Rio de Janeiro Reports

[LoveLongTime]

You do not need a CPF# as a tourist to get a SIM Card. All you need is a unlocked phone and your passport (in most cases).

You can get a SIM Card directly from respective TIM, Vivo, Claro, Oi Stores. And yes you were given correct information regarding going to Rio Sul Mall and going to respective store to get Sim Card. Rio Sul Mall has been my one stop place to get SIM Card and have Never had a problem doing so, they deal with Tourist every day. I forget one of the carriers have shops on two floors only one will process for tourist.

Unless you specifically need a Brazilian phone number (for some reason) I would search the internet, there are options to get a SIM card that works internationally (voice/text/data) and never need a local SIM. In most cases you really only need data or access to Wi-Fi because you can communicate in country via WhatsApp or other internet / Wi-Fi enabled app. Unless you know Portuguese fluently or who your speaking to speaks your respective language you will Never have a Phone-Voice conversation...

Thanks, I went to the vivo store in the center of copa. Lady told me she could not help me. I will just go to Rio Sul next time. It was nice having my new phone that isn't unlocked yet but was concerning carrying around a $1200 phone.

[FlcnHvy]

Can anyone recommend something in these areas. I want to hit up Transamerica, what is the nightly rate there? They seem to be juicing the price on the booking sites.

[Bravo]

Pestana was ok. I stayed in side balcony room first few nights. Everything was clean and worked but the balcony was tiny. Not enough room for even a chair. Amazing view from the 12th floor though. My last night I stayed in the top tier room with full balcony. It was very nice and the balcony was huge. This room was on the 3rd floor. View not as amazing but the extra room was worth it. Got BBBJ on balcony then moved to coffee table.

They gave you a ocean front balcony room on the 3rd floor? WTF? I would have marched right back downstairs and let them know I want to be on 10 or higher! That's the only reason why we would pay for a ocean front room is to have the amazing view!

[Anaggie]

If you have a dual sim phone, you can download an app called "Airalo" where you can buy country specific eSims for high speed data coverage.

I used it in Brazil last time I was there and it cost $9 USD 7 days with a 1 GB limit. You can top up once you run out and it is very easy to use.

They now have a global sim feature so you don't have to buy country specific ones.

[Sperto]

A foreigner can get a SIM card, but you need to get it from an authorized shop, not reseller. Meaning if you want a Vivo card, you have to go to a Vivo shop.

Nope.

From my experience tourist can only buy a sim card from the Rio Sul Shopping Mall. Phone shops and even the street sellers refuse to sell tourists sim cards.

Nope.

No need for buying your SIM card at Rio Sul or a e.g a TIM/Vivo shop. You can buy your SIM card at a reseller, Lojas Americanas, many pharmacies or from a street seller (btw the TIM/Vivo shops often are out of stock of their SIM cards and recommend you to get them somewhere else).
As said before, no need for a CPF.

If I feel lazy I buy my SIM card at Lojas Americanas and let the TIM guy/girl activate it in the store. Otherwise I just buy the SIM card and activate it when I get home by calling TIM/Vivo. If you happens to have a CPF it's very quick to activate your SIM card by calling TIM/Vivo. If you don't have a CPF (or doesn't want to give your CPF number) you'll have to speak with one of the staff, explaining that you're a tourist and have no CPF. This can be solved very smoothly by phone, or it can be time and patience wasting if you doesn't speak portuguese or are onlucky to speak with one of dumb ones (both TIM and Vivo have quite a few really dumb ones attending).

I never tried a tourist SIM card. I've just bought regular SIM card and they works just fine. Personally I prefer to use TIM in Rio. However, in some parts of Brazil TIM works very badly and you might want a VIVO.

[SAS40]

I appreciate your input, as I have stated repeatedly I only tipped those that went above and beyond. I tipped those that discussed things with me about the lockdown they had and the effects. Tourist numbers are way down. Everyone on my flight down and back had a full row to themselves. As far as shitting on anyone I asked advice from no one. I RTFF for guidance yes but am also contributing as much as I can. As I do when I venture out and report on my local forum. I apologize if I offended you. Tips are like experiences ymmv. The ladies surely understand the same. If not and you feel it's your place to put them in line feel free to do so. Thanks, have a good day.

Sorry, should have added it wasn't directed to anyone personal, more a general opinion. The subject comes up every so often.

Have a nice trip!

[Java Man]

T-Mobile, best carrier for international travel, travel without roaming fees. The plans gives you unlimited 2 G data at no extra cost. Calls to local calls are 25 cents / min. Unlimited texting too. You can get faster data speeds but its $5/ day. I'll get local sim for Data / internet when I need faster Data speed, as its cheaper. Works in over 210 countries. They've added a new change to their TOS: "Not for extended international use; you must reside in the US and primary usage must occur on our US network. Device must register on our US network before international use. Service may be terminated or restricted for excessive roaming. " I'm currently stuck outside the US due to the Corona. I'm mostly connected to a local wifi, so I should be ok.

[Mamba69]

You do not need a CPF# as a tourist to get a SIM Card. All you need is a unlocked phone and your passport (in most cases).

You can get a SIM Card directly from respective TIM, Vivo, Claro, Oi Stores. And yes you were given correct information regarding going to Rio Sul Mall and going to respective store to get Sim Card. Rio Sul Mall has been my one stop place to get SIM Card and have Never had a problem doing so, they deal with Tourist every day. I forget one of the carriers have shops on two floors only one will process for tourist.

Unless you specifically need a Brazilian phone number (for some reason) I would search the internet, there are options to get a SIM card that works internationally (voice/text/data) and never need a local SIM. In most cases you really only need data or access to Wi-Fi because you can communicate in country via WhatsApp or other internet / Wi-Fi enabled app. Unless you know Portuguese fluently or who your speaking to speaks your respective language you will Never have a Phone-Voice conversation.



Better options there are......

Thanks gents for clarifying and setting me straight on the cell phone set up options and you are correct in that all I really need is WiFi to access that Whatsapp, maps, and Google translate to order in pizza hut, I mean Punta Pie to room.

Appreciate the hotel info.

Any recommendations on a sports bar that has a good array of Tv's to watch USA football and the master's etc.

King V. Does that Transamerica have a bar with Tv's as I'm sure some halftime hyjinx would be easy with all the talent around.

Wheels up. Cheers.

[The Cane]

Thanks to those of you who took the time to correct and clarify incorrect information, versus just saying that something written here was wrong, and then leaving it at that. That doesn't help or serve anybody (I know something you don't).

[UniversalX]

In Brazil you must have a consumer # to get a cell plan. You will need a local or someone generous enough to let them use their cpf #. I asked at several places in copa no luck. I was advised to go to mall in Botofogo, Rio sul mall or something to that effect.

You do not need a CPF# as a tourist to get a SIM Card. All you need is a unlocked phone and your passport (in most cases).

You can get a SIM Card directly from respective TIM, Vivo, Claro, Oi Stores. And yes you were given correct information regarding going to Rio Sul Mall and going to respective store to get Sim Card. Rio Sul Mall has been my one stop place to get SIM Card and have Never had a problem doing so, they deal with Tourist every day. I forget one of the carriers have shops on two floors only one will process for tourist.

Unless you specifically need a Brazilian phone number (for some reason) I would search the internet, there are options to get a SIM card that works internationally (voice/text/data) and never need a local SIM. In most cases you really only need data or access to Wi-Fi because you can communicate in country via WhatsApp or other internet / Wi-Fi enabled app. Unless you know Portuguese fluently or who your speaking to speaks your respective language you will Never have a Phone-Voice conversation.

.....decided to just pay AT&T $10 a day for international roaming plan. Same plan as at home, was connected to vivo most of the time.

Better options there are......

[ThatDudeThere]

From my experience tourist can only buy a sim card from the Rio Sul Shopping Mall. Phone shops and even the street sellers refuse to sell tourists sim cards. That was my experience early this year.

You can get this type of info from TA or just Google searching.

This is correct. I arrived to Rio 3 days ago, asked the hotel reception how to get a SIM card and they directed me to the Sul mol, I went to Tim and they gave me a sim without any issue.

[Jingo10]

From my experience tourist can only buy a sim card from the Rio Sul Shopping Mall. Phone shops and even the street sellers refuse to sell tourists sim cards. That was my experience early this year.

You can get this type of info from TA or just Google searching.

[Xpartan]

In Brazil you must have a consumer # to get a cell plan. You will need a local or someone generous enough to let them use their cpf #. I asked at several places in copa no luck. I was advised to go to mall in Botofogo, Rio sul mall or something to that effect, but decided to just pay AT&T $10 a day for international roaming plan. Same plan as at home, was connected to vivo most of the time.

A foreigner can get a SIM card, but you need to get it from an authorized shop, not reseller. Meaning if you want a Vivo card, you have to go to a Vivo shop. Same with Tim or Claro. For Rio it doesn't really matter, but I once found myself in Lensois Maranhenses with a Tim card. Never had a single bar. That's a Vivo country, and no way to get a SIM card from resellers without a CPF number.

[Sperto]

In Brazil you must have a consumer # to get a cell plan. You will need a local or someone generous enough to let them use their cpf #.

Incorrect information.
I noticed there are a lot of misinformation given the last months in the forum, propably because of all the newbies who are tring out Brazil. It's a good idea to do a forum search if you're unsure about an issue.

[FlcnHvy]

In Brazil you must have a consumer # to get a cell plan. You will need a local or someone generous enough to let them use their cpf #. I asked at several places in copa no luck. I was advised to go to mall in Botofogo, Rio sul mall or something to that effect, but decided to just pay AT&T $10 a day for international roaming plan. Same plan as at home, was connected to vivo most of the time.

Bought Sim Card from anywhere (lojas, some pharmacies etc.). It doesn't work, you need to activate it. You do that by going to the Claro Store. There is one in Ipanema road at are. Visc. De Pirajá, 217. Any types of these shops will do it for ya. It took 2 minutes once inside this office, after waiting about 10 min outside (covid capacity).

Anyhow, it's very simple, did not need CPF etc. Only passport (or I think ID).

FH.