Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 2/27/2009

Question
My company from the US is sending me to Curitiba (Southern Brazil) for a project about 6 months, I will leave next month. I will be living in a apart-hotel in Batel...can someone tell me
1.what service does Apart/hotel cover (clean rooms and Breakfast, laundry, gym?)
2.and what is an apart-hotel is like? Is it a safe place for me to stay? Who else stays there?
3. I don't speak portuguese, would that be a problem?
4. I will take the company bus to work, will that be safe? There are everyone on the bus from blue collar workers to an average white collar worker.
5. Should I buy clothes there or bring them from the US?
6. Where is the best place to go Gorocery shopping ( clean food)?
7. Should I use cash or credit cards more often?
8. What is the best way to travel to Sao Paulo from Curitiba?

Many many thanks,

Lisa

Answer
Batel is a nice neighborhood. You will like it.
Apartment/hotels are just as they sound -- you can rent them like you would a hotel, on a per night basis, or monthly, as you would an apt. They have a kitchen and mini-fridge, enough to store food for one person. You usually give your close to the concierge or front desk reception, and they wash them for you and press them at extra cost. Many good apart-hotels have restuarants where you can get room service.

The company that is putting you up should put you in an apart hotel that is ussed to intl travelers so someone there will speak english.  Otherwise, you will struggle to communicate.
Heres a good one:
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=dspv&itty=new&from=m&shtl=1&htid=57059...
Mercure Batel III.


Company bus to work? OF COURSE that will be safe. its a private bus; they know who is on it. Nowhere to hide. Lots at stake for someone to want to commit a crime, though I guess there is always a risk of someone going Postal on you; but that can  happen at an Amish school in PA, too.

Bring clothes from the US. Clothes here are either cheap shit, or wickedly expensive.

Batel will have a Pao de Acucar. GREAT place. Upscale. Affordable. Other names include big box stores like Carrefour and Wal-Mart, though youll spend more time in line and walking around the joint than actually shopping. Same with Extra. Stay away from Extra. Id be shocked if there is not a Pao de Acucar in Batel. There will also be nice bread markets and other mini marts near by. if they are in Batel, they will be fine.  You can tell by looking at them.

I use a debit card. You will be charged a 2% to 3% forex fee on your card; but thats pretty much what they will charge you at the ATM too when you take money out. I prefer Bradesco and HSBC ATMs. They dont charge. Citibank charges. Itau and all other banks do not accept US credit cards. Maybe Banco do Brasil does, but i have yet to find one.

Q no. 8:  by plane.