Cash is king for beach vendors, moto taxis, and small bars. Bring small bills.

Cards are widely accepted, but tell your bank you’re traveling — Brazil loves a fraud alert moment.

ATMs inside malls or banks are safer than street ATMs.

Download these apps before landing:

• Uber (preferred over taxis)

• Google Translate (Portuguese offline)

• Google Maps offline (Plan locations and drop pins)

Don’t walk around flashing your phone, especially at night or near busy streets.

If locals say “don’t go there”......listen! That is not your queue to prove them wrong.

Avoid wandering into favelas without a licensed guide.

Crossbody bags > backpacks. Zippers are always facing front.

Rio is fashionably casual — cute but effortless.

Flip flops are acceptable almost everywhere.

Leave expensive jewelry at home. This is not the place to flex.

Portuguese is a must! English is very limited, but we were able to get away with a lot, having Spanish speakers with us.