If you’re planning a trip to Brazil, here are some news tidbits and some tips to help you.

• TAM Airlines recently announced two new direct flights from the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro: one from Miami, and one from New York. This is the only direct flight to Rio from JFK or any New York area airport so it’s good news for East Coast travelers. The direct flights from Rio to New York originate in Sao Paulo, and flights from Rio to Miami originate in Belo Horizonte.
• BACC Travel Agency in New York offers reasonably priced fares to Brazil, especially at a time when airfare costs have gone up across the board. They’ve also partnered with TAM to promote the new direct flights mentioned above.
• Some helpful sites to help plan your trip include Brazil.com, Lonely Planet, Just Brazil, Center for Disease Control and the State Department website.
• Check out the official tourism sites for major cities: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Manaus, and Recife.
• Don’t forget that Brazil requires a visa, even for tourists! Click here for a list of consulates in the US, and here for consulates in Canada.