Time Zone
Brazil is 3 hours behind Greenwich Meridian Line (GMT).

Climate
Rio de Janeiro is a tropical city. Summer runs from December through March with temperatures ranging from 25º C (77º F) to 42º C (108º F) while winter runs from June through August when temperatures can drop to around 20º C (68º F) in the day and a cool 16º C (60º F) at night.

Clothing
Appropriately enough for a city where the beach and warm weather play such an important role, casual dress dominates in Rio, although during working hours men will not feel out of place in a suit and tie and women in smart dresses or a suit. Few of Rio's night spots require formal attire. For men, slacks and a sport shirt are sufficient; for women, casual attire is fine. Women may appreciate having a shawl or cardigan in hand for the more heavily air-conditioned buildings, while a light sweater is all that is necessary for winter nights.

Communications
Rio has an excellent telecommunications system which links Rio to the rest of Brazil and the world. Direct dial and collect calls can be placed from any telephone. Pay phones are located throughout the city and operate with telephone cards. Portable cellular telephones are available to visitors for a small rental charge. The International Direct Dial (IDD) code for Brazil is 55 and the city code for Rio de Janeiro 21.

Electric Current
The electric current in Rio is 110 or 120 volts, 60 cycles, alternating current. Many hotels and large apartment blocks do, however, have some 220 volt outlets.

Foreign Exchange
The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (R$). Exchange rate available to visitors is published daily in the newspaper along with the commercial dollar rate of the day used in official international business transactions.
For instance, the exchange rate in May is US$ 1,00 correspond to approximately R$1,95 at this moment and € 1,00 correspond to approximately R$2,62 at this moment. It may vary.
Cash and traveler checks, especially US Dollars, can be exchanged at most banks or exchange houses as well as the major hotels. All major credit cards are accepted in Brazil and some stores even accept foreign currency.

Rio Tourist Police
One battalion of the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police ­ BPTUR ­ is specialized in ostensive patrolling of the city for the protection of the tourist. Properly trained and equipped to attend to cases involving tourists, the men of this corporation have the task of patrolling the popular tourist areas, the beaches and the vicinity of the hotels.

BPTUR - Batalhão de Policiamento em Áreas Turísticas
Address: Rua São Clemente, 345 Botafogo
22260-001 Rio de Janeiro -RJ
Tel: (55 21) 3399-7565 / 69
      (55 21) 3399-7457 call center
      (55 21) 3399-7562 intelligence service
Fax: (55 21) 3399-7450

The District for Attending to Tourists ­ DEAT ­ a special branch of the Civil Police, is made up of a Delegate (Superintendent), detectives, investigators and clerks responsible for investigating and recording occurrences. The DEAT has its own offices conveniently located in Leblon in front of the Casa Grande and Scala theaters. The District was instituted and the police officers specifically trained to attend to foreign visitors.

Delegacia de Atendimento ao Turista - DEAT
Address: Av. Afrânio de Mello Franco, s / nº - Leblon
22430-060 Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Tel: (55 21) 2511-5112 / 3399-7170
Fax: (55 21) 3399-71722

Language
The language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese. English is the predominant foreign language taught in schools, and Spanish, if spoken slowly, is understood by a good percentage of the population.

Medical Services
Rio de Janeiro and Brazil have a number of internationally respected hospitals, clinics and doctors, but treatment is expensive so visitors are strongly advised to take out medical trip insurance before traveling to Brazil.

Taxis
Rio has an extensive taxi fleet which includes yellow metered cabs which can be hailed in the streets, as well as a series of special taxis operated by licensed companies which can be found at the airports, hotels or booked by phone. From the international airport and the main shopping centers most of the special taxis work on a fixed fare by area which is paid in advance at the company's counter above which the fare price must be displayed.

Tipping
Hotels: hotels generally include any service charge on the bill. Restaurants: tips are discretionary but are often found on the final bills as a "suggestion". In Brazil the norm remains 10 per cent. Taxis: tips are not expected by taxi drivers although most passengers will round the fare up if satisfied with the service. Airport and hotel porters: the Real equivalent of U$1.00 per suitcase.

Cultural
Rio de Janeiro has more than 200 locations for movies, theater, musical and artistic exhibitions, 82 museums and 76 libraries. Besides traditional museums, the city is home to museums dedicated to trains, to planes, to trolley-cars, to jewelry and gemstones, to sport, to the Indians, to primitive Brazilian art and even to Carmem Miranda, among others.