@pauloserpa

“Don’t take your phone out” is some outdated advice… there are several people on the streets and in the metro using phones and taking pictures. Remember that nothing stays the same forever. Rio is safer than many people describe. Use your common sense.

Let's start with the trash - it is everywhere and no one seems to care. Even in the expensive barrios of multi-million dollar houses, you will see it. Sidewalks are dilapidated and the vegetation in public areas is overgrown - trees are left unchecked many of which overgrow into overhead power cables, or their roots tear up the street. "Ciudad Vieja", the old part of Montevideo could've been nice, but Uruguayans stopped caring about it a long time ago. Now it's just ugly and depressing. Tap wate

Decent city, mainly because the people are so kind. But, it is a pain to get cash (spent a few hours every couple weeks trying Western Union after WU and never finding one with enough cash), and a lot of places don't take cards/the current exchange rate is a ripoff. However, BRING REPELLENT. The place is littered with mosquitos, and my partner and I both contracted dengue. He ended up in the hospital, and it was not a blast. The healthcare system is decent, but long wait times even in the nicest

Don't let yourself be discouraged by the reviews here! Most of them are untrue and very negative and actually they made me skip Santiago in 2022. I came to spend a month in February 2024 and it was amazing! Everyday I got impressed by how nice this city feels. I've been in every latam country apart from Venezuela. Santiago is for sure one of the best. The city is very developed, clean and organized at the same time has a lot of shops, nice architecture, museums, bars and places with a soul. It's

Stay in one of these neighborhoods: Itaim Bibi, Jardim Europa, Jardim Paulista, or Pinheiros, and it will be great.

This city is a hidden gem in South America. The atmosphere is very laid-back, the locals are friendly and open to foreigners, and there is a lot of freedom (no stupid regulations or other rules). The infrastructure is definitely not as developed as in other countries, but it is developing very quickly. There are a lot of foreign investments because the country is probably the safest in South America, and the local government is small and right-wing. In the city itself, there is not much to do. T

Bali for grownups. It's perfectly safe. I could walk in 95% areas of Floripa at night with my phone taken out without any feeling of danger. Safer than Rio, for sure. All types of water sport and hikes are available here, so it's a good place for people who are into nature. Place isn't very trendy and service sometimes isn't that good but it's getting there. As anywhere in Brazil, people here don't in general speak English. But they're so friendly that they will always try to help you out and sm

Spent the month of September here and it was nice for the first 2 weeks. There are a lot of young people due to the multiple universities and you smell weed everywhere!!! There is also so much construction going on with the roads and buildings, so it’s best to walk and bike most places. The BIXI bike system is awesome! There are also a lot of homeless screaming at people randomly in the streets. Food and rent is expensive. The “European” vibe is isolated to a 3 street area, but the re