Airlines Aerolíneas Argentinas, Rua Araújo 216, Centro (6th floor; tel 011/214-4233 & 6445-3806); Air France, Av. Paulista 1776 (18th floor; tel 011/289-2133 & 6445-2211); Alitalia, Av. São Luís 123, Centro (tel 011/257-1722 & 6445-2005); American Airlines, Rua Araújo (9th floor; tel 011/214-4000 & 6445-3234); Avianca, Rua da Consolação 293, Centro (10th floor; tel 011/257-6988 & 6445-3798); British Airways, Av. São Luís, Centro (32nd floor; tel 011/259-6144 & 6445-2142); Canadian Airlines, Rua Araújo 216, Centro (2nd floor; tel 011/259-9066 & 6445-2462); Continental, Rua da Consolação 247, Centro (13th floor; tel 0800-554-777); Delta, Rua Marquês de Itu 61, Centro (7th floor; tel 0800-221-121); Iberia, Rua Araújo, Centro (3rd floor; tel 011/257-6711 & 6445-2726); Japan Airlines (JAL), Av. Paulista 542 (2nd floor; tel 011/251-5222 & 6445-2040); KLM, Guarulhos Airport (tel 011/6445-3111); Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, Av. São Luís 72, Centro (tel 011/258-8111 & 6445-2425); Lan Chile, Rua da Consolação 247, Centro (tel 011/259-2900 & 6445-2824); Lufthansa, Rua Gomes de Carvalho 1356 (tel 011/3048-5800 & 6445-2220); Pluna, Rua da Consolação 368, Centro (tel 011/231-2822 & 6445-3034); Swissair (tel 011/251-4000 & 6445-2572); TAM, Rua da Consolação 247, Centro (tel 0800-123-100); TAP, Av. São Luís 187, Centro (room 47; tel 011/255-5366 & 6445-2400); Transbrasil, Av. São Luís 250, Centro (tel 011/228-2022 & 6445-2905); United Airlines, Av. Paulista 777, Centro (9th floor; tel 011/253-2323 & 6445-3039); Varig, Rua da Consolação 362, Centro (tel 011/536-3647, 6445-2471 & 5561-1161); VASP, Av. São Luís 123, Centro (tel 011/255-3131, 6445-2697 & 532-3140).

Airports Flight information: Congonhas (tel 011/5090-9000 & 5090-9191); Guarulhos (tel 011/6445-2945).

Banks and exchange Branches are scattered throughout the city, but are concentrated along Av. Paulista, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima and Rua 15 de Novembro. If you need to change cash at weekends, ask your hotel or try the souvenir shops and jewellers in Liberdade, the Japanese bairro.

Car rental Avis, Rua da Consolação 335, Centro (tel 011/258-8833); Hertz, Rua da Consolação 439, Centro (tel 011/256-9722); Interlocadora, Largo Sta. Cecília 140, Centro (tel 011/222-2037); Localiza, Rua da Consolação 419, Centro (tel 011/231-3055); Nobre, Rua Martins Fontes 205, Centro (tel 011/255-8922); Unidas, Rua da Consolação 347, Centro (tel 011/256-2233).

Consulates Argentina, Av. Paulista 1106, Cerqueira César (9th floor; tel 011/284-1355); Australia, Rua Tenente Negrão 140, Chácara Itaim (12th floor; tel 011/829-6281); Bolivia, Rua da Consolação 37, Centro (3rd floor; tel 011/881-1688); Canada, Av. Paulista 1106, Bela Vista (1st floor; tel 011/253-4944); Chile, Av. Paulista 1009, Cerqueira César (10th floor; tel 011/284-2044); Colombia, Rua Peixoto Gomide 996, Cerqueira César (10th floor; tel 011/285-6350); Ireland, Av. Paulista 2006, Cerqueira César (5th floor; tel 011/287-6362); New Zealand, Rua Paes de Araújo 29, Itaim Bibi (12th floor; tel 011/820-5532); Paraguay, Rua Bandeira Paulista 600, Itaim Bibi (15th floor; tel 011/820-1412); Peru, Rua Votuverava 350, Morumbi (tel 011/870-1793); UK, Av. Paulista 37, Cerqueira César (17th floor; tel 011/287-7722); Uruguay, Al. Santos 905, Cerqueira César (10th floor; tel 011/284-0998); USA, Rua Padre João Manoel 933, Jardim Paulista (tel 011/881-6511); Venezuela, Rua Veneza 878, Jardim Europa (tel 011/887-2318).

Cultural institutes Alliance Française, Rua Gen. Jardim 182, Vila Buarque (tel 011/259-8211); Cultura Inglesa, Av. Ipiranga 877, Centro (tel 011/222-3866); Goethe Institut, Rua Lisboa 974, Pinheiros (tel 011/280-4288); Instituto Italiano de Cultura, Rua Frei Caneca 1071, Bela Vista (tel 011/285-6933); União Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos, Rua Cel. Oscar Porto 208, Paraíso (tel 011/885-1022).

Football There are three First Division teams based in São Paulo: Corinthians, who play at Parque São Jorge (Rua São Jorge 777; metrô Bresser and bus #278A); São Paulo, at Morumbi Stadium (metrô Ana Rosa and bus #775P; or bus #775P from Av. Paulista); and Palmeiras, at Palestra Itália (Parque Antártica; bus #208A or #208C from Av. São João). Matches are generally on Wed and Sat.

Health matters The private Albert Einstein Clinic, Av. Albert Einstein 627, Morumbi (tel 011/845-1233) is considered to be the best hospital in Brazil, and one where strict precautions are taken against the spread of the HIV virus. For dentistry, Dental Office Augusta, Rua Augusta 878, Cerqueira César (tel 011/256-3104), and Dr José Miotto Adura Neto, Av. Pavão 224, Moema (tel 011/531-2236) are both e xpensive, but have good reputations.

Laundry There are very few self-service laundries in São Paulo and it is extremely expensive to have your hotel wash your clothes. One conveniently located self-service place is at Alameda Tietê 96, near the intersection with Rua Augusta, Cerqueira César.

Newspapers and magazines Most newspaper kiosks downtown and in Jardins sell English-language newspapers: the Financial Times, Miami Herald and International Herald Tribune are the most widely available. Farah's, Rua Haddock Lobo 1503, Cerqueira César (open until midnight), has a particularly good selection of European magazines and newspapers, as does Jardim Europa, corner of Avenida Europa and Rua Groenlândia (open 24hr).

Police Emergencies tel 190. DEATUR, a special police unit for tourists (tel 011/214-0209), is located at Av. São Luís 91, one block from Praça da República. To extend your visa, visit the Polícia Federal, Av. Prestes Maia 700, Centro (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm; tel 011/223-7177 ext 231).

Post office The main post office is downtown at Praça Correio, at the corner of Avenida São João, and is open 8am-10pm. There are postal kiosks scattered throughout the city, including several along Avenida Paulista.

Public holidays In addition to the normal Brazilian public holidays, most things close in São Paulo on January 25 (Founding of the City) and Ash Wednesday.

Telephones TELESP (the state telephone company) have a 24-hour office on Rua Sete de Abril (just off Praça da República).