Rio - Getting there

[Guest 100955]

After reading all the great posts here about Rio, and seeing the awesome reviews on both Ernani, Gaucho, and the Saunas, I have just about decided to see for myself if this paradise is real!

Anywho, I have been researching air, and found a site I wanted to share with you that might not have found it yet.

All the airline websites I tried were around $875 RT from my home city. I stumbled, literally, across Hotwire.com though, and found a fare of $675.

A couple of things to ponder-

1. You get no air miles. BUT, it would take about 4 - 5 trips from here to get a freebie from miles. And at a savings of $200 a pop, I could buy another ticket after 4 myself, and still be money ahead.

2. You don't know what airline you will fly until after you have purchased the ticket, or what the itenerary is. For this trip, that isn't an issue to me. It's a long way, no matter when you leave. They do promise no layovers more than three hours, and that all their partners are major carriers.

3. If you aren't ready to buy, beware. Once you have submitted a request, you have only a limited time to purchase the ticket, then you cannot request the same itenerary for 48 hours.

My two cents...

Lastly, it sounds like a lot of Hoo-Boy Brazilian afficianados will be in Rio in October. Maybe a Hoo-Boy reunion beach day, or Steam night?????:7

[+ Axiom2001]

Might I suggest that you not try Hotwire.com for your important (first time trip) to Rio. I believe this airline is one which other respondents suggested that I NOT use for my trip; at the present time the company escapes me, but I believe the airline is Chilean owned-- it's an international (national) airline.

 

I consulted the discount airline companies on Friday of last week, and as of this date, I could get a rt from LA to Miami to Rio for 645 or 675 for my October trip; I also went to an international discounter for business class-- it's around 2600. I'll do the latter during my second trip; I have decided to use my AA miles and pay 300 dollars (coach) to go to Brazil in October.

 

Good luck and the best to you, and I, too, do hope that many of us can get together for lunch or dinner somewhere while we're in Rio and/or San Paulo... AX

[+ Lucky]

Did American Airlines cease their non-stops from NY to Rio?

[+ Axiom2001]

I must be losing it! I'd wanted to include in the peceding message that I made a reservation to travel from San Jose, CA to Kansas City, MO during the latter part of this month on Hotwire.com. Unfortunately, the ticket has me going from SJ to Mineapolis, MN then on to KCMO arriving at 11:40P.M. The cost was 198.00, but I am going to eat it, for I find this itinerary to be a little much. I have rescheduled to journey via Southwest Airlines at normal hours and tame itinerary.

 

I got an excellent deal using Hotwire in June. ...went to Chicago and stayed at the Palmer House Hilton for a mere seventy-five dollars per night. ...had a very large, well-appointed room. ...lucked out here and was satisfied, but I am NOT satisfied with the ticket I recently purchased.

[trilingual]

It looks like AA may have suspended the non-stops from JFK to Rio. I was checking the other day and it looked like they had a flight, but it actually was a one-stop flight via SP. There was no change of plane, but a longish layover before the flight continued to Rio. Schedules also depend on the day of the week you fly; when I traveled earlier this year there was no direct flight from NY on AA (non-stop or otherwise) on Sunday. You had to connect via Miami. So try checking some other days of the week to see what pops up.

 

Actually, I think there's a chance that non-stop service may be restored by the end of the year; I have a sense that traffic between NY and Rio is starting to pick up.

[Guest 100955]

Thanks for all the input guys. Once I have exact dates for the hotel, I'll proceed keeping all of it in mind!

[vers7]

I just recently made reservations for rio and salvador. I used brol.com (a site recommended by trilingual) and was very impressed by their prices and services -- so far.

[Guest cigarboyee]

Varig has initiated non-stop flights from NYC to Rio. They have always-available internet fares. Check out http://www.varigbrasil.com/english/ then click on "Internet Bargains". They fly from NYC on M/W/F/Su. For travel from August 12 to November 30, round-trip fares are $440 to $530 (plus taxes). The round-trip fares from Los Angeles are $570 or $620 (plus taxes), depending on the day of the week. The NYC flights are non-stop. The L.A. flights stop briefly in Sao Paulo. You can get mileage on United, and Varig's service is quite good.:7