Travelling With Kids
Travelling with kids is relatively easy in Brazil as they're made to feel welcome in hotels and restaurants in a way that's not always so in Europe or North America. South Americans hold the family unit in high regard, and kids not only act as a cultural ice-breaker between foreigners and nationals, but are also much appreciated in their own right by Brazilians. Travelling around Brazil takes time, so try not to be too ambitious in terms of how much you aim to cover. Because of frequent scheduled stops and unscheduled delays it can take all day to fly from one part of the country to another. Long bus journeys are scheduled overnight and can be exhausting. Children pay full fare on buses if they take up a seat, ten percent on planes if under two years old, half-fare between two and twelve, and full fare thereafter. Newer airports have a nursery ( bercario) where you can change or nurse your baby and where an attendant will run your baby a bath, great on a hot day or if your plane's delayed. If you plan on renting a car , bring your own child or baby seat as rental companies never supply them and they are very expensive in Brazil. Cars are fitted with three-point shoulder seatbelts in the front, but most only have lap seatbelts in the back. In hotels , kids are generally free up to the age of five and rooms often include both a double and a single bed; a baby's cot may be available, but don't count on it. It's rare that a room will sleep more than three, but larger hotels sometimes have rooms with an interlinking door. Hotels will sometimes offer discounts, especially if children share rooms and even beds with siblings or parents; the lower- to mid-range hotels are probably the most flexible in this regard. If you're planning on staying more than a few days in a city you may find it cheaper and more convenient to stay in an apartment-hotel , which will sleep several people and comes with basic cooking facilities. Baths are rare in Brazil, so get your kids used to showers before leaving home. Occasionally a hotel will provide a plastic baby bath, but bring along a travel plug as shower pans are often just about deep enough to create a bath. Many of the mid- and upper-range hotels have TV lounges, TVs in rooms, swimming pools, gardens and even games rooms, which are often useful in entertaining kids. Most large towns also have cinemas, the best often being the new multiplexes found in shopping centres. Food shouldn't be a problem as, even if your kids aren't adventurous eaters, familiar dishes are always available and there's always the ubiquitous comida por kilo option. Portions tend to be huge, often sufficient for two large appetites, and it's perfectly acceptable to request additional plates and cutlery. Most hotels and restaurants provide high chairs ( cadeira alta). Commercial baby food is sold in Brazilian supermarkets but is limited to a very small and expensive range of Nestle products - bring your own. If your baby is on formula, bring enough with you as the Portuguese instructions on locally produced powdered varieties may be difficult to understand and, in any case, your baby may find a change unsettling. Pay special attention to water and either bring a water purifier or a travel kettle and boil mineral water rather than tap water. Washing out bottles can be awkward, so it makes sense to bring with you an ample supply of pre-sterilized disposable bottles (not available in Brazil). Medium-category hotels usually have a minibar ( frigobar) in the rooms where you can store bottles and baby food, but where there isn't one you will be able to store things in the hotel's refrigerator. A small cooler box or insulated bag is a good idea and, while ice compartments of frigobars are useless, you can always place your freezer blocks in the hotel's freezer ( congelador). In general, Brazilian infants don't use disposable nappies/diapers ( fraldas), due to the high cost, around $12 for twenty. Brands such as Pampers are sold in pharmacies and supermarkets but it's worth bringing as many with you as possible. Health shouldn't be a problem, but before planning your itinerary, make enquiries as to whether the vaccines recommended or required in some parts of Brazil (in particular the Amazon) are likely to have any unpleasant side effects for babies or young children. For most of Brazil, the only likely problem will be the strength of the tropical sun and the viciousness of the mosquitoes: bring plenty of sunscreen (at least factor 20 for babies and factor 15 for young children) and an easy-to-apply non-toxic insect repellent .
Fun Tipsmary says "Bring your inhaler if you have asma." tips for BrazilRobyn says "Dont go it so boring,so dont go " travellingayanda says "can anyone tell me about cheap accomodation in brazil?" Tour Brazil and Argentina On Line (Video + Stills)David Mundstock says "My recent movie, “Tango and Samba Falls”, presents highlights of Argentina and Brazil, starring Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Iguazu Falls.
Tango in Buenos Aires, meet Evita, enjoy Gaucho dancing from the Pampas; and then north to the Argentina side of massive Iguazu Falls, featuring “The Devil’s Throat”.
Across the border to Brazil, for a close-up of the falls from below. In Rio, gaze at the views from famous mountain tops, and look for the Girl from Ipanema at Rio’s beaches. Take in a Samba show, featuring costumes that range from almost nothing to extremely elaborate and colorful. With digital effects.
“Tango and Samba Falls” can be seen on the web, if you have a high speed internet connection. This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I sell absolutely nothing.
With any modem you can view a gallery of Argentina/Brazil still pictures.
There are over 30 of my other amateur travel videos on-line including trips to China, Russia, Antarctica, Italy, Britain, Hawaii, Australia, Bali, American National Parks, Africa, Greece, and Turkey; see lions, whales, elephants, or penguins.
The planet is yours, including my Home Page giant galaxy of still pictures from every continent.
To watch videos or look at the stills, please ask a search engine for: Intrepid Berkeley Explorer"
Your Tip for Brazil
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