I don't speak Portuguese, and I know I have been taken for a ride several times. I prefer yellow taxi but sadly I don't trust any taxi driver in Rio due to a several experiences during my trips in April and May.
The taxi fare between Barra and Copacabana average fare has been R$75, on my last trip the driver charged me R$150. Also, on another incident, I showed the driver my map and the name of the place I wanted to go "Parque Lage" He drove me all over town and we ended up at the wrong park, for a moment there I thought I was going to be kidnapped, what should have been a R$10 fare ended up being $R50, I knew he did this on purpose, but not knowing the language there was nothing I could do.
On my trip in April there were 2 taxi trips the hotel told me the drivers over charged me. I took taxis all over Sao Paulo and I find them to be more trustworthy than Rio.
Per the hotel and feedback from people who live in Rio, they told me to uber it, taxi drivers are hit and miss, some are honest and some are not. At least with uber you have a set fair and they can't over charge you. I stay at the Grand Hyatt and even though they are not suppose to, they highly recommend uber.
On my last trip I took uber it to the airport R$65,
In April I took a taxi to the airport R$95
Don't get me wrong I LOVE RIO, but I find the taxi drivers to be shady. If you don't speak Portuguese be careful.
Originally Posted by
VidaNaPraia
While everyone has a right to their transportation preferences, I find that pretty vague. Please give details from your personal experience that support these sweeping conclusions.
My experience has been radically different in over 20 years of frequent regular visits to Rio. The rides I have been "taken on" by drivers of the regular yellow taxis have been pleasant and direct, and drivers have acted honestly in all transactions, charging on the meter. I take yellow taxis that are known entities, members of a cooperative with a home base, and with the name and phone number of the cooperative painted on the back fender. I can only recount my lack of any problems as evidence for the character of these family men who are simply trying to make an honest living to support a wife and children.
I find the "paranoia" deliberately incited on one other forum regarding taking pre-paid taxis from the airport for "peace of mind", rather than those totally "rogue" yellow taxis, to be equally unrealistic as this sales pitch for Uber.
YMMV