Rio's Airport Shuttle: What You Need To Know

Rio de Janeiro's Galeão International Airport (GIG) offers shuttle transfers to and from hotels in the South Zone or Barra da Tijuca. The service is available 365 days a year, with fixed departures. The shuttle service provides air-conditioned vehicles with professional drivers, and uniformed staff are present at the exit of the arrivals hall to greet passengers. This service costs $12 and takes 44 minutes. There is also a free shuttle service from Bally's to the Rio in Las Vegas.

Transport options from Rio de Janeiro airport to hotels

Rio de Janeiro is served by two major airports: Galeão International Airport (also known as RJ International or Tom Jobim International Airport) and Santos Dumont Airport, which serve international and domestic flights, respectively. Here are some transport options for getting from these airports to hotels in the city:

Metro and Bus

Taking the metro or bus is the cheapest option for travelling from the airport to the city centre, but it may not be the best choice for those with a lot of luggage or who are unfamiliar with the city. From Galeão International Airport, you can take the BRT Transcarioca Line 42 to Vicente de Carvalho Station, then transfer to Metro Line 2, which passes through several parts of the city. A single metro ticket costs $1.30, and the BRT Transcarioca line costs $0.80, bringing the total cost of the trip to $2.10 per traveller. It's important to note that you'll need to purchase a Rio Card to use public transport in Rio de Janeiro, which can be bought at the BRT station for $0.75. The average waiting time for the metro and BRT bus is around 10 to 20 minutes.

Train

Taking the train is another affordable option for getting to the city centre from the airport. From Galeão International Airport, you can take the SuperVia Airport Line to Central Station in Rio de Janeiro, then transfer to one of the other lines to reach your final destination. The trip takes approximately 50 minutes, and the cost is less than 10 reais (Brazilian currency). It's important to note that not all trains run late into the night, so be sure to check the schedules before planning your journey.

Bus

There are multiple bus services that operate from both airports and offer direct services to the city centre. One popular option is the Costa Verde Bus Line, which departs from both airports to downtown Rio de Janeiro every 20 minutes, with tickets costing R$15 (roughly US$3.50). The ride typically takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, depending on traffic. For those travelling to Barra da Tijuca, there is a direct bus line operated by Real Auto Ônibus, with fares costing R$17.50 (about US$4) and the ride usually taking around 2 hours.

Taxi

Taking a taxi is one of the most convenient and fastest ways to get from the airport to your hotel, with the trip to the city centre taking less than half an hour in light traffic. Official airport taxis are yellow or white, and you should ask the driver for their license number to ensure they are legitimate. Prices vary depending on the distance travelled but are usually around R$80-100 (USD 20-25).

Las Vegas Airport shuttle to Rio Hotel and Casino

There are a few options for travelling from Las Vegas Airport to the Rio Hotel and Casino via shuttle. The cheapest ride to or from the airport will usually be a shared shuttle van. Private shuttles are also available for larger groups or families.

If you're happy to take a bus, you can catch the Route 108 bus from the zero level of the airport and transfer to the 202 Flamingo bus to the Rio Hotel and Casino. This journey will cost $12 and take approximately 44 minutes.

There is also a free shuttle service from Bally's to the Rio, and possibly from Harrah's to the Rio, although this is usually strict about "no luggage".

Bus services from Harry Reid International Station

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) offers a variety of bus services to travellers. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 3 for international and some domestic flights. A shuttle service connects these terminals, with shuttles running every 20 to 30 minutes between the two. The shuttle can be boarded on level 0 of both terminals.

Terminal 1 has a departure area with 16 gates, numbered A3, A5, A7, A8, and A10 to A23. Terminal 3's E gate departure area has 14 gates, numbered E1 to E12, E14, and E15. To get from the E gates to the D gates, passengers can take the Red Line tram or continue on the Blue Line. The airport tram runs frequently and transports passengers between terminals and gates within the secure area.

In addition to the inter-terminal shuttle service, Harry Reid International Airport also offers courtesy shuttle buses to and from the rental car centre, which is located about 3 miles from the terminals. At Terminal 1, these shuttles depart from level 1 outside doors 7 and 10. At Terminal 3, they depart from level 0 outside door 51 for the west side and outside door 58 for the east side.

While there does not appear to be a free shuttle service from the airport to nearby hotels, there are free shuttles provided by certain hotels that can be used. For example, Bally's and Harrah's both offer free shuttles to the Rio hotel, although these shuttles are usually for people only and do not allow luggage.

For those looking for a more affordable option, it is possible to take a bus from the airport to the Rio hotel. You can catch the route 108 bus at level 0 of the airport and transfer to the 202 Flamingo bus to Rio. This trip costs $3 per person. However, please note that this route may be lengthy and the 202 bus is often crowded, making it difficult for those with luggage.

Cheap ways to get from Las Vegas Airport to Rio

There are several ways to get from Las Vegas Airport to Rio, some of which are cheaper than others. The distance between the two locations is about 8 miles. Here are some options, ordered from cheapest to most expensive:

Bus

Taking the bus is the cheapest option, costing around $12 per person. You can take the line 104 bus, which takes about 50 minutes, or you can take the line 108 bus and then transfer to the line 202 bus, which costs the same but takes a bit less time, around 44 minutes. The route 108 bus can be caught at the zero level of the airport, and the transfer to the 202 Flamingo bus can be made to get to Rio. However, the 202 bus can usually be pretty crowded, making standing with luggage difficult.

Uber

Uber is another option, with the average price for this trip being $22. The most affordable ride choice is UberX. The average duration for this ride is 15 minutes. You can also rent a car through the Uber app and drive yourself to Rio.

Taxi

Taking a taxi is faster than the above options but is more expensive. It takes about 7-8 minutes and costs around $27-$33.

Towncar

The fastest way to get to Rio is by taking a town car, which will get you there in about 8 minutes, but it is also the most expensive option, costing between $95 and $130.

Private shuttle options from Las Vegas Airport to Rio

There are several private shuttle options available for travel between Las Vegas Airport and the Rio Hotel and Casino. Here are some options to consider:

• Rome2Rio: Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel booking engine that offers updated schedules, route maps, journey times, and estimated fares from various transport operators. This allows you to compare different options and make an informed decision. Rome2Rio also provides online bookings for selected operators, making reservations convenient.
• Shuttlefare.com: This website allows you to search, compare, and reserve shuttles between Las Vegas Airport and the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. They have been in operation since 2008 and have 4+ star ratings.
• Airport Parking Reservations.com: This website offers the option to book a shuttle service between Las Vegas Airport and the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. You can compare rates for different ride options and choose the one that suits your needs.

In addition to these private shuttle services, there are also bus and taxi options available for travel between Las Vegas Airport and the Rio Hotel and Casino. Taking the bus (lines 108 and 202) is the cheapest option, costing around $12, while taking a taxi is the fastest option, with an estimated cost of $27 to $33. These buses do not operate as a direct service, so you will need to transfer between lines during your journey.

Frequently asked questions