stuck at the airport
 

in Rio for 4 hours before making another flight. Any suggestions?

That depends, buddy. If you are at Santos Dumont airport downtown, then there are plenty of things to do in the Centro area right across the street.<BR><BR>If you are at the Galeao airport (GIG), then you will be on Governors Island which is well away from the city. You won't have time to leave and return, my best suggestion would be to check out the Duty Free if they let you down there.

we will be in from and international flight and taking a TAM flight to Salvador, so I guess we will be at GIG terminal for 4 hours.

Hmmm... GIG is in a fairly remote suburb of Rio, and I'm afraid that any short venture off Governors Island towards Rio would not allow you enough time to get into the city proper (which is about a 30 minute drive to the touristy areas).<BR><BR>I do know that at the airport is a food court with a lot of choices, and the duty free which would probably occupy you for an hour tops.<BR><BR>If they do let you out of the airport (you might have a visa issue here depending on your nationality) there might be some things to see on Governors Island? I do know that there is a university there, and a beach, but I have never ventured around that area and cannot tell you with any authority if there is anything of interest there.

what about a hotel close by that I can relax at for a few hours. Can anyone recommend a hotel close by GIG airport.

Yes there is a hotel in GIG called the Luxor aeroporto hotel. Check out the Luxor website I do believe they have day rates or by the hour.

thanks for the info. If you know the website for the luxor hotel please let me know

For the Luxor website go to yahoo search for &quot;Luxor hotel brazil&quot; or &quot;Luxor regente hotel brazil&quot; the site should come up and then navigate to the aeroporta location.

i got stuck at the airport(gig) overnight. so delta had to book me in the luxor hotel for free. was not to bad after all.