Preparing For Your Trip To Brazil
Brazil, being a vast country, offers so much to see and do. Whether you want to see the Amazon rainforests, the colonial buildings of Salvador or the civilized beaches, Brazil is the place to go. However, you still need to prepare for your trip.
* A valid passport is required of all visitors which will receive a 90 day entry stamp. Canadian, US and Australia citizens are required to have a visa to visit Brazil. All people carrying an E.U. passport, British and New Zealand nationals do not require a visa, however, their passport does need to be valid for at least 6 months and they must have a return ticket.
* When booking accommodations, you will want to consider what's the best time. If you plan on traveling to Brazil between February through March, you will run into higher prices and booked up accommodations, so be sure to book ahead of time. The worse time to travel to Brazil is during Easter week and in July because the prices are significantly higher and the weather is quite chilly south of Rio de Janeiro.
* Before you leave, make sure your vaccinations are up to date and if you haven't already, get a booster shot for polio and tetanus. You will be expected to show proof of vaccinations for children ages 3 to 6. Also, it is highly recommended that you receive a vaccination for yellow fever. If you are traveling from a place that has been affected by yellow fever, you will need to show proof of vaccination.
* Dengue fever is common in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. It is rarely fatal, however, you can become quite ill if you are infected with it. Symptoms are high fever, joint and muscle pain, severe headaches, rash, nausea and vomiting. This illness can last up 10 days, although you shouldn't expect a full recovery for up to at least 4 weeks. You should pack mosquito repellent containing DEET to protect yourself against Dengue fever and try to stay in screened in areas. Bed nets are also a good idea. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination for Dengue fever.
* If you plan on traveling to the Pantanal or Amazon, you should take a malaria prophylaxis daily.
* The sun is extremely hot in Brazil with powerful rays, so make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen.
* The Brazilian currency is the Real or Reais for the plural version. You can use an ATM or a credit card to get the best exchange rates. Credit cards are excepted in most Brazilian shops, hotels and restaurants, however, you might be able to negotiate better hotel rates if you pay with cash. Travelers checks are not a good idea in Brazil because most places will not except them.
* When booking accommodations, you will find that Brazil has a lot to offer. You will find high-rise hotels, apart-hotels (which is similar to the flat common in the UK), the Melia, bed & breakfasts and pousadas. The apart-hotels offer the better rates and more space, however, you might not the pool or other amenities as you would a hotel.
As with any trip, make all your transportation and arrangements ahead of time so you can get there and begin to relax immediately.
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