Taxi payments: how it works in Brazil — first-hand
Real experience of people from chats on «Taxi payments» in Brazil — as it is, no fluff. For your case — ask Luky.
From real experience
At São Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU), there are generally no currency exchange offices in the sterile transit zone. An exchange office is located after passport control and before baggage claim, but it offers a very unfavorable exchange rate. It operates at night. Taxis are available outside the terminal, to the right, at a glass kiosk. Payment can be made in cash or by card; the fare remains the same. Taxis are spacious. For example, a trip to Vila Mariana costs approximately 230 BRL. It is advisable to have the destination address printed in Portuguese for the driver.
The taxi fare from the Republic district to Guarulhos Airport (GRU) in Sao Paulo can be around 250 Brazilian Reals. One service, Guarocoop, has fixed rates per district, with a trip to Vila Nova Conceição costing 200 BRL.
At GRU airport (São Paulo), Uber is significantly cheaper than official airport taxis (Guarucoop). For travelers without a working international credit card, using a virtual bank card or local digital payment methods is recommended. If paying with cash in Uber, change is often issued as a credit balance in the app for future rides. Airport currency exchange services at night in Brazil may be closed or unreliable, so having a digital payment method set up prior to arrival is crucial.
Practical travel tips for Brazil: 1. Uber in Brazil accepts cash payment upon arrival. 2. eSIMs (like those bought via Trip.com) may require Android for initial activation. 3. Currency exchange is generally more favorable at home banks (like Avangard) than at the airport. 4. Standard safety precautions (being alert, avoiding displaying excessive wealth) are sufficient for general tourism.