countdown to the fifa world cup
The atmosphere is going to be electric! It is going to be a mind-blowing, a real once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch football in the home of football!
Getting ready for the World Cup? Here’s what we did it…
✓ VISAS
So our Brazil visas are done and doing them was pretty straight forward.
Complete the online application form at: http://sydney.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/ (this is using the Consulate General of Brazil in Sydney website)- Print and attach a passport photograph on the form, sign and date.
- Submit to the Brazilian Consulate in person (on Clarence St, Sydney) with the travel invitation letter from the local Brazilian travel agency.
- Best thing is that visas for entering Brazil for the World Cup are FREE of charge.
- Two weeks later, the visas are ready to be picked up.
TIP: Don’t apply for visas last minute.
✓ VACCINATIONS
Luckily we were all up to date with our vaccines from our previous trips. We had Yellow Fever vaccines for Peru back in 2011 so just need to remember to pack that little yellow fever certificate. The only jabs we needed this time was to “top up” typhoid and the usual seasonal flu-vaccine.
We always make sure we visit the doctor well in advance of any of our trips to make sure we have enough lead in time for any vaccinations that require repeat doses or a set timing regimen.
TIP: Visit the doctor or travel nurse for advice on what you need several months in advance to give yourself enough time to be inoculated.
A great article to read is What Vaccinations Do You Need? by Michael at Bemused Backpacker
✓ TRAVEL INSURANCE
This is one thing that we don’t EVER go without. We actually always buy travel insurance the moment we book our trip to make sure we are covered from that moment where we hand over the thousands of dollars for airfares.
We do have a credit card that gives us free travel insurance if we paid our flights with it. Too good to be true, we thought. Upon further inspection, we don’t get our own policy and actually we sat under an umbrella policy. If we needed to claim anything, we need to prove to the credit card insurers that we actually paid for the flights with the credit card. That just seemed to complicated for us especially if there was an emergency.
We have usually chosen to go for Cover-More Travel Insurance when we travel because for our first ever trip, it was recommended by the travel agent who booked that trip for us. Thereafter, we have done our research and looked at other companies but so far so good with Cover-More as they do give us the peace of mind we need. We figured that if they are “the most popular travel insurance provider in Australia” as per their website, we couldn’t really be going wrong, right? But also , we have had to call them up about things and their customer service representatives are extremely informative and helpful.
TIP: Always get travel insurance. Make sure you read the product disclosure statement of any insurance policy and understand what you are buying.
✓ FLIGHTS
We are flying with Emirates – the LONG way around. As it turns out, it was getting too complicated with QANTAS so our organiser chose the alternative option to fly around the other way to Brazil. Guess we would rather sit on a plane than wait at airports! It’s taking us about 28 hours to get from Australia to Brazil but at least we have flights!
X FAN MERCHANDISE
✓ ACCOMMODATION
We are going to be following the Australian Socceroos so we will be in Cuiaba, Curitiba and Porto Alegre – luckily the search for accommodation was the responsible of the organiser and not ours. We are in three hotels and one of which is a 5-star apparently! SCORE!!!!
wise monkeys abroad 
June 8, 2014 at 11:38 pm
you’re going to have a brilliant time cant wait to hear all about it!
June 9, 2014 at 7:38 am
Thank you!! Only 2 sleeps left 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 10:58 pm
I’ve got Dutch heritage (but Australian born) and have enjoyed the last two world cups because I could cheer for both the Dutch and the Aussies. What am I going to do on June 18? Regard and have fun Peet
June 8, 2014 at 7:06 am
Hi Peet – Cheer for whoever is winning 😉
May 24, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
This one is for all you football fans and also for those who can only read with envy as you prepare to watch the games on television – the wise monkeys are off and running with the ball.
May 23, 2014 at 7:14 pm
I am so jealous! Have fun in Brazil, I shall live the world cup vicariously through you! 🙂
May 23, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Thank you 🙂 We cannot wait!!
May 22, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Your upcoming trip sounds amazing. I am more of an American football follower myself, and soccer agnostic, so I have no problem in saying I hope Australia wins all those three games :)! Are you spending time in Rio? I went there for my honeymoon 6 years ago, and so Rio holds a special place in my heart.
May 22, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Thank you but unfortunately Australia is probably in the toughest group ever! So will see… Thanks for being on side with us! What a lovely place for a honeymoon. (we were married 6 years – what month was your wedding?) We will be in Rio for a day at the end! We’ve never seen a full American football game but seeing one live is on our to-do!! 🙂
May 22, 2014 at 10:13 pm
We got married in December 2007! How about you both? Oh, you will love American football (my team, New York giants, is not doing very well though…)!
May 23, 2014 at 5:52 am
We were September 2008 🙂 The game look intense when we see Super Bowl highlights… If we ever go, we probably need to go with people who can explain the rules!
May 22, 2014 at 9:18 pm
So this is where our kindred spirit-ness comes to an end. Even though I support Australian teams, I wouldn’t ever go to a soccer game. Oh well, we can’t be the same in every way…
May 22, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Hahahah! You are too funny! Well, if you are an AFL or cricket fan too – then maybe we can redeem ourselves 😉
May 23, 2014 at 6:16 am
Right I think we are back on track. I love the cricket, especially when we are giving the Poms a hiding. We went to the Ashes in Brisbane last year and also the one day match in Brisbane at the start of this year. It was very satisfying, I’m married to a Victorian so AFL is the code of choice in this house. Just don’t say you support Collingwood!
May 23, 2014 at 6:46 am
Hahaha definitely not a collingwood supporter! We are swans supporters being from Sydney 😉
We love the cricket so much that when the Ashes were on in England, the TV with digital signal got put in the bedroom 🙂 – that’s how much we love cricket in our household! That’s fantastic you went to the matches in Brisbane! We would really like to go to the Ashes next year …. David plays cricket every summer and this year his team were Division 1 winners 😉
PS – for the record, if you do watch the League (we only really do at Origin time) – we support QLD. Le’s a huge Broncos fan.
We are very much a sports household 🙂
May 23, 2014 at 7:29 pm
I’m not a big league follower but I do enjoy it when QLD wins the State of Origin…again. My husband has supported Essendon since he was a boy and we all go for Brisbane Lions and sometimes go to their games. Our daughter dated a Swans statistician for a while when she lived in Sydney. Glen could see himself getting free tickets for life, but it wasn’t to be…
May 22, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Wow…amazing! I am sure you guys will have an awesome experience.
May 22, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Thanks 🙂 We simply cannot wait!!
May 22, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Hi!!! How awesome, you are going to Brazil, and me being a Brazilian wont go the World Cup ;/ I hope you really enjoy my country. The south of Brazil is amazing, you will love Curitiba 🙂 Let me know in case you need anything, Im from the North of Brazil, Fortaleza, but if you ever need something while in Brazil let me know 🙂
May 22, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Hi – thank you!! We are very excited about going and appreciate your offer to help!
Thank you for following – we will check out your blog tonight!!
May 22, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Sure, I would be happy to help! Meanwhile I can only wish you an amazing trip 🙂
May 22, 2014 at 4:38 am
Hey, the home of football’s England! Very jealous of you going – have fun, but what a tough group you’ve got. Reckon you’ll qualify from it?
May 22, 2014 at 6:00 am
Honestly, no!! We are selfishly excited that the group has such awesome teams because to watch stellar teams live would be unreal.
And sincere, apologies! Brazil..the second home of football, of course – how can we forget 😉
May 22, 2014 at 4:13 am
Oh my gosh! So exciting that you’re going! Can you come get me on the way there and put me in your suitcase? Thanks.
May 22, 2014 at 5:58 am
Our suitcases are pretty big… Not sure if you want to be 28 hours in the luggage hold though!! We are getting really excited now. Thank you for stopping by!
May 22, 2014 at 1:29 am
You are so lucky! That will be amazing xx
May 22, 2014 at 5:57 am
Thank you!!
May 21, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Wow I forgot how tough that group is. It will be great to be there, wish I was able to go! Looking forward to reading about it after your trip.
May 22, 2014 at 5:57 am
Thanks! Yes – it is a tough draw but at least we get to get see world class players from around the world 🙂