When you think about Rio De Janerio or Sao Paulo in Brazil, most of the people that you talk to tell you that it is not a safe place to move around on streets like that. I have been warned by my colleagues and friends that I should not really travel in local buses or just randomly walk around in these cities. There is too much of crime out there ranging from stealing to gun violence. Especially, if you are staying in the down town or Favela based areas. So, what was I advised and how did it go in Brazil for me.
What is the Best and Safest Way to Travel Around in Rio De Janerio and Sao Paulo in Brazil ?
I was in Brazil in both of these cities and other parts for about 2 weeks and I did not face any issue when I used Uber. It may sound strange, but I do not speak Portugese and none of the drivers or local people speak any bit of English. So, it is hard to communicate. If someone on the road realizes that you are a tourist, you may be tricked to pay more or get cheated. All of this gets eliminated by Uber because there is no need to speak to anyone.
I used Uber Select or Uber Black and it worked out well. I do not really recommend any of the UberX or UberPool, because the odds of you getting a car that is lower quality and same as the driver may be high. Unless, you do not have a choice, go for Uber Select or Uber Black. It is just few Real More, not as much.
Overall, I had great experience using Uber Select and Uber Black. I never got cheated or got lost. There are some concerns also that Uber License are used and shared by drivers, so be careful with UberX and Pool…
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What has been your experience with Uber in Rio or Sao Paulo ? What other forms of transportation do you recommend ?