Expert: Sandra - 8/18/2009

Question
Hi Sandra,

        I'm a 21yo UK citizen looking to move out to brazil for 6 months or thereabouts, hopefully leaving november/december time.
I have a business bringing me an income of roughly £300 (or $500) a week which im hoping to live off.
        I'm looking to find a rental property, somewhere large enough for me and perhaps 1 visitor, but NOT somehwere in a very touristy place, in a large block of flats. Ideally, somewhere in a smaller city/town where I can have a small town house with a garden, where I could still have internet access and with enough people/things to do so that I don't get bored. I would be looking to learn portugese to a high level while Im out there so I could integrate into the local community.
        What I would like to know is, what areas do you suggest? I've tried looking for rentals online but finding anything outside rio is difficult just through websites. Would it be a better idea to travel out there and deal with local agents? And do you feel I could rent the type of accomodation I am looking for as well as live comfortably (go out, nice food, excursions, portugese lessons etc) on the amount I have to spend?
       I am looking for somewhere with a nice hot climate, so any help on locations and how I should go about this would be greatly appreciated!

Once again, thanks.

Freddie

Answer
Hi Freddie.
I think you need to visit Brazil and travel around to see what conditions are like for yourself.
I don't think you really mean "rural" Brazil when you use the term, or at least it may not be what you envision. The real rural Brazil is very isolated and not at all set up for tourists, nor are most small towns, although some of the more popular little ex-fishing villages might do (Pipa, Jeri, etc). 'Hot' would be anywhere in the northeast for most of the year, although we have had lots of rain this year. You might be comfortable in one of the smaller cities like Salvador for example, or maybe Joao Pessoa, or Ouro Preto, a historic mountain town with a university. You would probably need a furnished apartment, rather than spending on fitting one out, so a city that is more used to tourists is probably a better idea for you. Internet often takes months to arrange in places that don't have it already, and outside major cities, it can be slow or non-existent. There would also then probably be someone available to teach Portuguese to foreigners. Rentals tend to be apartments in multi-apartment buildings, and perhaps the occasional house, but townhouses are not so common.

I would really suggest going to Brazil with a plan of staying in a hotel/hostel/pousada to explore one or more of these places. Get a good guidebook and see what appeals to you.

Best of luck.