When staying in Rio, definitely do not stay in Copacabana etc - too many tourists… and you may as well be in Benidorm.

We stayed in St Theresa. There are great authentic restaurants, cafes etc. The architecture is colonial Portuguese. And best of all, to get down into Rio centre you take a tram down the 3:1 slope, this too is 100 years old, and it feels like it.

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In order to avoid being ripped off by oportunista taxi drivers, when you arrive at the Rodoviária Novo Rio, take the exit from your platform, turn right and take the escalator to the upper level, then cross to the departures area. Take the escalator down to the taxi drop-off point and grab the first cab you find that has just left a passenger.

The driver will be glad of the fare and will do it on the meter. To make sure he's honest, tell the him your destination, point to the meter and say, "No relógio, ta bom?" (on the meter, OK?).

You can do a quick, easy search of buses and departure times to your chosen destination at www.novorio.com.br/. Just fill in the PARTIDAS NOVO RIO field and click.

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Take care when arriving in Rio for the first time at the main bus terminal.

Don't just take a taxi from outside, even if it looks like you're at an official taxi rank. You may end up with a driver and a mate in the front which can be very intimidating not least when you have to hand over much more cash than you need to on arrival at your destination.

Book a transfer in advance or at least see a taxi company in the bus terminal and more or less agree a fare before catching one of their cabs. You may be slightly overcharged but won't feel so vulnerable.

Try to make sure that you have notes in small denominations when it comes to paying. Rio taxi drivers are notorious for their slight of hand (example: for a R$25 fare you give them a R$50 note and they show you a R$20 note and try to make out you made a mistake).

Finally, when in the bus terminal, keep a good eye on your belongings.

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In my experience, airport taxis in Rio are a complete con!! The first time my husband and I arrived in Rio we bought tickets from one of the 'proper' taxi desks. However, by the time we actually got into the taxi our little ticket stub,with the price on it, had been crossed out 3 times and the price had increased by R$20!!! While I realise this is not a huge amount of money to those of us travelling from Europe it's still not a great feeling knowing someone is essentially robbing you!

Since this first trip, 3 years ago, we have used Rio Airport Transfer, who offer an unmarked, private taxi service between the international airport and anywhere you want to go in Rio de Janeiro city.

We have found them to be absolutely splendid, their customer service is impeccable, and they typically offer additional travel advice, particularly on hotels and the location of our hotel - very helpful.

I would highly recommend their service.

Regards
Nancy

www.rioairporttransfer.com

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After a recent journey to Rio de Janeiro I would recommend pre-booking your airport to accommodation transport BEFORE arriving at the airport - from past experience tourists get pounced on the minute they leave the main concourse. At least we did!

This time around we found a company online called Rio Airport Transfer, they're a UK registered company so I felt a little more comfortable about booking through them.

We had booked a trip with them and one of their drivers meet us on the main concourse at the airport and delivered us safely to the hotel in air-conditioned comfort.

The service is around £10 more than getting a taxi at the airport, but made me feel a lot more secure. Highly recommended for those who prefer a little less stress and haggling.

www.rioairporttransfer.com

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The yellow taxi service is excellent in Rio. I have never had a problem with a dishonest driver. You pay only what is on the meter - no tipping is expected (although you can round up to the next real).

If you need a taxi to the airport you can schedule one with Libertaxi (registered clients get a discount of 20% off on fares over 15 reais). If you meet a driver you particularly like you can negotiate with him for a rate for a full day of driving around the city, or even up to Petropolis (the former summer capital) and back.

Rua Cirne Maia, 100 Cachambi
Tel: 2105 0500
www.libertaxi.com.br

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When getting to and from Rio International Airport, you may find it beneficial to get the RealBus. It costs R$5 and will drop you off at your hotel if you tell the driver where you need to go. It’s not very quick but is a good way of meeting other travellers, is air-conditioned and cheap.

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Take the tram to Santa Tereza, travelling over the aquaduct. Fantastic experience and gives a great (and safer) view point of Santa Tereza district. Take the tram at around midday and watch all the school kids clambering on around you (it's a free ride if you hang off the side!) Fantastic but watch your wallet.

Near to the modern cathedral

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Rio's State Tourism Authority has a desk at the airport where prepaid taxi vouchers can be purchased. Travelling in metered or unofficial cabs is not recommended. An hourly shuttle bus is also available which stops at key hotels on its route into the city.

www.infraero.gov.br

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Before Rio’s rich started to live in gated towerblocks, they built wonderful mansions in Santa Teresa – a hilly area near the city centre. To travel through Santa Teresa take the “bondinho” or tram – a rickety yellow metal carriage that winds its way up to the beginning of the rainforest.

Take the metro to Cinelandia Station, go to Rua Senador Dantas, then walk along to Rua Profesor Lelio Gama – the tram station is on this street. Price: US$0.40

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This is a very cheap (approx $0.25) and exciting tram service that starts just beyond the white viaduct arches of Lapa and winds its way up into the hills around the glorious Cristo, into the area known as Santa Teresa, and is the last remaining tram service in South America.

Jump on and buzz through the scenic backstreets as schoolchildren jump on and off for free in an excited frenzy. Its a great journey which takes about thirty minutes from bottom to top and shows you the very best of the old Rio. At the top you can take the walk back down via craft and antique shops, wonderful little eateries, museums and the occasional art exhibition.

Truly a magnificent mini trip to fill an afternoon away from the beaches, amongst the true and vibrant spirit of Rio, with the added bonus of some of the best views of the city.

Estação Carioca is found near the city centre opposite the Petrobras Building. It is a bit tough to find but persist and it will pay off.

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Jose was a true professional and did a great job of showing us around. The personal guide idea proved to be the best as we did not worry about not speaking the language or transportation. Besides doing the run of the mill sightseeing tours of Rio, Jose also does tours to Buzios and Angra dos Reis, the Brazilian Caribbean. I strongly recomend his services.

You can find all his info through his site:
www.rioturist.com

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