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Transfer

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:27:21 -0500

From Airport (Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro)

The international airport t in Rio is like any other in the world, organized, clean, and safe, with a lot of good services for customers but is also distant from the city.

We have some good suggestions:

Special Bus

2018 – Aeroporto Internacional do RJ X Alvorada

Air-conditioning bus with luggage department for 5, 50 reais (about 2, 10 U$)
Takes you from the international airport to Barra da Tijuca passing through:

Ilha / Rodoviária / Centro / Flamengo / Botafogo / Copacabana / Ipanema / Leblon / São Conrado / Barra da Tijuca.

Departures every 30 minutes, the entire trip takes around 1:40 minutes.it goes to the coast line most of its itinerary
Check the route here:

Official Site: http://www.realautoonibus.com.br (In Portuguese only)

Positive: Price incredible low, comfortable.

Negative: Takes too long, especially after a long flight and you have to walk to the hotel.

Shuttle Service

If you’re in a little group of friends or family this is the best way to go to your hotel. A driver will pick you up in the airport with a sign with your name on it. You have enough space for everybody and for the luggage.
Confortable vans with air-conditioning, dvd, 13 seats.
You just need to confirm your flight by e-mail and you will pay only here after the job is done, no credit cards needed.

Positive: comfortable, safe, fast and good price

Make reservations and check prices here

Fixed Price Taxi

In the way out there’s several booths with taxi companies, they have their prices in a board; it varies depending which district you are going to. They’re more expensive but you’re sure not getting robbed.

Positive: New and good cars, fixed price,

Negative: Expensive, sometimes they charge an extra for the luggage.

Watch out!

You’ll see a lot of taxi drivers in and outside of the airport offering their services. Be careful because most of them take advantage of the tourists (they don’t know the city and the language) and drive around to charge more (sometimes a electronic device is used to alter the meter). They also have a variety of different “services” that goes from drugs and hookers (with catalog) to private tours. Of course not all taxi drivers are like that but let’s say in the airport they’re worse and how you’ll know in that moment who you can trust.

Visa

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:56:15 -0500

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Brazil for tourism purposes and a stay of up to 90 days (except Venezuelans for a stay of up to 60 days):

ANDORRA

ARGENTINA

AUSTRIA

BAHAMAS

BARBADOS

BELGIUM

BOLIVIA

BULGARIA

CHILE

COLOMBIA

COSTA RICA

DENMARK

ECUADOR

FRANCE

FINLAND

GERMANY

GREECE

HUNGARY

ICELAND

IRELAND

ISRAEL

ITALY

LIECHTENSTEIN

LUXEMBOURG

MALAYSIA

MONACO

MOROCCO

NETHERLANDS

NAMIBIA

NEW ZEALAND

NORWAY

PANAMA

PARAGUAY

PERU

PHILIPPINES

POLAND

PORTUGAL

SAN MARINO

SLOVAKIA

SLOVENIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH KOREA

SPAIN

SURINAM

SWEDEN

SWITZERLAND

THAILAN

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

TUNISIA

TURKEY

UNITED KINGDOM

URUGUAY

VATICAN

VENEZUELA

.

As a matter of reciprocity a visa is required for American citizens wishing to visit Brazil. (Unfortunately)

Check how to get the visa:

http://www.brasilemb.org/consulado/consular1.shtml

List of consular jurisdictions in United States:

http://www.brasilemb.org/consulado/consular_jurisdictions.shtml

General tourist visa information

YOU MUST CONTACT THE CONSULATE OF YOUR JURISICTION

Requirements for TOURIST visas:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in Brazil.

• One passport-sized photograph (2" x 2")

• A photocopy of the round trip ticket or itinerary

• A duly filled out and signed visa application form.
Download a Visa Application form at:

http://www.brasilemb.org/consulado/consular_forms.shtml

• For American citizens the fee is U$100.00. For citizens of Canada the fee is U$40.00. For citizens of other countries, please check at:

http://www.brasilemb.org/consulado/consular_table_fee.shtml

• A non-refundable handling fee of US$10.00 per visa applies to visa applications submitted by mail or by any individual other than the applicant or an immediate member of his or her family (NOTE: New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco do not accept applications by mail).

If your consulate does not accept applications by mail (New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco), applicants unable to apply in person MUST use a visa service agency. Please visit the website for the consulate in your jurisdiction for a list of visa service agencies.

Visa processing times for applications vary. Processing time may take one to ten business days for applications received in person. The consulates that accept applications by mail usually require 7 to 10 business days (NOT including transit times) to process visas. Check with the consulate where you will be applying for their current processing times.

If you are applying by mail do not forget to include a prepaid, self-addressed/ stamped return envelope with the application so that the consulate can mail it back to you (ONLY USPS ENVELOPES WILL BE ACCEPTED). The Brazilian Tourism Office recommends the use of USPS registered or certified mail or the use of USPS priority or express mail. Do not forget to keep the tracking or registration number for your records in case you need to locate the envelope.

Airline Tickets

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:53:50 -0500

Several airlines offer scheduled services between the United States, Europe and Brazil.

American airlines	Air France
Continental Airlines	Lufthansa
Delta Airlines	Iberia
TAM Airlines	TAP
United Airlines	Swiss

Flight duration:
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the main gateways to Brazil. Flight times are:

8 hours from Miami
9 hours from Atlanta
10 hours from New York
13 hours from Los Angeles
16 from San Francisco
12 to 13 from Europe

Flight time between different cities within Brazil

Considering the size of the country, the best way to travel throughout Brazil is by air. Flying domestically can be quite expensive. However foreign visitors can travel economically by purchasing air passes from Tam Airlines or Varig prior to arriving in Brazil. Compared to domestic air travel available in Brazil, air passes are an excellent value. A round-trip flight from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus can cost over US$1000. Currently, an air pass exchangable for up to 5 domestic flights used within 21 days costs approximately US$ 530.