Advantages: it is ver beautiful
Disadvantages: it is being spoiled

...Brazil is one of the largest country in South America. It occupies nearly one-half of the continent. It has borders with ten countries: Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Uraguy, argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. Brazil is the fith largest country in the world, the others in front being Russia, Canada, China and the United States. The area of Brazil is 8,511,966 sq km. The capital is Brasilia and in 1991 it was estimated that it's population was 1,841,028. There are three big cities in Brazil Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In São Paulo there are two main parts. The centre is a very rich and us the business centre for Brazil, however the outskirts are very very poor and is a big shanty town (favela). The people living ther try to scrape a living by selling sandals(made of tyre rubber) or by begging... Read review

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Advantages: Breathtaking nature, cheap, multi-cultural
Disadvantages: high criminality, bad health institutions (hospital etc.),

...is an immense wet area in south america and half as big as France. You can travel to the pantanal in the dry season between april and september, of course with a landrover only. For people with a bigger portemonnaie an airplane is the right way to travel there. And another tip of unbelievable wonderful nature: the south of Brasil, the state Rio Grande do sul, with the national parc Aparados da serra. The main attraction in there is the itaimbezinho, a phantastic canyon, whose walls are 700 m tall; two waterfalls are there besides of amazing impression. Another attraction of this national parc is the canyon da fortaleza, 30 km long and 900 m deep. Simply breath-taking! A fly to Brasil costs from Frankfurt/Germany direct to Rio de Janeiro about 900 Euros (2 ways). The cheapest way to spend the night are pousadas, where you can sleep and also get... Read review

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Advantages: Some natural parks and reserves
Disadvantages: There are better places to go

...Espirito Santo is a state north of the State of Rio de Janeiro on the coast. I >only visited Vitoria, the capital, since my coach stopped there. There are >some nice villages on the coast and some natural reserves on the coast and in >the interior, but, all together, I do not think you should spend much time in >this part of the country. It is probably better to go north, to Bahia, Porto >Segundo, for example, is quite a nice place in Bahia and it is not too far >away from Espirito Santo. If you are stuck in Vitoria go to Vilha Velha, just >out of town, which is a place for pilgrimage and there are some trees which >keep it cooler than Vitoria itself.... Read review

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Advantages: Fasinating experience
Disadvantages: Not for the Niave

...(preferably US Dollars or Euros). Getting around Some forms of transport in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife or Salvador, can be unsafe. By Road There have been instances where gangs have set buses alight leaving passengers inside after robbing them. In Rio de Janeiro in 2006 there were two incidents of hijacking and robbing of tour buses transferring British tourists from the international airport to their hotel. Policing of tourist areas and the express way from the international airport to the downtown area has been increased since 2006. Bus travel between major cities and travel within other cities is relatively safe. On arrival in Brazil I would advice only using registered airport taxis. You can pick up taxis from the many recognised taxi ranks around Brazilian cities. If using a roving taxi, check first that the driver... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: food, beaches, exchange rate, friendly people, sights
Disadvantages: internal flights are expensive, internal coach travel is very long!

...Leaving UK soil at 6am on the 30th of June, I was prepared to arrive in Porto Alegre, Brazil 22 hours later. However, a delayed flight meant I missed the last connecting flight of the day from Rio de Janeiro. Fortunately, I was put up in a very posh hotel in the airport, where the waiter was convinced I was prince William! My first impression when finally arriving in Porto Alegre, the south's capital city at 12am local time, was of a rundown America. It seemed everything had been touched by the American influence - from the traffic lights and overhead electricity transformers to the drive through banks (and of course McDonalds). The City’s infrastructure was much more developed than I had expected – many of the buildings were small skyscrapers – a majority of the people living in apartment blocks of 15 stories high, all with security... Read review

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Advantages: Garden State, Breathtaking Scenery, Stunning beaches, Vibrant Cities
Disadvantages: As with most of Brasil, long distances between places, no rail network

...include Guarapari and Guriri, Itaunas for dunes and deserted beaches/open spaces, and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to the North of the State, similar in size to Vitoria Places of interest - Pedra do Frade (rock shaped like Monk), Santa Teresa (Augusto Ruschi of museum of natural History, waterfall/lagoon for swimming), Nova Venecia (Elephant Rock, Granite products, Gameleira- v.old tree), Medicinal property of black sand at Guarapari to aid joint pain /skin ailments, Travelling - good road network and excellent coach service (Aguia Branca) to all main parts of the State, including overnight /sleeper option. Air travel also possible from Vitoria to some coastal resorts, but unlike the US, Europe and even some of its neighbours, Brasil is yet to offer viable rail travel to just about any part of the country. Scenery - this is an agricultural State... Read review

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Advantages: breathtaking scenery, beautiful people, lots of fun....
Disadvantages: long, long bus journeys, quite expensive for a backpacker

..., with four long sandy beaches, a laid back atmosphere during the day and a fun atmosphere at night, typically Brazilian!. As we were there in May (essentially winter, but still very hot) we were able to get a beautiful pousada (guest house) for around $8 per night each with a massive breakfast thrown in too. We stayed here three weeks and then it was on to our last stop: Rio de Janeiro. Again we'd heard all the horror stories, but we stayed in a hostel in Copacobana, two streets from the beach and we had no problems. Rio has been described elsewhere, but suffice to say it is a beautiful, fun, vibrant city and I fell in love immediately. We followed our usual rules (no wandering around at night, no valuables on the beach etc) and had nothing but a warm reception from everyone we met. So, is Brazil dangerous? Yes, it has huge inequalities... Read review

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Advantages: No prepayment or credit card needed
Disadvantages: Have to pay from 1st sec even if call do not get through

...are billed per second as compared to phonecards / prepaid services that bill per minute. It will no go further as it has been described by other Ciao members. The downsite is that you have to pay from first second which you do not normally do if your call doesn't get through. From their website. 0870-dial provide service to the following destinations : Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Sao Paulo, Canada, Chile, China Beijing, China Shanghai, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece Athens, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan Osaka, Japan Tokyo, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zeland, Norway, Portugal, Russia Moscow, Russia St Petersburg, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK geographic, USA, Vatican, NEW - Malaysia (603, 604 and 607) My opinion is to use both (or all) and use more the services... Read review

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Advantages: Poignant, beautiful, superbly acted and directed
Disadvantages: None

...driver for part of the way. For another part they tag along with a religious group. Finally they reach their destination - but will they find Josué's father? Acting ------ Much of the film's success rests firmly on the shoulders of Fernanda Montenegro, an actress who successfully defeats any temptation to allow sentimentality to wreck her relationship with the boy. She understands that the film is not really about the boy's search for his father, but about her own reawakening. This process is measured out so carefully that we don't even notice the point at which she crosses over into a kinder and gentler person. Monetenegro is a well known and admired actress in Brazil she most definitely should have received the Oscar for this film. (It actually went to Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love?). Vinícius de Oliveira as Josué is also... Read review

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Advantages: Cheaper calls, no accounts to open, no additional bill
Disadvantages: Haven't found any problems yet!

...; Bahamas, Mobile; Bangkok; Bangladesh Dhaka; Belgium; Bermuda; Bermuda, Mobile; Bolivia; Brazil; Brazil Rio De Janeiro; Brazil Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paulo; Brazil Sao Paulo; Brazil Sao Paulo & Rio De Janeiro; Brunei; Brunei, Mobile; Buenos Aires; Bulgaria; Canada; Canada, Mobile; Caracas; Chile; China; China, Mobile; Christmas Island; Christmas Island, Mobile; Cochabamba; Cocos Island; Cocos Island, Mobile; Colombia; Colombia, Mobile; Costa Rica; Costa Rica, Mobile; Croatia; Cyprus; Cyprus, Mobile; Denmark, Mobile; Dominican Republic; Finland; French Antilles; Georgia; Georgia, Mobile; Panama; Paraguay Asuncion; Peru; Peru Lima; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico, Mobile; Reunion Island; Rio De Janeiro or Sao Paulo; Russia; Russia Moscow; Russia Moscow, Mobile; Russia, Mobile; San Marino; San Marino, Mobile; Santa Cruz; Sao Paulo; Sao Paulo... Read review

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