A Trip to Brazil During COVID (2020)

Part 1: Leaving Budapest

At the beginning of November 2020, my wife and I flew from Hungary to São Paulo via Amsterdam. Our final destination was Paraguay. However, due to the global pandemic, finding direct flights was extremely difficult. As a result, we had to get used to flying with one or more stopovers.

Important Travel Preparation

If you plan to travel to Paraguay from Brazil, be aware that you must receive a Yellow Fever vaccination at least 10 days before departure. This vaccination is mandatory for entry into certain countries.

We completed this vaccination in Hungary at a local medical center. The cost was 22,000 HUF (around 60 EUR) per person. Personally, I did not experience any side effects. Unfortunately, my wife developed enlarged lumps under her arms and had a high temperature for about two days.

A Last-Minute Decision

We left the country in a real hurry. We made the decision to leave with next-day departure, booked our tickets, accommodation, and insurance, and packed our luggage — all within four hours. This rushed decision happened because the government was introducing additional restrictions, and we did not want to risk getting stuck in the country.

We booked our accommodation in São Paulo through Airbnb, which I will write about in more detail in my next post. For travel insurance, I regularly use SafetyWing. I have relied on their services for about three years.

We use their Nomad Insurance, which covers most countries worldwide and even includes Covid coverage. This coverage is often a requirement for entry into many countries. In addition, they provide a downloadable visa letter. I plan to write a detailed post about their services later.

Flying with KLM

We flew with KLM, and booking the tickets through their website was straightforward. I also signed up for their Flying Blue membership to collect miles. Interestingly, the same loyalty program works with Air France, as KLM and Air France have merged.

Because of this merger, I could even log in to the Air France website using my KLM account — happy days.

At Budapest Airport, there is a recently built Ibis hotel. Finally, there is a hotel directly at the airport, which was very much needed. The hotel is modern and comfortable, and its best feature is that you can walk directly to the terminal or the car parks.

However, I found the room rate rather expensive, even compared to other European hotels. A double room costs around 35,000–40,000 HUF (95–110 EUR), which feels high for an Eastern European location.

Departure During the Pandemic

Our flight departed early at 6:30 a.m., so we woke up early and walked to the terminal. To be honest, after watching the news for months, I expected to see soldiers at the airport and cleaners wearing “space suits,” similar to the movie Outbreak.

Instead, the first cleaner we saw was a typical Hungarian lady in her fifties, not even wearing a mask. Nobody checked our temperature, and the atmosphere felt very relaxed — perhaps even too relaxed. It seemed as if the main priority was preventing the virus from entering the country, not worrying about someone leaving and potentially spreading it elsewhere.

Long-Haul Flight Experience

Overall, flying with KLM was a pleasant experience. The Budapest–Amsterdam flight was quite full. You can forget what airline commercials say about having a free seat next to every passenger because of Covid. With fewer flights available, planes on busy routes often feel more crowded.

We had a two-hour layover in Amsterdam, which was more than enough time. When transiting, there was no need for PCR tests. You simply could not leave the airport and had to follow the signs to your next departure gate.

The flight from Amsterdam to São Paulo was about half full, which was great for passengers. Many people slept across an entire row of seats. The legroom and entertainment system were both comfortable and met expectations.

The only disappointment was the food service. Even though we had pre-selected a vegan meal, we did not receive it. Instead, we were told, “Sorry, due to the pandemic, no special meals are available.” Fortunately, we were prepared and brought homemade tortilla wraps, thanks to my wife.

Still, I find it questionable how an airline can justify this on a long-haul flight. Why should passengers eat meat- and dairy-based meals because of Covid? Would it really be so difficult to prepare a simple salad with potatoes? I do not know, but I noticed that Covid often became a convenient excuse for many things. Later, I heard that special meals resumed at the end of November 2020.

Arrival in São Paulo

After roughly 13 hours from departure, we finally arrived in São Paulo. Although we felt tired, excitement clearly outweighed exhaustion. After collecting our luggage, we took an airport taxi and headed to our first accommodation. Please read Part 2 of this journey, where I am caring our experiences about staying in São Paulo.

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