Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Salvador and Itaparica accommodation
Q. "Hi Alison,
My family (3 people) are planing to travel to brazil August 9-23. We need recommendation regarding accommodation in Salvador, Bahia from Aug. 9-10, then we want to spend 3 nights in Itaparica island, and then return to Salvador for 3 more nights. Please be so kind to recommend places to stay in Salvador, bahia and Itaparica island."
J.K, Lithuania
A. Hi,
In Salvador itself good options are Hotel Casa do Amarelindo (more upmarket near the Pelourinho historical centre) and Pousada Estrela do Mar which is extremely good value, in the Barra beach area of town.
Unfortunately I don not have any pousadas I can recommend in Itaparica, but if you want upmarket close by in Morro de Sao Paulo check out Vila dos Orixas, and any of the pousadas on Boipeba island if you don't mind travelling a little further to paradise.
Um abraço
Alison
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Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Pousadas in São Paulo, Brazil
Q. "Hi Alison,
My 23 year old son will be in
L.C, USA
A. Hi,
Pousadas are very few and far between in all but the most touristic cities and São Paulo is no exception, but I do know of two- one which we work with on our budget and discount site- Pousada Dona Zilah; the other a recommendation from a trusted colleague who writes the Brazil blog for New York Times. That one is the Pousada dos Franceses. Both are pretty basic and a bit hostelly but reasonable priced and located in the Jardins area of the city where transport is excellent. It might be a good idea to book your son into one or the other for a couple of weeks at least until he finds somewhere better or more to his taste.
I hope that helps.
Um abraço
Alison
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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Getting work and teaching in Rio de Janeiro
Q. "Hi Alison,
Thank you for writing a blog about your experiences in Brazil and offering help for interested travellers! I was just wondering if it was ok to ask some advice about Rio at all please?
I'm hoping to go over there next January with my boyfriend for about 5 months. I'll be doing a CELTA course soon, and I hope to teach English in Rio, whilst my boyfriend will be looking for some temporary work in bars, or perhaps try and get involved in live music events as this is the field he is most interested in. Can you offer any advice on how to get work in Rio? I know that with teaching, I will probably need to work on a tourist visa and receive minimal pay, but we're only looking to survive, not save. I imagine we will stay in a hostel and then perhaps move into an apartment - are these generally expensive/hard to get in Rio?" If you can offer any tips, that would be really appreciated. Thank you."
L.S. UK
A. Hi,
Thanks for your email. The easiest way to get work teaching is actually to do the CELTA here- at somewhere like Britannia, but if that's not possible at least it is good to come with a qualification and without any expectation of a high salary. I believe schools can sponsor you for a temporary work visa if you are under 30 but they frequently change the rules here so you will need to check this- and of course find a school which is willing to do this.
Even if a school does sponsor you it is likely to take a long time to get a work visa and neither you nor your boyfriend will be able to work legally without that. Best to learn as much portuguese as possible and come prepared to support yourselves for at least a couple of months whilst you find your way around.
Even if a school does sponsor you it is likely to take a long time to get a work visa and neither you nor your boyfriend will be able to work legally without that. Best to learn as much portuguese as possible and come prepared to support yourselves for at least a couple of months whilst you find your way around.
Regarding timing, I would leave it until after carnival to come- or come for carnival (early Feb) and stay on. Nothing happens workwise here until after that is over and accommodation in January is very expensive as it is super high season when everyone is on holiday! Best of luck with your plans anyway.
Um abraço
Alison
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Thursday, 3 May 2012
Ideas for wildlife, hiking and watersports in Brazil
Q. "Hello. My boyfriend and I are interested in traveling to brazil. We are not the fancy resort type. We enjoy more rustic places and really enjoy vigorous hiking, seeing new unique places in the outdoors, fishing and water sports. Do you have some recommendations for places that we might enjoy the most?"
K.G, USA
A. Hi,
Many thanks for your email. We specialise in the non resort, more rustic sort of place so I am sure you will find many places on our site which you'll like. For some initial ideas check out pousadas by trip style Nature + Wildlife try the Pantanal for wildlife and birding, Chapada Diamantina in Bahia for the best hiking, and the northeast and north of Brazil for watersports.
Once you have had a chance to narrow things down a bit feel free to get back to me with questions.
Um abraço
Alison
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Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Pousadas in the northern Pantanal area
Q. "Hi Alison,
Do you know of any reasonably priced Pousadas in the northern Pantanal area? Thanks."
F.Z, USA
A. Hi,
None of the ecolodges in the northern Pantanal can be said to be cheap. However like those in the Southern Pantanal and the Amazon the daily rate does include guides, excursions and full board. We recommend Pousada Araras Ecolodge as the best place to see the most wildlife in comfort.
A budget alternative would be Pousada Ecoverde in Cuiabá, capital city of Mato Grosso state. The pousada itself is pretty basic but the atmosphere is excellent and there is lots of information available plus guided trips into the Pantanal which you can book there.
Um abraço
Alison
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Tuesday, 1 May 2012
New Year in Rio, Iguaçu Falls and Paraty
Q. "Dear Alison, I wonder if you can help. I am arriving in Rio with 3 Danish friends on 26th December 2012 and leaving Rio for Iguazu on 31st December. Can you recommend, some suitable and available pousadas in Rio for the 5 days or maybe 26th-28th in Rio and 29th-31st in Paraty. Many thanks in advance for your help."
B.M,UK
A. Hi,
Thanks for your email. It's good you are planning things well in advance for this time of year which is super high season. The only difficulty with your plan is that all pousadas do 4-5 day packages over New Year so you can't travel on 31st December without being heavily penalised. Best thing to do is to choose where you want to spend New Year, Rio or Paraty, (28 Dec- 2nd Jan) and then work the rest around that.
In Rio you have B&B O Veleiro Bed and Breakfast, Casa Cool Beans, Castelinho 38, Guesthouse Bianca, Pousada Um Meia Tres.
For Iguaçu Falls "Foz do Iguaçu" have a look on our budget and discount site, you will find some good options there. Let me know if you need more help.
Um abraço
Alison
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Monday, 30 April 2012
Eco pousadas in Bahia suitable for travelling with young children
Q. "Hello, I am wondering if you have any recommendations for travel in Bahia with young children (5&7 years)? we are not looking for just a resort- but more of an eco-trip, given the limitations little kids bring into the trip. Many Thanks!"
M.M, USA
A. Hi,
We don't actually work with resorts at all, only small pousadas, so you really have come to the right place.
If you search by "Ecotourism" trip style on our homepage, there are 6 pousadas I would recommend in various parts of Bahia that are also suitable for families with children. Check out: Loin de tout Guest House, Corumbau, Pousada Lagoa do Cassange, Maraú, Pousada Mata N'Ativa, Trancoso, Pousada Tãnara, Itacaré, Pousada Vila Serrano, Chapada Diamantina, Casa da Árvore, Arraial d'Ajuda .
See which ones you like, and then get back to me if you have any further questions.
Alison
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