Brazil - Rio de Janiero questions

I have a flight out of Galeão airport in Rio back to LA at 1:32am. I'm staying in Botafogo and wanted to catch a bus to the airport from Botafogo beach. Thinking of making my way to the airport around 9pm or so, should reach the airport by 10pm and then I have a 3.5hr wait. My question is if it's dangerous to wait for the bus in the Botafogo beach area... I know Rio can be quite dangerous at night so don't want to take chances.

On the other hand if I head to the airport before daylight fades (perhaps around 6:30ish?) is there anything interesting to do at Galeão airport to kill time? Is there WiFi or a cinema or something closeby so that I can check my bags and then kill 6 hours?

Let's enlist the help of the Travel->Brazil forum readers. I'll move this there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

I know Rio can be quite dangerous at night so don't want to take chances.Take a cab.

On the other hand if I head to the airport before daylight fades (perhaps around 6:30ish?) is there anything interesting to do at Galeão airport to kill time? Is there WiFi or a cinema or something closeby so that I can check my bags and then kill 6 hours?No.

Yes I know I can take a cab but cab is US$85 which is downright ridiculous, I don't want to pay that.

I guess I'll have to see if I can arrange some sort of shared shuttle if available, otherwise take my chances with the bus.

First of all, a cab from Botafogo to Galeao should not cost $85 USD. If are you really in a tight budget, I would not suggest to get a bus from Botafogo at night, but rather take a short cab ride to SDU and then catch the 2145 bus to Galeao.

That's a good option thanks! ^ SDU is fairly close to the centro I believe!

It's not that I cannot afford $85 but I refuse to pay it based on principle because I think it is equal to extortion, airport is only 20km (12miles) away. I'd would walk the entire distance to the airport before I pay that to a cab.

I paid $40US to go from Central Seoul to Incheon which was 53 km away, that too in a brand new Mercedes taxi.

Or take a shorter cab ride to Shopping Rio Sul have dinner there and catch the same bus to Galeao from right in front.

Or take a shorter cab ride to Shopping Rio Sul have dinner there and catch the same bus to Galeao from right in front.

excellent, I will look into this... thanks for the good pointers :)

First of all, a cab from Botafogo to Galeao should not cost $85 USD. If are you really in a tight budget, I would not suggest to get a bus from Botafogo at night, but rather take a short cab ride to SDU and then catch the 2145 bus to Galeao.
Quite right. A yellow cab to GIG from Botafogo should be around R$40 at that time of night. However a cab to SDU and then the Real bus (R$8) is going to cost R$15-20. IMO just get a cab around 10.30pm.

yes, R$40 seems great!! if I can find a cab at that price then I will just take it at 10:30pm as you said :) Are the yellow cabs ones you just flag on the street or is it also possible to have my hotel call them? Anything to look out for with regard to cab safety?

Anything to look out for with regard to cab safety?Agree on the price before you get on.

Why don't you try this http://shuttlerio.com.br/home/

Agree on the price before you get on.

Why don't you try this http://shuttlerio.com.br/home/

Its a great srvice and suggestion but in this case would leave the OP cooling his heels at GIG for 5 hours as the last service is at 7pm.

my hotel here says they can do a transfer for R$50, I may just go with that...it's around USD30. The hotel also said that taxi drivers here in Rio are notorious for demanding R$100 or more when they find out that you can't speak Portuguese, not sure how true that is.

My hotel (the Marriott) offered me a transfer for R$225, so by comparison, R$50 is extremely reasonable. :D

(No question I'd accept for R$50, but for R$225, I plan to take the bus...)

Be sure to confirm with the driver the amount they quote you. On one trip, I agreed to pay R$70, and by the time I reached the airport, the amount had magically changed to R$75!

If you have time.... grab a meal at Gero.... :D

I would not hestitate to walk in most areas of Botafogo after nightfall, but not with luggage. As noted, the cab ride wouldn't be US$85, not even R$85. You have been given some good options, including taxi to SDU (safe, well-lit) and bus from there. And your hotel's taxi service.

Galeao pretty grim for having to pass time, but 3 1/2 hours isn't much. At GIG, avoid the food court. Overpriced. We had a better meal at the Luxor Hotel on the 3rd floor of Termnal 1 (the older of the two terminals). If you have an Am Ex card, you can use the Centurion Club at the end of that terminal's second level (beyond check-in area). Free snacks and PCs to use, though no booze and, as far as I could determine, no WiFi (I think there is Wifi elsewhere). If you are, by chance, flying international biz or first class out of Terminal 2, there's a consolidated "VIP" club (with showers and snacks) downstairs in the international departure area. Available to passengers of several airlines. Remember to allow enough time to not only go through security but also passport control (something you don't encounter in the U.S. upon departure) if taking an international flight. And keep in mind that check-in lines can be long, and the area for those lines, especially in Terminal 1, very cramped.