GRU - some advice
 

I need to get to the Hyatt in Sao Paulo from the airport in a couple of weeks and wanted some advice on likely costs of a car to/from airport.

There was some suggestion that the currency exchanges at the airport were not good value, is that still the case?

Thanks in advance!

You mean the cost of a taxi? GRU taxi service (Guaru Coop) is very reliable and efficient. A taxi ride from GRU to Hyatt hotel will cost you about R$110 and Guaru Coop accepts all major credicards. It will take about 40min depending on time and traffic. Guaru Coop operates with fixed price and no meter, you will pay before you board the car at the taxi's company kiosk.

http://www.guarucoop.com.br/eng/index.html

Another alternative is the Airport Bus service which charges about R$35 and stops in front of the hotel, it will take about 1h of journey.

About money exchange, I always withdraw money from one of the ATMs with my Dutch-issued bank card so no hassle of rates or commissions. I guess rates at GRU will be better than if you exchange money at the counter of Hyatt hotel...

Rgs,

Just to add - you can also buy the bus ticket with a card (from the booking office by the bus stops). And make sure you get the "hotel circuit" bus.

Since the £ moved in one direction and the Real in another, I've discovered the charms of the bus journey.

There's a bank charge for each cc cash withdrawal. I'm told it can be avoided with one of the banks - but that might just be a travellers' myth.

Thanks guys, so I can get the bus ticket at the airport, and it will drop me off at the Hyatt! Wonderful, as I have an early arrival.

Any ideas on where the bus stop is at the airport?

It is very easy, the buses are located just after you leave arrivals area, walk outside the terminal. There are signs indicating the location.

You need to buy the ticket at the company's kiosk (all major credit cards accepted), the kiosk is located in front of the buses departure.

As mentioned above, be careful to get the bus which serves the "hotel circuit" as there are 7 different lines operated by Airport Bus Service.

Here is the timetable of the hotel circuit line:

Monday to Sunday including Holidays:

06:10 07:10 08:20 09:30 10:40 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:10 16:10 17:20 18:30 19:30 20:40 22:00 23:10

Rgs,

I agree that the taxi company is reliable. You can pay the driver if you pay in local currency but it is better to use your credit card and prepay at the kiosk. That way your receipt will show the actual destination and address where the driver will take you. You will also know that the amount of the fare cannot be increased by the driver. I think the fare is a little less than R$110 estimated above.

I use the cab company each time I visit Sao Paulo which is usually every month. Only once did I have a problem and that was about six years ago when I use to pay the driver in cash.

I agree, this is a good alternative. On trips when I am with friends, they prefer to take the EMTU bus which I do to please them. It is a clean and comfortable bus. The bus is air conditioned.

If you have an ATM card, use a bank machine at the airport. Look for an HSBC or Bradesco Bank machine and you will not pay any local bank fee. The rate you will get from the machine is the posted exchange rate.

The cambio (money changer) at the airport is a rip off. The rates they charge (exchange rates) are outrageous. They harp about not charging a fee to change money but the rate they give you more than includes a fee. The cambio at the airport is as bad as the rate you will get at most hotels (which is terrible).

There are select cambio's in Sao Paulo where you can get a much better rate than the "official" rate. You must, however, change at least the equivalent of U.S. 1,000.00 with each transaction to get a good rate.

I hope this helps.

Have a good time in Sao Paulo.

The flat rate taxis from airports (they are present at several) do cost more than the metered taxis, but the advantage is that you can pre-pay (including by credit card, I believe), and you know the price without worrying about the efficiency of the meter, whether you'll pay more due to traffic, etc. But you do pay extra. Exchange rates at airports are generally not great anywhere. Nothing unique to GRU. If you can get money from your credit card or debit card, the rate should be the same at the airport as elsewhere. I use a Citibank debit card at Banco do Brasil at the Fortaleza airport. Note that Sao Paulo's traffic can be horrendous, and the airport, in Guarulhos, is a ways away. There are some quite nice hotels in Guarulhos, but if you're not just staying at the Hyatt as a place to rest, going to SP could make sense.

Of course, you could always ask the Hyatt about the best way to get to their location.