Expert: Edison - 11/23/2006

Question
Hello, I am also a travel consultant on this site.  However, my expertise is in the United States.  I would appreciate your help.  My son and his girlfriend will be vacationing in Rio during the middle of December.  They also have reservations in Angra Dos Reis at the Pestana Hotel.  Do you recommend this property?  How would you suggest traveling from Rio to Angra?  Do you think a coach bus would be safe?  Do they need to hire a car and driver? They speak no Portuguese.  
Thank you very much

Answer
Hello Phillis,

I haven't been to Angra dos Reis, but I contacted the hotel and checked their web site. Pestana Hotel seems a very nice place. It’s a 5-star hotel belonging to an international company, which usually means great services.

Pestana Hotel can arrange a car with a bilingual driver to pick up your son and girlfriend in Rio for around $200. The trip from Rio to the hotel takes 2 to 3 hours. The coach bus is much cheaper (around $20) and is safer than walk on the streets of Rio.

I would recommend writing phrases in Portuguese to ask for help. Also, you usually need to pay with local currency.

To buy bus tickets: I want to 2 tickets to Angra dos Reis (Quero 2 passagens para Angra dos Reis).

For the taxi driver in Angra dos Reis: Please take me to Pestana Hotel on the Retiro area (Queremos ir ao hotel Pestana - no bairro Retiro - Estrada Vereador Benedito Adelino 3700).

I wish them a great time in Brazil.

Edison