Trip Report: 2014 FIFA World Cup to Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro

Next week, I’m heading to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. I will be in Sao Paulo for the home opener and visiting other Brazilian cities such as Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro. It’s a jammed pack 10 day trip and it will be my 6th time to Brazil within the past three years. I’ve been to Sao Paulo three times and twice to Rio de Janeiro. It will be my first time to the Brazilian state of Parana where I will be spending a night in Curitiba. It will also be my first time to the Brazilian state of Minas Gerias where I will be spending three nights in Belo Horizonte.

Introduction to 2014 World Cup in Brazil
American Airlines DFW-GRU 777-300ER Business Class
How to Get From Guarulhos Airport to Sao Paulo via Public Transit
Augusta Boulevard Sao Paulo Hotel Review
The Sights and Sounds of Catedral da Se in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of Liberdade in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of Rua 25 de Marco in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of the Mercado Municipal in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of Faria Lima in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of Rua Augusta in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo
The Sights and Sounds of FIFA Fan Fest in Sao Paulo
The Various Eats in Sao Paulo Brazil Part 2
How to Get From Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport on Public Transit
GOL Airlines GRU-CWB 737-800 Economy Class
Four Points by Sheraton Curitiba Hotel Review
The Sights and Sounds of Downtown Curitiba in Brazil
The Sights and Sounds of Old Town Curitiba in Brazil
The Sights and Sounds of Rua das Flores in Curitiba Brazil
The Sights and Sounds of FIFA Fan Fest in Curitiba Brazil
Curitiba International Airport TAM Oneworld VIP Lounge
GOL Airlines CWB-CNF 737-700 Economy Class
Estoril Belo Horizonte Hotel Review
The Sights and Sounds of a World Cup Match in Belo Horizonte
The Sights and Sounds of the World Cup Protests in Belo Horizonte
The Sights and Sounds of Downtown Belo Horizonte Brazil
The Sights and Sounds of Mercado Central in Belo Horizonte
The Sights and Sounds of Savassi in Belo Horizonte Brazil
How to Get to Ouro Preto From Belo Horizonte Brazil
The Sights and Sounds of Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais Brazil
Is Belo Horizonte Brazil Safe For Tourists?
The Various Eats in Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brazil
TAM Airlines CNF-GIG A320 Economy Class
Hospedagem Ledo Rio de Janeiro Hotel Review
The Sights and Sounds of the Beaches of Rio de Janeiro
The Sights and Sounds of FIFA Fan Fest in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro International Airport Proair Sala VIP Lounge
US Airways GIG-CLT 767-200 Envoy Business Class
US Airways CLT-LAX A321 First Class

I started planning a trip to the 2014 World Cup last year beginning in June 2013. Last year I wrote about The Real Costs of Attending the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and how I used miles and points to offset some of the expenses. Going to the World Cup can be inexpensive if you know what you’re doing and early preparation is key.

I used 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book a one-way milesAAver business class award ticket from Los Angeles, California to Sao Paulo, Brazil. On the return flight, I used 30,000 AA miles to book a one way milesAAver economy class coach award ticket from Rio de Janeiro to Los Angeles. I booked three intra-Brazilian flights with TAM and GOL (LCC, low cost carrier). Due to major schedule changes on my intra-Brazilian flights, I was able to cancel them for a full refund and rebooked them at lower prices. One TAM ticket was $123 and two GOL low cost carrier tickets were $49 and $89. My intra-Brazil flights were $261 and I was able to attach my Delta Gold Medallion (Skyteam Elite Plus) frequent flyer number on GOL and chose exit row seats. I wasn’t able to choose complimentary exit row or bulkhead seating on TAM even though I am an oneworld emerald American Airlines Executive Platinum top tier frequent flyer elite status member.

My entire flight journey will look like this: LAX-DFW-GRU-CWB-CNF-GIG-JFK-LAX

brazilworldcuptrip

I obtained match tickets at the $90.00 nosebleed levels, but the games in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro were almost impossible to obtain during the 2014 FIFA World Cup ticket lottery.

As far as hotels were concerned, I used 29,000 American Airlines miles for three nights in Sao Paulo located in the hip Paulista neighborhood. I booked a Starwood BRG hotel in Curitiba, Parana for $140. I found a three night hotel in Belo Horizonte’s city-center on hotelscombined.com for $100 a night which came out to $300 total. Thanks to miles and points, I was able to use 29,000 AA miles and only $540 for a total of seven nights in hotels. I was able to time my flights perfectly for Rio de Janeiro and created a 15 hour layover without needing a hotel.

All in all, I spent 109,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles and $891 for flights, hotels, and game tickets which isn’t too bad for a 10 day trip to the World Cup.

For real time updates, follow me on Twitter and Instagram during my 2014 FIFA World Cup journey through Brazil.

 

About the Author

Points Summary
My name is and I write the Points Summary travel blog.

4 Comments on "Trip Report: 2014 FIFA World Cup to Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro"

  1. I will be at three games in Curitiba. That city is a lot of fun.

  2. Sounds like fun. Looking forward to your TRs

  3. Going there Sunday AM from Rio for Monday’s game. Any suggestions for a late afternoon / evening itinerary for such a short stay. Guess we’ll have some time Monday morning and late afternoon. Thanks.

    Gary

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*