Most hotels in Rio do not offer free transfers..even if they did you would have to verify you were staying at said hotel. When you leave customs there are always reps from the different hotels holding signs with guest names..there won't be like a big Holiday Inn bus you can just hop on.

"Air-conditioned bus service operated by Real departs every 20-30 minutes from 05h30 to 22h00 and runs between both airports, the main bus terminal and further along the beachfront in Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, and has its terminus at the Alvorada terminal near Barra Shopping in Barra da Tijuca. The full run takes at least 60 minutes, often double. Single ticket R$ 6.50. Plenty of luggage space, comfy."

Margarida's is only a couple of blocks up Anibal Mendonca from the beachfront.

That sounds like the best deal. I will be arriving early in the morning (7:30 a.m. on a Thursday) so I will be in no hurry to get to the hotel. It sounds like I could get off the van near the beach just down the road from my hotel. Thanks for the tip.

I took the Real bus mentioned by tcantarelli, and it took me about 75 minutes to reach Ipanema, I arrived in the middle of the day.

That brings up a good point. When is rush hour? My flight arrives at 7:30 a.m. How bad will the traffic be on a Thursday once I am on the bus heading towards Ipanema? Thanks.

My flight arrived an hour earlier and it was a Friday. I think you should give yourself an hour to clear customs and get your bags. There will be a little traffic at about 8:30 but I don't think the roads will be clogged.

Hope you meet some nice new friends there! I did and I loved it! :)

Thanks for the info. I will only have a carryon bag so I should reach the exits a little faster than most. It sounds like I will be ready to board the bus by 8:15 or 8:30 a.m.. Since I can not check into the hotel until later in the day, I will be in no hurry to reach my place of lodging. I am more than happy to take the "slower" option if it means saving money. Thanks again for all of the great advice.

Passport control can take well over an hour, especially if several flights arrive at the same time, which is common in the morning. You're inthe same line with everybody else, since checked luggage is picked up after passing through passport control.

I think you could probably arrange with the pousada to put your bag someplace safe for the interim between arrival and taking possession of your room. Or you could consider taking the bus to the Santos Dumont domestic airport, leaving your bag in the luggage storage there and exploring the downtown area nearby the airport (only if you arrive on a weekday) or taking the inexpensive ferry from the terminal near S.Dumont over to Niteroi (12 minute trip, runs every 15 minutes) to see the view looking back to Rio.

Hi, garolittle!

Welcome to Rio.

Rush hours in Rio:

Airports are far from Ipanema/Copacabana.

the traffic is from these places TO downtown, obviously. so, to go from downtown to Ipanema you will have no problem in the morning. you will spend some time to go from GIG to downtown (you need to cross the city to reach Ipanema). Some streets in Lagoa have terrible traffic during all the day/night. Avoid them at "Rush Hours" (btw: from 7 a.m.- 9 a.m and from 5 p.m - 8 p.m or later)

I avoid to use the car so much as possible, to don't stay stucked on the bad traffic. Subway is unbelievably crowdy at the rush hours, but is very fast, usefull and clean. One problem: only go untill Copacabana, you have to walk a lot or take a cab to Ipanema.

feel free to ask me anything.

Welcome

Brazil Rio

Thank you Brazil Rio. This will be my first trip to Rio and I am really excited about it. Thanks for the traffic information.