How much will a taxi be from the airport to
SHERATON RIO HOTEL & TOWERS
AVENIDA NIEMEYER 121 VIDIGAL 22450,
RIO DE JANEIRO,

Well, I couldn't tell you exactly but when you get out of the customs area in the international airport you will see several taxi desks with the name something like Coopatran. These taxis will be slightly more money than a regular yellow taxo located outside at a taxi stand that you can find if you go out the door of the airport and go toward your right. But anyway this taxi fare should be in the ball park of about $20 give or take with a meter depending on the traffic but the taxi stands right out side customs charge a flat rate. Stay away from anybody just trying to ask you in the airport, use an official taxi.

Dondiega, you mentioned you used Bruno to pick you up and return you to the airport, and that you have an email address for him that you were going to post (bet you thought we would forget . So if we wanted to use his taxi, how would we find him in the airport?? Thx Denise

Danak I am not trying to be rude or anything like that by posting this question under yours...I just thought we might both benefit. Have a good trip and I hope you post a trip report that I can read b/4 I leave....

KDM, did I forget to post Bruno's email? I have it at work, today being Saturday I will post it Monday. But anyway, when Bruno is picking me up he stands outside the customs area with a sign that has your name on it. I usually use him when Im renting an apartment from www.gringomanagement.com because he takes me to the apartment and via cell phone tells the apartment agent to be there exactly when I arrive, its easy and fast and no waiting. If you go to that site and click on other services you can see a picture of him. He probably charges a bit more but he has a nice air conditioned car and he has to pay for parking for when he waits for you.

Bruno's Email [email protected] his cell number is 9966 9625 and 9693 0242. Bruno does transfers from the airport as well as all touring in Brazil.

Thank you Dondiega for this information.

As soon as you get out of customs there are a few booths trying to get you to use their taxi service. We paid $26usd which in retrospect was way too much. On the wasy back to the airport on the way home it cost us 45 reals which is about $15usd. We used a yellow taxi which was fine. Don't get sucked into paying in USD - u'll always pay more that way.

Danak what airport did you fly into? also how does the tipping work in Rio? and finally do they charge by bag, people, or just distance? thx again

I flew into the international airport (GIG is the code). The tipping is always included when you go out for dinner. The standard is 10%. Always check your bill to see if they added the tip. 95% of the time they do. The charge by the distance just like any taxi company. Always ask to pay on the meter. There are plenty of cabs to get around the city and the cabbies try and rip you off. One cab wanted 20 reals to get froma club to our hotel when we knew it should be only be 8 reals. We got out of the cab and went into one that was going to charge us from the meter.

Danak, I don't know what time of day or night you got out of the taxi but yes you must make sure that the taxi driver does charge you appropriately and keep in mind that during the night like after midnight taxis do charge more than what is on the meter, like double. I know that when I leave a club at say 4 in the morning I always give a flat rate which is about double of what the meter would normally have been. Also taxi rates have gone up recently and some taxi meters have not been adjusted for the rise yet so they may charge you more than what the meter says. I only say this so that you don't feel like your getting ripped off when actually you are not. And if you don't speak the language then this may not be communicated to you.

Also tipping for taxis may be just to round up nicely or maybe to 10%. In restaurants 10% will be added to your bill but it is customary to give the next 5% if the service was good or even 10% more if the service is exceptional just like here in the US. 15% tip is universal your not going to save 5%.