Travel Insurance Brazil

Business Practices

Business suits are worn when meeting senior officials and local heads of business, for semi-formal social functions and in exclusive restaurants and clubs. Exchange of calling cards is usual, as is the expectation of dealing with someone of equal business status. The pace of negotiation is slow and is based largely on personal contact. It is rare for important business deals to be concluded by telephone or letter. Many Brazilian executives do not react favorably to quick and infrequent visits by foreign sales representatives. They prefer a more continuous working relationship. The Brazilian buyer is also concerned with after-sales service provided by the exporter. The slower pace of business negotiation does not mean that Brazilians are less knowledgeable in terms of industrial technology or modern business practices. In fact, one should be as prepared technically when making a call on a Sao Paulo firm as on a Chicago firm. In addition, a businessperson should learn as much about the Brazilian economic and commercial environment as possible before doing business. While office hours in Brazil are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., decision-makers begin work later in the morning and stay later in the evening. The best times for calls on a Brazilian executive are between 10 a.m. and noon, and 3 to 5 p.m., although this is less the case for Sao Paulo where appointments are common throughout most of the day. Lunch is usually two hours. It is customary in Brazil to drink coffee during a business appointment. While many Brazilians may speak English, they may wish to conduct business in Portuguese. The non-Portuguese speaking executive may need an interpreter on more than 50 percent of business calls. Correspondence and product literature should be in Portuguese, and English is preferred as a substitute over Spanish. Specifications and other technical data should be in the metric system. Office hours are usually 0830-1730 Monday to Friday.

Crime

The incidence of crime against tourists tends to be greater in areas surrounding hotels, discotheques, bars, nightclubs and other similar establishments that cater to visitors, especially at dusk and during the evening hours. Incidents of theft on city buses are frequent and such transportation should be avoided. Several cities have established specialized tourist police units to patrol areas frequented by tourists. Kidnapping for ransom has become a profitable industry in Rio and Sao Paulo in recent years. Many cases are not reported to the authorities because the relatives of victims lack faith in the ability of the police to handle such matters safely and effectively and prefer simply to pay the ransom demanded. Most victims continue to be wealthy Brazilian businesspeople and their family members rather than expatriate visitors or residents. The following common-sense practices will help visitors and residents from becoming victim of crime: Avoid going out alone if possible; walk with a companion wherever possible. Avoid unlit areas, especially alleys and parks. Do not resist an armed thief. If robbed, never pursue on foot. Do not carry large sums of money; carry only what you need. Do not wear ostentatious necklaces or other jewelry of real or apparent value. Do not overburden yourself with bundles. When riding in a cab, keep all the doors locked and the windows rolled up to within two inches of the top frame. Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro continues to experience a high incidence of crime. Visitors are particularly vulnerable to street thefts and robberies in areas adjacent to all the main beaches in Rio. All incidents should be reported to the tourist police, who can be reached at 511-5112. Sao Paulo All areas of Sao Paulo have a high rate of armed robbery of pedestrians and motorists at stoplights. At airports, hotel lobbies, bus stations, and other public places there is much pickpocketing, and the theft of carry-on luggage, briefcases, and laptop computers. Travelers should closely protect these items. Travelers should "dress down" when outside and avoid carrying valuables, especially any jewelry or expensive watches. Sao Paulo police resorted more to guns to fight crime in 1999 and ended up killing the highest number of people in seven years in Brazil's most violent region, a police watchdog in early 2000. Police in Sao Paulo state killed 664 people in 1999, 26 percent more than in 1998 and the most since 1992. According to statistics released by Sao Paulo's Civil Police Force on in January 2006, there is, on average, one bank robbery per day in the city's metropolitan area alone. The statistics indicate that there were 418 cases reported in 2004, while the number of incidents in 2005 rose by 8 percent, to 449. Meanwhile, 25 incidents have been reported this year-to-date. The heavily-armed gangs conducting the robberies usually consist of between five and 10 people. Brasilia A number of violent assaults have been registered in the hotel district in Brasilia in recent years, and it is advisable for visitors staying there to take taxis to their destination when going out at night. Certain areas of the Lago Sul district in Brasilia, where many expatriates live, are prone to being targeted for burglary.

Hotels

Accommodation varies according to region. First-class accommodation is, by and large, restricted to the cities of the south. Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo have many modern hotels, ranging from the very expensive deluxe hotels to moderately priced hotels. It is vital to pre-book well in advance for the Carnival (which takes place annually in February). Bras?lia has a small number of good hotels. Most tourists visit Bras?lia by air from Rio or S?o Paulo for a day trip, or make a single-night stopover. Bahia (Salvador) has small number of good hotels, some moderately priced hotels, several demi-pensions. The Bahia carnival takes place after Christmas (from December to March).

Communications

Full IDD telephone services are available for the whole country and abroad. The country code is 55. The outgoing international code is 00. Embratel is one of the main telecommunication services in Brazil (website: www.embratel.com.br). Offices of Embratel are in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Rio?s airport provides 24-hour telecommunication services. Public telephones take telephone cards (cartoes telefonicos) most of which cost R$20. Some older telephones may require metal discs (fichas), which can be obtained from cash desks or newspaper kiosks. International calls from Brazil are generally expensive. Mobile analogue and digital telephone networks exist. There are many different network providers, including TCO (website: www.tco.com.br) and Americel (website: www.americel.com.br). GSM 1800 networks have recently been established. Main operators include Oi (website: www.oi.com.br) and TIM Brazil (website: www.timbrasil.br). Hotels generally provide Internet access to guests. Internet cafes can be found in main towns and cities, and there are often Internet booths at airports. In smaller towns, public access is sometimes available at post offices. Post offices are open 0900-1300 Monday to Friday and 0900-1300 Saturday.

Electricity

services vary from city to city. In Brasilia and Recife it is 220 volts AC; Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo 127 volts AC or 220 volts in larger hotels. Plugs are of the two-pin type. Better hotels provide 110-volt and 220-volt outlets, transformers and adaptors. Electricity Bras?lia and Recife, 220 volts AC; Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo, 127 volts AC or 220 volts in larger hotels. Plugs are of the two-pin type. Most hotels provide 110-volt and 220-volt outlets, transformers and adaptors.

Plug Types

A,B,C,I

Food And Dining

Many regional variations are very different from North American and European food. One example is Bahian cookery, derived from days when slaves had to cook scraps and anything that could be caught locally, together with coconut milk and palm oil.

National specialties:
? Vatap? (shrimps, fish oil, coconut milk, bread and rice).
? Sarapatel (liver, heart, tomatoes, peppers, onion and gravy).
? Caruru (shrimps, okra, onions and peppers). From Rio Grande do Sul comes:
? Churrasco (barbecued beef, tomato and onion sauce).
? Galleto al primo canto (pieces of cockerel cooked on the spit with white wine and oil). From Amazonas comes:
? Pato no tucupi (duck in rich wild green herb sauce).
? Tacac? (thick yellow soup with shrimps and garlic).
? In the northeast, dried salted meat and beans are the staple diet.
? In Rio de Janeiro, a favorite dish is feijoada (thick stew of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausage, chops, pigs? ears and tails on white rice, boiled green vegetables and orange slices). Types of establishment vary. If resident in a hotel, drinks and meals can often be charged to an account. National drinks: All kinds of alcoholic drink are manufactured and available and there are no licensing hours or restrictions on drinking.
? Beer is particularly good and draught beer is called chopp.
? The local liqueur is cacha?a, a type of rum popular with locals, but not so much with visitors.
? This phenomenally strong spirit is often mixed with sugar, crushed ice and limes to make caipirinha, a refreshing if intoxicating cocktail, and the Brazilian national drink.
? Southern Brazilian wine is of a high quality.
? Brazilian coffee is served in espresso-sized cups and is extremely popular. Some bars have waiters and table service.

Tipping:
10 to 15 per cent is usual for most services not included on the bill.

Nightlife
The best entertainment occurs in Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo. In Rio, the major clubs do not present their main acts until after midnight, and the daily paper gives current information; small clubs (boites) provide nightly entertainment throughout the city. S?o Paulo nightlife is more sophisticated, with greater choice; the shows tend to start earlier.