I've been to Brazil once in 2015 in Rio, in fact. I booked a award ticket on my Alaska Airlines miles 20K one-way from USA (Omaha) to Europe (Madrid), and I was able to "force" a free stopover in South America (Rio)! With most of the flights being outsourced to American, of course. So the itinerary ended up being OMA-DFW-GIG-MIA on AA, then MIA-MAD on Iberia, all for the same 20K miles! Unbelievable award hacks like that are not quite as available nowadays as they were in the past unfortunately, but they were fun! Would love for Daddy Matt to do a video on "forced stopovers" someday! 😅
Another very enjoyable video, Matt. I went to Rio for my 40th in December '22 and had a great time. I did something I hardly ever do and that was hire a tour guide for half a day and it proved to be an excellent decision. He took care of everything (transport, tickets, translation etc.) and the visit to Cristo and Sugarloaf went smoothly and quickly (he knew everyone working at these locations and I am pretty sure we skipped the lines in a few places). Would also strongly recommend to any of your viewers planning to visit Rio to use Uber to get around - it is safe and relatively cheap and is definitely preferable to using public transportation or walking anywhere where there's a chance of wandering off the beaten track.
Very good video - didn't know about Pipa Beach. I've been to Brazil 3 times and adored it. Natal was interesting - many beaches, very close to equator and a temperature range of 31-33C during the year. The Brazilians are wonderful and the scenery, spectacular. If someone doesn't know Portuguese, Spanish or Italian can help. I haven't been there for 20 years now...I must return.
Thanks for the shout-out mate (and the memories), glad you had a great time. It was good to see what I should’ve seen from the top of Corcovado - such a bad day I chose weather-wise. I guess at least it was quiet. Sugar Loaf was the definitite highlight for me though - superb! Great video mate and like you, I’d absolutely go back. Loved it and loved the people 👍
Thanks Mark - your videos came out a couple of weeks before I went and were super helpful - didn't have time for the tram this trip .. I knew there was no point competing with yours on the transportation detail!!!
I’m not sure I could do that cable car. I did Christ the redeemer and didn’t have time for sugarloaf anyway, but after doing the table mountain cable car I’m not sure I could stomach it!
Another great video Matt, I’ve always wondered about Rio and there always seem to be good reward availability with BA but I’ve always been worried about the security/crime
A few people have said in the comments that they feel safer in Brazil than in many US cities. Wander round a favela late at night and you're asking for trouble... But as I say in the video, I didn't feel the place was any worse than many other places you wouldn't think twice about visiting
Hi Matt, Thank you very much for today's video! Your videos on destination are my absolute favourite!! You give an honest traveller opinion, good solid advice, and you can produce a video that does not make you" youtube cringe." Any guy that shows off knitwear one week, and checks out copa cabana beach the next week..." figure of speech" is a hero in my books!
Hey Matt Harvey here… amazing video, travel info, culture explanation and commentary 👏🏽 absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next one 🙏🏽💙 love the channel
With a total of more than 19 years living in Brazil, I have never had a single problem with violence or otherwise.....just need to excerise common sense, felt more threatened in certain major city's in the US...
I've been looking forward to seeing what you got up to in Brazil.👍🏻 I've visited the copycat Christ the Redeemer statue in the Dominican Republic but fascinating to see the 'real' one. The views are incredible . I'm impressed you managed to film it so well with all those people there. 🇧🇷
I find Joao Pessoa very safe, wouldnt think twice about bringing my cameras out and about, it's a bit dull compared to Recife , a lot of pensioners retire to JP for its safety and cheaper prices, My favourite part of Rio is Barra da Tijuica, too many people and hassle in Copacabana and Ipanema these days. If youre coming back highly recommend Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza and Recife , Personally I don't go South of Sao Paulo these days.....My main home is Islington North London and I see more criminality there than in Brazil to be honest but yes sensible precautions are a good idea. Brazil gets less internatioal tourists than the Eiffel tower each year but it's one of the reasons I love it and I'm delighted theyre reintroducing visa requirements for certain nationalities,,, Rio in particular has seen a dreadful of influence of Passport bro toxic travellers who are seeking to move on from the Dominican Republic etc.
But you missed the most interesting and biggest Brazilian city: São Paulo! It's a gastronomic, cultural and business capital and a huge but well orbanised metropolis!
Thanks for that - I did feel a bit bad about just flying through Sao Paolo rather than lingering.... It really doesn't have a great reputation for being an interesting place to spend time though - certainly compared to Rio!
As a Brazilian from Rio following your channel im glad to see your journey
Thanks! I was right that it was so busy as it was still school holidays??? 12th January or thereabouts?
@@MattsPlanet yes! All January is the summer holiday month for South America just like August is for Europe ;)
Downloaded for my about-to-board (boardingnotboarding) Ryanair flight
Time will fly!!!
I've been to Brazil once in 2015 in Rio, in fact. I booked a award ticket on my Alaska Airlines miles 20K one-way from USA (Omaha) to Europe (Madrid), and I was able to "force" a free stopover in South America (Rio)! With most of the flights being outsourced to American, of course. So the itinerary ended up being OMA-DFW-GIG-MIA on AA, then MIA-MAD on Iberia, all for the same 20K miles! Unbelievable award hacks like that are not quite as available nowadays as they were in the past unfortunately, but they were fun! Would love for Daddy Matt to do a video on "forced stopovers" someday! 😅
That's a pretty epic routing!!! Those sorts of things are scarce these days so it would be a short video!!!
Another very enjoyable video, Matt. I went to Rio for my 40th in December '22 and had a great time. I did something I hardly ever do and that was hire a tour guide for half a day and it proved to be an excellent decision. He took care of everything (transport, tickets, translation etc.) and the visit to Cristo and Sugarloaf went smoothly and quickly (he knew everyone working at these locations and I am pretty sure we skipped the lines in a few places). Would also strongly recommend to any of your viewers planning to visit Rio to use Uber to get around - it is safe and relatively cheap and is definitely preferable to using public transportation or walking anywhere where there's a chance of wandering off the beaten track.
Cristo and Sugarloaf in one day is a big day!!! Jumping the lines would certainly help!!! And Uber was good - efficient and cheap!
Brazil looks like a fascinating place Matt! Will need to visit one day.
It's well worth a visit
Very good video - didn't know about Pipa Beach. I've been to Brazil 3 times and adored it. Natal was interesting - many beaches, very close to equator and a temperature range of 31-33C during the year. The Brazilians are wonderful and the scenery, spectacular. If someone doesn't know Portuguese, Spanish or Italian can help. I haven't been there for 20 years now...I must return.
If you make it to Natal, Pipa's just up the road! It was probably just a sleepy fishing village 20 years ago!
Great video! Your narration is excellent! Great information! Thanks!!!
Thanks!
Thanks for the shout-out mate (and the memories), glad you had a great time. It was good to see what I should’ve seen from the top of Corcovado - such a bad day I chose weather-wise. I guess at least it was quiet. Sugar Loaf was the definitite highlight for me though - superb! Great video mate and like you, I’d absolutely go back. Loved it and loved the people 👍
Thanks Mark - your videos came out a couple of weeks before I went and were super helpful - didn't have time for the tram this trip .. I knew there was no point competing with yours on the transportation detail!!!
I’m not sure I could do that cable car. I did Christ the redeemer and didn’t have time for sugarloaf anyway, but after doing the table mountain cable car I’m not sure I could stomach it!
It's not for everyone.... But its over quickly if you close your eyes!
Thanks for the info + video!
Thanks for watching!!
Another great video Matt, I’ve always wondered about Rio and there always seem to be good reward availability with BA but I’ve always been worried about the security/crime
A few people have said in the comments that they feel safer in Brazil than in many US cities. Wander round a favela late at night and you're asking for trouble... But as I say in the video, I didn't feel the place was any worse than many other places you wouldn't think twice about visiting
@@MattsPlanet thanks Matt, I agree I never feel safe in San Fran or Miami anymore
Great vid 👍🏻
Thanks! It was fun and I want to go back!
Interesting Matt...a part of the world i'm not familiar with- I thought i was reasonably well travelled too !!
Brazil is major country so should be on the list!!!
To watch planes from above as they take off and even closer try the rock in Gibraltar
Indeed - you need to time it right though as there's only a handful a day!!!(
Hi Matt,
Thank you very much for today's video! Your videos on destination are my absolute favourite!! You give an honest traveller opinion, good solid advice, and you can produce a video that does not make you" youtube cringe." Any guy that shows off knitwear one week, and checks out copa cabana beach the next week..." figure of speech" is a hero in my books!
Thanks! Not everyone agrees as these videos never seem to do well, but those that do watch them seem to like them!
great watch matt, glad you had a great time - those views are absolutely brilliant
I enjoyed this trip!!!
Hey Matt Harvey here… amazing video, travel info, culture explanation and commentary 👏🏽 absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next one 🙏🏽💙 love the channel
I’m going to share your channel on my fb page 💯
Maaaate!!! Thanks for watching!! Hope all is well - I'm in LA for a few days but I'll be in touch when I'm back! Cheers
what a fantastic video matt thanks for all the info hope that you are feeling fit and well
All good here thanks - that was a great trip!
Glad you had a great time, i was in Brazil in late 2022, had a fab time. Hopefully visit again early 2025 !
So many places to go - just in Brazil - and so little time!!
With a total of more than 19 years living in Brazil, I have never had a single problem with violence or otherwise.....just need to excerise common sense, felt more threatened in certain major city's in the US...
Same as what Bald says - most dangerous he's ever felt was Memphis. I'd agree having gone to Rio de Janeiro in early 2020 pre-pandemic
You hear so many warnings, but so few reports of anything nasty actually happening .. common sense is key - sadly lacking in many people though!!!
I've been looking forward to seeing what you got up to in Brazil.👍🏻 I've visited the copycat Christ the Redeemer statue in the Dominican Republic but fascinating to see the 'real' one. The views are incredible . I'm impressed you managed to film it so well with all those people there. 🇧🇷
There's a few copycats - one in Lisbon too - but Rio has the original and the best!
I find Joao Pessoa very safe, wouldnt think twice about bringing my cameras out and about, it's a bit dull compared to Recife , a lot of pensioners retire to JP for its safety and cheaper prices, My favourite part of Rio is Barra da Tijuica, too many people and hassle in Copacabana and Ipanema these days. If youre coming back highly recommend Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza and Recife , Personally I don't go South of Sao Paulo these days.....My main home is Islington North London and I see more criminality there than in Brazil to be honest but yes sensible precautions are a good idea. Brazil gets less internatioal tourists than the Eiffel tower each year but it's one of the reasons I love it and I'm delighted theyre reintroducing visa requirements for certain nationalities,,, Rio in particular has seen a dreadful of influence of Passport bro toxic travellers who are seeking to move on from the Dominican Republic etc.
Thanks - that's a great insight. "Less tourists than the Eiffel Tower" is the sort of fantastic trivia I love!!!
But you missed the most interesting and biggest Brazilian city: São Paulo! It's a gastronomic, cultural and business capital and a huge but well orbanised metropolis!
Thanks for that - I did feel a bit bad about just flying through Sao Paolo rather than lingering.... It really doesn't have a great reputation for being an interesting place to spend time though - certainly compared to Rio!
@@MattsPlanet This reputation changed though! Nowadays São Paulo receives more tourists than Rio! And there are many reasons for that!
the animal "known locally as a cat" sounds intriguing maybe make an episode about that animal 😅
El gato in Spanish but I never picked up the Portuguese for it!!
@@MattsPlanet It's "o gato" here ... where Spanish comes in handy!