Ref: Visit to Rio from Jan.16th, 2010 to Jan 19th, 2010

My name is Shailesh Shah, living San Jose, CA. My cell phone # is 408-234-8779. I booked the following tours in Rio, Brazil with Vivtar on October 29th, 2009. I was planning to visit Rio, Brazil on January 16th to 19th, 2010.

• Sugar Loaf Mountain Half-Day Tour – Jan 16th @ 2p.m. Price: USD $115.90

• Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer Statue Half-Day Tour – Jan 17th, 2010 @ 8 a.m. Price: USD $115.90

• Plataforma Samba Show- Jan 17th @ 8 p.m. Price: USD $243.20

• Tijuca Rain Forest Jeep Tour from Rio de Janeiro- Jan 18th, 2010 @ 8 a.m.- Price: USD $110.20


We were staying at Sheraton Barra Hotel & Suites, Avenida Lucio Costa 3150, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. I provided my hotel information for pickup and dropoff. Vivtar told us that we will pic-up and dropp off for each tour.

Vivtar is just travel agency with their Web site. They use local tour company. In Rio, Brazil, they are using Grayline Tour.

1. On January 16th: Sugar Loaf Mountain

We arrived around 1.30 p.m. at the hotel. We received a note from Grayline to call them for afternoon tour which will leave around 2.30 p.m. They told us that they will not pick up us and we need to take a taxi to reach other Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort. It will take 30 mins plus $25.00. I told Grayline lady that they were supposed to pickup. They refused and hang up.

We spend $25.00 and reached other Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort. I asked Grayline lady that I would like to speak to her manager (Boss). She told me that Boss do not work in the weekend or do not take any message.

After waiting 1-1/2 hrs, the bus arrived at 3.30 p.m. After driving 1 mile, they changed city bus. The speakers were not working. We can not hear tour guide –speaking Portugiz <-> English. We spend next hour to pick-up others. After arriving
Sugar Loaf Mountain, she gave us only 45 mins to go around.

We paid $25.00 again to come back our hotel. I wish I just took a taxi myself and went to Sugar Loaf Mountain. I might save lots of money.

B. On January 17th: Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer Statue ( Morning Tour)

Grayline tour company told us that we need to taxi ($25.00) again and come to Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort at 8 a.m. They will drop us back to our hotel. We took a taxi from our hotel and came at 8 a.m. The tour guide told us the bus has mechnical problem and we nee to wait. We waited until 9 a.m. Again, we spend 1-1/2 hours to picking up others. When we arrived Corcovado Mountain, she gave us 45 mins to go up and come back.

I wish I took a taxi to come to Corcovado Mountain myself and saved lots of money. It was so hard to understand a guide lady. We again spend $25.00 to come back our hotel.
C. On January 17th: Plataforma Samba Show @ 8 p.m.

Again, Grayline told us that we need to taxi from my hotel to come their place. They refused to pick-up. They told us if we do not like, they will cancel the show and they will refund the money.

We were so tired with their treatment. We canceld the show.

D. On January 18th: Tijuca Rain Forest Jeep Tour – 8 a.m.

This tour provided by other tour company and not by Grayline. So Glad. They came to our hotel on time and dropped back.

The tour, the tour guide and the driver were great. We had a great time.


I do not recommend to book first three tours with Grayline.
From 1 to 10 scale ( 10 is hightest), I will give

Minus 1 (-1)

• Poor Custmer Service
• Equipment Broken- speakers, bus
• Hard to understand Guide
• Wasting time to pick-up ( 3 hrs - picking and dropping)
• Vivtar can not help you when you are in Rio, Brazil.
• Grayline can not help you. They are very rude.

I spend $600.00 with Vivtar and I lost. Grayline spoiled my vacation. My airline and hotel cost me $7000.00 for two peple. Stay away from Grayline Tour.

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