With all due respect to Fter swissaire, it is a lot of hooey to suggest that Switzerland has anything approaching the crime level in Rio.

One is safe, the other is not.

Don't blame the victim for getting attacked by thieves.

Yes, the cost and validity of visas is virtually always on a reciprocal basis (we pay what they pay, our visas are valid for the same length as theirs to the U.S.). That doesn't mean they're not expensive. It just means that each side pays the same amount. I live in Brazil and while I wouldn't dissuade anyone from visting the country, including Rio, I also think that one worrisome factor is the incompetency and/or corruption of Brazilian police in many (not all) places. And the Brazilian justice system is a joke (prisoners released early on a routine bais, even let out for holidays-- though they are supposed to promise to return). And while some say "robberties can happen anywhere," that's not the same as saying there's an equal chance anywhere. When I worked in Rio in the mid-90s I never carried more money than I could afford to lose. This was before small digital cameras were widely used, and I have very few pictures of my stay there. I don't regard armed robbery as a "scam." To me, a "scam" is something ike the old one, used in Rio for a while, of someone squirting a liquid on your shoes (unbeknownst to you), and then offering to help you clean them, while his colleague robs you. When I worked in Rio, two friends visited me and picked up a map from my apartment's doorman (I was at work) and went for a walk. They walked around, even window-shopping in expensive jewelry stores, speaking English loudly. While they were walking on the main beach road in Ipanema, two thieves knocked one to the ground and took out of their pocket what they thought was a wallet (it was the map I'd left them). The thief saw what it was, disgustedly threw it to the ground, and walked away. Leave your wallets and purses and jewelry in your hotel (preferably in a safe) and take enough money for snacks, etc.

This week's The Economist has a report on criminality in Rio entitled "A MAGIC MOMENT FOR THE CITY OF GOD" showing how crime has declined in Rio because of proper policing, better governance and stronger economy.

Here is the link to the full article -

http://www.economist.com/node/16326428

Rgs,

Interest graph inserted in the above article:

Some excellent advice has been provided in this post, but really.....


Do I really want to spend thousands of dollars and spend my hard-earned vacation in this mode? Have we run out of places to visit for a relaxing holiday along the water? $crew Rio.

Am I guaranteed one mugging per outing?
What would I hand over to the second mugger?

When I was in Italy, someone tried to rob me at least 2-3 times/day. I would still go back. Sometimes you take the good with the bad.

Yeah, but at least they have good food that you can feast on, after you get robbed.

If you are in Sao Paulo you can easily find excellent Italian food (Brazil has the largest Italian population outside of Italy, about 25 million people of Italian origin, with the best Italian restaurants you can find in the world...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Brazilian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Brazil

Rgs,

Please, its not like you need to walk through Ipanema with the fear of God at your side. Just pay attention. Look, the thieves do not look like the tourists or the other locals. Yes this is sad to say from a human prospective, but they are very poorly dressed, dirty, and have horrific hygiene. Compared to everyone else around you they stand out like a sore thumb. While an earlier post here was on the cruel side it was realistic that tourist, particularly American tourists, do dumb things to call undue attention to themselves as clueless tourists.

As an uptight Manhattan dweller I always feel relaxed and just as safe in Ipanema as I do at home. There are parts of Rio I that I would never walk around in, there are parts of New York that I would never walk around in. Normally traveling to most parts of the world require some risk.

George, your point is well taken.

Three years ago, we did Buenos Aires/Rio (Ipanema with trash floating in the ocean along the beach) and Iguachu Falls from both sides and came back unscathed, only to be subjected to successful "pocket cleaning" in the Milan and Paris metros, and an attempted scam at the Athens Hilton in the last two years. Fortunately, the total money lost in the two metro incidents was about half of what the Brazilian consulate charged for a visa.

As others have pointed out, there is always a risk when you step out of the house. So, I plan to either avoid taking vacations in countries where there is higher probability of us being the targets of a scam, or spend some extra money on taxis. BTW, taxi rides at night aren't always safe in many countries either.

Peace and happy travels!

I've travelled to Rio 2-3x a year for either pleasure or in support of a small side business I run (or both ). Sometimes when out on buying trips or on my way from my airport I have unfortunately had to carry large amounts of money and/or credit card on me, but when I do, I dress down so I just look like a bummy tourist (I'll never shake the tourist part -- I gave up on that). But I always, always walk with confidence, and if I get a little disoriented, I duck into a decent eating establishment, grab a coffee, check my map, relax, and set back out (this is usually in Centro).

What is being missed here is that by NOT carrying so much to worry about like a phone, expensive camera, wallet, etc., is that you FEEL more confident and that will translate into your appearance. If you are skulking around always patting your back pocket or nervously watching your bag on the beach, you look vulnerable. I LOVE the feeling of going to Lapa or wherever at night knowing that if it all went to hell, I could hop in a taxi, get back to the apartment or hotel and retrieve cash there.

Full disclosure: I was pickpocketed once outside of the Sambadromo during Carnaval on one of my first trips. They saw me go into my purse backback and open a change purse and put it back. Now I just keep small change in my pocket for the metro, a bottle of water, whatever.

Long story short: having travelled with at least a dozen friends to Rio over the years, everyone loved it, no one had problems, and felt it was worth it even with having to take precautions.

^^^^^^^^

yup - you show the second mugger the card the first mugger is legally obliged to give you ......

Wow, this kind of education is not available anywhere except on FT. I feel so blessed.

I share your same sentiment and fully agree.

Rgs,

Hate to say it, but it is pretty common knowledge that the major beach areas in Rio aren't reasonably safe at night. It's also not a hot idea to stroll around by yourself at night and sightsee in most any major city.

I've been to Rio several times and loved it. Never got robbed, scammed or pickpocketed. We even took a favela tour the last time we were there. *Any* Rio guidebook will mention tourist safety tips, like the ones mentioned in this thread.

Now if you're not the type to research your destination before you get there, at least talk to the hotel concierge or front desk staff (or a local colleague or friend, if applicable). They'll let you know if there are any safety concerns -- even if you only ask for recommendations on what to see or where to eat.

Here's another Rio tip for newbies: many of the attractive women hanging around by themselves near the beaches at night (and alone in the dance clubs across the street) are also looking to get their hands on your money. They're much nicer about it, though. And a healthy percentage of them aren't female, just so ya know.