We are a family of 5 with luggage and need to get from the Rio airport to our rented apartment in the Barra- does anyone have a better idea than a taxi which we have been quoted as costing US$150.00!! That would be US$300 for the round trip which seems really high. Any ideas?

1st question, who quoted you that price?

Taxis are small in Rio so you would need 2 cars or a van if you could get one.

I was recently in Rio, went up to the taxi desk and asked how much to Copacabana, they told me 90 reais. I walked outside and got a yellow taxi with a meter, cost me 42 reais to Copacanana. Less than half.

Maybe you should do the same, wait until you get there and take a metered taxi to Barra, even if it cost you 70 reais for each car to barra that's $80, it might even be less.

There is a bus that leaves the airport(I have never taken it) I believe that it will take you to the central bus station and then from there take a bus to Barra. Cheap but with a family of 5 with luggage and after a long flight can be a tough go.

I suspect you are being taken for a ride. I've never paid more than about R$60,00 taking a metered taxi out the front of the airport to Ipanema. usually closer to R$50,00 or around $30 USD. Depending on the traffic I cannot imagine the fare from Ipanema through to Barra being more than another R$30,00.

Of course that's a big detour you wouldn't need to take going direct to Barra so I'd be surprised if the total fare was more than R$75-80 all up. Fly in the ointment is that taxis in Rio seat four passengers and as nearly run on gas, there's not much room for luggage. Even so, if you were to catch two taxis between your group you would still come out of the round trip about $100 USD ahead of the quoted price. The last time I took a cab from anywhere close to Barra to Galeão was a few years ago and that was from Jacarepagua, From memory it was around R$55-60, so I suspect with inflation my estimate is about right.

Other options. Book a Fiat Doblo, through a taxi service or a private driver or take the Real airport bus as far as Ipanema or Leblon and then cab it from the front of the nearest hotel. Not the most convenient option and not an enormous saving when talking about five people but it might save a few dollars.

Hi - Thanks very much I will probably just take two taxi's from the airport- though the bus is an option does anyone know if there are taxi ranks near the airport bus stops? We are staying in the Barra which is not as popular as Ipanema etc.

If you are unfamiliar with the bus from airport to Barra or to any other area, I'd highly suggest taking taxis (metered ones). I've always taken a taxi through the desk personnel. The rate has varied based on the years of my going there. I've never paid more than R$80 (reals). I've paid R$50, R$60 and R$70 and no more.

My last holiday to Rio was in 2007; I hope to be back to my favorite city of this world of ours sometime during this year (2011)! Enjoy the culture and everything positive that's there!

WE took the bus from the airport to Copacobana, cheap and easy enough for two seniors and luggage from Australia. We had found (from Internet) where the hotel was (Leme) and where to get off the bus when it turned the last corner, and we walked from there, pulling our luggage. Not sure where to catch the bus back to the airport, we got a taxi back - DH negotiated a price with the driver first, but we paid him more, as the meter reading was somewhat higher, and we thought he'd earned it!

Why not find a bus stop near Barra, and get a couple of taxis from there to your hotel, if necessary?

BTW, we found it fun to travel on the public buses to town, Botanical Gardens, Sugarloaf and Corcovado. Hold on though - it's like a Disney ride!