Car rental & driver's license

Currency - Cash & Credit Cards

Electricity

Health

Language

Safety & Security

Vaccination

Tipping & Taxes

Visas

Renting a car in Brazil is easy, however, driving in Brazil may be a challenge, due to the fact that all road signs are in Portuguese and road conditions may vary considerably.

Rules for driving in Brazil:

• The minimum age to drive in Brazil is 18 years old
  
• U.S driver's licenses are accepted for car rental purposes
  
• The speed limit on most national highways is 110 km/h (68 mph)
  
• The speed limit within the city is 80 km/h (49 mph)
  
• The right lane is the travel lane and the left lane is for passing; it is forbidden to pass on the right.

Remember these are general rules, speed limits may vary so pay attention to the signs. Most cars, even rental cars, are stick shift, so when you make your reservations be aware that if you need an automatic car you should check availability. Rental car companies include Hertz, Avis, Localiza, and Unidas.

The Brazilian currency is the Real ("hay-ahl"), and Reais ("hay-ice") for the plural. The symbol for the Real is R$. The official exchange rate is published daily in the newspapers. For todays rate see:
http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency/currcalc.html

Bank notes in circulation are the following:
R$ 1, R$2, R$5, R$ 10, R$20, R$ 50 and R$ 100
Coins in circulation are the following
R$ 0,01 - R$ 0,05 - R$ 0,10 - R$ 0,25 - R$ 0,50 - R$ 1,00

U.S dollars are easily exchanged at hotels, banks, travel agencies and currency exchange offices. Generally, the exchange rate for traveler's checks is lower than for cash.

Credit cards are widely accepted in large cities in Brazil, however, if you are traveling to smaller towns, it is advisable to exchange some money before your trip.

Most Brazilian banks offer ATMs, however some foreign cards may not be accepted.
For ATM locations in Brazil, please check the following websites:

Visa/Plus cards

MasterCard/Cirrus

In most Brazilian cities the current is either 110V or 220V, 60 cycles, except for Salvador and Manaus, which have a current of 127V. Most major hotels have 110V and 220V sockets. To avoid ruining your appliances, it is advisable to consult the hotel before plugging anything into an outlet. The wall sockets in Brazil normally have two round pins, and in many new facilities the sockets will accept both regular U.S and Brazilian types of plugs. Some outlets may require a ground pin. U.S.-Brazilian conversion plugs, suitable for dual-voltage appliances can be purchased at many airports and electrical stores in Brazil.

Food & Water

Most major Brazilian cities have water treatment plants, but you should nevertheless avoid drinking tap water without filtrating it first. Drinking only filtered or mineral water is strongly recommended. Brazilian cuisine differs from region to region. Some people may be more sensitive than others to the strong, spicy seasonings used in many typical dishes. While some people are unaffected by the food they choose to eat, others may experience digestive problems from food they are not accustomed to eating.

When traveling abroad, anywhere in the world, one of the most effective ways to reduce one's risk of intestinal disease is to eat mainly at the major restaurants and hotels, where sanitary standards are usually quite reliable. When eating on the beach, at street kiosks, or in very small restaurants, it is generally best for travelers to eat well-cooked food, avoiding uncooked prepared food (such as salads) that may have been rinsed in unfiltered tap water.

Sun

The sun in Brazil is extremely strong in certain areas. Serious sunburn is harmful to your health and can put a damper on your vacation. Here are some useful tips you should follow:

• Always use a skin lotion with a sun block protection factor of at least 15 whenever you are outdoors, even and especially when there are clouds
  
• Limit exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm
  
• Drink plenty of water
  

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Except for the languages spoken by Indian tribes living in remote reservations, Portuguese is the only language of daily life. There are no regional dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America.

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There is no need to be overly apprehensive about safety issues in Brazil. Reports of violent crime against tourists and foreigners are rare. An unfortunate reality of life, however, is that petty crimes occur everywhere. You should keep your wits about you, as you would in any major city, to avoid being robbed.

Do:

• ask your hotel for safety information about the areas you plan to visit
  
• leave valuable items, including jewelry, travel documents and most of your money in a safe at your hotel
  
• travel with others whenever possible, especially at night
  
• ask police for help if necessary
  
• take only what is necessary to the beach
  
• behave like an experienced traveler as opposed to a tourist
  
• remember that you represent other Americans
  
• put your wallet and other valuable items in an inaccessible corner of your bag and watch it at all times
  
• have the time of your life

Do Not:

• keep valuable items in your back pockets or in the outside pockets of your purse or bag
  
• wear flashy jewelry or expensive items, such as designer glasses and valuable watches in the streets
  
• travel unfamiliar or dangerous areas alone
  
• display your money
  
• leave things unattended
  
• think it can't happen to you
  
• get involved in illegal activities
  
• forget to keep your wits about you
  
• carry your camera and other such items in a camera bag or around your neck

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A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required only if you have traveled within the last 90 days, to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela).

Yellow fever vaccination is advisable if your destinations in Brazil include any of the following Brazilian states: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District of Brasilia, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and/or Tocantins.

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Tipping &Taxes

• Airports: porters may charge as much as $1 per bag
  
• Taxis: Tipping is not expected, yet many people choose to round up the fare. Drivers in some cities charge for help with baggage
  
• Hotels: a $1 tip is sufficient for chambermaids and bellboys
  
• Restaurants: a 10% gratuity will often be included in the bill
  
• Sales Taxes: advertised prices on store windows and bills will always include sales taxes

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