Figuring out what to do in Rio de Janeiro when you’re on a tight budget might not be the easiest task, but it is possible. With Brazil’s rapidly growing economy, the rising rent and hotel prices in Rio de Janeiro, Carnival’s increasing international popularity, in addition to Rio having been chosen as host city for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro is a city that requires some planning ahead if you hope to keep your spending in check.
1) Use public transportation
Rio has reliable metro and bus systems that are quite easy to navigate, so don’t waste your money on expensive taxis that get stuck waiting in Rio’s lamentably slow traffic.
If you’re going to or from the airport, make sure to use the blue REAL bus, which only costs about $5 each way.
2) Avoid Carnival
It goes without saying that prices skyrocket during Carnival, especially the hotel and hostel rates due to high demand.[pull_quote_right]It’s very possible to satisfy your appetite for Brazilian debauchery while saving money and seeing a more authentic side of Rio.[/pull_quote_right]
Keep in mind that Rio’s nightlife in the Lapa neighborhood is exciting every weekend, Rio has plenty of other festivals throughout the year, and local neighborhood blocos, or block parties, happen frequently for several weeks leading up to Carnival. It’s very possible to satisfy your appetite for Brazilian debauchery while saving money and seeing a more authentic side of Rio.
If you absolutely must partake in Carnival, make sure to book your hotel well in advance, and plan to spend a few days in Rio before or after Carnival, with only a couple of days overlapping either the start or end of the festivities. The prices will still be higher than if you had gone at a different time of year, but at least you won’t be paying absolute peak prices.
3) Compare hotels in advance
To find cheap hotels in Rio de Janeiro, try using a hotel comparison site like Hipmunk.com to compare hotels, hostels and even Airbnb apartments that fit your budget and have the amenities you’re looking for.
4) Consider location
The most popular areas for tourists are near the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. While you can definitely find some reasonable hotel deals in those neighborhoods, you’ll likely save more money if you stay further from the beach, like in the artsy Santa Teresa district.
If you have a limited amount of time in Rio, also consider staying near the attraction you’ll want to spend the most time at (i.e., Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Selaron’s staircase and the vibrant nightlife of the Lapa district, the cable car ride up Sugarloaf mountain, etc.)
5) Learn a little Portuguese
Try to learn some basic Portuguese before heading to Rio, at least enough to be able to ask a local for a restaurant recommendation and to order food from a Portuguese menu. Granted it’s easy to find restaurants in Rio that cater to tourists with menus in both Portuguese and English, but the prices are generally going to be higher.
If you’re lucky enough to eat at an authentic local haunt, chances are you’ll find better food at lower prices, and the menus will likely be only in Portuguese. Bring a little notebook full of basic sentences and vocabulary in case you forget when you’re put on the spot!
6) Download mobile apps for Rio
Although I recommend doing most of your research online ahead of time, it’s a good idea to download some city apps, like this one from TripAdvisor, or FourSquare so you have something reliable to refer to if you find yourself with some downtime and nothing planned.
7) Book excursions with local guides
Compare and book local excursions in advance to avoid paying last-minute fees. Excursiopedia is a catalogue of excursions for every budget and type of traveler, plus there are no booking fees and they even claim to match or beat any competitor’s price, so you’ll have more cash to put towards your caipirinha fund.
Photos: 1) Shutterstock; 2) keka via photopin cc; 3) mariaguimarães via photopin cc;
Christina Gmyr is a writer for Hipmunk and is currently working on the #HipmunkCityLove project.
