Brazil Travel Tips

Air travel warnings (added in 2005)

• Never believe 1) the gate information 2) flight delay information. They are both often wrong. Always hover among other passengers who are traveling on the same flight so you can follow the pack. I almost missed a flight from Sao Paulo that was posted as leaving 1/2 hour late -- when in reality it was leaving on time.
• Always confirm the flight time if you bought advance tickets. I called TAM's office in the US, bought a ticket, and found out the hard way that TAM changed the flight time when daylight savings came around instead of keeping the flight at the same time which was now at daylight savings.

Important note about Credit cards vs. Cash (added in 2005)

• Bring cash or your ATM card - Off season (Brazil's winter), places often do not accept credit cards even if they have signs posted all over saying that they do. This is usually to save the charges for having the credit card machine, I have heard. You will see "24 hour ATM" machines all over. It will probably cost you $10 for their fees + your bank fees when you use these machines.
• Bring several cards - You will actually encounter places that ONLY accept American Express. Some only take MasterCard, some only Visa. If you have all 3 cards, bring them!

Beautification Adventures (added in 2005)
Waxing (depilacao), manicures / pedicures, and massages are a great bargain. So you may want to wait till you're there to indulge!

What to Pack (added in 1998)
In addition to "the usual" advised by travel guides, I found it really helpful to have on hand these items:

• Use a backpack rather than traditional luggage if possible, especially if visiting colonial cities and want to carry your own luggage. If you’re not convinced, imagine rolling a bag over crumbling cobblestone or down a crowded city block. It was not pretty.
• Safety pins help when stiching breaks, and keep pockets shut from pickpockets.
• Protein bars are easy to pack and can be lifesavers when you’re on a layover or if you’re a vegetarian in the south where meat is king.
• Repellant in roll on stick form is very convenient.
• A blow up neck nest for any night flights or bus rides makes sleeping much easier and pleasant. They're very compact too.

Request vegetarian meals if you find airplane food generally less than delicious. These meals are custom made so very fresh and often healthy.

Foods and Consumables I Especially Enjoyed

• Rich Nestle milk chocolate bars with cashews and rum-soaked raisins – something I doubt you can buy elsewhere and which uses European quality chocolate not typical of U.S. Nestles. Many other interesting Brazilian chocolate bars and caramels as well.
• Cheese: Smoked provolone and mozzarella in twists, similar to Italian scmortza. 
• Cashews (in the north)
• Mousse de maracujá (passion fruit) - the most headily delicious dessert ever
• Fresh fruit juices and vitaminas de banana. For juices, always confirm if any added water is filtered. Always ask if the milk is “cru” (raw) and if it is pasteurized they will tell you so. It’s my pet theory that it’s better not to lead to the answer you want to hear by giving them the one you don’t want to hear.
• From the many health food and homeopathic drug stores, look for:
• Packaged dried, sweet bananas a healthy albeit ugly energy snack.
• Nutri brand granola bars
• Guarana powder, which the Brazilians, and now I, swear releases energy all the day. (My friend hears that long term use reduces immune systems though.)
• Natural lipsticks from Flora Fina for around $2.
• Ativa cookies and crackers, excellent fiber to take on the road, and so delicious I might request them to begin marketing in the U.S.
• Water from drinking fountains! A welcome surprised, the water is filtered and I never had a problem with it.