Here’s an option: camp at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And you can even cook there!
Football lovers from South America who can't afford to pay for hotels have decided to sleep at the popular beach; have hoisted tents, sleep in their vans while some have opted to sleep on the sand.
The usual price for one night stay at hotels in Rio is AS$200-AS$250 (RM643-RM803) but now it can cost as much as AS$700-AS$800 (RM2,249-RM2,571) a night and so, most Argentinians, Colombians, Chileans and Ecuadorians decided to ignore warnings made by the local authorities of the danger they placed themselves by sleeping there.
Soccer fans sleep, rest, and rise next to a fan zone where matches are broadcast live on the Copacabana beach in the morning, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AP Photo/Wong Maye-E
Quoting a report by Daily Mail, a tourist who has been camping at the Copacabana beach, Emmanuel Estrada, said he took for days to drive from Buenos Aires to Sao Paulo for the World Cup’s opening game.
“We will stay here until Argentina wins the World Cup. And certainly a few extra days after that,” said Estrada who works as a plumber in Buenos Aires.
Meanwhile, an auto mechanic from Chile, Fabian Alvarez who drove over 5,000 km said he decided to sleep in his vans after failing to find affordable hotels in Rio.
According to Fabian, he plans to spend about one million Chilean pesos (US$1,789, RM5,749) during the whole trip, including on petrol, food and maybe even one more World Cup ticket.
“We feel safe here. It's all worth it. The emotion is totally overwhelming when we sing the national anthem in the stadium. It gives me the goosebumps,” said Alvarez who watched Chile defeat Australia on Friday.
Chile fans sleep inside a car at a new camping site next to Sambadromo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio authorities have promised to provide proper facilities for World Cup fans camping on Copacabana beach. AFP PHOTO/YASUYOSHI CHIBA
Setting up tents and sleeping at the Copacabana beach is against the rules as the place is notorious for pickpocketing and robberies.
Nevertheless, the host to 2014 World Cup Rio authorities has promised to increase security as well as providing toilets for the tourists there.
In a report by AFP, a municipality worker at the city known as Paes said camping facilities will also be provided in addition to keep the beach clean and safe.
“We want to receive tourists and give special attention to our South American neighbours who have driven an enormous distance with family and friends to enjoy the World Cup in our city,” said Paes.
Many fans traveled to Rio in camper vans and are spending the night in them, but others have been sleeping rough and cooking meals by the beach. AFP PHOTO/YASUYOSHI CHIBA
But, not all tourists are trigger happy with this development.
An Argentine supporter, Daniel Muller said he does not agree with the municipality decision to relocate them to a new place.
“"Rio was not prepared to receive such a large scale event ... there are no chemical toilets, no spaces to park our camper vans. Now we are being moved and they are saying if we don't comply they will confiscate our vans," said Daniel Muller.
"We want to stay here. There is the Fan Fest and cultural interchange with fans from other countries. If this is about moving us 30km away from here then I'd have rather stayed in my own country," said Chilean physiotherapist Jonatan Tabia.
