Planning

The first step in any trip is deciding when to go.
If you don’t have any specific events or fixed dates, consider the factors below:

CLIMATE

Don’t just stick to the seasons.
Find out what kind of climate the destination has, since summer can be rainy, monsoon, school vacations, high season with exorbitant prices and you won’t be able to enjoy much.
Prefer mid-seasons (spring and fall) or early seasons.
That way, you’ll be able to avoid high prices and droves of tourists, and you won’t have to face extreme temperatures.
In the case of winter sports, look out for the pre-season or end of the season.
In the northern hemisphere, it usually starts in November and lasts until mid-December.
The end of the season runs from March to April.
Mountain passes are cheaper, as are hotels.

FESTIVAL DATES AND HOLIDAYS at the destination

It’s important to check the festive dates of your destination to avoid being caught by surprise with overbooked hotels, flights and huge queues.
For example, in Islamic countries at the end of the month of Ramadan the entire population leaves to travel and there are no more flights available.

SEEN

Many countries require visas for international travelers.
So before you buy your ticket , check the bureaucracy required for each destination.

On the Itamaraty website you can find a complete table with all the countries and their visa requirements for Brazilian citizens.

If you have citizenship of another country, find out if there are any differences.

VACCINES

More than 135 destinations require some kind of vaccination.
For example, you can’t enter Jamaica without a yellow fever vaccination, which must be taken at least 10 DAYS in advance.

If this is your first trip that requires vaccination, you will need to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (CIVP). Issued free of charge by the Brazilian government.
It can take between 1 and 7 working days to be ready and is valid for life.

The CIVP is an international document, so take care of it as such.

For step-by-step information, visit the Anvisa website.

COVID-19

If you’re planning to travel soon but don’t know whether the vaccine you’ve been vaccinated with is accepted as valid proof of immunity to COVID-19 by your destination country, you can find out using this vaccine checker. Select the vaccine you have had and then select your country of destination.
Another website that also shows the vaccines that are being used in each country and are therefore accepted is the website Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker.
Select your destination country on the map and check which immunizers are approved.

Use technology and create alerts!
That’s our motto.

Skyscanner

The ticket search site (hotels and cars too), has great tools to help you snag a cheaper ticket.

• Create alerts with the dates you have in mind for your trip.
  As the price is updated, the website will send you an email informing you of the new price
• Use the option to view the entire month
• Both on the website and in the app, you can see the price of tickets in a monthly graph.
  This way, you can match up the dates when prices are cheapest without having to look day by day

Hooper

A ticket search app that provides a trend analysis of ticket prices and a recommendation of the best date to buy.

• Turn on notifications with the dates you have in mind for your trip.
  As the price is updated, the app will send you a price alert
• Use the option to view the entire month
• There are also discount package options for hotels

Newsletters

Register your email on the sites and receive daily offers of tickets, miles and insurance available.

• Best Destinations
• MaxMiles – also bridges the gap between buyer and seller of miles
• 123Miles
• Unmissable tickets

MILES PROGRAM

For a better understanding of the travel mile, the website Passageiro de Primeira explains everything and more so that we can all get to grips with the subject.
You can also check out each airline’s frequent flyer programs (Smiles, Flying Blue, Tudo Azul, Latam, among others) and alliances with airlines around the world (Star Alliance, One World, Skyteam, etc.).
It’s also important to learn how to earn miles with your credit card and in other ways (Livelo, Iupp, Magalu, Netshoes, etc.).  

When choosing your accommodation:

• Don’tbe carried away by the photos of the establishment
• Research the city’s neighborhoods and where you would like to stay before looking for a hotel.
• Check how mobility works with public transportation around you
• Always read reviews from other travelers, it’s the most honest opinion you’ll find

BOOKING.com

We always google to compare prices and accommodation, but Booking.com is the platform with the most accommodation options (hotels, hostels, houses, etc.) and the best functionality, allowing you to use search filters for price, distance from the center, neighborhoods and look for accommodation directly on the map, which we highly recommend.

The site also has a loyalty program, Genius.
After two bookings, the platform will offer you discounts of 10 to 15% at selected establishments in each destination.
CASH BACK: this link gives you R$50 credit after your booking.

HOSTEL WORLD

For those looking for hostels, hostelworld.com is unbeatable.
As well as being budget friendly, it’s the best place to meet other travelers.

AIRBNB

If you want to stay like a local, Airbnb is your best option.
There are countless alternatives, from shared rooms to an entire house for you.
It has many incredible hosts who will give you super local tips.
And it’s the best option for finding houses for large group trips.

COUCHSURFING

Speaking of local experience, Couchsurfing is an incredible platform that is 100% FREE.
All you need to do is register, tell a little about yourself and find a host to take you in.

TIP: Try to stay with hosts verified by the site.
You can also search only for female hosts.

Travel insurance is one of the most important things you need when traveling – although it’s often a travel item that gets overlooked.

What to look for in a travel insurance plan:

1. High limit of cover for your medical expenses.
2. A travel insurance policy that also covers emergency evacuation and care separate from your medical cover.
   Especially if you are traveling to a remote place with a high risk of accidents.
   For example, if you’re hiking in the forest and break your leg or if a natural disaster strikes, your policy should cover your evacuation to the nearest medical center.
3. Coverage for Covid-19, as this is a requirement in many countries and currently few health plans cover it
4. And cover the services below:

• Cover for all the countries you will be visiting (preferably available in most countries in the world)
• Some kind of cover for your electronics (and an option for a higher cover limit).
• Cover for injuries and sudden illnesses.
• Offer 24/7 assistance (you don’t want to call and be told to call back later).
• Cover for lost, damaged or stolen property, such as jewelry, luggage, documents, etc.
• Cover for cancellations of hotels, flights and other transport reservations if you suffer a sudden illness, death in the family or some other emergency.
• Cover for political emergencies, natural disasters or conflicts in the country that cause you to return home early.
• Financial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you get stuck in another country.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Brazilian INSURANCE:

Insurance companies

• Vital Card
• April Brazil
• Allianz / Mondial Assistance

Credit cards

• Link
• American Express
• Mastercard

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE:

• Best travel insurance in general: World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Best travel insurance for backpackers: World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Best travel insurance for expats: IM Global Insurance
• Best insurance for digital nomads: Safety Wing
• Best travel insurance for seniors: Insure My Trip

As soon as you mention foreign currency, the ghost of the IOF follows.

Currently, leaving Brazil, there is no way you can avoid the 6.38% IOF charged on all international purchases.
The only way to alleviate this tax would be to take cash with you on your trip, which, let’s face it, is not the safest method.

CREDIT CARD

Using your credit card, you may be in for some not-so-pleasant surprises when the bill arrives, as the exchange rate varies according to the value on the day your bill closes. In other words, if you made your purchases during your trip when the dollar was R$4.80 but your bill closes on the day that the dollar has risen to R$5.10, this is the value that will be used in the conversion.

It’s best to take a credit card with you for extra security and freedom, in case you find something you didn’t plan to buy or in case of an emergency.
Credit cards also have an international service fee and a withdrawal fee, in addition to the IOF.

PREPAID CARDS

Many companies offer prepaid travel cards.
The advantage is that you don’t have to carry cash and you can also plan your finances.

It works like a normal debit card, which you top up via the app or website and know exactly how much you’re paying in currency conversion that day.
In addition to the IOF, companies usually charge a fee for topping up the card, so try to calculate in advance how much you will spend to avoid having to top up frequently and consequently being taxed.

Withdrawals are also charged a fee, which is usually much lower than conventional credit cards.

There are single-currency cards (euro, dollar or pound), as well as multi-currency cards, which make it easier if you’re traveling to many countries with different currencies.

Some of the best rated cards are:

• MercadoPago Mastercard
• PagSeguro Mastercard
• Bradesco DIN Visa
• Access
• RecargaPay
• Nubank
• Superdigital

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION NOW!
In Europe, this could be your salvation:

CARD N26

Because it comes from a European bank, you don’t pay the fees applied in Brazil.

It’s very simple: the best-known and most reliable digital bank in Europe today is N26, which offers a debit card completely free of charge.

If you live in Europe or have the home of a trusted person to put down as your address, you can apply and receive your card within 10 working days.
The only document you need to open the account is your passport and then confirm your identity.
The check is done via a video call (in English) or photo verification.
All this is done via the bank’s app(iOS, Android).

The advantage of this card is that you can make withdrawals without paying any fees, make purchases without having to pay IOF and make transfers to other banks in Europe, also without any fees.

But I don’t have an account abroad, so how can I put money on the card?

N26 has a partnership with Transferwise, another online tool (app and website), which allows you to make international transfers with much lower exchange and service fees than banks.
So the trick is to use the platform to transfer money from your Brazilian account to N26 and avoid the fees.

CASH

Carrying cash is actually the cheapest way, since the IOF is only 0.38% and it’s easier to negotiate better conversion rates at bureaux de change than at banks.

Melhor Câmbio brings together offers from various exchange offices and allows you to bid.
Within an hour, the brokers will reply whether they accept your price or make a counter-bid.

In addition, you can create an alert on the website with the amount you would like to pay in the currency, so that you receive an email or SMS when the exchange rate is close to the stipulated value.

Currency Converter

• XE Currency: App and Website

Apps that will help you choose the best transportation option for your trip.

Transportation options

• Rome2rio : A platform (app and website) that compares all the means of transport available to get from point A to point B. The results take into account exactly the starting address, i.e. from the bus or train you need to get to the airport, catch the plane, and continue on to your final address.
• Moove It: The platform (app and website) for urban mobility that helps you not waste time waiting for the next bus or train.
  It provides bus, train and metro lines and offers real-time warnings about delays, construction and protests.
  Another plus is the bike routes you can use and bike-sharing networks in your area.
• Google Maps: It’s always a good option and most of the time the transport options and timetables are correct. But the best part of this platform is that you can download the maps and use them offline.

CARS

• Rentalcars.com, Kayak e Skyscanner: Platforms that offer good prices for car rental.
• BlaBlaCar: The hitchhiking website and app that connect drivers and passengers willing to travel together between cities and share the cost of the journey. Make sure you take a good look at the drivers, the review comments and what is being agreed between you.

When you’re traveling, especially to another country, you need to be careful.
Below we’ve listed some small things that can help you avoid headaches and unnecessary hassles.

• Always have digital and physical copies of your documents with you
• Get travel insurance with comprehensive cover
• Inform any relatives or friends of your itinerary and whenever you are in transit
• Respect the local culture. Research and read about the country’s customs, dress, holidays and so on...Talk to other women and observe how the local population behaves
• Always keep your most valuable possessions close to you, especially while you’re on the move
• Use safes and lockers to store your passport and your most valuable possessions
• Have the local security numbers, such as fire and police.
• Activate your cell phone’s “emergency call” mode.

Check out the apps that will help you feel safer traveling alone!

Try to learn basic words and phrases in the language of the country.
As well as getting a smile from the locals, it can save you from a few pitfalls.

• O Duolingo is a great tool for learning the basics and being able to communicate
• Always have Google Translate for the language in question downloaded offline on your phone
• On Pinterest there are mini dictionaries with essential words and phrases for some countries.
  Make a folder before you travel
• Lingua House: Website that teaches you the basics of some languages
• Pocket book can also help you with recurring phrases and the most commonly used words

A step-by-step guide to help you pack.

1. See the weather forecast detailed travel destination
2. What is the purpose of the trip? Hiking in the mountains?
   Beach party?
   City tour?
   If it’s a bit of everything, you’ll need to take a few pieces that can be worn on all these occasions and a few specific items, such as a hiking boot and a nice sandal
3. If your trip is to an Islamic country or one with a very different culture to ours, read up on the customs and laws of that country.
4. Take no more than 3 pairs of shoes (go with the biggest and put two in your suitcase) and always have a Hawaiian with you.
   The shower might be a bit dirty, the hotel floor might be cold, you might get a blister on your foot, etc…
5. Take 3 or 4 undergarments (pants, shorts, skirt) and make combinations that work with all these items.
   Repeating outfits is part of the game, but the challenge is to have outfits that match each other.
6. Take a long scarf to put around your neck, cover your shoulders and even your hair if you need to.
   This is a garment that always helps to ward off the cold and has a thousand and one uses.
7. Handbags are life!
   The less, the better.
   We never wear all our clothes, so when you take a small suitcase you’ll get ready faster (there aren’t so many options available), you won’t pay extra to disembark, you can take it everywhere and it’s easy to pack/unpack.
8. Last tip, buy those small bottles to put shampoo, creams and so on in and have a smaller bag.