Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport

There are several options for getting to and from the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International airport. Major roads, including the Linha Vermelha and the Avenida Brasil do run to the airport, and full parking facilities are available if needed. Car rental services are available in the airport, and you will find taxis waiting to take you to your destination. It is suggested that you purchase pre-paid taxi vouchers inside the airport at the Transcoopass desk in lieu of paying your driver directly as a security measure.

Airport buses offer transit to major hotels along the beach road. This is the ideal way to get to your hotel if the service is an option and is quite affordable. Some hotels also offer their own shuttle service for visitors, so look into this option when planning your vacation experience. Shuttle buses also link Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport to Rio's Santos Dumont Airport should you need to make a connection between the two; however, most air traffic in the area now comes into the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport. Public buses also run to the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport; however, these are best used only if you know the area well and should likely be avoided by many visitors.

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There are restaurants, bars and snack bars available in the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport. You will find some restaurants in terminal 1, but a larger variety of restaurants, cafes and snack bars in the commercial area of terminal 2. The two terminals are connected via a motorized walkway. Do keep in mind that certain food guidelines may be smart in Brazil. Avoid drinking tap water or eating uncooked foods that may have been washed in tap water to stay healthy during your visit to Brazil. Be certain that all food is served hot.

A variety of foods, from fast food to Brazilian favorites, are available in the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport. You will find the coffee is excellent, strong, and widely available. Brazil is also known for a variety of interesting juice drinks, and these are popular both in the airport and beyond.

Do keep in mind that food services may not be available 24 hours a day in the airport restaurants. You will find other dining options in the airport hotels, if you would prefer a sit-down restaurant during a longer layover.

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There are two hotels in the airport proper. These are ideal if you should happen to have a very long layover or a very early flight. If Brazil is not your final destination, and you happen to be American, the airport hotels can allow you a good night's rest while avoiding the $100 tourist visa cost of staying outside the airport. They also offer restaurants and some business conveniences, making them an ideal choice for both business and recreational travel.

The Luxor airport hotel is on the third floor of the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport. This 62 room three-star hotel offers a 24 hour business center, an excellent restaurant with breakfast and dinner buffets and a full bar. For a comfortable night's rest with the amenities you need, the Hotel Luxor at the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao airport is both comfortable and pleasant. The Hotel Pousada is on level one of terminal one. This hotel features basic, albeit small rooms, air conditioning, and a restaurant.

If you are staying in Rio, you will find the Real shuttle to the beach hotels easy, affordable and convenient. The buses are air conditioned, clean and comfortable. Many hotels are easily accessible from the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao airport, and offer quality accommodations at reasonable rates.

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Information consoles are available in both terminal 1 and terminal 2 at the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport. The airport features an easy to use motorized walkway that connects terminal 1 and terminal 2. The Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport offers a number of services to visitors. You will find banks, ATMs and money exchange services throughout the airport. A small 24 hour hospital offers basic medical care and a fully stocked pharmacy in terminal 1. A post office keeps typical business hours, but offers full mailing and international post services.

Disabled passengers will appreciate the facilities in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport. Elevators, ramp access and adapted telephones and toilets are all available in the airport. Your airline may be able to provide additional assistance to meet your needs, so do consult with the airline prior to your trip or when making your reservation. Special parking spaces are available, and you will find the airport, on the whole, quite accessible.

The Rio de Janeiro State Tourism Authority desk offers prepaid taxi vouchers. You will also find that the Empresa Real airport shuttle buses offer easy, clean and air conditioned transit to the beaches and city locations for a reasonable fee.

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Rio de Janeiro/Galeao - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport is named in honor of Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Brazilian musician. The airport's code is GIG. The airport was built in 1952 on Governador Island, approximately 15 miles from the city of Rio de Janeiro. The airport was renovated in 1977, but traffic to the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport declined in the 1980's as more of Brazil's air traffic was directed to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. The second terminal at Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport was built at a cost of 600 million dollars. Traffic to the airport has increased substantially since 2004. In 2004, the airport serviced only 4.5 million visitors, but by 2006 this number had doubled.

Today, the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport is one of Varig's two primary hubs. Furthermore the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport also services many international airlines and direct flights are available from Houston, Miami, New York and Atlanta in the US. You can also fly into Rio from many South American destinations, or connect to other South American destinations, as well as make direct connections to Europe.

Rio is a major business hub, and the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport offers the services and transit options essential to a modern city. You may find that this airport is less luxurious than some, but it typically operates fairly efficiently and provides good service.

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While some international airports offer excellent shopping opportunities, you will find somewhat more limited shopping at the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao airport. Plan to do the majority of your shopping in the city itself, and bring a book if you have time to pass during a layover. There are the expected duty-free shops, as well as necessary travel supplies. Duty free shops offer a variety of liquor, perfumes and tobacco products. These may be carried aboard flights, after being properly sealed by the duty free shop. You may buy up to $500 worth of goods in the duty free shops at the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport per Brazilian customs law. The duty free shop is located in the airport terminal before you clear customs, so you should keep this in mind if you wish to purchase goods as you enter the country.

Tobacco, books, and magazines are all available in the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport. A pharmacy is also available to meet medication or hygiene needs. Souvenir shops offer a variety of goods, and if you have forgotten to buy gifts for friends and family, you will find an array of options available there. Shopping opportunities are as expected in an airport, but this airport lacks the mall like shopping venues found in some more cosmopolitan airports.

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Business services at the Rio de Janeiro-Galaeo International Airport are rather limited. The Luxor Hotel located on the 3rd floor of terminal 1 does offer a comprehensive business center, available to hotel guests. You will find internet access, fax machines and more at the Luxor Hotel. If you have a long layover, consider consulting the 24 hour reservations desk regarding the possibility of getting a room to take advantage of the Luxor business center. Day use and short stay rates are available at the Luxor Hotel, allowing you to take advantage of internet access and other business facilities affordably and practically during a Rio de Janeiro-Galeao layover. A meeting room is available, with additional secretarial and other services if needed at the Luxor Hotel in the Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport.

If you have a Diner's Club Card, the Diner's Club VIP lounge offers an array of business services, as well as food and drinks. Meeting space is available for business travelers with access.

With limited internet access and other services, you may wish to plan to bring a book or check into the on-site Luxor hotel if you have a longer than average layover time between flights at Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport.

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As a major international airport, the Rio de Janeiro-Galaeo International Airport serviced nearly 9 million passengers in 2006. The airport complies with all typical international regulations; however, passengers from the United States should expect some additional precautions, including photographing and fingerprinting during customs. These measures were taken up in response to similar US measures with relation to Brazilian citizenry. Be certain that both your passport and visa are in order prior to your trip. Your flight attendant will provide you with an arrival form that you will fill out and present to the state police as you clear customs. You will need this form again when you depart, so do be certain not to lose it.

While duty-free goods can typically be transported onto flights without difficulty, do be aware that both carry on luggage and checked baggage may be searched by customs. Cooperating will speed the customs check process and allow you to get on the way to your Rio vacation more rapidly.

You should also consider personal security on your Rio vacation. You may wish to prepay for your taxi fare, avoid public buses, or even consider arranging your airport transit via a service ahead of time to avoid the possibility of thieves or dishonest taxi drivers.

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If you have a particularly long layover, you may be tempted to leave the airport. First and foremost, you should be aware that you have to have a visa in order to clear customs. For US visitors, a tourist visa is $100, and cannot be acquired at the airport, so plan ahead if you would like a short visit to Rio. If you are traveling elsewhere in Brazil, a long layover may well offer you the opportunity to visit one of Rio's beautiful beaches, see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, or other sites. The airport shuttle service offers inexpensive and fairly quick transit to the beaches and other major areas of the city, and taxis are quite affordable.

The beaches of Rio are home to many excellent food options, and you may even have time to sample traditional Brazilian dishes as a sit down restaurant. Rio is home to many world class museums, churches and cultural facilities if you have a few hours to spare in the city. While you will have to plan ahead for a visit to Rio on a layover if Brazil is not your final destination, spending a bit on a tourist visa may be well worth it to experience the lively and thriving city of Rio, even if for a very short time.

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