Recommendations for Carnival 2007 in Rio
 

Hey all,

A couple of friends and I are heading to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival 2007. I was wondering if anyone had an advice on getting Sambodromo parade tickets ahead of the trip.

A quick google search came up with several websites (carnaval.com, carnivalservice.com, amorbrasil.net, rioturismoradical.com.br, rio-carnival.net, etc). Has anyone ordered tickets through these vendors (or better yet recommend a vendor)?

Also, is it possible to get tickets to any of the balls in advance? Or is it easier just to get the tickets when we arrive?

Thanks.

Wes

Riotur (Rio's Tourism Department) coordinates the Carnaval

http://www.riodejaneiro-turismo.com.br/en/home.php

More info the the Samba Schools League site

http://liesa.globo.com/

For now, all they have is the ticket price, no indication on where or how to buy.

My advice as a Brazilian: unless you are really, really keen to seing the Samba in Rio thing, consider going to SSA (Salvador, Bahia) instead. It's way more fun, better music, better location, more "democratic" (as in street Carnaval versus Rio's closed venue scheme)

Maria

Well it’s unlikely you’ll get the tickets at face value from the official sources as they sell out too quickly. So you’ve 3 options
1) Buy over the Net in advance.
2) Buy it off a tourist agency by shopping around when you get there. I recall one of the agencies behind the Copacabana Palace gave me the best deal a couple of years ago.
3) Buy it off someone outside the Sambódromo. This approach worked for me one year as I got a good deal off fellow salgueirenses and paid 30% less than my Brazilian friends had paid for the same Sector.

I would advise you to wait till you get there and do no. 2).

If you just want a taste of it and are keen to save $$$ you have two further options
a) Buy a ticket for one of the cheaper Sectors (poor view) e.g. 6 or 13 which can be had for $10. Bear in mind that the better Sectors 3, 5, 7, 9 may be $100-150 face value.
b) Attend the “Parade of Champions” the following Saturday.
Adv : Tickets cost half as much and you see the best 7 schools.
Disadv : It doesn’t have the competitive edge of Carnaval.

The last couple of years I’ve seen a report in O Dia on the prices when they go on sale in December which will give an indication as to this year’s face values. I’ve 10-15 friends going to Carnaval this year so will need to find out more anyway.

As for the balls it depends whether you taking about the informal ones at Scala in Leblon or more formal affairs.

I would advise you NOT to go to Salvador for Carnaval unless you’re young, speak Portuguese and are happy to rough it a bit. As I’ve posted here before friends of mine who live in Rio and who are fans of Salvador as a city didn't enjoy it for Carnaval. They were forced to keep their money in the socks to prevent the “democratic” redistribution of their wealth by the numerous hands in their pockets. If you want to party with the people in Rio simply follow one of the Trio Elétricos during the day or go to a street party outside the Sambodromo when the parades are on.

I personally much prefer the Rio Samba Enredo to the Bahian samba but I think for a first time visitor the music won’t be as much an issue as the spectacle.

oiRRio, you are right. Enjoying Carnaval in Rio and in Salvador are mutually exclusive.