by wallyg

Rio de Janeiro, what to expect when you arrive at Galeao International Airport

Before Departure

Before departing for Brazil check if you require a visa 6 weeks before departing for Brazil – many nationalities will require a visa and this can take time to obtain, so don’t leave until the last minute

The most common, and popular Brazilian airline is TAM.  This airline has an incredibly good reputation and operates one of the newest fleet of planes in the world.

Taxis

Upon collecting your luggage you will move through the secure customs area and after exciting this area you will move onto the main airport concourse.  From here on, depending on the time of day, things can be quite hectic.

As well as the girls at the taxi desks trying to get your attention, so they can sell a ride into the city, you will often also have a variety of other ‘unofficial’ taxi drivers tugging at your sleeve in the hopes they can sell you a ride to your hotel.  Under no circumstances should you accept a ride from someone unless they work for an officially registered taxi company.  Choose to ignore this and you could find that the journey costs far, far more than you anticipated.  You may be charged a lot of money, you may robbed, or you may be left standing on the side of the road without any of your belongings.

It is possible to take a yellow taxi from the airport, but either be prepared to pay whatever they choose to charge you, or be prepared to bargain, in Portuguese.  Even if the taxi driver speaks some English they will pretend that they don’t.  If you are ripped off by a taxi driver in Rio don’t take it too badly, many Brazilian’s not native to the Cidade Marvelhosa also find themselves paying more than a local would pay when travelling from the airport.

Keep in mind that, like taxi companies all over the world, Rio de Janeiro has its fair share of good drivers, and those who will exploit the fact that you don’t speak the language, and don’t know how much you should pay.

Another option is the ‘executive’ style taxi companies.  These companies operate a reliable ‘fixed rate’ service from the airport to any destination.  Their desks can be located on the main concourse, and will generally be right in front of you as you exit the luggage collection/customs area.  Although these companies will charge more, you will not have to haggle with them, and in the long run you may find that you’ve paid less than if you’d taken a yellow taxi and then been overcharged.

‘Executive’ taxis operate a fleet of more upmarket vehicles, generally only 2-3 years old, with air-conditioning, safety belts etc.  Some companies can now be found on the internet, although they may not speak English.  Some, such as Rio Airport Transfer, will allow you to book and pay online prior to arriving in Rio, as well as offering a meet and greet service.

Buses

Buses can be found by follow the signs written in English, and will allow you to travel to most of the popular suburbs, such as Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema.

Buses are a very cheap way of getting from the airport to the most popular suburbs, such as Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema. But, if you are travelling with a lot of luggage then bus travel within Rio may not be the best option for you. Firstly it is difficult to get luggage on and off a bus and there’s not always much space on the bus, and secondly there is a greater chance someone will try to steal from you.  Also, you will need to have the correct change when boarding the bus and this will be quite unlikely if it is your first visit to Brazil.

Credit Cards & Cash

Be aware that credit cards will not work in every ATM (money machine) in Brazil.  Even ATMs with the Visa and MasterCard symbols will often not accept international credit cards.  Don’t leave it until the last minute to try and get cash from a machine as it may take you a few hours to find one that accepts your card.  Also, ATM’s in some neighbourhoods will not allow you to withdraw cash after a certain time of night, often 9pm.  As with ATM’s some businesses are not able to accept international credit cards.

If possible it is recommended to bring some cash with you, preferably Brazilian Reals, even if it’s only enough to last 1 or 2 days while you work out how to operate money machines.

Contrary to what has been written in many travel guides, US dollars, Euros etc, are not commonly accepted in Brazil.  While there may be some businesses in Rio that accept these currencies they are the minority rather than the majority, and outside of a large city like Rio many businesses will not be able to assist you if you do not have Brazilian Reals.

In Summary

Arriving in Rio will be the beginning of an enjoyable and memorable stay.  The noise and attention you will receive at the airport from those wanting to offer you services can be overwhelming for some travellers. If you prefer to have your transport arranged before arriving then contacting one of Rio’s ‘executive’ transfer companies may be the best option for you.

For a quick response by English speaking staff, or to book online, Rio Airport Transfer (http://www.rioairporttransfer.com) should be able to assist you quickly and efficiently.

Most importantly, enjoy your stay in the Cidade Marvelhosa!