Latest News

Dengue Fever Epidemic in Rio de Janeiro
22/03/08: Rio de Janeiro's Health Authority confirmed 23,555 infections with dengue fever only for the city of Rio year to date. It is increasing daily by 300 new infections. More than 50 people died in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Emergencies in the hospitals are desperately overcrowded with waits for hours. There is no hope to change for the better.

No specific treatment for dengue fever exists, and most people recover. But if you have a severe form of the disease, you need hospital care. It can cause death. No prophylactic dengue fever vaccine exists.

Dengue fever signs and symptoms typically include: High fever, a rash over most of your body, severe headache, backache or both, pain behind your eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting.
The more severe of the desease - dengue hemorrhagic fever - can also cause: Bleeding from the nose, mouth and under the skin, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock), death.

Yellow Fever Warning for Goiás
07/01/08: Brazilian Health Authority recommends a yellow fever vaccination for all travellers to the federal state of Goiás, specially to Chapada dos Veadeiros and the city Jaraguá. The vaccination is available free of charge at the Health Posts (Posto de Saúde) at nearly all airports.

Until now dead monkeys were found in 39 cities of Goiás presumable killed by yellow fever as was a farmer.

Fort of Saint Marcel Now Open to The Public
02/01/07: After about 20 years of proclamations and promises the Fort of Saint Marcel (Forte de São Marcelo) is now renovated and open to the public (Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 h/9.00 am. to 18:00 h/6.00pm.). The fort is picturesquely situated in front of Mercado Modelo on a sand bar in the All Saints Bay. Access is by ferry from Terminal Marítimo.

Salary Increases in 2007: Workers + 8,6 %, Parlamentarians + 90,7 %
20/12/06: President Lula of Labour Party (PT) confirmed increase of minimum salary from now 350 BRL per month by 8,6 % to 380 BRL in April 2007. About 40 % of working people in Brazil (in Northeast about 60 %) receive one salary or less. - The Federal Statistical Authority informed that in the 10 years from 1995 to 2005 average labour income decreased by 12,7 %.

Same time the parlamentary directors of the Brazilian Congress decided to increase the salary of the federal parlamentarians in January 2007 from at the moment 12.847 BRL by 90,7 % to 24.500 BRL per month.

The Brazilian Journalist Fernando Rodrigues reveals in his book about Politicians in Brazil ("Políticos do Brasil) the self-declared (!) fortune of the reelected federal parlamentarians in the year 2002. The average fortune e.g. of a member of the largest opposition party PFL (successor of the former militaries) was 3,196 mio. Reais (about 1,153 Mio €/1.486 mio. USD). - Nothing to add.

Permanent Flight Delays
24/11/06: It seemed to be a strike of the air controllers but it is a permanent problem now. In the triangle São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia flights delay for hours several times per week up to cancellations. The situation is bad on national holidays and will become worse during nation wide school holidays from midst of December until end of February. There are not enough qualified air controllers. Conditions will improve only midst of 2007, when there are sufficient air controllers. International flights are less delayed but their connecting domestic flights are.

As Brazilian newspapers informed the GOL flight accident on 29/09/06 with 154 victims might be partly caused by a not sufficient qualified air controller and an incorrect supervision. Anyway, Brazilian government decided to transfer civil air control from a military to a civil authority.

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Special Offers - Last Minute - Packages

Period 01/09 - 30/11/08: 7 for 6
Book for 7 nights and pay only for 6 nights, or book 14 and pay only 12 nights (cash payment only). This deal also includes a rich breakfast, service and taxes, a welcome caipirinha and one free airport transportation (from 10 nights both transportations are free).

Christmas/New Year: 19/12/08 - 13/01/09
Package 1: 7 nights for 360 EUR (period form 19/12 to 31/12/08),
Package 2: 12 nights for 550 EUR
for two persons breakfast and taxes included (subject to changes) and advanced payment is required. You can cancel a reservation at no costs until 20 days prior to arrival date.

Please contact us for other periods and different number of persons.
Due to high demand and small offer of seats it is strongly recommended to book your flights early (about 5 months in advance).

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Instant Flight Information

American Airlines Miami - Salvador
13/08/08: US Department of Transportation authorized American Airlines (AA) a daily flight from Miami (MIA) to Salvador (SSA). It will be a night flight direct and non-stop and probably start in November. Flights are already bookable in GDS.

New Brazilian Airline "Azul" (Blue)
13/08/08: The new airline Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras intends to begin domestic flights only as from January 2009 serving 25 main Brazilian cities. Reservations are accepted from November. The company uses Embraer 195 jets with 118 seats arranged in four seats per row. It promises competitive prices.

Iberia Salvador - Madrid
25/10/07: Iberia starts end of November or beginning of December one weekly flight from Salvador to Madrid in code-share with Iberoworld. Equipment will be Airbus 330-300 with 380 seats in economy class.

TAM Frankfurt - São Paulo
18/09/07: TAM announced final data for its daily flight Sâo Paulo - Frankfurt - São Paulo. First flight (Airbus A340) will leave São Paulo (GRU) on 30/11/07 at 22:40 h and arrive in Frankfurt (FRA) next day 13:30 h. First return flight Frankfurt - São Paulo is on 01/12/07 at 22:40 h arriving next day in São Paulo 13:30 h. Economy-class price starts with 919 USD (about 680 EUR) both ways.

TAP with 32 destinations in Brazil
24/08/07: Portuguese flight company TAP is the largest carrier of passengers from abroad to Brazil with at the moment 60 weekly flights from Portugal. It offers direct connections to Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Natal, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro und Brasilia.

Effective 01/09/07 TAP starts a code share agreement with Brazilian TAM allowing to book and pay directly with TAP 32 destinations within Brazil. Carrier is TAM but luggage will be forwarded and boarding cards are issued by TAP.

The following airports inside Brazil (in alphabethic order) are served by TAM for TAP:
AJU (Aracajú), BEL (Belém), BPS (Porto Seguro), BSB (Brasília), CGB (Cuiabá), CGH (São Paulo-Congonhas), CNF (Belo Horizonte), CWB (Curitiba), FOR (Fortaleza), GIG (Rio de Janeiro), GRU (São Paulo-Guarulhos), GYN (Goiânia), IGU (Iguaçu), IMP (Imperatriz), IOS (Ilhéus), JPA (João Pessoa), LDB (Londrina), MAO (Manaus), MCP (Macapá), MCZ (Maceió), NAT (Natal), NVT (Navegantes), PMW (Palmas), POA (Porto Alegre), PVH (Porto Velho), RBR (Rio Branco), REC (Recife), SLZ (São Luiz), SSA (Salvador), STM (Santarém), THE (Teresina), VIX (Vitoria).

TAM Paris - Salvador - Paris
09/08/07: Brazilian flight company TAM inaugurated today on its daily flight from Paris (CDG) to São Paulo (CGH) a stopover in Salvador, but only once per week on Thursdays. The return flight from Salvador (coming from São Paulo) to Paris is on Thursdays too. Both flights Paris-Salvador-Paris are direct and non-stop.

First Choice Last Minute
19/05/07: First Choice (new name: TUI Travel) has in low season Last Minute offers for 209 GBP/310 EUR (return way) from Manchester (MAN) to Salvador (direct and non-stop).

Special Offers - Alternative to Brazil Airpass
The Brazil Airpass has some restrictions. It must be bought abroad together with an Atlantic flight, no direct return flights are allowed, changes of destinations are expensive and you depend on a specific company. An option are special offers of the flight companies. They often cost only 30 % of the normal ticket, they are sold within Brazil too, return flights are possible and you can combine different carrier. But flights are normally at night or on weekends.

Connecting Flights to Lisbon and Madrid
TAP-AirPortugal offers to its daily direct flight Lisbon-Salvador own connecting flights from several European airports.

Air Europa has own connecting flights from several European cities to its direct flight Madrid-Salvador (four times per week).

WhichBudget.com shows the most complete and up-to-date directory of low cost - low fare flights to Lisbon (LIS) and Madrid (MAD) in many languages.

Here are some examples:
- Air-Berlin (LIS + MAD)
- easyJet (LIS + MAD)
- Virgin Express (LIS + MAD)
- Maersk Air (LIS + MAD)
- Transavia (LIS + MAD)
- Condor (LIS)
- Brussels Airlines (LIS)
- Centralwings (MAD)
- Meridiana (MAD)

Carnival 2008

Be aware that our hotel is not situated in downtown Salvador, where the carnival processions take place, but 40 km distant. There are 3 different places (Pelourinho, Barra-Ondina, Campo Grande/Avenida), to which we offer transportation and guide even at night (both ways). If you prefer, we arrange car rental.

Carnival Routes (Circuitos):

Besides this, from Saturday night to Wednesday morning Trios play in some of the popular quarters as Liberdade, Periperi, Cajazeiras, Itapuã, Ribeira and Mussurunga.

Trio Eléctrico - Blocos Afro
The 'Trio Eléctrico' is an invention of Bahian carnival. It is a big truck equipped round about with high volume loudspeakers and a band (banda) playing on its top.
The 'Blocos Afros' (African blocos) are large drum-based troupes who play on the streets accompanied by singers on the top of a mobile sound trucks.

The fans of the trios and the blocos afros dance on the street in front and behind the truck, which moves at a snail's pace through the streets with its own security personnel who cordon off the area around the fans. Ticket prices depend on band's popularity. The trios/blocos start in intervals of 20 - 30 minutes.

Where to join
The trios/blocos sell colourful uniform t-shirts (abadás) as admission ticket for one or more days (valid only for that trio/bloco). Some agencies sell packages for several groups and several days.
Who likes to be more independent joins trios/blocos from beside the street (pipoca). On Circuito Osmar we dissuade to do so.

Throughout the Circuitos Osmar and Dodô are tribunes with seats (camarotes) available, where you can watch and listen the trios/blocos go by. Ticket prices depend on the position and the own events they offer.
Specially along Circuito Dodô a lot of restaurants rent seats too.
At last in a lot of private apartments along the routes are window seats for rent.
On Pelourinho it is less busy and you can walk around.

Highlights

Famous is on Saturday the departure of the drum troupe of Ilê Aiyê walking in colourful costumes from their headquarters in 'black' Curuzu/Liberdade to Campo Grande.

On Monday night at Praça Municipal (Circuito Batatinha), near Pelourinho, is a gay costume contest and election of the Drag Queen.

In Salvador Carnival doesn't end on Ash Wednesday morning. About 08:00 h (8.00 a.m.) on Wednesday begins the 'arrastão' (drag) to drag all who are still fit for a final dance. Under the direction of Carlinhos Brown at Barra Lighthouse a lot of 'Trios' start for their last parade to Ondina.

Car Rental (Locadora)

For car rental a valid credit card and your domestic drivers license are necessary. If you stay longer than 3 months you need a Brazilian license, which is difficult to get. Add the name of your partner to the rental contract, otherwise she/he is not allowed to drive the rented car. Rental prices at the airport are higher.

Our car rental partner offers a wide range of cars, from basic to fully equipped models and a 24/7 service.

A basic car (Fiat Palio, VW Gol, Ford Fiesta, Celta, Uno) with 2 doors, no air conditioning, and no miles/km limit costs 36 EUR/day-52 USD/day, insurance and taxes included. A complete larger model (Corsa, Sedan) with 4 doors, air conditioning, CD-player and no miles/km limit is 63 EUR/day- 90 USD/day (subject to changes).

Discounts: For every 4 days rent the 5th day is always free. For a 30 days rent pay only 20 days. Car delivery and/or return at Hotel LAGOA e MAR or at the airport.

One gallon of gasoline is about 4,40 EUR/6,50 USD, one litre about 1,00 EUR/1,50 USD.

We dissuade you from driving a car at night outside the cities. Roads and highways are mostly in extremly bad conditions with deep holes. First, you are not familiar to it and see the holes to late. Second, these places are the favourites for raids because you must reduce speed or even stop.

Holidays - Feasts - Events

January (01)
06...20: Rehearsal for carnival of the drum troupes of Ilê Aiyê in Curuzu quarter. Every Saturday night until carnival (charged).
11: 45th Travessia Mar Grande - Salvador, free swimming competition crossing the All Saints Bay from Itaparica Island to Porto da Barra (12 km/7,4 miles).
16 - 19: Festival do Verão, big (summer) festival of mainly popular music (charged).
11 - 13: Vilas Folia, micareta (pre-carnival) in Vilas de Abrantes, neighbouring village of Jauá.
12: 29ª Noite da Beleza Negra - 29th Night of the Black Beauty, major fiest of the Brazilian 'Negritude' by Ilê Aiyê. Rised as an answer to traditional beauty contests, where black woman normaly can't participate.
25 - 28: Patron saint's feast (lavagem) in Jauá.
31 - 06/02: Carnival, the largest open air music and dance festival on earth.

February (02)
02: Yemanjá - Goddess of the Sea, very popular feast in Rio Vermelho Quarter.
29 - 09/03: Liquida Salvador, summer sale with often surprising discounts.

March (03)
01 - 03: Festa de Arembepe, local feast (post carnival) in the neighbouring village of Jauá with processions, trios and stage.
17 - 23: Festival de Música Instrumental da Bahia - Festival of Instrumental Music, Teatro Castro Alves (charged).
29: Salvador's Birthday

April (04)
17 - 21: Micareta in Feira de Santana (120 km distant from Salvador) Bahia's oldest offseason carnival.
21: Tiradentes (independence hero)

May(05)
01: Labour Day
15 - 18: Museum's Week with free entrance in most museums
22: Corpus Christi
26: Birthday of the drum group Swing do Pelô, one of the best and most active bandas on Pelourinho.

June (06)
06 - 07: Arraiá da Capitá, festival of forró music at Parque de Exposições (charged).
20 - 24: São João (St. John); next to Carnival the most popular feast in Bahia specially in the countryside but also on Pelourinho.

July (06)
02: Independence of Bahia

August (08)
09 - 17: ExpoRural agricultural exhibition with a lot of animals and special show for children, rodeo and music shows, and sale of agricultural products for domestic use (charged).

September (09)
03 - 07: Festival de Lençois, Chapada Diamantina, festival of popular music (420 km distant from Salvador).

November (11)
01: Birthday of Ilê Aiyê .
11 - 01/02: Festival de Filarmônicas in the Cultural Centre Dannemann in São Félix, Recôncavo (120 km distant from Salvador); alternates annually with 'Bienal of Recôncavo' (120 km distant from Salvador).
15: Proclamation of the Republic.
25 - 03/12: FENAGRO, important agriculture fair with exhibition of animals, music and folkloric shows, small animals and restaurants with local dishes.

How to Get Cash Money

Brazil actually doesn't have a high inflation and there is no black market. In general you can't pay here with US-Dollar or EURO cash money. USD is not preferred to EURO. Therefore it is not to recommend to change in Europe EURO (or other currencies) into USD and later the USD in Brazil into Brazilian Reais (BRL) because
- you pay a high price for USD cash money in Europe,
- you'll get again a bad exchange rate for your cash money in Brazil and/or pay commission,
- only the main offices of a few banks exchange foreign currencies and
- probably you have to queue up.

And travellers' cheques are still worse.

Recommendation:
Take a reserve in cash money from abroad. Get your money in Brazil (up to 1.000 BRL per day) with VISA Card from the cash machines (ATMs) of Banco do Brasil and Bradesco, the two largest Brazilian banks with branches in nearly all smaller cities. The exchange rate normally is the interbank rate minus 2 %, and at home they charge you a cash-money-fee. Don't forget your PIN-Code!

Master-/Euro-Card is not to recommend to get cash money because there are only a very few ATMs (i.e.: HSBC Bank), except at the airports.

The difference between credit-card-withdrawal and cash money transfer is about 5 %.
Banknotes should not exceed the equivalent of 100 EURO/USD each. At Sâo Paulo Airport you normally get a better exchange rate than in Salvador.
For safety reasons from 22:00 h (10 p.m.) to 06:00 h (6 a.m.) ATMs deliver only 150 BRL per night (during summer time one hour earlier).

General Travel Information

Entry regulations
Your passport must be valid for at least six month when entering Brazil. In the aircraft they'll give you a tourist-card which you have to present filled in at the immigration and you shouldn't lose it by no way. USA citizens need a visa. Besides this there is a custom declaration (don't be afraid personal goods are free).

Even if your luggage is checked through to another airport in Brazil you must reclaim it and pass the customs at the first Brazilian airport you arrive at. Otherwise your luggage won't be forwarded and will remain there.

Vaccination/vacina
There is no compulsory vaccination for Brazil at the moment. Only for travellers to the Amazon region or to Pantanal a yellow fever vaccine is compulsory and a malaria prophylactic is highly recommended (although there is no one at the moment). Vaccinations against poliomyelitis and tetanus are advisable. Against diarrhea an electrolytes remedy is helpful.

Money exchange/câmbio
See above

Clothing/vestidos
In Salvador it is warm nearly all the year round. Wear light and comfortable clothes preferably cotton, T-shirts and shorts, sunhat, sunglasses. Don't forget sun protector/sun blocker with a very high protection factor. Jauá is situated within the tropics.

Electric current/voltagem
Electric current varies between 110 V and 220 V with 60 Hz (in our hotel 220 V). You need an adapter for flat plugs.

Security/segurança
Leave valuables at home; put indispensables (passport, ticket) in the hotel safe. Take copies of your passport, tickets, credit cards (with phone numbers) and travellers' cheques receipt in a separate place.
Avoid taking valuables (camera, cell phone, walkman etc.) to the beach or on the road and don't use bags or backpacks (valuables are supposed to be inside).
Don't lose sight of your credit card when paying (e.g. don't give it the waiter). Brazil is world champion in credit cards fraud.
Don't trust in the road in green traffic lights for pedestrians or in zebra crossings: Pedestrians are free for hunt. - Don't use public busses after dawning (18:00 h/6.00 p.m.).

More information see below.

Guide Book
Highly to recommend is the Southamerican Handbook, Footprint Guides, more than 35 pages about Bahia and more than 300 pages about Brazil. Since 1924 (!) annual new edition in September. Simply the best. Not so up to date is the guide book 'Brazil' in the same series.

Car rental/locadora
Credit card and your domestic drivers license are necessary. A small car like Ford Fiesta costs about 36 EUR/51 USD per day (free miles/km), one gallon of gasoline about 4,30 USD-3,50 EUR.

Our car rental partner offers a basic car (Palio, Gol, Fiesta, Celta, Uno) 2 doors, no air conditioning, free miles/km, for 90 BRL/day, insurance and taxes included. Discount: For every 4 days rent the 5th day is always free. Car delivery/return at Hotel LAGOA e MAR or at the airport.

More details look here.

Extra charges (approx. prices in EUR)
- Buses (to down town Salvador) 0,80
- Dinner (almoço) or supper (jantar) for two persons 11 - 16,--
- Snacks/tira-gosto 1,40 - 8,--
- Beer/cerveja 1,40
- Fruit-juices (suco), mineral water (água mineral), sodas (refrigerante) -,70

Tipping/taxa de serviço
Hotels and restaurants frequently charge 10 % extra for service, then you don't need to tip; otherwise 5 - 10 % are usual. Taxi drivers get the change only.

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Security Advices

Don't accept invitations from not well known people, specially not at Pelourinho or in bars. Don't drink with strangers. If indispensable keep your glass in view and change it after using the restroom (k.o.-drops). Avoid all kinds of dicussions even if they start friendly. There is no tradition of discussions in Brazil.

Avoid taking valuables (camera, cell phone, walkman etc.) to the beach or on the road and don't use bags or backpacks (valuables are supposed to be inside). Dont stay at lonesome beaches.

Don't show all your money when paying. Don't pay with high value bills as 50 or 100 BRL, it wakes up desires and you you hardly get it changed. Be equipped with sufficient small change (maximum 20 BRL-bills). Keep money in an inside pocket, underpants/panties, socks or shoes. Buses accept not more than 10 BRL-bills.

Don't use public buses after dawning (about 18:00 h/6.00 p.m.). They are often assaulted and hijacked. - Evade crowds. Beware of pickpockets and backpack thiefs in the Lacerda elevator between lower and upper city, in crowds and when entering buses.

Use ATMs only during daytime and at frequented places. Cover the keyboard with your shoulder. Get in time familiar with the system for not depending on help of strange people.

By no means open on a knock the door of your hotel room before making sure who is outside. Phone the reception or ask for the owner.

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