General Info

[QUOTE=ShooBree;3087211]No second round needed, Bolsonaro is over 50% in the first round! Bolsonaro is back in office!

Free Jair![/QUOTE]It seems you made a mistake, there will be a second one.

[QUOTE=ShooBree;3087211]No second round needed, Bolsonaro is over 50% in the first round! Bolsonaro is back in office!

Free Jair![/QUOTE]Well, unfortunately for us, the Real seems to like that news. We'll see what happens in the run-off.

[QUOTE=Combo;3087571]Well, unfortunately for us, the Real seems to like that news. We'll see what happens in the run-off.[/QUOTE]Lula might still do something to try and win; Lula is a communist, he'll try to win no matter what.

Hi all, new form member here. I wanted to share my experience in Brazil, coming back after a couple years. I focused on the Northeast region because the weather is much better during the Florida summer period from June-September, when I'm able to travel. A couple years ago, I was in Jericoacoara and enjoyed it so I thought it would be a good idea to return there for my first stop.

Fortaleza I don't find to be a pleasant city at all. I had to fly in there to get to Jericoacoara, and the four hour plus drive was more of a hassle than I remembered last time. The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Jeri was that obesity seemed to be a bigger issue, and the majority of women I saw there were not fit. Cumbuco had many more attractive women, because there are more kitesurfers there and in order to practice that sport, you have to be really fit. Looking back on it, I would have rather just spent the weekend in Cumbuco at this place called Duro Beach Hotel. There isn't much of anything in the town, but that hotel was nice and had the best looking women, although a lot of them were probably foreigners.

I moved onto Pipa, which also had attractive girls, many foreigners, but I didn't like the atmosphere there at all. Many irritating "digital nomad" types. During this trip, I began picking up on the fact that most of the fit and attractive Brazilian girls tended to be tourists from places like Florianopolis, Rio or Sao Paulo. Generally I think the South has better looking women, which has been remarked on by others as well.

I went to Natal after that, which was horrible, I don't recommend it at all. Certainly I would say skip Natal and Fortaleza and if you're going to cities in the Northeast, stick with Salvador and Maceio. Maceio didn't have the best looking girls, but they were very interested in me being a white foreigner because there were barely any gringos there. Therefore it was much easier to pick up normal girls than the tourist places.

Rising obesity seems to be a real issue here and I noticed the places with the most attractive women (Cumbuco, Pipa), had more athletes and tourists from the South. I didn't return to Salvador this time but I wouldn't say it was a great mongering place, just an interesting city to visit because of the unique Afro-Brazilian culture.

On my way out I visited Canoa Quebrada, which I found horrible. Wouldn't recommend that place. Recife and Joao Pessoa can be skipped as well in my opinion.

[QUOTE=Pascoal2000;3087989]Lula might still do something to try and win; Lula is a communist, he'll try to win no matter what.[/QUOTE]Hopefully any ISG members who had some idealistic attachment to Lula, now understand the craziness.

If you have any Brazilian friends of any means, you will realize how much they hate Lula.

They're just use to corruption and incompetence.

I am not new to Brasil but had a situation this year where I accumulated a bit of cash. Legal of course. My thought was to bring just under 10,000 USD to Brasil on my next trip because I am planning to stay at least 3 months, convert it to reais as I needed it. I knew under 10 K was ok in the US. I decided to research and was shocked to learn that Brasil requires you to declare cash above 10,000 reais when entering the country. This is cumulation of all cash and travelers checks etc. I know I have had more than that with me on several trips but if caught they can confiscate everything above the 10 K and fine you heavily! I guess I was lucky the times I went in with more cash on me. I would not worry about it but a friend who has been traveling there since 2005 has had customs pull him aside and go through his bags at least 4 times. If you declare it it is ok but you have to disclose the source of the cash and what it is for. Being for tourism etc. Is supposedly ok.

What I have decided is to bring just under 10000 reais and use debit cards to withdraw cash from atms. With two debit cards from different banks I can withdraw 4000 reais per day.

Anybody else have input or experiences with this?

[QUOTE=WonderWhy;3088944]I am not new to Brasil but had a situation this year where I accumulated a bit of cash. Legal of course. My thought was to bring just under 10,000 USD to Brasil on my next trip because I am planning to stay at least 3 months, convert it to reais as I needed it. I knew under 10 K was ok in the US. I decided to research and was shocked to learn that Brasil requires you to declare cash above 10,000 reais when entering the country. This is cumulation of all cash and travelers checks etc. I know I have had more than that with me on several trips but if caught they can confiscate everything above the 10 K and fine you heavily! I guess I was lucky the times I went in with more cash on me. I would not worry about it but a friend who has been traveling there since 2005 has had customs pull him aside and go through his bags at least 4 times. If you declare it it is ok but you have to disclose the source of the cash and what it is for. Being for tourism etc. Is supposedly ok. What I have decided is to bring just under 10000 reais and use debit cards to withdraw cash from atms. With two debit cards from different banks I can withdraw 4000 reais per day. Anybody else have input or experiences with this?[/QUOTE]This has been discussed several times before in these threads. When I started going to Brazil many, many moons ago, I used to travel with $10,000 dollars in cash and convert to reais as needed on the ground. I was never stopped, searched, questioned or anything. Maybe I was lucky, I don't know. And I did that many times. The thing is, why travel with that much cash on you if you don't need to? Now for the last decade at least, wherever I go in the world, I travel with a debit card and pull cash from ATMs as I need it. This works really great. I have access to cash without having so much on me at one time, and my preferred debit card (Schwab) refunds all ATM fees. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best way to go.

[QUOTE=WonderWhy;3088944]What I have decided is to bring just under 10000 reais and use debit cards to withdraw cash from atms. With two debit cards from different banks I can withdraw 4000 reais per day.

Anybody else have input or experiences with this?[/QUOTE]What is with the cash obsession of travelers? It is 2026. Just use your ATM card if you need cash. I probably have the same reais that I had 3 trips ago, because outside of paying chicks, I am using my Amex for everything. I even use it to pay people on the street who are selling nuts.

[QUOTE=WonderWhy;3088944]I am not new to Brasil but had a situation this year where I accumulated a bit of cash. Legal of course. My thought was to bring just under 10,000 USD to Brasil on my next trip because I am planning to stay at least 3 months, convert it to reais as I needed it. I knew under 10 K was ok in the US. I decided to research and was shocked to learn that Brasil requires you to declare cash above 10,000 reais when entering the country. This is cumulation of all cash and travelers checks etc. I know I have had more than that with me on several trips but if caught they can confiscate everything above the 10 K and fine you heavily! I guess I was lucky the times I went in with more cash on me. I would not worry about it but a friend who has been traveling there since 2005 has had customs pull him aside and go through his bags at least 4 times. If you declare it it is ok but you have to disclose the source of the cash and what it is for. Being for tourism etc. Is supposedly ok.

What I have decided is to bring just under 10000 reais and use debit cards to withdraw cash from atms. With two debit cards from different banks I can withdraw 4000 reais per day.

Anybody else have input or experiences with this?[/QUOTE]According to more research the rule was changed in 2022 to be USD 10,000 or equivalent currency. This is accord to grok.

"What happens if you don't declare.

Failure to declare amounts over the threshold can lead to seizure of the excess cash, fines, and possible further penalties.

Source: Official Receita Federal pages (updated rules based on Lei 14.286/2021, in force since late 2022). The threshold changed from the old are $10,000 limit to US $10,000 (or equivalent).

For the most up-to-date confirmation, check the official Receita Federal traveler's guide before you fly. "

[QUOTE=WonderWhy;3089014]According to more research the rule was changed in 2022 to be USD 10,000 or equivalent currency. This is accord to grok.

"What happens if you don't declare.

Failure to declare amounts over the threshold can lead to seizure of the excess cash, fines, and possible further penalties.

Source: Official Receita Federal pages (updated rules based on Lei 14.286/2021, in force since late 2022). The threshold changed from the old are $10,000 limit to US $10,000 (or equivalent).

For the most up-to-date confirmation, check the official Receita Federal traveler's guide before you fly. "[/QUOTE]There was one board member who called himself bringing an iPhone into the country for a chick and not declaring it. He ended up paying for an extra iPhone considering the duty and the fine on top of it.

[QUOTE=Nothingtodo;3088059]A couple years ago, I was in Jericoacoara and enjoyed it so I thought it would be a good idea to return there for my first stop.[/QUOTE]Me and my girlfriend had a great time in Jeri, but it is not a place I would want to go back to. A big hassle getting in and out.

[QUOTE=Nothingtodo;3088059]Maceio didn't have the best looking girls, but they were very interested in me being a white foreigner because there were barely any gringos there. Therefore it was much easier to pick up normal girls than the tourist places.[/QUOTE]Outside of Rio, Maceio is my favorite city in Brazil. I could definitely live there.

[QUOTE=Nothingtodo;3088059]Generally I think the South has better looking women[/QUOTE]A lot of the people from the northeast don't have necks. Like the waiters at the Copacabana restaurants back jn the day. We used to call them blockheads because they had no neck; just a square head on top of shoulders.

[QUOTE=Nothingtodo;3088059]On my way out I visited Canoa Quebrada, which I found horrible. Wouldn't recommend that place. Recife and Joao Pessoa can be skipped as well in my opinion.[/QUOTE]Recife and Joao Pessoa can definitely be skipped. I was all excited to be going to JP, then when I got there I was like what the f is this? Fernando de Noronha and Puerto de Galinhas are supposed to be top notch places. That is not at all what I experienced. I will say that the worst place I have been to in Brazil is Aracaju, Sergipe. I don't know what the f is going on with that dump.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3089007]What is with the cash obsession of travelers? It is 2026. Just use your ATM card if you need cash. I probably have the same reais that I had 3 trips ago, because outside of paying chicks, I am using my Amex for everything. I even use it to pay people on the street who are selling nuts.[/QUOTE]Maybe they don't want to leave a trace of where they have been. That's the only reason I can think of to continue bringing so much cash.

[QUOTE=Kazeu;3089079]Maybe they don't want to leave a trace of where they have been. That's the only reason I can think of to continue bringing so much cash.[/QUOTE]This came up in the São Paulo forum. Some nervous guys with jealous spouses, jobs, or nosy ass girlfriend didn't want to leave any paper or digital footprints or uber history.

Use cash (convert to reais brl) at Ibirapuera Shopping, leave passport & iphone at the airbnb hotel, walk the route to visit 10 clinicas in Moema in the rain, (no uber history) wear a corinthians or palmerias cap & ifood jacket (kkk) .

Dudes then complained they were worried about the security cameras at the clinicas. , wtf?? The receptionist monitoring the cameras are too distracted running the place to worried about they ass.

Plus some clinicas use auto-repair as their business name if bros use a credit card at a clinica.

Regarding using cash in Brazil. I always use cash in Brazil and I never pay with my card. The only time I bring the card when I go out is when I visit Banco Bradesco to withdraw money.

Advantages of using cash:

* Paying with cash often gives you discounts. Hotels and pousadas always gives a discount, 10-20%, if you pay with cash. Many other businesses also gives discount, even the puteiros have a lower price when paying with cash.

* No risk of fraud or skimming.

* Less bank fees.

* Card isn't accepted everywhere.

* No worries about card machines not working.

* No risk of loosing your card or have it robbed on the street.

* It's nicer to have cash in your wallet than a plastic card.

Disadvantages of using cash:

* Visable cash is a target for thieves.

* No recovery if stolen.

* ATM fees.

I usually carry large bills well hidden. The other cash I carry where I easily can reach it. As you all know there is always a shortage of change. That's not a problem for me as I have several hundreds of 2,5,10 and 20 bills. If you ask a bank nicely they'll change large bills for smaller bills.

Regarding bringing cash, Euro or USD, to Brazil. If you know where to look you can get really good exchange rates. The only times when I bring a large amount of foreign cash is when I received lots of cash in my work and don't want to deposit the money in my bank.

[QUOTE=Tochka;3089150]Plus some clinicas use auto-repair as their business name if bros use a credit card at a clinica.[/QUOTE]Yes, I went there for a new tailpipe.