Football and a little bit of samba

Book your tickets for the FIFA trip either through an agent or a travel website. While there are no direct flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil's International airport, one can opt for flights via Europe (London, Munich, et cetera) or via Johannesburg (ex-Mumbai). Return tickets are currently priced between Rs 112,000 and Rs 150,000 for travel in June. For FIFA 14 Coins, you would need a copy of your tickets, accommodation details and bank statements for six months prior to your application date. Visa processing usually takes about seven days, so it would be wise to apply well in time.

GETTING AROUND

Traffic and snarl-ups are legendary in Brazil, so make sure there's ample time for you to reach the match venue from your hotel. Parking is also a major concern, so it's best to use public transport while travelling within the cities. For travelling to various cities, be prepared for some delays at airports, which are bound to magnify with the football fever. Travel website frommers.com recommends taking morning flights to cities to avoid excruciating delays. To conserve the effort involved in booking multiple flights within Brazil, a TAM airpass could be useful. It allows foreign nationals to take four flights to anywhere in Brazil for a package rate. The trick is to buy the airpass before entering Brazil - you can buy it online at www.tam.br.com - else it would be considered invalid.

ROOM OF ONE'S OWN

The 2014 World Cup will be hosted across 12 stadiums in Brazil, and if you're riding high on the football fever, it could mean zipping across the country to catch your favourite matches. The official FIFA website (hotels.fifa.com) recommends several accommodation options, sorted by distance from the airport and stadia. For a slightly offbeat experience, try booking pousadas, which are essentially eco-lodges and guesthouses that offer traditional, Brazilian hospitality. Though these might be slightly at a distance from match venues, you could book a night at a pousada as part of you sightseeing adventures in Brazil.

AND IT'S A GOAL!

Coming to what you're really going to be in Brazil for - the FIFA 2014 World Cup - there are some serious decisions to be made. FIFA's official travel partner, Cox & Kings, offers match-hospitality tickets, for a football experience to suit your fantasy. "From food and beverages to access to plush lounges, with some located even between goal lines with an unparalleled view of the match, the hospitality tickets across various pricing categories need to be purchased in quantities between 4 and 40 match tickets," says Karan Anand, Head-Relationships, Cox & Kings. These are priced at upwards of $1,150 (around Rs 70,000) - but exclude the final round matches. Final round tickets cost between $10,050 and $25,050, available only in the top-tier ticket categories. These tickets can be purchased directly at the FIFA website, hospitality.fifa.com, or through Cox & Kings in India. The second round of ticket sales, which opened on March 12, will remain active till April 1.

THERE'S MORE TO BRAZIL THAN...

While ardent football fans would rather not complete that sentence, there's plenty on offer for those with touristy souls. Rajeev Kale, COO at Thomas Cook India, adds, "Popular choices include Fortaleza for its beaches, Parati for its waterfalls, mountains and of course, Rio De Janeiro for its vibrant carnivals and Brazilian culture." Besides these obvious choices, there are several off-the-beaten-track options for travellers. Manjari Verma and Avani Patel, from travel company Broken Compass, suggest, "Dry weather in the hilly areas of Brazil makes June a wonderful time to stay at cozy inns, light a fireplace at night and go hiking. By June, some of the country's best destinations for climbers in Brazil, such as Serra dos Orgaos National Park, have officially declared open their climbing season."

WORD TO THE WISE

Though the yellow-fever vaccine is not mandatory for a Brazilian visa, it is advisable to get Fifa 14 Ultimate Team Coins before your journey to avoid any health dampeners on the trip. Also, buy bottled water - most locals also avoid using tap water. For travel within and around Brazil, it is advisable to seek the services of local tour operators, unless you're travelling from India with a planned travel package.