General Info

[Hughdad]

TAM and GOL are the two major companies for domestic air travel inside Brazil.

GOL: A good news is that they now accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online. Excellent! It also very good that all of you who still have points with Smiles (Varig) can use them for exchange for tickets with GOL.

TAM: TAM is strange. They only accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online as long as it's done on their website as "outside Brazil". Those prices are much more expensive than if you buy your ticket on their website as "inside Brazil". At least 50% more expensive.

To get their "national prices" you'll need a CPF (which I can find reasonable) and also a brazilian credit card.

I got pissed of and called TAM. They explained that it's supposed to be cheaper for brazilians to buy their tickets, than it's for gringos. Weird!

I've noted that in general the prices on air tickets within Brazil is considerable cheaper than one year ago.

There is a third major domestic airline in Brazil now, Azul (see: http://viajemais. Voeazul. Com. Br/). It was started by David Needleman and the original JetBlue folks (from the US). They basically took over the Campinhas International Airport as their hub in Brazil. About an hour to 75 minutes from GRU. Until they arrived the airport was mostly cargo (it is the largest carga airport in Brazil). They fly all over Brazil. They use the SD airport in Rio so you are closer to Centro. GOL started adding discount service from the Campinhas airport now to stay competitive. Campinhas is close to my MG home and it is very convenient to get in and out of there. Small modern airport. R$8, 20 minute shuttle bus service from the Rodovario in Centro Campinhas. They also fly direct from Rio to several locations.

Azul has an Advantage program (like GOL) and you get a free flight after so many. I have been paying R$60 one way from Campinhas to Rio, and Rio to Curitiba is listed as R$129 on a quick search. The closer to your date, the capacity drys up and prices increase.

I have been able to make reservations on both Azul and Gol (they both have English sepaking assistance but go through the numbers listed on their .com.br websites) and then pay at the airport 1 & 1/2 hours beforehand. I have also been able to use a US credit card on phone and web reservations. But could not do the multiple payment arrangement they offer Brazilians. US credit cards don't support that. Now I use a friend's credit card here and she gets to make 6 payments without interest. I just give her the R$ upfront and she books for me.

Azul is a great airline and they are creating a pricing war here with GOL and TAM. They are trying to get more Brazilians to fly (over 95% traveling mostly by bus).

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[Sperto]

I went to the Varig office here in the states and tried to purchase a one way ticket from Rio to Curitiba, they wanted $275 bucks!! I was like WTF?!!! I had a brasilian friend call Varig in brasil and got the same exact flight for only 140R!!

A big difference indeed.
The next time you can buy the ticket at the low price from the states, on GOL website (GOL owns Varig), and pay with your credit card.
http://www.voegol.com.br

[Bravo]

TAM: TAM is strange. They only accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online as long as it's done on their website as "outside Brazil". Those prices are much more expensive than if you buy your ticket on their website as "inside Brazil". At least 50% more expensive.

To get their "national prices" you'll need a CPF (which I can find reasonable) and also a brazilian credit card.
I got pissed of and called TAM. They explained that it's supposed to be cheaper for brazilians to buy their tickets, than it's for gringos. Weird!

I've noted that in general the prices on air tickets within Brazil is considerable cheaper than one year ago.

I went to the Varig office here in the states and tried to purchase a one way ticket from Rio to Curitiba, they wanted $275 bucks!! I was like WTF?!!! I had a brasilian friend call Varig in brasil and got the same exact flight for only 140R!!

[Sperto]

TAM and GOL are the two major companies for domestic air travel inside Brazil.

GOL: A good news is that they now accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online. Excellent! It also very good that all of you who still have points with Smiles (Varig) can use them for exchange for tickets with GOL.

TAM: TAM is strange. They only accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online as long as it's done on their website as "outside Brazil". Those prices are much more expensive than if you buy your ticket on their website as "inside Brazil". At least 50% more expensive.

To get their "national prices" you'll need a CPF (which I can find reasonable) and also a brazilian credit card.
I got pissed of and called TAM. They explained that it's supposed to be cheaper for brazilians to buy their tickets, than it's for gringos. Weird!

I've noted that in general the prices on air tickets within Brazil is considerable cheaper than one year ago.

[Hughdad]

I have never been stopped at customs. They DO know what is in your bag, I now realize, because on my last return the airline people specifically asked of I had any alcohol in the bag. I am sure they have it listed somewhere that I usually carry whiskey in my checked baggage.

TJ

They also have it listed whether you like your martinis shaken or stirred. More important than security measures to them.

[Poucolouco]

I have never been stopped at customs. They DO know what is in your bag, I now realize, because on my last return the airline people specifically asked of I had any alcohol in the bag. I am sure they have it listed somewhere that I usually carry whiskey in my checked baggage.
TJ

Gee, I always thought when the airline screeners asked if I had alcohol in my bags they were screening for flammable liquids. Do you suppose they have a record of my drinking habits?

[Golfinho]

I always take packaged foods and goods with me into Brazil. Usually I have canned luncheon meat, whiskey, peanut butter (it is said that Americans always crave peanut butter once they are away for awhile), and plastic silverware.

I have never been stopped at customs. They DO know what is in your bag, I now realize, because on my last return the airline people specifically asked of I had any alcohol in the bag. I am sure they have it listed somewhere that I usually carry whiskey in my checked baggage.

You can buy most food you would want in grocery stores in Rio. But some things just do not taste the same.

TJ

The Snickers don't taste the same. Neither do the peanut m&m's. Different nuts.

[Sunset Strip]

I've tried searching, but I can't find an answer. Can I bring packaged foods (sealed) into Brazil, like cereal, peanut butter or nuts?

I always take packaged foods and goods with me into Brazil. Usually I have canned luncheon meat, whiskey, peanut butter (it is said that Americans always crave peanut butter once they are away for awhile), and plastic silverware.

I have never been stopped at customs. They DO know what is in your bag, I now realize, because on my last return the airline people specifically asked of I had any alcohol in the bag. I am sure they have it listed somewhere that I usually carry whiskey in my checked baggage.

You can buy most food you would want in grocery stores in Rio. But some things just do not taste the same.

TJ

[Hughdad]

I've tried searching, but I can't find an answer. Can I bring packaged foods (sealed) into Brazil, like cereal, peanut butter or nuts?

I have brought in cereal, pancake mix and syrup, peanut butter, green tea mix on several occassions. They were in a 70 lb duffle bag. I made pancakes for some GDP morning guests I had one time and they loved them! And Arizona Iced Tea now makes a sugar free Pomegranate Green Tea mix that they love as well.

I had no problems bringing these in but they were in checked 70 lb duffle bags. Most people don't know you can bring in 70 lb bags from the US. Not 50 lb (check with your airline though.)

I also used a cargo shipping service to ship down small appliances, kitchen items, etc. Paid a flat fee by box size. Takes at least 2 months for it get to Brazil and clear customs. They combine with other shipments. Limitations on how many of certain items you can have and how they have to be packed (out of original boxes to make resale tougher.) I shipped 2 big boxes to a friend's (total of nearly 300 lbs) ahead of this trip for $650 US and they were there waiting when I visited her. Everything I need to help set up a place. I focused on things they (really) overcharge for here: pots and pans and kitchen utensils, good pillows/sheets and blankets (which I used one of those air bag storage devices to suck out all the air so everything is really flat and took up much less room. Also better protected in shipping), small appliances and electronics (ipod port system, fans, juicer, food processor, etc.) I needed to buy a simple hand can opener last time and paid R$19. I realized they charge a fortune for that stuff here.

I have found a peanut butter in stores here now (Magic Time). Creamy and Chunky. Like Skippy. But R$16 for a small jar. They also have lots of green tea mixes now too. My question is. Why is ice cream so damn expensive in supermarkets here? They have tons of cow farms, tons of sugar. I stay away from buying frozen ice cream in stores and treat myself to a large soft serve sorvette waffle cone for R$1. 30 at a local palce instead. Beats the hell out of that small bland cosqinha (sp?) you get at Mickey D's for R$1.50.

[The Watcher]

I've tried searching, but I can't find an answer. Can I bring packaged foods (sealed) into Brazil, like cereal, peanut butter or nuts?

I have brought peanut butter for an American friend who lives in Rio and I have brought pretzels for Bobby of Blame It on Rio with no problems; however, in each case, this was several years ago. Recently, I know of an American who brings a suitcase full of packaged food with no problems.

[Cho 637]

i have brought in packaged foods in both my carry on and checked baggage. have never had an issue or question.

i brought some canned tuna in once and it was confirep001ed by customs. however they didn't bother 2 half gallons of apple pucker!

[Cho 637]

Check out Filhos do Carnaval.

http://hbo-br.tv/series.asp

Anyone know if its available on DVD?

[KellySlater]

I've tried searching, but I can't find an answer. Can I bring packaged foods (sealed) into Brazil, like cereal, peanut butter or nuts?

I have brought in packaged foods in both my carry on and checked baggage. Have never had an issue or question.

[Amerioca]

Do the apartment buildings have back up generators?

No, most do not. The Homeowner Associations are too cheap to buy them.

[Bravo]

Do the apartment buildings have back up generators? I was having a conversation last night with a friend and I said. "Imagine if you were stuck in an elevator when the power went out? No air conditioning, no bathroom, no water!!" From what I had been hearing, Rio has been brutaly hot the past week of so. I think I would have had a stroke if I had been stuck in the elevator for an extended period of time.