The time is almost upon us; in a little less than a month sports fans and sports stars from across the globe will be gathering in Rio, to witness the world’s greatest of sporting competitions. With so many different types of games on display and with the best athletes in the world competing to place their respective countries in the top three it’s little wonder that the current estimate of visitors to Rio is at about half a million people. This leads to some serious planning on behalf of Singaporeans attending the games so we hate crunched the numbers and figured out how you are best organising your stays and we also have put together some fantastic tips to make your visit as smooth as possible.
Travellers check-in on time so as not miss any of the action in Rio
So, it seems that we Singaporeans are a dedicated and loyal bunch, with many of us staying for the duration of the games, aiming to arrive on the 5th of August or even a bit before so as to be in Rio right from the opening ceremony onwards. As much as we’d all like to do this, not all of us can stay that long and a short weekend getaway in the middle of the competition is our preferred second choice.
| Most popular check-in and check-out combination | |
| Rank | Date combination |
| 1 | 05.08.-21.08.2016 |
| 2 | 12.08.-15.08.2016 |
| 3 | 11.08.-22.08.2016 |
Looking at how we search for hotels, it became immediately apparent that while a good price is important to your average Singaporean, the cost is balanced with comfort. Forty percent of us looked for 3-star accommodation and thirty-five for 4-stars hotels, and while this shows that we do enjoy our quality accommodation remaining frugal is worth doing on this trip in particular. With the Games being such a massive drawcard Hoteliers are pumping up their prices and taking full advantage of the saturated market. As is to be expected the price of 3- and 4-star hotels grows exponentially over the duration of the games with a significant price increase between weeks one, two and three. In fact, when comparing the prices of the third week of August to the fourth, which is after the Games are finished, there is a striking difference of 281% in Price. What this could mean for some you who want to enjoy the beauty of Brazil as well as the Adrenaline of the competition is that staying on for some R&R after the Games are over could be a cheap and cheerful option.
| Star category | % of searches for star categories |
| 1 | 1% |
| 2 | 11% |
| 3 | 41% |
| 4 | 35% |
| 5 | 12% |
| Length of stay / 1st week August | Length of stay / 2nd week August | Length of stay / 3rd week August | Length of stay / 4th week August | ||||
| Average price per room per night | Average price per room per night | Average price per room per night | Average price per room per night | ||||
| 3&4 star | 286 | 437 | 530 | 139 |
Travellers choosing the right weekdays for a check-in and check-out can score savings
The days on which we choose to stay in Rio can also affect the overall cost of our accommodation. Checking into a 3 or 4-star hotel on a Saturday, and checking-out on a Monday can result in savings of up to 47% for serious sports fans when compared to the most expensive combinations over the week. Freeing up our budgets for cocktails on the beach after a long day of following the excitement of the Games.
| Cheapest Check-in/Check-out days (3-4 star hotels) | Most Expensive Check-in/Check-out days (3-4 star hotels) | |
| Saturday-Monday (average price in SGD) | Monday-Friday (average price in SGD) | Potential Savings (up to) |
| 414 | 778 | -47% |
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Debby Soo, KAYAK Vice President, APAC comments: “There are exciting times ahead in Rio, and while timing is everything when it comes to booking a trip, it’s not too late for Singaporeans to find an excellent hotel within their budget, on KAYAK.sg and be right in the middle of the excitement. And with our travel tips, travellers to Rio will be sure to be sipping Caipirinhas at the Copacabana this August”
KAYAK.sg’s travel tips to make the most of a trip to Rio:
– Organise events and happenings: With so many things to do in Rio, what is the best way to keep track? KAYAK.sg users will be familiar with Trips already, but there is much more to it than just storing flight, hotel and hire car confirmations in one easy-to-access itinerary. By forwarding emails, such as restaurant or activity reservations to trips@kayak.sg, or by manually entering event details, Singaporeans can populate their itinerary with all their fun activities in Rio.
– Set Price Alerts: Flight or hotel in Rio not yet confirmed? With Price Alerts, travellers can be notified when prices for flights to and hotels in Rio go up or down for the preferred travel dates to never miss a deal.
– Take a break from all the competition: For those travellers who can’t sit through another sporting event, see what else Rio has to offer via the Activities feature on KAYAK.sg. There you can find a taste of Rio’s cuisine with a food tour or experience Brazil’s natural wonders with a Jeep ride through the rain forest.
Note to editors: Analysis is based on hotel searches and clicks on all KAYAK locales between 01.01.2016-08.06.2016 for stays in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016. Information on the increase of hotel searches is based on searches on all KAYAK locales between 01.01.2016-26.06.2016 for stays in August 2016 and 01.01.2015-26.06.2015 for stays in August 2015. Average prices are quoted in Singapore dollars and are per room per night; prices quoted are subject to change and may no longer be available.
