backup. I am only going to bring $500-$700 cash on my next 6 week trip. Pre Schwab, I used to bring soooo much cash with me on a 10 to 12 week trip to Thailand, Jakarta, Phnom, Macau it was insane. KKK, but I never got ripped off.
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03-21-24 19:08 #29822
Posts: 171Originally Posted by Xpartan [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 17:59 #29821
Posts: 2710Revolut
Originally Posted by NiteRiderCal [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 17:59 #29820
Posts: 53Originally Posted by Steve9696 [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 16:46 #29819
Posts: 2246As I have written a lot here, you just go to Central train station, and there are many people selling TIM, CLARO, VIVO chips, registered (cadastra), meaning you don't need a CPF, you just need as little as 10 reais.
OK, so then all you Zohan's out there can get on the phone with someone in say, Israel, or Colombia, or Russia and register a zap for them remotely, and they can for you. If you don't understand that, well, we have a saying in the Swiss Navy, life is hard, but it is harder if you're stupid.
So.
Then.
You are sitting in Colombia or Tel Aviv or Moscow, and you start messaging the girls in Rio with a DDD 21 whatsapp, and you get local rates.
Originally Posted by Xpartan [View Original Post]
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03-21-24 16:37 #29818
Posts: 68Anyone knows hotels in Sao Paulo where you can meet working girls like Fairmont in Rio?