Airport
Rio's international airport is located on Ilha do Governador which has excellent access to Rio's south zone where most of the major rental apartments are located. The airport is served by 28 international carriers as well as the three major Brazilian airlines and between them they offer direct flights to-and-from more than 80 international cities and most of the major Brazilian centers of population. A shuttle service operates between Rio and São Paulo and is based at Rio's smaller city center airfield, Santos Dumont. An efficient taxi and bus service links the international airport with the main hotels and residential areas.
International Airport - Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim:
Tel - information:
(55 21) 3398-5050
Flights:
(55 21) 3398-4527 / 3398-4526
Domestic Airport - Santos Dumond:
Tel - information and flights
(55 21) 3814-7070
Climate
Rio de Janeiro is a tropical city. Summer runs from December through March with temperatures ranging from 25º C (77º F) to 42º C (108º F) while winter runs from June through August when temperatures can drop to around 20º C (68º F) in the day and a cool 16º C (60º F) at night. 90% of all apartments we rent have air-conditioning in the suite and main rooms.
Clothing
Appropriately enough for a city where the beach and warm weather play such an important role, casual dress dominates in Rio, although during working hours men will not feel out of place in a suit and tie and women in smart dresses or a suit. Few of Rio's night spots require formal attire. For men, slacks and a sport shirt are sufficient; for women, casual attire is fine. Women may appreciate having a shawl or cardigan in hand for the more heavily air-conditioned buildings, while a light sweater is all that is necessary for winter nights.
Communications
Rio has an excellent telecommunications system which links Rio to the rest of Brazil and the world. Direct dial and collect calls can be placed from any telephone. Pay phones are located throughout the city and operate with telephone cards. Portable cellular telephones are available to visitors for a small rental charge. The International Direct Dial (IDD) code for Brazil is 55 and the city code for Rio de Janeiro 21.
Electric Current
The electric current in Rio is 110 or 120 volts, 60 cycles, alternating current. Many hotels and large apartment blocks do, however, have some 220 volt outlets.
Foreign Exchange
The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (R$). The exchange rate available to visitors is published daily in the newspaper along with the commercial dollar rate of the day used in official international business transactions. Cash and traveler checks, especially US Dollars, can be exchanged at most banks or exchange houses as well as the major hotels. All major credit cards are accepted in Brazil and some stores even accept foreign currency.
Rio Tourist Police
One battalion of the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police BPTUR is specialized in ostensive patrolling of the city for the protection of the tourist. Properly trained and equipped to attend to cases involving tourists, the men of this corporation have the task of patrolling the popular tourist areas, the beaches and the vicinity of the hotels.
BPTUR - Batalhão de Policiamento em Áreas Turísticas
Address: Rua São Clemente, 345 Botafogo
22260-001 Rio de Janeiro -RJ
Tel: (55 21) 3399-7565 / 69
(55 21) 3399-7457 call center
(55 21) 3399-7562 intelligence service
Fax: (55 21) 3399-7450
The District for Attending to Tourists DEAT a special branch of the Civil Police, is made up of a Delegate (Superintendent), detectives, investigators and clerks responsible for investigating and recording occurrences. The DEAT has its own offices conveniently located in Leblon in front of the Casa Grande and Scala theaters. The District was instituted and the police officers specifically trained to attend to foreign visitors.
Delegacia de Atendimento ao Turista - DEAT
Address: Av. Afrânio de Mello Franco, s / nº - Leblon
22430-060 Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Tel: (55 21) 2511-5112 / 3399-7170
Fax: (55 21) 3399-71722
Language
The language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese. English is the predominant foreign language taught in schools, and Spanish, if spoken slowly, is understood by a good percentage of the population.
Medical Services
Rio de Janeiro and Brazil have a number of internationally respected hospitals, clinics and doctors, but treatment is expensive so visitors are strongly advised to take out medical trip insurance before traveling to Brazil.
Taxis
Rio has an extensive taxi fleet which includes yellow metered cabs which can be hailed in the streets, as well as a series of special taxis operated by licensed companies which can be found at the airports, in front of our rental apartments buildings or booked by phone. From the international airport and the main shopping centers most of the special taxis work on a fixed fare by area which is paid in advance at the company's counter above which the fare price must be displayed.
Tipping
Restaurants: tips are discretionary but are often found on the final bills as a "suggestion". In Brazil the norm remains 10 per cent. Taxis: tips are not expected by taxi drivers although most passengers will round the fare up if satisfied with the service. Airport and hotel porters: the Real equivalent of U$1.00 per suitcase.
Customs
Besides accompanying clothing and personal belongings (which may include radio, tape deck, laptop, movie and still cameras), tourists entering Brazil are allowed to buy merchandise at the airport duty free shop.
Visa Requirements
As the Brazilian Foreign Office bases its actions on reciprocity, visitors from some foreign countries will require a visa which is usually processed within two working days by applying to the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. Requirements for a tourist visa include a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, one passport size photograph and a round trip ticket. Most international airlines can advise on visa requirements for tourists.
Cultural
Rio de Janeiro has more than 200 locations for movies, theater, musical and artistic exhibitions, 82 museums and 76 libraries. Besides traditional museums, the city is home to museums dedicated to trains, to planes, to trolley-cars, to jewelry and gemstones, to sport, to the Indians, to primitive Brazilian art and even to Carmem Miranda, among others.
Public Holidays
Rio de Janeiro and Brazil have a number of public holidays during the year. These include:
January 1 - New Year’s Day
January 20 - St. Sebastian – Patron Saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro (only in Rio) Moveable - Carnival
Moveable - Good Friday and Easter
April 21 - Tiradentes – Independence Martyr
April 23 - Saint George Day
May 1 - Labor Day
Moveable - Corpus Christ
September 7 - Independence Day
October 12 - Our Lady Aparecida – Patron of Brazil
November 2 - All Souls' Day
November 15 - Proclamation of the Republic
November 20 - Zumbi dos Palmares - Negro Consciousness Day
December 25 - Christmas Day
Moveable Holidays in 2007:
Carnival - February 17 to 20
Good Friday - April 6
Easter - April 8
Corpus Christ - June 7
Shopping Centers
Shoppings na Barra da Tijuca
Barra Garden
Av. das Américas, 3255
Tel.: +55 21 2431-5677
http://www.barragarden.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Barra Point
Av. Armando Lombardi, 350
Tel.: +55 21 2491-3306 / +55 21 2491-6475
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Barra Square
Av. das Américas, 3555
Tel.: +55 21 2430-7000
http://www.barrasquare.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Barra Shopping
Av. das Américas, 4666
Tel.: +55 21 3089-1000
http://www.barrashopping.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
New York City Center
Av. das Américas, 5000 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.: +55 21 2432-4980
http://www.nycc.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Downtown
Av. das Américas, 500
Tel.: +55 21 3982-2000
http://www.downtown.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Todos os dias: das 10:00 às 22:00
Rio Design Barra
Av. das Américas, 7777
Tel.: +55 21 2461-9999
http://www.riodesignbarra.com.br
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo: das 15:00 às 21:00
Restaurantes: Até o último cliente
Shoppings da Zona Sul
Botafogo Praia Shopping
Praia de Botafogo, 400 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 3171-9880
http://botafogo-praia-shopping.globo.com/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Rio Design Leblon
Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 270 - Leblon
Tel.: +55 21 3206-9100
http://www.riodesignleblon.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo: das 15:00 às 21:00
Rio Plaza Shopping
Rua General Severiano, 97 ss. - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2541-4045
Horário de funcionamento:
Domingo - Quinta-feira: das 12:00 às 23:00
Sexta e Sábado: das 12:00 às 01:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00.
Rio Sul Shopping Center
Rua Lauro Muller, 116 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2545-7279
http://www.riosul.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
São Conrado Fashion Mall
Estrada da Gávea, 899 - São Conrado
Tel.: +55 21 3083-0000
http://www.scfashionmall.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Todos os dias: das 10:00 às 22:00
Shopping Cassino Atlântico
Av. Atlântica, 4.240 - Copacabana
Tel.: +55 21 2523-8709
http://www.shoppingcassinoatlantico.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sexta: das 09:00 às 21:00.
Sábado: das 09:00 às 19:00.
Shopping da Gávea
Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 52 - Gávea
Tel.: +55 21 2294-1096
http://www.shoppingdagavea.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Segunda - Sábado: das 10:00 às 22:00
Domingo - Praça de alimentação: das 12:00 às 21:00;
Lojas: das 15:00 às 21:00
Shopping Leblon
Av. Afrânio de Mello Franco, 290 - Leblon
Tel.: +55 21 3138-8000
http://www.shoppingleblon.com.br/
Horário de funcionamento:
Domingo - Quinta-feira: das 10:00 às 12:00
Sexta e Sábado: das 10:00 às 01:00
Feriados e véspera: das 12:00 às 01:00.
Hospitais na Zona Sul
Casa de Saúde Santa Lúcia
http://clinicasantalucia.com.br/
Rua Capitão Salomão, 27 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2527-4000
Clínica São Vicente
http://www.clinicasaovicente.com.br/
Rua João Borges, 204 - Gávea
Tel.: +55 21 2529-4422
Hospital Clínicas Ipanema
Rua Farme de Amoedo, 86 - Ipanema
Tel.: +55 21 2523-2099
Hospital Copa D`or
http://www.rededor.com.br/hcd/index.htm
Rua Figueiredo Magalhães, 875 - Copacabana
Tel.: +55 21 2545-3600
Hospital Miguel Couto
http://www.biohard.com.br/mcouto/
Rua Mário Ribeiro,117 - Gávea
Tel.: +55 21 2274-6050 and +55 21 2274-5702
Hospital Samaritano
http://www.hsamaritano.com.br/
Rua Bambina, 48 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2537-9722
Policlínica de Botafogo
http://www.polioftalmo.cjb.net/
Av. Pasteur, 102 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2543-1378
Pró Cardíaco
http://www.procardiaco.com.br/
Rua General Polidoro, 192 - Botafogo
Tel.: +55 21 2527-6060
Barra D'Or
http://www.hbd.com.br/
Av. Ayrton Senna, 2541 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.:+55 21 2430-3600
CARDIOBARRA
http://www.cardiobarra.com.br/
R. Fernando Mattos, 162 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.:+55 21 3389-1000
Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge
Endereço: Av. Ayrton Senna 2000 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.:+55 21 2431-1818 / 3325-5878
Rio Mar
http://www.riomar.com.br/
Av. Candido Portinari, 555 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.: +55 21 2431-3390
AMIL Assistência Médica Internacional
http://www.amil.com.br/
Av. Lucio Costa, 3600 BL 01 AP 602 - Barra da Tijuca
Tel.: +55 21 2484-7850
