Start thinking NOW about how you will see 2014’s biggest global event.

Typically return flights between Australia and Brazil can cost $3000-$4000 alone, without offering the added chance to experience two more continents.

From personal experience we at Samba Times know the most economical way to a World Cup is to book RTW tickets well in advance, avoiding a bidding war with the late-booking, direct route masses.

Through our travel partners, you can fly either east or west, choosing to end or start your trip with a once-in-a-lifetime journey to football’s spiritual home.

Flying out of major Australian airports, destinations you can combine on a basic fare include:

SOUTH AMERICA

Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, Santiago, Sao Paulo.

EUROPE

Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Basel, Belgrade, Berlin, Birmingham, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Hanover, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Lugano, Luxembourg, Lyon, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Nice, Nuremberg, Palma Mallorca, Paris, Prague, Pristina, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki, Valencia, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw, Zurich, Oslo, Tel Aviv.

*Available at a surcharge or seasonally: Cairo, Casablanca, Dubrovnik, Helsinki, Hurghada, Kiev, Kos, Ljubljana, Malta, Marrakech, Moscow, Mykonos, Ohrid, Oporto, Rhodes, Salzburg, Santorini, Sharm El Sheikh, Skopje, Split, St.Petersburg, Zagreb.

ASIA or AFRICA

ASIA: Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo,

*Available at a surcharge or seasonally: Phuket*, Male* [Maldives].

AFRICA: Johannesburg, Nairobi.

Available at a surcharge or seasonally: Kiliminjaro, Mauritius, Mombassa.

Please note you also have the option of including major North American cities in your Round The World fare, but paying extra for flights into South America and back.

Some cities can only be flown into in one direction, with it necessary to depart the continent via a different city.

This may involve organising your own overland travel or flights between these locations.

A good way to tackle this scenario is to use your overland section to visit sights you may otherwise miss (eg Macchu Pichu, Bolivian Salt Lakes, Lake Titicacca, Amazon, Pantanal).

To discuss the array of options available and source our advice from circumnavigating the globe numerous times, please email Robert@sambatimes.com

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FIFA has confirmed that it will not reserve an allocation of tickets for tour operators, and will not conduct an Official Tour Operator Programme for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

Fans will be free to make their own transportation and accommodation arrangements either though their selected tour operator or independently, but must secure their own match tickets directly through FIFA.com.

With this in mind, FIFA and the Local Organising Committee are warning football fans to be wary and vigilant of any unauthorised ticket offers and promotions.

A host of companies are misleading people into thinking that they are able to offer authentic tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, despite the fact that no individual tickets (other than as part of hospitality packages) are currently available.

Please note that only FIFA’s exclusive official hospitality rights holder, MATCH Hospitality, is authorised to sell ticket-inclusive hospitality packages (for information follow the ‘Hospitality’ link on the right), and only FIFA’s commercial affiliates are authorised to conduct any ticketing promotions.

For a full list of companies authorised to conduct prize competitions and other promotional activities in which fans have the chance to receive a ticket, please check the “Marketing-Affiliates” link on the right.

FIFA is aware of the unprecedented expectation for the sale of tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

However, football fans should note that individual tickets are not scheduled to go on sale until after the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

Those wishing to purchase individual tickets should visit FIFA.com regularly for updates, follow @FIFAcom on twitter or register for the FIFA.com Club to receive the latest news on ticket sales.

The post Update for World Cup Tickets appeared first on Samba Times.

At the end of one of South America’s most picturesque railway routes, close to the last remnants of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, Paranagua is the port for the bustling city of Curitiba.

Guaraquecaba wilderness

But while a solitary hour separates Paranagua (pop 150,000) from Curitiba (1.8 million) via the road, there is a marked difference in lifestyle and property prices.

The dual beauty of Paranagua is that you can gain direct and frequent access to the lush wilderness of Guaraquecaba, or alternatively head west to Curitiba for 2014 World Cup festivities and major airport facilities.

Recognising the port town’s potential, developers of the Villaggio D’Oro have released 55 apartments on central Rua Professor Cleto for sale.

Going at a great price are the 3 bedroom apartments, positioned less than 1km from the waterfront, which true to Brazilian culture all have a balcony and charcoal grill.

Railway to Paranagua

Features of the secure complex include a downstairs recreation area and solarium.

Close to schools and medical facilities, Vallaggio D’Oro suites have both air conditioning and heating and are serviced by two elevators.

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE SPACES: 1

Villaggio D’Oro interior

Villaggio D’Oro exterior

ROOM: 134.82m2

PRICE: US$135,898 / AU$132,299 / £91,151 / €104,272

The post Invest in Paranagua appeared first on Samba Times.

Add this page to your ‘Favourites’ for an easy reference guide.

In a country the size of Brazil, minimising travel time and maximising your attraction to tourists is essential.

A quick view of match allocations shows that while major cities Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia will host the big matches, there are definite opportunities outside.

Northern beach resorts Fortaleza and Recife will not only receive an allocation of four pool games, but also a slice of the knockout rounds.

2014 FIFA World Cup host cities

Close to the mining hub of Brazil, Belo Horizonte will host four pool games, a round of 16 match and also a much sought-after semi-final.

For investors looking to the south of the country or for those looking for a quick path to Uruguay, Porto Alegre and Curitiba will host a combined nine World Cup matches.

* Runners Up (3 v 4)

The post Where will World Cup games be held? appeared first on Samba Times.

1. It is perceived as a ‘third world’ nation, just like similarly named Paraguay.
2. The country’s football team is competitive and sometimes stretches the rules.
3. A crude play on words as voiced by Homer in The Simpsons.

In reality Uruguay is South America’s most progressive and stable nation, with beach resorts to rival the French Riviera, California coastline and Gold Coast.

It is far removed from many of the social and economic problems which hound Paraguay.

Indeed, many tourists from southern European countries have cottoned onto this fact and you can see hordes of Portuguese, Spanish and Italian visitors along the Atlantic coast.

Lonely Planet says of Uruguay: “Once you go, one thing is certain. You will be back.”

For several years now Punta del Este, on the south-east peninsula, has been a playground for the rich and famous, with property prices adjusting accordingly.

Current hotspot Punta del Diablo is strikingly similar to both Noosa Heads and Byron Bay in their infancy – a haven for nature-lovers, surfers and canny developers.

In just a few years, construction in Punda del Diablo has rocketed, but there are still opportunities there for those looking to ride the wave.

Take out Punta del Diablo and Punta del Este and what exists in between are hundreds of kilometres of undeveloped beaches.

For ease of travel, Uruguay has some of the best highways throughout South America and is only a short ferry ride away from Argentinian capital Buenos Aires.

From the north of Uruguay, coaches link into southern Brazilian cities such as Porto Alegre, Santa Maria, Pelotas and Rio Grande. Long-haul travel is also possible to Curitiba and Sao Paulo.

International flights predominantly arrive and depart from the capital Montevideo, although smaller airlines service the airfield in Punta del Este.

The post Visiting Uruguay appeared first on Samba Times.

With little more than 1 million people spread across a region blessed with 42 beaches, the Santa Catarina hub has already experienced some maturation as a property market.

A strong European population is evident in Florianopolis, which tops the Human Development Index (HDI) throughout Brazil.

The HDI factors in life expectancy, education and income conditions.

Weather in Florianopolis is humid and sub-tropical and the city’s surrounds are a haven for surfers, sunbathers and adventure sports enthusiasts.

Florianopolis from above

The city is spread across a strait which separates Santa Cantalina Island from a small mainland peninsula, linked together in a photogenic manner by the Hercilio Luz Bridge.

Among the sites of Fortaleza are four standing forts, protection against threats of a previous Spanish invasion, and also the stunning Lagoa da Conceicao lake.

Florianopolis has an international airport and connects via Sao Paulo to most countries around the world.

In peak season direct flights from Argentina and Chile are available, while domestic flights are available year-round.

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The Global Peace Index (GPI) of 2012 shows that of 158 countries analysed, Chile ranked 30^th and Uruguay rated 33^rd.

Results for Uruguay and Chile were not at all distinct from Australia (22^nd) and the UK (29^th).

Brazil’s mid-table positioning (83^rd) is still superior to the USA (88^th) and fellow property investment hotspot Turkey (130^th).

Indeed, outside of Europe and Australasia, South America is the best performing region on the Peace Index.

Tellingly the GPI measures 23 factors which affect the safety of the population, from police levels to jail populations to threats of terrorism and engagement in international warfare.

One of the indicators is ‘Perceived Criminality’ for which Uruguay and Brazil receive a 3.0 and 3.5 rating respectively (with 5.0 being the worst), based on international impressions.

This would seem unfair when measured against the USA, which has a ‘Perceived Criminality’ rating of just 2.0 despite the reality of final figures.

Uruguay’s commendable position on the ladder sees the country ranked 3.0 or lower for all but one of the criteria assessed, that being demonstrations.

This high figure for demonstrations can be seen two ways, with the progressive leftist government providing an atmosphere where residents feel empowered to voice their concerns.

Brazil, which is ranked 44 spots better on the GPI than last World Cup host South Africa, appears down the list mainly because of its high figures for homicides.

However, as alarming as they may be, these homicide figures fell 62% in the Sao Paulo region in the last recorded decade from 1998-2008. In Rio de Janeiro the rate fell 39% over the same period.

Unsurprisingly studies have linked the majority of Brazilian homicides to drugs, alcohol, black market and gang-related behaviour. For the population outside these circles the rates are far less.

Ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics Brazil will make orchestrated movements to increase the safety of visitors to the country.

In the last four years alone new legislation has been introduced to specifically target domestic violence, drink driving and human trafficking.

• While we are discussing perception and interactive media, you might also like to check out this very creative and poignant animation of how wealth is distributed in the USA.

The post Crime and safety levels in South America appeared first on Samba Times.

Coming on the back of 20 years of unprecedented political stability in the country, Brazil is investing US$86 billion towards infrastructure in the lead-up to the World Cup.

As such, Brazilian property looms as a fantastic commodity, with 20% capital gain per annum not uncommon across regional hotspots.

Compare this to stagnating or even regressing property values – and prohibitive buy-in prices – in the USA, UK, Australia and other traditional investment sectors. Compared to most English-speaking countries where rent pays off your home over a 30-year-plus period, in Uruguay the rent meets your outlay at 14 years.

Global Property Guide lists Brazil as a four-star investment location, with neighbouring (and often overlooked) Uruguay rated a full five stars.

Consider these factors:

• Brazil and Uruguay have over 8000km of combined tropical coastline.
• Brazil is only marginally larger than Australia, yet boasts almost 10 times as many people.
• The number of cities in Brazil with more than one million inhabitants is 17. Sao Paulo vies for the title as the world’s largest city. Over 84% of Brazilians live in a city.
• The average purchase price in Brazil is $3836 per sqm. In Uruguay the cost is lower – $1959 per sqm. Compare these with the average for the same quantity in the UK ($25,087), France ($14,696), USA ($13,377), Australia ($8774), Canada ($8288), Spain ($6151) and China ($6932). *All prices $USD
• Rental yields (amount of rent received as a percent of capital outlay on property) in Brazil and Uruguay is also superior to major westernised countries.Compared to most English-speaking countries where rent pays off your home over a 30-year-plus period, in Uruguay the rent meets your outlay at 14 years. In Brazil the average is 20 years.
• From Jan 2008-Jul 2012 house prices in Rio de Janeiro rose 118%. In Sao Paulo the figure was 92%.
• Uruguay is famed as the most stable of South American nations, has a progressive government and is a tourism gem that, although largely unknown in the English-speaking world, attracts hordes of visitors from the Mediterranean nations.
• Direct flights from Europe to northern Brazilian cities Recife, Fortaleza and Natal are exponentially increasing their tourist appeal.
• Aside from hosting global sporting events, Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20 and is among a select band of countries recognised as ‘Megadiverse’ by Conservation International.
• Brazil and Uruguay boast pro-landlord realty legislation and offer favourable residency requirements to foreign investors.

The post Brazil bristling with investment potential appeared first on Samba Times.

So we’ve already discussed many of the wonders that Uruguay offers in this article.

But let’s get down to the finer details of why investing in this South American gem makes all the sense in the world.

• Average purchase price of US$1,959 per sq metre. Compare this to the UK ($25,087), France ($14,696), USA ($13,377), Australia ($8,774), Canada ($8,288), Spain ($6,151) and China ($6,932).
• Average rental yield of 7.63%. Compare this to UK (3.3%), Australia (3.4%) and USA (4.7%)
• Capital growth of 17% on published 2011 figures.
• Capital Gains Tax of 12%, Rental Tax of 10.5%
• If you earn all your income from foreign sources, you pay no Uruguayan income tax. This includes foreign pensions and rental income from overseas.
• A perfect 5/5 Buy-to-let rating from Global Property Guide.
  

  Punte Del Este Art Gallery

• No visa required from EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• Duty-free import of household goods.
• Residency is granted to anyone who can prove they earn US$650 a month, can provide a clean criminal record and a birth certificate.
• Passports and citizenship are granted after five years of residency (three years for married couples and 18months for retirees).
• Receipt of a Uruguayan identity card that allows passport-less travel into Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile
• Migration law that gives migrants the same rights and opportunities s nationals.
• Hundreds of kilometres of undeveloped beaches and only 3million inhabitants.
• No restriction on foreigners owning beachfront property.
• If you pay for fuel with a foreign credit card, you are refunded the tax.
• Direct flights to Montevideo from Madrid and Miami. Most other nations are serviced via connections in Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires.
• No currency restrictions so money can enter and leave the country without worrying about withholding tax, waiting periods or conversion to local currency.
• A Global Peace Index rank of 33^rd in the world in 2012. In comparison South Africa is 127^th, USA is 88^th, France is 40^th, the UK is 29^th and Australia is 22^nd. Uruguay ranks considerably better than all other South American nations, bar Chile.
• Good highways, coach services and few traffic jams.
• Drinkable water, good education and health.

The post Uruguayan Financial Benefits appeared first on Samba Times.

Known colloquially as ‘Pepe’, Mujica is a farmer and ex-guerilla fighter who still lives with his wife on his humble property outside of the capital Montevideo.

Mirroring the uncomplicated and free atmosphere of Uruguay as a nation, the president redistributes most of his monthly salary to small entrepreneurs and the poor.

Having risen to power in 2010, the 78-year-old is guaranteed reign over the nation until 2015 under the Uruguayan constitution.

Aside from his empathy with the lower classes and an encouragement of personal freedom, Mujica – unlike his predecessors – has had major success in easing a potentially flammable situation with Argentina over paper mills on the River Uruguay.

He is also supportive of gay marriage, abortion rights, renewable energy and the decriminalisation and regulation of marijuana usage.

In an area of the world where religion retains an ever-present foothold, Mujica has openly stated that he does not believe in the concept of a god.

While conservatives may oppose his direction, he is globally respected for his self-sacrifice in the name of his beliefs.

It’s estimated the president lives on US$200 per week after donating 90 per cent of his income, leaving him to be frequently described as ‘the poorest president in the world’.

One of his most famous quotes is: “It is a mistake to think that power comes from above when it comes from within the hearts of the masses”.

He has also stated that poverty is not related to what one has, but rather it is an endless craving for more that makes a person poor.”

Undoubtedly Mujica’s philosophies are linked to his parents. His mother came from a poor Italian migrant family and his father, of Spanish Basque background, went bankrupt not long before dying in 1940.

As a ‘Robin Hood’ type rebel, strongly influenced by the Cuban revolutionaries, Mujica was jailed for 14 years in 1971.

During his stint in detention, Mujica once escaped, was shot six times by the police and was placed in the bottom of a well in solitary confinement.

He was eventually released after an amnesty on military and political crimes.

A keen cyclist in his youth who detests wearing a tie, Mujica and his wife grow flowers on their property and he does not have a bank account.

He has previously offered the presidential palace as a refuge for the homeless during a spell of cold weather.

Watch his stirring speech at the 2012 G20 Summit where he spoke from the heart about consumption, development, the environment and human happiness.

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