[Vicious]

Very interesting post! Greatly appreciate the info. I have loads of airline points to do away with to pick my next target city with and it seems like I have missed the boat on Rio. Should probably go to Recife/Natal or Brasilia instead.

[KingofScotland]

I don't think you've missed the boat with Rio, it's still a fantastic city with almost everything you could ever want. If you go you will enjoy it.

[Mr.GM]

Vicious, I don't think that Brasilia should be the first option for a guy who has never been to Brazil.Nor Sao Paulo.
These cities are similar to other metropolitan areas in the world.I think that for the first time one should go to "tropical" spots like Rio,Recife,Floripa, Bahia etc..you can explore metropolitan areas later(like brasilia,BH, SP)

and Rio in my view is getting better , not worse. It's a fantastic city.

[Vacancier Permanent]

Also, in BSB a car is a must or you should do some strong pipelining to line up a hot and rich girl with her own car. BSB is not a city made for man and that's a recurrent complaint from people in Brasilia. For a first timer, depending on how long you'd go. If you have 2 weeks, this is what I would do: 2-3 days in the beginning in Rio to recover from jet lag, party a bit and see the stunning vistas of Rio; then head to Paraty either with a bird you've met in Rio or try your luck with the tourists once there. Spend a week in the paradisical bliss of Paraty; then explore the regio and go south the coast along the small yet very beautiful Paulistas beaches. You might want to hop on a plane and head to Iguaçu Falls to see one of the natural wonders of the world; if you want to rather spend time in a friendly beach town, Joao Pessoa is the place to be. I haven't been there but I keep on hearing only positives about it. But Brasilia on a first trip without any contacts/high quality girls line up already and without speaking Portuguese to at least an intermediate level? Forget it!

[Vicious]

(11-21-2011 05:32 PM)Mr.GM Wrote:  

Vicious, I don't think that Brasilia should be the first option for a guy who has never been to Brazil.Nor Sao Paulo.
These cities are similar to other metropolitan areas in the world.I think that for the first time one should go to "tropical" spots like Rio,Recife,Floripa, Bahia etc..you can explore metropolitan areas later(like brasilia,BH, SP)

and Rio in my view is getting better , not worse. It's a fantastic city.

Littered with tourists, and if I go to Brazil in my own time the sightseeing is not a factor. I will eventually go to SP or Rio with work so I don't have a rush there.t

[KingofScotland]

A week in Paraty VP? Might be a bit much for most people. I'd spend the week in Rio and 2-3 days in Paraty. Paraty is nice and there's loads to see & do (beaches, forts, boat trips, cacahca distilleries, waterfalls etc) but the night life isn't great (I got luck as there was a 'negro' festival on nearbye the first day then live music in the square the second).

[Farmageddon]

Quote:

Wow, I felt like I was reading a professional magazine article. Very informative.

I second this sentiment. That was the best travel/foreign article I've ever read on this site. Very interesting.