I posted this on another website and got some feedback, looking for some more.
Considering IM Brazil next year. Trying to figure out what the entire trip cost (tax, title and license).
Anybody that did IM Brazil from the U.S. what was your final tally (food, hotel, air, usual purchases such as shirts etc…, local taxis, taxes etc…). So far I know it’s 350 for race fees. Airfare will be from Dallas area (though I know it can differ).
Thanks
Rich
Great question, I would also love to see if someone has a summary of the cost to do the race.
$400US race entry for 2008.
Rough estimate off the top of my head:
Flight: For me this year it was under $200US (I used miles to get to Sao Paulo and got a good price on GOL for SP to Floripa). Last year it was about $3K for two people (but I had to go SFO-MCI-IAD-GRU, so that made the price a little higher).
Pousada (hotel): ~$800US for a week This was right in Jurere’.
Food: Breakfast included at pousada (and the Sergio can confirm…they lay out a fantastic spread); lunches were probably $5US? dinners were $7-20US, depending on how many beers were consumed. Our last-night dinner at the churriscarria where we ate and drank until stuffed was only about $20US (though we did get that at half price). Last year the same meal was only $35US (and we were there for like 3 hours) and we figured that if we were in SF it would be +$100/person.
Rental car: Around $500 for 10 days (and I paid for the extra insurance). You can get by w/o a car, but I traveled around prior to the race and I’m NOT a big tour group person and like to be mobile.
Gas: Probably around 200 reais, but Peter and Sergio paid for the gas for I’m not totally sure.
“Stuff”: I didn’t spend as much this year as last, but I did do some shopping (cute workout clothes; official race jacket; finisher shirts were not very good this year so didn’t buy any; books). I put down less than $400US on the declaration form.
From the ATM, I took out 400 reais in total and had 100R on hand from last year and I came back with around 80R for next year.
Really, the flight is the big cost. And a car, if you rent one. Lodging isn’t that bad and there are a number of pousadas in Jurere’. Personally, I would not want to be stuck over in Canasvieras.
clm
I’ll add up my numbers and post my result a little later (after work). It an exercise I’ve been meaning do, but have been afraid to see the true cost of the trip…
Try this…http://www.endurancesportstravel.com/
Ran by Ken Glah who puts a package together from your origin city. I thought about it a few yrs. ago, and I think he qouted me airfare from Dallas somewhere in the $600 range. Does everything for you.
Airticket USA-BRA: $1.200 on matercard
Accomodation: $500
Food/Taxi/Souvenir: $800
Watching man´s winner Oscar Galindez
doing backflips at Post Race Party:
PRICELESSSSSSSSSSS
.
You forgot the expense of falling in love with country thereby require many returns (and portuguese lessons).
You forgot the expense of falling in love with country thereby require many returns (and portuguese lessons).
Ah yes. Carlos and I were discussing that last night. I was told I need to go back in December or January. I would agree.
I still need to tally my final costs, but I honestly don’t think it was much different for me than going to CDA or Penticton. There you pay for the lodging/Brazil you pay for the airfare. I didn’t bring the family so it was only my ticket.
We did stay about 5k out on the run course at the Venice Beach Hotel. Although not right at the race start/finish being away from the crowds was great and 100 meters from the beach. I can’t speak highly enough of the Venice Beach Hotel staff. My shared 2 bedroom apartment was $350 for 8 days. There are only 14 rooms, but they treated us like absolute royalty. They threw a pre race party for us with live music and race evening set up futon cushions, music, beer/champagne, etc to celebrate.
Don’t fly GOL if you have the option. Wow, what an adventure that was. Nothing like sprinting around in the bowels of the Sao Paulo airport with a 4’9" Brazilian who doesn’t speak a lick of English looking for my bike that GOL repeatedly said I didn’t have to check through Customs on the way home!! Pretty comical in highsight and good for some stories. Even their U.S. partner, Continental, had nothing good to say about them. TAM seems to be the airline of choice down there.
I highly recommend this race as it is truly a journey, but if you only speak English be prepared to be a fish out of water!
Hack
Don’t forget to add the cost of applying for a Brasil visa…
Don’t fly GOL if you have the option. Wow, what an adventure that was. Nothing like sprinting around in the bowels of the Sao Paulo airport with a 4’9" Brazilian who doesn’t speak a lick of English looking for my bike that GOL repeatedly said I didn’t have to check through Customs on the way home!! Pretty comical in highsight and good for some stories. Even their U.S. partner, Continental, had nothing good to say about them. TAM seems to be the airline of choice down there. <<
I had the totally opposite experience. I had no problems with GOL and the ticket was much cheaper than TAM.
But yes, knowing at least a little Portuguese is helpful. Having THE SERGIO with you is even better.
clm
From what I read, this is what I’m figuring.
Total cost should probably not exceed 2500.
I need to learn how to say the following in Spanish:
“where is transition”
“Dammit, my bike where the *#&$#$ is it at aeropuerto”
“where is Subway”
“Sorry ladies, I’ve got to get some rest tonight, got an Ironman in the morning”
I need to double check they don’t screw my bike up in customs or from what I’ve read-make sure my bike makes it there.
I’ll have a great time.
Once they open up registration-I’ll be signing up.
Thanks Everybody.
Rich
- I need to learn how to say the following in Spanish:<<
You’d probably get along better if you learned Portuguese.
“Mais chopp, obrigado(a)” is all you need to know.
clm
Once they open up registration-I’ll be signing up. <<
P.S. It’s open…
Do you have the line. Ironmanbrazil.com and ironman.com don’t show it open for registration. Only thing I can find is for May 2007
Thanks
Rich
Disregard last post. Was looking for it to be on the homepage like most of the other races. found it.
Thanks
Rich
A little secret–they assign numbers on when you enter. Or that’s what they have done in the past number of years.
More than a distant land over a shining sea.
More than the steaming green. More than the shining eyes.
Well they tell me it’s only a dream in Rio.
Nothing could be as sweet as it seems on this very first day down.
They remind me, "Son, have you so soon forgotten?”
Often as not it’s rotten inside and the mask soon slips away.
Strange taste of a tropical fruit, romantic language of the Portuguese.
Melody on a wooden flute, samba floating in the summer breeze.
It’s all right, you can stay asleep, you can close your eyes,
you can trust the people of paradise to call your keeper and tender your good-byes.
Oh, what a night, wonderful one in a million frozen fire Brazilian stars.
Oh, holy southern cross, later on take me way downtown in a tin can.
Can’t come down from the bandstand, I’m never thrown for such a loss when they say:
Quando a nossa mae acordar, andareimoz au sol.
Quando a nossa mae acordar, cantara’ pelos sertao.
Quando a nossa mea acordar, todos os filios saberao.
Todos os filios saberao, e regozilarao.
Caught in the rays of the rising sun on the run from the soldier’s gun.
Shouting out loud from the angry crowd, the mild the wild and the hungry child.
I’ll tell you there’s more than a dream in Rio.
I was there on the very day and my heart came back alive.
There was more, more than the singing voices,
more than the upturned faces and more than the shining eyes.
But it’s more than the shining eye, more than the steaming green,
more than the hidden hills, more than the concrete Christ,
more than a distant land over a shining sea,
more than a hungry child, more like another time.
Born of a million years, more than a million years.