Best Places to Stay in Brazil: The World Cup

With the first World Cup match scheduled for later this evening, football fans around the world are gearing up for what looks to be the most exciting tournament in recent years. The question is, however, does England have any chance whatsoever? We’ll have to wait and see. This week we’ll be looking at some of the better hotels available to stay at if you’re planning a holiday to Brazil.

Ucari Lodge 

The Ucari Lodge is a totally unique hotel located in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. Dedicate to Eco Tourism, this hotel’s management is shared between the Mamiraua Institute and the communities from the Mamiraua Reserve. Started in 1998, the aim of the enterprise is to generate income for the local people and to contribute positively to the preservation of the Amazon’s natural resources.

Eight communities from the reserve run the Lodge, from the staff on the front line, the contractors that work on the property and the back office that manage it. Consisting of just 5 bungalows with rooms each, this hotel is not only great value for money but also has some great resources you might expect from a bigger hotel, including a swimming pool, kitchen, restaurant, bar and library. Each room has a porch with a view of both the river and the forest to make your holiday to Brazil as relaxing as possible.

Sagu Mini Resort, Ilha Grande 

The Sagu Mini Resort is a mecca for those looking to explore the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding area. Located on the rocky headland in the forest between the Comprida and Brava beaches, you couldn’t be in a better position to make use of the variety of hiking and walking opportunities the Sagu Mini Resort affords you. Furthermore, the main town on the island, Abraao, is just a 15 minutes’ walk away through the beautiful jungle.

With just 9 rooms in total, this hotel offers a sense of exclusivity and elegance along with top-quality service – the staff are renowned for their friendliness and attention to detail. The rooms themselves are tastefully furnished and most feature a balcony facing the ocean complete with hammocks to relax and take in the sights. The hotel also offers a variety of external activities, including kayaking, diving and relaxing massages.

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World Cup Packages Now Available

After the release of the first wave of World Cup tickets, Latin Routes have put together some packages for hotels which are now available to purchase. With prices starting from £2330 per person, experiencing the excitement of the World Cup is no longer just a fantasy.

If England manage to perform well in Group H and come first, then they will be playing whoever comes third in Group H on the 22^nd June. This match will be held in Rio de Janeiro, which will have limited hotel availability. However, if you have already managed to secure some tickets (or are planning to) we are offering three nights in the fantastic 4* Ipanema Plaza hotel between the 21^st and the 24^th June. Due to allocation at the hotel, these dates cannot be changed – prices are based on two people sharing a Standard room, with breakfast included. We would recommend this to those who are just looking for a taste of the World Cup rather than die-hard England fans.

If you’re looking to really make the most of your trip, we are also offering a 7 night, 2 match package from £3229 per person. You’ll be flying from Heathrow on the 21^st June and staying in Rio until the return flight on the 26^th. The two matches – one on the 22^nd and one on the 25^th – will be held whilst you’re there. England qualifying first in Group H would mean they will be playing on the 22^nd, and whoever places first in Group E will play 3^rd place in the same group will play on the 25^th. This package again includes the stunning 4* Ipanema Plaza Hotel in a Standard Room (based on two people sharing) and breakfast included.

The final trip is for those lucky enough to have tickets to all three matches in Rio de Janeiro – this includes 10 nights in Rio at the 2* Ibiza Copacabana Hotel. Flying out on the 17^th of June in time for the Group B match on the 18^th June, prices are again based on Economy flights, a Standard Room (2 people sharing) and breakfast included. Please note that the Ibiza Copacabana requires a minimum stay of 10 nights. After the matches on the 22^nd and 25^th, you’ll fly home in the evening on the 26^th, arriving back in England around lunchtime on the 27^th.

For full details of our World Cup Packages – Click Here

If you want more information about buying tickets, timings or matches themselves, have a look at our World Cup Guide.

Please contact a Latin Routes Travel Specialist if you’re interested in booking a trip to Brazil.

Please be aware that Latin Routes cannot purchase tickets on your behalf, these must be purchased through the official FIFA website.

Enhance Your World Cup Trip To Brazil

The World Cup is being held next year in Brazil and whilst the football is the main focus, this doesn’t mean there aren’t other things on offer.

If you’re planning on buying a ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil, you can’t afford to miss the myriad of other sights, smells and experiences that Brazil has to offer. Here is a list of things cities that you can occupy yourself with when you’re not cheering your team on.

Copacabana Beach, Rio

Nearest Stadium: Maracana Stadium, Rio

After seeing one of the most famous statues in the world, take a trip down to one of the most famous beaches, Rio’s Copacabana Beach. Once a year it plays host to one of the most extravagant news year’s parties in the world, with firework displays and thousands of residents turning up. During the rest of the year it is still one of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches, and is certainly worth a visit.

Pantanal Wetlands, Cuiaba

Nearest Stadium: Arena Pantanal

One of the greatest places to see wildlife in South America – rivalling the Amazon, even – Cuiaba is the perfect base from which to explore the Pantanal Wetlands. There are a few ways to explore the Pantanal – you can either drive halfway into the wetlands via the ‘Transpantaneira’ (the most popular route) or alternatively you can take a canoe trip down one of Northern Patal’s smaller rivers to see some of the wildlife close up. Hiking and trekking tours of the area are also available.

See the Amazon, Manaus

Nearest Stadium: Arena Amazonia

The access point to the Amazon Rainforest for a number of cruises, the opportunity to traverse the waters of the Amazon in both comfort and style is one that shouldn’t be passed up. With some of the most diverse and beautiful wildlife in the world, the Amazon is not only an experience you’ll never forget but one you’ll always regret not doing if you don’t! Cruises are available from G Adventures.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio

Nearest Stadium: Maracana Stadium, Rio

This one is almost a staple when visiting Rio – the beautiful 30m statue on top of Corcovado Mountain, which also affords some fantastic views of Rio itself. The whole thing can be done in half a day – with a funicular railway running from central locations up through the rainforest which is a beautiful half-hour journey. We would advise going earlier in the morning to avoid queues as it can get quite busy.

Beautiful Beaches, Fortaleza

Nearest Stadium: Estadio Castelao

Famed for its stunning beaches, Fortaleza is located in Northwest Brazil and is near Natal and Recife which are both host cities along with Fortaleza itself. The variety of beaches have something to offer to everyone – if you’re looking for a family day out, we’d recommend Meireles which has several playgrounds and seating areas. If you’re more in to surfing and water sports then perhaps Praia de Futuro would suit you better.

If you’re thinking of buying tickets, have a look out our guide to buying FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Tickets

Want to book a holiday to South America anyway? Have a look at our Website.

You can keep up to date with the World Cup and other South American News on this page but also on our Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages.

Latin Routes Guide to FIFA World Cup Tickets

The World Cup is again upon us and this time it’s in the beautiful country of Brazil. However, getting a ticket may not be as easy as you might have hoped. If you’re still having flashbacks and recurring dreams about buying London 2012 Olympic tickets, then this may be the guide for you. We at Latin Routes have spent many an hour puzzling over the system so we can provide you with all the information you need to make sure you don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime. So, let’s begin…

The first complication is that fixtures for the group stages will not be decided until the qualifiers have been played in September and October this year.

Ticket Options

Specific Match Tickets: You can choose to buy tickets for a specific match, for example the Final, Semi-Finals or Group Stage matches. However, you will not know which teams you will be seeing until October. Prices for a single match start from USD 90.00 per person, on the FIFA website.

Specific Venue Tickets: Alternatively, you can buy tickets to a particular venue – so, if you’re in Rio during the world cup period, for example, you can buy tickets to the Maracana Stadium and be sure of seeing matches there. However, you will not know which games and which teams you will be seeing until October. Prices for a Specific Venue start from USD360.00 per person for 4 matches, on the FIFA website.

Specific Team Tickets: If watching your team is your main priority then you can buy tickets to a see a particular team for a particular number of games, but you will have to follow them to whichever cities your tickets are allocated to. Prices for a Specific team Ticket start from USD 297.00 per person for 3 matches, on the FIFA website.

Please note Latin Routes cannot secure general admission tickets, all purchases must be through FIFA authorised websites.

Ticket Releases

Tickets will be released in a system similar to the one employed during the London 2012 Olympics. There will be three ‘phases’ of tickets being released, with each phase including a ‘Random Selection Period’ followed by a ‘General Release’ period.  The ‘Random Selection Period’ involves allocating tickets, at random, to whomever has entered the ballot. To enter the ballot, you must register your details on the FIFA website. So, if you enter the ballot for a Quarter Finals ticket, for example, you have the same chance of getting a ticket as every else who has entered the ballot.

This is followed by a ‘General Release’, where you will be able to purchase tickets on a ‘first come first served’ basis. If you missed out on being randomly allocated a ticket, now is your chance – any tickets not allocated in the ‘Random Selection Period’ will be available to buy as normal. The ‘Random Selection Period’ followed by the ‘General Release’ period is one ‘phase’ of tickets.

So, between the 20^th August and the 10^th October 2014, the first ‘phase’ will begin with the ‘Random Selection Period’. Fingers crossed, you’ll manage to secure some tickets but if not, the ‘General Release’ period will begin on the 5^th of November and ends on the 28^th November. By this time we will all know who is playing who and where so it is likely to be a frenzy of ticket buying.

The second ‘phase’ begins with another ‘Random Selection Period’ between the 8^th December and the 30^th January. The ‘General Release Period’ is between 26^th February and 1^st April.

The final ‘phase’ is a last-minute release of tickets that haven’t been sold. There will be no ‘Random Selection Period’, just a General Release period where you will be able to buy tickets as normal on a first-come-first-served basis.

Booking Your Trip

Once the fixtures for the group stages are released in October, we are expecting a huge influx of bookings for flights and hotels in the host cities, so we would advise contacting Latin Routes as soon as you know where you want to stay. Please be aware that most hotels in the host cities will require a minimum stay of at least 5 nights at a premium rate. It is also likely that many of the hotels will not confirm bookings until all the FIFA and sponsors have declared what they are doing. For the average fan this could mean you have to buy your football tickets, then your flights and leave your accommodation to nearer the time.

One way around this process is that Latin Routes have access to a limited number of VIP packages for the group games. VIP packages include the best seating in the stadium, catering, drinks and a lounge area inside or adjacent to the stadium to relax in before and after the game. As part of a VIP package there is exclusive allocation to certain hotels and this means you can book your complete package straight away with the peace of mind that everything is take care of. Please contact Latin Routes if this is of interest and we can begin putting it together for you. VIP match tickets start from around £899 per person per game. There is a possibility that you will not require the same minimum stay as detailed above.

Please note all information about the World Cup is provided without any obligation.

Check out our World Cup Guide on our website for more info – Click Here

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