Travelex Helps U.S. Soccer Fans Score Big Value In Brazil This Summer

NEW YORK, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With U.S. soccer fans purchasing more than three times the number of 2014 World Cup tickets than any other visiting country,¹ it is evident that the American contingent will be well-represented in Brazil when matches kick off next month. According to foreign exchange specialists Travelex, U.S. fans can save more than $470 on essentials by simply eating, drinking and staying at the right places while attending the World Cup.

With tourists expected to see drastically inflated prices in Brazil, insight from Travelex's Grupo Confidence stores in Brazil reveals supporters of the U.S. national team can save big by planning ahead and uncovering hidden gems and local hotspots.

Sao Paulo, which will host the opening match on June 12, is officially one of the most expensive cities in the world,² with a pint of beer priced at nearly $11 in bars surrounding the Arena Corinthians stadium. However, visitors who are interested in trying the local Bohemia beer can find it as cheap as $1.70 – saving more than $9 on just one drink.³

Similarly, those wanting to try the national cocktail of Brazil, the Caipirinha, can pay a bargain $2.60 (roughly 5.70 Brazilian Real) for the lime-flavored drink from stalls set up within the street markets popular with locals. The same drink will cost fans more than $15 if purchased in some of the more popular tourist destinations, such as the Jardins district in Sao Paulo.⁴

Soccer fans who want to sample the local street food can try a Brazilian Pastel, a tasty thin-crust pie fried in oil. Those in-the-know head to the Estadio do Pacaembu market, where the snack can be picked up for just $1.70 each. However, the tourist-focused Mercado Municipal market – just four miles away – charges almost two and a half times the price, at $4.20 per Pastel.

Accommodation is another concern, with recent newspaper reports claiming that prices are expected to soar by 500% during the World Cup dates.⁵ For instance, travelers hoping to attend one of six matches in Sao Paulo will pay at least $600 per night for a double 'World Cup Room' in the L'Hotel Porto Bay Sao Paulo. However, there are more economical options available – the Paulista Wall Street Suites, located less than three blocks away, can be booked for as little as $154 per night for a room of comparable size, translating to a savings of $446.⁶

"The U.S. Dollar is currently 11% stronger year on year, meaning that travelers who are exchanging online get an extra $103 for every $1,000 compared to last year," explained David Swann, Head of Pricing & Commercial Operations for Travelex. "Similarly, the Canadian Dollar is currently 3% stronger year on year, so travelers are essentially receiving an extra CAD $25 when changing CAD $1,000 compared to last year."

Finally, Travelex offers the following smart money tips for travelers heading to Brazil:

• Be sure to keep cash handy – this will ensure that there are no surprises in the event that an establishment does not accept credit cards. Travelers should note that certain places, such as street food stalls, are generally cash-only.
• Bars and restaurants typically include an optional 10% service fee on the total amount of a bill that serves as gratuity – additional tip is optional based on service level. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, but helpful hotel employees are customarily tipped one or two Brazilian Real.
• Some travelers have reported difficulties withdrawing money from ATMs due to connectivity issues.⁷ Others have experienced ATMs that limit foreign card withdrawals to as little as $135 (approximately 300 Brazilian Real) per day.⁸ To avoid issues, Travelex advises that World Cup attendees exchange currency before departing for Brazil, either in person at a Travelex store (http://www.travelex.com/US/Store-Locator/) or online at www.travelex.com.

ABOUT TRAVELEX: 
Travelex is the world's largest foreign exchange specialist with almost 1,500 stores and 1,250 ATMs across 27 countries, at key airport, seaport, rail and tourist locations. Over 40% of travelers - 1.7 billion passengers a year - pass through airports where Travelex operates including the major gateways at Amsterdam, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Sydney & Tokyo. Every hour, Travelex provides foreign currency to more than 2,000 customers. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Travelex news.

¹ http://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/us-fans-snapping-up-tickets-to-2014-fifa-world-cup.html

² http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24548751

³ Research from PintPrice correct as of 03/31/14 http://www.pintprice.com/city.php?/Sao+Paulo/Brazil/gbp.htm

⁴ Research conducted by M&C Saatchi PR on behalf of Travelex correct as of 04/22/14 – price of drink in Restaurante Spot, Sao Paulo vs. case study citing Market prices from March 2014

⁵ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24548751

⁶ Research conducted by Lou Hammond & Associates on behalf of Travelex correct as of 05/14/14

⁷ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-12/endless-world-cup-atm-search-shows-disconnected-banks.html

⁸ http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/03/03/new-atm-withdrawal-limits-for-foreign-cards-in-brazil/

Note to Editors: The Full Infographic illustrating data from this release is available at: http://www.travelex.com/US/Press-Releases/Travelex-Helps-U-S--Soccer-Fans-Score-Big-Value-in-Brazil-This-Summer/

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140529/92226

SOURCE Travelex