Last Minute World Cup 2014 Travel Round Up
The 2014 World Cup matches are set to start in Brazil the first week of June. Although many have already purchased tickets and planned their trips, there still are last minute options for viewing your favorite teams, catching the tourist highlights of the country and staying in luxury accommodations.
Here’s a curated list of World Cup 2014 tickets, venues, attractions and places to stay in case you’re just now deciding that the World Cup in Brazil is your must-be/must-do vacation.
Match Tickets
The World Cup features three phases of play. These include the Qualifying round, the Group Play and then the Knockout Stage. The Group Play is where the fun begins in Brazil. It might be tight, but there may still be tickets left for these matches and their specific venues. Tickets for the more popular teams obviously will be hard to find.
The U.S. schedule will be a tour de force of Brazil with its round robin schedule that will include the facing off against the power house teams of Germany, Portugal and Ghana. One of the stops on their matches will be played in Manaus, a city that lies in the heart of the Amazon. Assume it will be humid and hot!
Stadium List
Brazil is a large country and there are stadium venues throughout the country. Here’s a list of where you’ll find the action:
- Belo Horizonte – Estádio Mineirão
- Brasilia – Estádio Nacional
- Cuiabá – Arena Pantanal
- Curitiba – Arena da Baixada
- Fortaleza – Estádio Castelão
- Manaus – Arena Amazônia
- Natal – Estádio das Dunas
- Porto Alegre – Estádio Beira-Rio
- Recife – Arena Pernambuco
- Rio de Janeiro – Estádio do Maracanã
- Salvador – Arena Fonte Nova
- São Paulo – Arena de São Paulo
Local Attractions
From the beaches of Rio to the natural beauty of the Amazon there is a lot to see and do in Brazil. With over 4,600 miles of coastline, mountains, rain forests and cityscapes what wouldn’t you be able to find?
Here are a few top locations to check out when you aren’t intensely viewing World Cup action.
Teatro Amazonas — Teatro Amazonas or the Amazon Theater is located in the Amazon town of Manaus in the heart of the Amazon. It was built during the height of the rubber trade. Bringing in materials from throughout the world, it provided the home for the first Amazonas opera in 1897. Unfortunately, soon after the rubber trade collapsed the opera house was closed for 90 years. In 1990 it was reopened.
Christ the Redeemer – This famous stature of Jesus Christ sits on the peak of the Corcovado Mountain. At 2,300 feet, the statute and its viewing platform have a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro and the Guanabara Bay. The statue itself is 130 feet tall.
The beaches of Salvador – The capital of the state of Bahia are Salvador and it is home to some of the world’s best beaches. You can find calm waters great for swimming and sailing or beaches with strong waves perfect for surfing.
Iguazu Falls – Situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina, this natural wonder is actually a system of 275 waterfalls along the Iguazu River. The largest is the Devil’s Throat. This fall is U-shaped and has a height of 269 feet.
Where to Sleep
Of course after watching the matches, touring Brazilian venues, lying on the beach and sipping multiple Caipirinhas, you’ll need a place to rest your weary head. Here are a few places to consider for home away from home.
Fasano São Paulo — Located in São Paulo, this sleek modern hotel is located in the city’s financial districts and in the exclusive neighborhood of Jardins. With a spa, rooftop hotel and steps to shopping it’s a great pick for this large metropolis.
Copacabana Palace – Situated on the famous Rio de Janeiro beach, the Copacabana is one of the country and South America’s leading hotels. Opening in 1923, this hotel has all the glamour and glitz needed for a truly luxurious stay. And of course, the ocean is literally at your doorstep.
Caesar Park Ipanema – This 5 Star hotel is located in Rio and is on Ipanema Beach. The location is one of the best in the city. The hotel has an array of beach services, spas, views, and great restaurants.
— Kevin Feather
world cup 2014, world cup 2014 fixtures, fifa world cup 2014, luxury travel
Author
