PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro information:

(domestic) 398 6060

(international) 398 5050

(cargo) 398 7070

Rio's international airport is a 30-minute drive from the city centre and 40 minutes from the main hotels in Copacabana and Ipanema.

The safest method of transport to and from the international airport are the official cab services run by Cootramo and Transcoopass which are paid for in advance at the airport. The cab fare to the main hotels will be around US$35. A bus service runs between the international airport and the downtown airport of Santos Dumont and continues on along the main beaches where the majority of the hotels are located.

AIRLINES

Aerolinas Argentinas 210 3121

Alitalia 262 2544

American Airlines 210 3126

Air France 532 3642

British Airways 242 6020

Iberia 210 2415

Japan Airlines (JAL) 220 6414

KLM 210 3242

Lufthansa 262 0223

SAS 210 1222

South African 262 6252

Swissair 297 5177

Tap 210 1277

Transbrasil (internal) 297 4422

Transbrasil (Int) 533 0788

United 532 1212

Varig 292 6600

Vasp 292 2080

FLYING TIMES

Rio-London/Paris/Milan 11 hrs

Rio-New York 9 hours 35 mins

Rio-Los Angeles 12 hrs

Rio-Tokyo 29 hrs

Rio-Sydney 29 hrs

CAR RENTAL

Avis 295 8041

Budget 295 0040

Localiza (National) 275 3340

Locarauto (Ansa) 228 7801

Unidas 275 8496

TAXIS/MINICABS

Coopertramo 260 2022

Cootramo 270 1442

Transcoopass 270 4888

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Brazil has no passenger rail system to speak of while Rio has a small, but efficient, subway system which would be of little use to visiting executives.

Rio's bus services are best avoided except by experienced travellers who have at least a smattering of Portuguese. Cabs are plentiful and cheap in international terms.