Help needed for trip planning to BA and Rio
 

I am planning a trip to South America beginning of May 2007 for two weeks. I am going to redeem miles on Delta. I would like to visit BA and Rio. It looks like there is no Delta or partners connection between 2 cities other than through Colombia. Does anybody have any other information? Suggestions? Currently I was able to put on hold roundtrip tickets Boston-Rio (reservation expires Sept. 26) and I am thinking about purchasing roundtrip tickets Rio-BA. How much should I expect to pay for that trip in May? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

To fly between RIo and Buenos Aires via Colombia sounds a little too much, even for free tickets.
This is how I feel ...

Can you not go into Rio and out of BA or vice versa. Then even you had to buy a ticket for the flight between them you are not wasting any time back tracking.

Thank you. It looks like I can fly to BA from Boston and return home from Rio. Should I buy tickets from BA to Rio now or later? My trip is not 'till May. Any suggestions on airline?

I also meant to tell you I had been in Rio in May 2005 and everyone there told me that May is the best time of year to visit, the weather is good, its not the peak tourist season, etc. Also I found on www.kayak.com that Varig, TAM and Aerolineas Argentina is the only direct flight between BA and Rio. I have flown Varig and TAM within Brazil and they are no worse (or better) than your basic US airline for such a trip.

Thank you laurie ann. did you go with a group? We are thinking of doing both BA and Rio on our own. Trying to save some money. Our son went to college and it cost $$$$$$. Do you still have any information left? I fill a little uncertain about doing Rio. Should I?

In terms of connection between BA and Rio, I'd suggest you book w/ 2 months advance time or monitor the website for TAM (www.tam.com.br) for special deals. As for VARIG, the other airline, they are no longer opearating. Another suggestion is GOL (www.voegol.com.br) - they are a low fare airline and they do fly between Rio and B.Aires. As for Rio being worth it, it depends of what you are after w/ your trip. It is a beautiful city but you will need to join an excursion/group once you get there to visit the main sites , since it is safer and the majority of the locals do not speak english. Unfortunately I don't have any to recomend but I'm sure if you google, you will get a lot of options on agencies that organize visits to the main sites in english. Hope this helps.... Juliana.

Before you book with TAM you might want to read the post titled Buenos Aires Trip Review. Her experiences with TAM were not good.

I did not go with a group or even as real tourist but on business several times. I don't speak any Portuguese except yes, no, please, thank you, coffee, etc. I know Rio is a bit "edgy" but I felt comfortable on the couple or three of Sundays in the daylight I spent by myself or with one of the other "gringos" with me doing the basic tourist things in Rio: Corcovado and the nearby museum of "naif" art nearby, walking around downtown, walking along Copa Cabana or Ipanema beach and finally taking the little cable car up to Santa Teresa to the shops and restaurants and historical neighborhood there and to one of the major shopping malls (even that is a cultural phenomena and quite entertaining). I even took the subway once. But I agree, outside major tourist hotels few people speak English (that means few taxi drivers, few shopkeepers, few restaurant staff). I thought it was a beautiful and interesting city (think a tropical San Francisco on steroids!) and would love to have the chance to go back and spend more time. As to how to do I used regular taxis from the hotel, having first written the name and address on a piece of paper for the driver of where I was going, they are inexpensive and then asking help whereever I was to get a taxi to get back to the hotel.