Security at airports is very high nowadays. Make sure you do not pack any sharp or suspicious looking objects in your carry on or on your person. Nail clippers, pencil sharpeners, disposable “BIC” type razors should go in your checked baggage, not your carry on bags. You will have to empty your pockets when you go through the security gate and all your carry on items will go through the X ray belt. There is also random checking and the chosen passenger is asked to step out of the line to be thoroughly checked.
The ladies should avoid bags with long shoulder straps, and both men and women should avoid carrying large amounts of money. Do not wear fine jewelry or expensive watches. Leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy with you, as well the telephone number to report a lost credit card.
Pack light. Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe
If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair if possible. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage. To avoid problems keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug.
Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity. I would also recommend that if you are a super neat packer that uses every available square inch of space in the bag go easy from now on. If security opens your bag and go through your things they are not going to put everything back like you did.
THE KEY HERE IS TO PACK LITE. (See the Climate/Clothing section for more suggestions) At almost every place we stay there will be a laundry service.
Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home:
Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency.
Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver's license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home.
Credit. Make a note of the credit limit on each credit card that you bring.
Insurance. You will be covered by Trav Med Abroad as part of your tour services. However, it will be a good idea to find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad.
Keep in mind that if you do your shopping early in the trip you will have to carry your purchases with you the rest of the way, so make your big purchases toward the end.
Don’t bring too many things. Remember our luggage limitations. There are laundry services in most of the hotels
Suggestions for the ladies: casual pants (Dockers type), capris, skirts, blouses, sandals, and comfortable walking shoes. A sweater or light jacket. swim suit, and maybe a pair of shorts or jeans and walking shoes.
Suggestions for the men:jeans, dockers , polo shirts or button down shirts. Bring a comfortable pair of shoes or boots for walking .
Use a good sunscreen to protect against the sun. Brazil is a tropical country. Be prepared, bring or buy insect repellent.
CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends the following vaccines as of today. Check their web site for the latest information. www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect.
We found that US$300 cash per person for food and incidentals for the ten days was enough to satisfy our modest, but not frugal tastes. We will exchange about half of this at the airport money exchange when we get there.
In the cities there are ATM machines where you can use your card and PIN to withdraw cash
Traveler’s checks are not accepted in many places, and sometimes you may have to go to a bank to cash them—very inconvenient.
Always look before you plug something in. You may need a converter/adapter to use your hair dryer, travel iron, electric shaver, etc. You may not only need to convert the voltage for your appliance, but you may also need an adaptor for the outlet to be able to plug in your appliance. Personal assistance with international electricity issues can be found at www.traveloasis.com or calling toll free to 1-877-894-1960.
Hotels, especially in small towns, do not always offer the facilities of American hotels. Beds are usually smaller, and with little insulation in the walls, you may find rooms being somewhat noisy. Obviously, if you stay in American hotels, you will find them like in America, however they are usually much more expensive than in the USA.
Always carry your passport on your person, in a safe place. Do not pack it in your suitcase. Most of the hotels we stay at will have a safe in the room, if not they will have one at the front desk. You must show your passport at the U.S. airports when you get on the planes,
Pack one copy of your passport in your suitcase along with any other copies you made of the documents you are carrying with you.
Clean out your wallet and leave stuff you won’t need at home. The only thing in my wallet will be my credit card, a copy of my passport, my TravMed insurance number, my telephone calling card, some business cards and cash.
If you intend to use your credit card to withdraw money from ATM machines in be sure that it has the “Cirrus” seal on the back, and be sure you know your PIN.
Plan for the possibility of your luggage being delayed or lost. It can happen, and has happened to us. Flights may be delayed, and you might make a connection, but your luggage doesn’t. Your luggage may catch up with you on the next flight, which could mean the next day, or it might take several days. In case this happens, carry a complete change of clothes in your carry-on bag. Some hotels can do overnight or same-day laundry for a fee, so you could manage for a few days with just one extra change of clothes. Carry necessary toiletries, prescription medication, (remember to have the written prescription available for any prescription medicine) and anything essential in your carry-on bag. Pack your toiletries in plastic bags to avoid leakage. If there are two of you, you might pack half of your clothes in each other’s suitcases, in case one suitcase is delayed or lost.
Remember to pack light. You will need some room to bring your souvenirs home.
Traveler’s diarrhea affects 20% to 50% of travelers. Pack an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication such as Lomotil or Pepto-Bismol, and immediately treat the first sign of diarrhea. If you do get it, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Make sure your camera equipment is working and bring plenty of film and batteries. However, if you run out film and standard-sized batteries should be available in most places we go.
Airport X-ray machines are not supposed to damage exposed film, but I hear that the stronger X-ray machines they now use to look at checked luggage could hurt film. Airport security personnel may check cameras and film containers by hand of asked. Foil-lined pouches that are designed to protect film from X-Ray damage can be purchased at most camera shops.
Smoking is not allowed on airplane flights. There may be smoking lounges in the airport terminals.
Be sure to check with whatever phone card company you use to find out how to use your card.