Are you one of the lucky ones who happen to be flying over to Rio to watch the Olympics and Paralympics this summer? But not entirely sure as to how to prepare for it? Well, here are some excellent tips which will help you stay as safe, healthy and street-wise as possible during your time in Brazil!
Passport validity
As a British citizen, you do not need a holiday visa to enter Brazil. But, what you do need to do is check that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Brazil, otherwise you won't be able to get on that plane!
Insurance
Of course, insurance is crucial to have when travelling abroad. The funny thing about insurance is you never know when you might need it. It is too much of a gamble to go abroad without it. In particular, getting involved in adventurous activities or sports makes you more prone to accidents or injuries. If you're heading to Brazil to watch the games, chances are you'll have some adventures of your own! So make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for any sporting activities: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance
Health/ vaccines
Brazil is an exotic place, with a very different climate and environment to the UK. Therefore, do check with your GP at least 6-8 weeks prior to flying out, the particular vaccines or medication you may need for Rio; especially if you happen to be travelling to remote areas of Brazil. Drinking bottled water and taking antimalarial tablets is strongly recommended. Following on from this, the recent outbreak of the Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, which is present in tropical areas, such as the Americas. For key information on Zika, go to:
http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/zika-virus-update-and-advice-for-travellers-including-pregnant-women/
And for more information on general health abroad, visit:
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx
Travel, accommodation and tickets
Brazil is the world's 5th largest country. So to ensure that you have a seat booked and a roof over your head, book your accommodation in Rio as far in advance as possible, because chances are seats and beds will sell out! Additionally, buy tickets ONLY from authorized sellers! The last thing you need or want, is to turn up to Rio with an invalid ticket! For information and further questions regarding tickets, visit: http://travelplaces.co.uk/pro-sports-media/pro-sports/paralympics for Paralympic tickets and https://greatbritain.cosport.com for Olympic tickets.
Learn some basic Portuguese!
Get learning Portuguese! English is not spoken everywhere in Brazil so learning the lingo will definitely benefit you! Even knowing a few simple words or phrases would go a long way.
For the Foreign and Commonwealth's latest travel alerts on Brazil, go to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice-brazil , follow @FCOtravel & @UKinBrazil on Twitter and FCO travel on Facebook. There is also a very helpful checklist to go through when getting ready for Rio, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458817/FCO_SAOTG_Checklist.pdf