I just returned from RIO for a (very short) one night stay at the Caesar Park. It is a great location, but extremely expensive and therefore overrated, in my book. You will need to use a car to go anywhere from the Sheraton, but I've heard it's quite nice. Anyway, a car with driver goes for only $R40,00 per hour....about $22.00!!! Make sure to ask for a Chevrolet Omega..it's the most comfortable and is generally the same price.
For an outsanding Churascurria experience, try Porcao...lot's of meat, but also seafood, salad, and sushi. The best sushi, however, is at Sushinaka right on the Lagoa. Rio is great this time of year (I was there last week.) I can also recommend a great english speaking driver, if you need one.
With respect to the airline/airports, I flew from CGH to SDU on Ponte Varig/Rio Sul. That is the Varig shuttle between SAO/RIO. Great service and saftey...Varig is a world class carier. On the return from GIG to GRU, I flew Varig (connecting to AA GRU-DFW). Again, a great flight with newspapers and a hot snack for every passenger. My UA PremEx card secured admission to the domestic C Class Lounge at GIG...small but lots of complimentary beer and cheesebread (the Brazilian specialty). I believe that every US carrier could learn from Varig...if they heeded the example (food, legroom, service) domestic First Class could definitely be eliminated in the U.S. as well.
It's good you're on Delta. AA's first class was a huge joke. I will write Don Carty a letter, but the service and amenities, including the GRU Admirals Club were pathetic. I flew AA biz class in 1993 and it was better...DL first class in 1997 was outstanding!!! I thought DL was implementing MD-11 service on the route, but the 767-3 still appears on the flight schedules...perhaps the 777 fiasco has kept the MD-11 deployed on its current routings.
I believe that DL uses the Luftansa Senator Lounge at GRU for First (BizElite) Class pax. Very nice...but a somewhat spartan interior design job. Don't expect any plush loungers here. Nice selection of food and bev, though. I assume that DL uses the LH lounge at GIG as well. The Diners lounge may be outside passport control or in a different terminal, so the DL provision could be more convenient. By the way, acceptance of Diners Club has increased dramatically in Brazil. Almost every retail establishment, not to mention restaurant, seems to accept Diners Club now. It's great! Beware of establishments that accept Mastercard and not Visa, however. They are marketed quite distinctly in Brazil. Shopping/eating/services are great right now due to winter sales (Liquidacao) and the great exchange rate $R 1,00 = USD $0.55.
I advise you to skip the Diners Club shuttle (van) it runs only every two hours between GIG and the Rio Palace hotel (I think) a taxi is only USD$22.00.
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SD Flyer
[This message has been edited by SD Flyer (edited 08-10-1999).]