Last month, FCO (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) launched their “Stay Ahead of the Games” travel campaign to celebrate only a year to go until the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil. With thousands of British sports fans expected to make the long trip across the Atlantic to cheer on Team GB and ParalympicsGB, the British government want to ensure that British nationals are aware of any potential issues that might arise so that everyone can enjoy the Games.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is vital for any holiday but particularly when thousands of others are making the same trip with you! Though many people are fans of last minute holidays, this is not the type of trip you can leave to sort out until later. Accommodation and flight costs will rise quickly so planning ahead is vital to ensure you can get there and stay somewhere, as well as not paying sky high prices in the final few months before the Games. Another essential you can sort early is travel insurance, we recommend a fully comprehensive travel and medical insurance plan, to ensure you’re fully covered particularly if you want to take part in some fun activities during your trip – check the small print before you buy! There are various vaccinations that are recommended for a trip to Brazil including Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Typhoid, other optional vaccines include Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B and Rabies – though these depend on the length of your trip and where else in the country you wish to visit besides Rio itself. Brazil is a particularly hot country and UV levels are rather higher than the UK, so make sure you pack essentials such as hats and sun cream to protect yourself, mosquito repellent as also vital as they’re common and can carry diseases.
Other useful things you can do to prepare for your trip is things such as checking your passport will be valid for your trip, for Brazil that means it must have at least 6 months from the date you arrive. You can also try and learn a few useful phrases in Portuguese, though many people may know some very basic English it is less widely spoken than you may expect. Finally, get on social media and start talking to other people who are going too using hashtags such as #GetReadyForRio and #StayAheadOfTheGames as well as following the specially set up Twitter accounts: @FCOTravel and @UKinBrazil as well as FCO Travel on Facebook.
Enjoy your games experience!
Check out FCO's useful infographic for more information!
