Does Shuttle Rio (www.shuttlerio.com.br) have a representative at the airport where I can book a transfer to Ipanema? If so, where exactly is the company's booth at the airport, I will arrive in the international terminal at GIG.

From reading the website, the answer appears to be no. You need to make a reservation online.

Then, they'll send their driver to meet you at one of Infraero's Information booths - there's one in T1 and another in T2 - whose pics can be found here: http://shuttlerio.com.br/home/br/ponto_de_encontro

Hope this helps.

Why not just take a taxi? Metered taxis, parked in front of the terminal, are safe and reliable, but if you prefer to be able to have a flat rate you know in advance, and be able to pay by credit card, you'll see booths for a couple of "radio taxi" companies inside the airport (they do cost more than metered taxis). Some feel the cars of the radio taxi companies are likely to be a bit newer.

Maybe because of cost. ShuttleRio is R$20 for GIG to the Zona Sul. Regular taxi would be at least double that and pre-paid 4X.

http://shuttlerio.com.br/home/br/torcida-interativa

I did RioShuttle on my last visit. For whatever reason the driver felt the need to ride all through the crowded streets of Leblon before he backtracked to Ipanema. Also on the return it was raining that day so we decided to head to the airport early and hang in the lounge. We emailed RioShuttle and had to wait for a reply as far as changing our time of pickup, which we could not. However, since it was not a prepay it was not a big deal and we just cabbed it to GIG.

So like SuperShuttle here in the US you trade time for money.

You can also prepay a yellow cab by CC (e.g. Aerocoop) at a booth just outside arrivals. Last time I did it was R$56 to Copa on a Sunday i.e Band 2. However it was a year ago so likely has gone up. Will check next week.

Those are the radio taxis I mentioned. Booths inside the airport. Different than metered taxis. Flat rate, you pay when you book the cab. Cost more than the metered taxis.

No, Aerocoop is a yellow taxi and has a booth inside terminal 1 at least, not sure about T2.

Yellow taxis from GIG also offer flat rates.

Exactly, different than the 3 radio taxi companies with booths inside the arrivals area and is a regular yellow cab.

Last week the flat rates to Copa from GIG were R$50 (Band 1) and R$60 (Band 2). R$3 was added on for my two pieces of luggage. I have paid more than that going to/from GIG on the meter so I feel it offers good value particularly if there's going to be some traffic. Also offers some assurance to a first time visitor that they're not going to be overcharged by a rogue driver that they hail outside.

Never had any issues with these guys. Funnily enough I was at T2 heading to EZE last Sunday and an Aerocoop taxista came up to me and said he'd brought me from GIG earlier in the year. Named the street in Copa and even remembered it was my friend's apartment which I thought was pretty impressive given the no. of customers they have.

Can anyone one confirm the better shuttle service in Rio for round trip airport transfer...It will be a group of 6.

http://www.rioairporttransfer.com/

http://www.greenpathtransfers.com/

Also, I am looking for the current Radio Taxi stands open at GIG. Will there be any discount for booking two radio taxis for my group of 6?

Thanks for you help and advice!