Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am a Rough Guide aficionado but I'm disappointed by this book. I have the 4th updated edition (December 2000) but to me it seems as though this is a rather messy update, especially on the part of accommodation. Places that have moved 5 years ago (according to the owner) are in the book still at the old location. Or a pousada that is described as 'charming place build right on the riverbank' has almost all of its windows broken and must have been closed for years. On the other hand a lot of nice budget options are not in the book while others that are in the book have been closed. And the thing that bothers me the most is that in several occasions addresses of tourist information offices are wrong. Fortunately for the editors the 'things to see and do' doesn't change to much over the years so they don't have to update this.
Rating: 
Summary: Adventures in Brazil
Review: I found this book very usefull and other travellers I met thought it was better than the Lonely Planet guide. Rather confusing were the facts about bus services in some cities, but on the other hand the city transport in Brazil is confusing itself. I am a budget traveller and the book provided me enough information to save in many ways.
Rating:
Summary: discontent
Review: I just returned from Brasil, having used The Rough Guide, I can say it sometimes left out what I would consider necessary information. The prime area is bus info. Sure it's great to know how much time it takes to get from one place to another but I think the editors should also include prices for the destinations they offer. Finding out how to get to a place is not so difficult but it would be nice to know approximate pricing to see how much money you actually need to take so you can see the places you want to see. I think the editors should also just leave prices in REAIS. The pricing codes they use are CONFUSING...you never know if it's dollars, pounds or reais when they give the price code. Sometimes I found the price matched the reais, sometimes dollars. My other complaint is that it doesn't list where to find the American Express offices to change Trav. Cheques. I wasn't too happy overall with the book and I would never use it again because I think a lot of information is left out, unfortunately LET'S GO doesn't have a Brasil edition or I would have chosen it instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Take Any Other Guide Book
Review: Just returned from my second six week trip to Brazil. I own practically every guide book on the country and foolishly brought along this one. The information in the latest edition seems not to have been updated for a couple of years and I wasted a good amount of taxi fares or time walking to recommended places that were no longer in business. Even in the major cities, English isn't often spoken by the people outside of the tourism infrastructure. This can be frustrating without some preparation. Fortunately, I speak Portuguese and found many of the best restaurants etc. from the local people or through the particular city tourism authority. Another thing that I didn't like about the "Rough Guide" is that it doesn't include locations of internet cafes like other guidebooks do. For the price of the book, I give this particular Brazil edition one star.
Take my advice and take any other guide book with you or you'll truly have a "Rough" time with this "Rough Guide".
Rating:
Summary: Take Any Other Guide Book
Review: Just returned from my second six week trip to Brazil. I own practically every guide book on the country and foolishly brought along this one. The information in the latest edition seems not to have been updated for a couple of years and I wasted a good amount of taxi fares or time walking to recommended places that were no longer in business. Even in the major cities, English isn't often spoken by the people outside of the tourism infrastructure. This can be frustrating without some preparation. Fortunately, I speak Portuguese and found many of the best restaurants etc. from the local people or through the particular city tourism authority. Another thing that I didn't like about the "Rough Guide" is that it doesn't include locations of internet cafes like other guidebooks do. For the price of the book, I give this particular Brazil edition one star.
Take my advice and take any other guide book with you or you'll truly have a "Rough" time with this "Rough Guide".
Rating:
Summary: Incomplete at best
Review: Just to be upfront about everything, this review is based on the 3rd edition of this book. But based on that book, I won't buy this one.Here's just 2 reasons why: 1) The basic introductions to the each area/city are a great idea, but I couldn't seem to find one that ever made the place sound interesting. I live in Brasília, and granted it hasn't got the excitement of Rio, but it's much more interesting than they make it sound, and Natal, despite having the second cleanest air in the world sounds like a drag. 2) The information is incomplete and rather superficial. The section on Pirenópolis, a great little spot in Goiás, for example, has no mention of the dozen or so waterfalls (with guided tours if you need them) in the area. Perhaps the authors are just used to travelling in "1st World" countries, or maybe they know little or no Portuguese, or maybe it's something else altogether, but wherever they're coming from and whatever their experience, this book has ended up a somewhat depressing, and extremely rough guide that misses much of this enormous, gorgeous, and amazing country.
Rating:
Summary: Incomplete at best
Review: Just to be upfront about everything, this review is based on the 3rd edition of this book. But based on that book, I won't buy this one. Here's just 2 reasons why: 1) The basic introductions to the each area/city are a great idea, but I couldn't seem to find one that ever made the place sound interesting. I live in BrasÃlia, and granted it hasn't got the excitement of Rio, but it's much more interesting than they make it sound, and Natal, despite having the second cleanest air in the world sounds like a drag. 2) The information is incomplete and rather superficial. The section on Pirenópolis, a great little spot in Goiás, for example, has no mention of the dozen or so waterfalls (with guided tours if you need them) in the area. Perhaps the authors are just used to travelling in "1st World" countries, or maybe they know little or no Portuguese, or maybe it's something else altogether, but wherever they're coming from and whatever their experience, this book has ended up a somewhat depressing, and extremely rough guide that misses much of this enormous, gorgeous, and amazing country.
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as the Lonely Planet guide
Review: The Rough Guide to Brazil is a very good book and I did get by fine with it but time and again fellow travellers using the Lonely Planet Brazil or South America books had more information, especially about accomodation in places off the beaten track. It would be good if there was more information about Pantanal tours too, it's difficult to know which companies are reputable and at least if they were in the guide book you'd know they'd been established for a while. Other things not made clear were how difficult it is to change travellers cheques if they're not American Express and how crucial it is to have a little Portuguese.
Rating: 
Summary: Super-duper
Review: This is a super-duper book. I loved this book. If I ever get to Brazil, I'm taking it along.
Rating:
Summary: Quite Helpful and Informative
Review: This is a very useful guide to Brazil, with lots of great tips and insider knowledge. But it needs more information on music (a central part of the culture, especially during Carnaval), and for that I would consult "The Brazilian Sound" (Temple University Press).
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