Rio De Janeiro - advice!

connundrum

Howdy,

I'm heading with a mate to Rio on Saturday for 10 days. We've no choice in our hotel booking and have ended up with a nice 4 star hotel in Niteroi.

Our plan was to make use of the ferry service back and forth for the duration of the trip.

Other than the usual sites, has anyone any experience in the place? We will be careful etc, and I'm well used to being aware of dangers having grown up in Johannesburg.

Two specific queries are:

Do we bring a load of cash and change it as we go, or will we (safety wise and currency exchange wise) be better off withdrawing every few days from an ATM?

Does anyone have any advice re: getting a decent sim card with data plans whilst there? Can't be without whatsapp y'know.

Cheers!

Naked Lepper

connundrum wrote: »

Do we bring a load of cash and change it as we go, or will we (safety wise and currency exchange wise) be better off withdrawing every few days from an ATM?

dont bring a wad of cash
bring a few different atm cards / credit cards and take out enough to get you thru one or two days at a time and leave ur back up credit cards in the hotel when going to get cash out

if you get mugged just hand over whatever you have. always have back up plans (re money etc), i had 2 memory cards for my camera and swapped them every day, at least if my camera got nicked id only lose half of my pics.

oh and watch out for the police

mfceiling

Was there years ago...dangerous but deadly!!

Keep a fake wallet on you with very little in it and maybe old library/video cards. Mugger wants wallet - hand over the fake wallet - keep a good few low denomination notes in it to make it look real. If they take the wallet - leg it before they get wind of your scam!!

It is a brilliant city - just magnificent. Keep your wits and you'll be grand!!

Great city.

Go to Lapa on Friday night
Go do the hangliding - it's not that expensive really - about €100 or just a bit more - well worth it. Amazing experience (from the crazy drive up to the view on the way down. buy the pictures for an extra €20).
Ipanema a good area to hang out in
There is nothing in Copacabana besides the beach (which gets a bit dodge after sunset)
This bar emporio in ipanema near the beach is good fun 11pm+ and is not expensive. good atmosphere to mingle with people - spills out onto the street.
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g303506-d3853181-r157500538-Emporio-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html
Also do the all you can eat steak thing - the best value one is at the start of the main street in ipanema not far from the metro - near the Irish pub Shenanigans I think. 1/2 to 2/3 the price of the other ones but even the locals say is just as good.

Dub_Steve

Its a great city, but no one there speaks English.

It can be dangerous, so don't wear expensive jewelry. I had no issues, though.

Similar to glasso I went to Lapa was great and did the hand gliding. I'm sure you'll go see Jesus.

I also did a booze cruise would recommend it.