Layover at GRU - anything to do?

NYC, NY
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Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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We will have about a six hour layover in GRU waiting for a connecting flight to Maceio. Can we make it into the city and back in time, even if just for an hour or two? Or, traffic is too much? Anyplace to go for a good lunch near to the airport? We land early at GRU so I guess we would want a breakfast or lunch kind of spot. We have been to GRU before and are familiar with the airport. Obrigado.

Sao Paulo, SP
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for Sao Paulo
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11. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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There is a Marriot (they offer transfer)

http://hoteis.marriott.com.br/sao-paulo-airport-marriott/

a Caesar Park ( also with transfer)

http://www.caesar-park.com/portal/CP_index.jsp

also there is the Ibis and mercure .

At the airport you can try The Traveller SPA by L ´Occitane

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-

Princeton, New...
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12. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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BF4, thanks for the info.

On the hotel website they say that they provide transport between the airport and hotel. As I recall, these are "on call" services which means that you call from a courtesy phone and then wait for the van or car.

My experience with these, compared to a shuttle that is circulating the airport and local hotels, is that you end up waiting anywhere from 20-45 minutes for the car to get to the airport.

Maybe these hotels have better service, but I think the OP would save a lot of time just hopping into a taxi and getting to the hotel.

Maragogi, AL
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for Maragogi, Maceio, Porto de Galinhas, Recife, Japaratinga, Tamandare, Costa dos Corais
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13. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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Let me add a bit more detail about transfering from an international to a domestic flight at GRU. Your bags will be checked through to Maceió, but you still will need to go through immigration and pick up the bags and walk them through the custom´s line in GRU. Once out into the general airport area, you will walk across the hall to a TAM connections counter right on the same level where they will inspect your documents, take your luggage and if necessary provide you with a boarding pass and information concerning the next leg of your journey. Then you are free to make a decision on whether to leave the airport or stick around, depending on the time you finish at the TAM connections counter.

Also, if you are returning back to NYC via GRU, even though you will get your bags checked through, you need to go to the international departure counter of TAM in GRU to get a security check and stamp on your boarding pass. In this case, your bags will go from the domestic to the international flight without you having to pick them up.

NYC, NY
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14. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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Thank you for all this information. We have a plan then. Tengo.

New York City, New...
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15. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?
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When I have a time frame like that I have gone to the International Shopping with no problem. There's a special bus in front of the terminal (ask the information booth) that leaves once an hour, maybe, and a local bus (again, ask which one). It's at most 20 minutes away. Just make sure when you get there how to get back and leave plenty of time for slippage!

There's tons of stores and an Extra hipermercado, a por kilo restaurant, a food court and even a mini-amusement park.

16. Re: Layover at GRU - anything to do?

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