Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Nounce]

You have described an ongoing problem in Brazil. Nobody has change.

I once paid for a 4 reais product with a 5 reais bill. The cashier asked if I had something smaller.

That is a common problem in some countries. Even when they have changes, you have to worry about fake bills. It is always a good idea to carry some changes for some unexpected situations. In Salvador, it costs are $0. 1 to take the Lacerda Elevator between high city and low city so it is better to have very small change for that. Or like in Rio, if you take pictures of the sand castle on the beach without knowing that the artist expecting to be paid, then you will have a minor inconvenience if you don't have small bills.

Yesterday, I got a WhatsApp message from a store that I rented water sport gear from. I paid about are $2000 but I only used a fraction of it and I have already left. The store offered to extend for another 3 months for me without me mentioning anything.

Also this,

I took the wrong bus in Salvador around 9 PM from the central station in Lapa, I did not know it was one of the most dangerous cities. ..

Brazil is a large country. It's almost like there are several countries in Brazil so I don't see generalization is fair. I am in the south now where the cars will stop for me to cross the street. I am not used to it.

[BartSimpson5]

Hi guys, I ve read over 50 Pages and I have made a list of what (I think) Top places with girls are in Rio:

4 x4.

Centaurus.

Monte Carlo.

Solarium.

RJMassagem.

Would You add / remove something? I will be in Rio for 2 weeks and I would like to visit all Top places.

[Explorer8939]

All travel prior to January 9 2024 will be visa free. Starting January 10 2024, citizens of USA, Canada, and Australia will need to apply for a visa to enter Brazil.

The original date was supposed to be around September or October 2023 but the ministry was dragging their feet so the start date got moved back.

Don't preclude the possibility that the visa implementation date will be delayed again.

[Sperto]

Better watch Cangao Novo https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27208330/.

Thanks for the recommendation. Cangaço Novo is a nice serial in. I love the nordeste settings. A movie with similar setting is Bacurau.

[CenTexCrash]

Hello just had a quick question as I'm looking to travel to rio mid November from the US. Was poking around online and saw some mixed reports about visa's. Does anyone know if US citizens are required to have a visa in specific Nov. 2023 or does this requirement take place in Jan. 2024. Saw several sites online all saying different things. I did see on the gov sites which state Jan. 2024 but just want to be sure before booking. Anyone going to be in rib during that time Nov. 2023 lmk would love to meet up as well!

All travel prior to January 9 2024 will be visa free. Starting January 10 2024, citizens of USA, Canada, and Australia will need to apply for a visa to enter Brazil.

The original date was supposed to be around September or October 2023 but the ministry was dragging their feet so the start date got moved back.

[Explorer8939]

Regarding the annoying problem paying with cash and the cashier not having change. In Brazil I always pay everything with cash and never pay with my card. In this way I avoid card scams and paying with cash often allows discounts. At least the last 32 years Brazil always had problems with change. In some ways it's getting worse as many people pay with cards or PIX. The only easy solution is that I have enough small change. So how do you stack up on small change? One way is to enter a bank and kindly ask for changing large bills to small change. Another way is to pay smaller amounts with large bills in places that receives a lot of customers, like kilo restaurants or Lojas Americanas. When I travel I always have about 1500 reais in banknotes with value 2, 5, 10 and 20.

You have described an ongoing problem in Brazil. Nobody has change.

I once paid for a 4 reais product with a 5 reais bill. The cashier asked if I had something smaller.

[Vagabundo1]

AB SO LUTELY!

Completely true.

These people are like prehistoric. I hate hate hate the stupid rules.

No one here has any fucking change. Why? Brazilians are all thieves.

The ***** ass poor fucks are always lusting after your change like it is pure fucking gold.

Because they are so poor.

Pathetic.

I treat them all with respect. I'm very friendly pleasant and respectful.

Its the way they do business. Theres no structure and organization, you hand them a 100 real bill and they look dumbfounded like "Oh we never prepared for this contingency".

A week or so ago some idiot basically begged me to use a credit or debit card instead of cash.

A few weeks ago it took some girl literally 15 minutes to ring up a few cans of dog food.

I order an uber and on several occasions the driver has sent me 7 messages before arriving.

Dude just shut the fuck up and come pick me up you morons.

[Sperto]

This apply large establishments like a grocery store too? If so that's sad. Why do you think they overcharge? Tourist will be back home before they catch it so fuck it or they try this with anyone?

Calm down. I didn't mention overcharge. My brain is like a supercomputer and nobody manages to overcharge me. Many gringos are "burros" and they are easy to overcharge.

[AlecBrwn]

Hello just had a quick question as I'm looking to travel to rio mid November from the US. Was poking around online and saw some mixed reports about visa's. Does anyone know if US citizens are required to have a visa in specific Nov. 2023 or does this requirement take place in Jan. 2024. Saw several sites online all saying different things. I did see on the gov sites which state Jan. 2024 but just want to be sure before booking. Anyone going to be in rib during that time Nov. 2023 lmk would love to meet up as well!

[World Jockey]

Regarding the annoying problem paying with cash and the cashier not having change. In Brazil I always pay everything with cash and never pay with my card. .

This apply large establishments like a grocery store too? If so that's sad. Why do you think they overcharge? Tourist will be back home before they catch it so fuck it or they try this with anyone?

I did a tap to pay in cdmx recently and guy behind the counter said it didn't take. I did it again and he was like now it took. Cap1 notified me I may have had a duplicate charge. Quick dispute and it fell off but now I'm less quick to tap.

[World Jockey]

I order an uber and on several occasions the driver has sent me 7 messages before arriving.

Dude just shut the fuck up and come pick me up you morons.

This. OMFG why? They either call or text repeatedly. And once I get in they ask a few times if I am indeed going to the address I entered into uber.

I understand if a confusing address but this is usually not the case. Its almost like they are not comfortable with or don't entirely trust the tech.

As Mr Ent stated I basically chalk it up to being something that happens outside of the western world.

[Lalabo]

I went to the airport about 4 hours before the flight. I ended up barely made it, and then the flight was delayed. LOL.

What happened was the airline employees led those customers that were late to skip the lines. The closer it was to my flight time, the worst it got. When I was second or 3rd in line. The group that skipped the line got bigger. This was about two and a half hour waiting in line. The lady with her kids that was in front of me could not take it anymore because the line had not moved for more than half an hour. She exploded, started screaming at the airline employee. By the time I reached the gate, the flight was delayed. LOL I was not surprised.

I had a similar delay once for less an hour or so. I thought what is the point of coming early to the airport when you could come at the last minute and go before everyone else. Encouraging late arrivals is very very stupid.

During my recent trip, I had only a backpack and was the 2nd person in the line to board LATAM flight from CGH to SDU, the employee at the gate asked all the folks with small / personal item to form a separate line and let everyone with carry-ONS get on board. We were the last one to board which was stupid. I understand they want to have people with carry-ONS to use the overhead luggage storage but forcing those with personal item to board last is not a best way to handle it. Even in this case there is no incentive for arriving early and being in the line first. Chalk them as only in Brazil!

[Lalabo]

Regarding the annoying problem paying with cash and the cashier not having change. In Brazil I always pay everything with cash and never pay with my card. In this way I avoid card scams and paying with cash often allows discounts. At least the last 32 years Brazil always had problems with change. In some ways it's getting worse as many people pay with cards or PIX. The only easy solution is that I have enough small change. So how do you stack up on small change? One way is to enter a bank and kindly ask for changing large bills to small change. Another way is to pay smaller amounts with large bills in places that receives a lot of customers, like kilo restaurants or Lojas Americanas. When I travel I always have about 1500 reais in banknotes with value 2, 5, 10 and 20.

One of the food court places in Ibirapuera mall in SP charged my card 400 reals for a 25 real purchase. I have disputed the change with the Bank and got the money back but I had to wait for few months as I didn't provide a bill. Since then I mostly use cash and use card very sparingly. For the most part Brazilian businesses have not problem accepting cash and return exact change, having smaller denominations like 10's, 20's etc. Definitely helps. I don't think a small business would be happy to give change for 100/200 real bill for a very small purchase. I have occasionally encountered businesses annoyed to deal with cash and return change back.

[Sperto]

Regarding the annoying problem paying with cash and the cashier not having change. In Brazil I always pay everything with cash and never pay with my card. In this way I avoid card scams and paying with cash often allows discounts. At least the last 32 years Brazil always had problems with change. In some ways it's getting worse as many people pay with cards or PIX. The only easy solution is that I have enough small change. So how do you stack up on small change? One way is to enter a bank and kindly ask for changing large bills to small change. Another way is to pay smaller amounts with large bills in places that receives a lot of customers, like kilo restaurants or Lojas Americanas. When I travel I always have about 1500 reais in banknotes with value 2, 5, 10 and 20.

[Nounce]

The more you travel, the more you realize this is just how it is in third world countries. ...

I went to the airport about 4 hours before the flight. I ended up barely made it, and then the flight was delayed. LOL.

What happened was the airline employees led those customers that were late to skip the lines. The closer it was to my flight time, the worst it got. When I was second or 3rd in line. The group that skipped the line got bigger. This was about two and a half hour waiting in line. The lady with her kids that was in front of me could not take it anymore because the line had not moved for more than half an hour. She exploded, started screaming at the airline employee. By the time I reached the gate, the flight was delayed. LOL I was not surprised.