Below are some resources and products I am always recommending to people.
Usually, people ask me the same questions about Brazil.
- How do I start a website?
- How do you make money online, I want to be location independent?
- Where can I rent an apartment?
- What are the best language resources for learning Portuguese?
Well, I’ve decided to make a resource page to make it easier to answer these great questions. I will continue to add to this list, so keep checking back for updates.
And like everything else on this site, I’ve used these products myself and stand by them 100%. If you do choose to buy anything on this page, I will receive a small commission. You will not be charged extra for this.
Making Money Online
I recommend Dreamhost and Bluehost for hosting a website.
I started this blog with Dreamhost and I have nothing but good things to say about the hosting company. Their customer service was fast and efficient. They have WordPress One-Click Install that makes setting up your site quick and easy. I had Rio In A Week set up in an hour.
Get $50 off a hosting plan with Dreamhost by using the link below.
$50 Discount For Dreamhost Basic Website Hosting Plan
Bluehost is my current hosting service. The biggest reason I switched to Bluehost from Dreamhost is because I wanted to try something new. I always heard great things about the company so I wanted to check it out for myself.
Their hosting plans are affordable and convenient as well. I recommend Bluehost to anyone who wants to make money online and become location independent.
Sign up with Bluehost by clicking this link
And make that cash.
Website Design
There’s no discussion. Use WordPress.org. Not WordPress.com
If you want to build a great site that allows you to make money from it, don’t use those free website builders. Use WordPress.org. It might look difficult, but it isn’t.
I am not a website design expert. You can make a site just like this one.
Theme Forest – Rio In A Week uses the Brixton WordPress Blog theme from www.themeforest.net. Early readers remember when this blog first got started. It wasn’t pretty. I’ve put money into this site so people can enjoy reading it. If you are serious about starting a website, you should buy a professional site theme too.
SumoMe helps you get more traffic by making your site more sharable. That social media slider on the left is by SumoMe. Why don’t you share this page?
Where To Stay In Rio
I’ve rented an apartment twice in Rio de Janeiro – both times with Rio Beach Rentals.
They have apartments for all travel sizes and budgets. I highly recommend them. Mention Rio In A Week when you book with them!
Business Books
Read these books if you haven’t already.
How To Learn Portuguese
If you want to learn Brazilian Portuguese, I recommend taking Semantica Portuguese’s online course. Check out my detailed review article about why I love the course and recommend it to anyone who is serious about speaking Portuguese.
Semantica Portuguese: The #1 Online Brazilian Portuguese Course
Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide By John Whitlam
Hands down the best book to learn Brazilian Portuguese grammar and the basics. Start here.
Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide (Modern Grammars)
Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar Workbook
I have this too. It has great exercises to practice what you learn from the main book. You want to learn how to speak Portuguese AND write effectively. Knock out 2 birds with 1 stone.
Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar Workbook (Modern Grammar Workbooks)
Talking Brazilian: A Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation Workbook By Mario Perini
Excellent book for Brazil lovers who want to improve their Portuguese accent. I have this book and it literally breaks down each sound per chapter. It comes with audio files to listen to while you read the words and pronounce them. I love this book.
Talking Brazilian: A Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation Workbook
A Frequency Dictionary of Portuguese By Mark Davies
This is an awesome idea for a book and extremely useful for people who want to know the most common words in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. I hate learning words and phrases I will never use; this book cuts through the bullshit and teaches you the most common 5,000 words.
A Frequency Dictionary of Portuguese (Routledge Frequency Dictionaries)
Seu Jorge
Musicas Para Churrasco 1: Ao Vivo
Ed Motta
City Of God/City Of Men
City of God / City of Men [Blu-ray]