8-13 November 2017 (3 nights, 6 days)

Not for the faint hearted. The Green & Gold Army is heading to San Pedro Sula, Honduras to support the Socceroos in the cut throat 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia away leg playoff. Here’s your invite to support the Socceroos on the ultimate away trip. The Honduran city of San Pedro Sula will host #HONvAUS on 10 November. As always, we have designed our tour with a focus on supporting the Socceroos, with security considerations and cultural experiences at the top of our agenda.

The business and industrial capital of Honduras, San Pedro generates almost two-thirds of the country’s GDP, with thousands employed in giant maquila (clothes-weaving) factories. There is no sugar coating San Pedro Sula’s reputation for gang violence. To be clear, – most crime here is gang-on-gang, and it’s very rare for tourists to be targeted or caught up in violence. Please note that our tour will be tightly controlled with all activities carefully planned to ensure maximum safety. Our priority is to safely support the Socceroos, experience some amazing cultural activities and return home with multiple away goals!

From Australia this tour must include return international flights. It is a mandatory inclusion to ensure safe and secure passage. The return economy flights are with Qantas to and from Los Angeles and Avianca to and from San Pedro Sula via El Salvador.

Note: Price includes international return flights from Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane (extra fees will be incurred for a return domestic connection from other Australian cities)

 

Match Day Pass – Structured for Australians living in North and South America who wish to attend the match with our group. Available upon request by emailing worldcup@ggarmy.com .

• Return economy flights

• San Pedro Sula arrival/departure airport/hotel transfers

• 3 nights’ accommodation in San Pedro Sula at the centrally located 4* Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula at Multiplaza Mall. Note- this property was selected due it meeting GGA quality and security standards.

• Match ticket in the Australian fan section

• Daily Breakfast

• Legendary GGArmy pre-match event of food and drinks

• Guided match day hotel/stadium vehicle transfers

• Cultural and sightseeing tours (as described in the itinerary below) including all entrance fees

• Services of Green & Gold Army tour host & experienced local guides

• Iconic Green & Gold Army scarf

Occupancy	Price
4* Twin Share	$4,800
4* Double Share	$4,800
4* Single Share	$5,700
Match Day Pass	Available on Request

Price includes return international economy flights from the East Coast of Australia.

*Prices are subject to minimum 12 travellers.

Day 1: Wednesday 8 November 2017

Depart on Qantas flights departing Melbourne 11:15, Brisbane 11:20 & Sydney at 11.30 bound for Los Angeles. Flights arrive into LAX at 06:00,  06:20  & 06:35. Meet the GGArmy guide/s at LAX airport (exact location to be communicated directly to participating guests). Group boards an Avianca flight at 12:37 to San Pedro Sula via San Salvador. Plane will make a 30-minute stop to collect other passengers in San Salvador. Passengers who boarded in LA won’t need to disembark in San Salvador. Land at the San Pedro Sula airport at 20:55, Tue, Nov 7 – the same day you depart Australia. Meet our group transfer representatives/driver and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in San Pedro Sula.

Day 2: Thursday 9 November 2017

Start your day tour with a private guide and van. Visit San Pedro’s cathedral, a colonial structure and the once-majestic art deco Palacio Municipal on the other side of the square. Tour Parque Central in the downtown area and relax in the leafy square and admire the impressive colonial architecture. Explore the cool artsy Mercado Artesanias and Plaza Típica: an open-sided covered outdoor food market and try delicious carne asada (grilled meat), tapado (seafood soup with coconut) and amazing tropical fruit juices. Visit an absolute institution in the city center: Café Skandia is a classic 1950s-style cafe looks like it’s been transplanted from an ocean liner with its marine-blue color scheme and vintage chrome-and-white-leather seats. Subject to FFA approval we will drop into the Socceroos final training session before a transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in San Pedro Sula.

Day 3: Friday 10 November 2017

Free morning where you can relax in your hotel or by the hotel pool. At 11:00 enjoy a pre match game day function at the hotel and transfer in a private vehicle to the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula for the 16:00 game. The journey takes about 30 minutes one way from the hotel. You’ll be seated in the Australian away section in the sold out 38,000-seater stadium. Honduras have been in three World Cups – 1982, 2010 and 2014. Expect a hostile atmosphere and silence (except for our cheers) when we score! Transfer back to the hotel post game.

Overnight in San Pedro Sula.

Day 4: Saturday 11 November 2017

Transfer to the airport for your return Avianca flight departing from San Pedro Sula via San Salvador to LA, landing at 18:30. Los Angeles – Melbourne flight is at 22:05, Los Angeles – Sydney flight is at 20:30, Los Angeles – Brisbane flight is at 23:20.

Day 5: Sunday 12 November 2017

Cross the international dateline.

Day 6: Monday 13 November 2017

Arrive into Australia.

Visas:

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Australians, British, Canadians, New Zealanders and Americans do not require a visa to travel to Honduras for stays of up to 30 days. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements. Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival for all visitors to Honduras. It is your responsibility to have your passport stamped on entry when you land in Honduras.

Travelling to Honduras via USA:

If you are travelling to Honduras through the USA, including if you are transiting Honolulu or other American cities, you will need to meet US entry/transit requirements. Check your visa needs with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate well in advance of travel. Airlines will not accept passengers bound for destinations within the US without evidence of an onward or return ticket. You can apply for a US transit visa online. People who have an Iranian visa stamped in their passport will need to apply in person for a US transit visa by sitting an interview at a US consulate in their home country. Interviews can be booked out up to 2 weeks in advance.

Money Matters:

Honduras currency information – The official currency of Honduras is the Honduran Lempira (HNL). It is extremely difficult to change any type of currency apart from US dollars. Australian dollars cannot be exchanged into Lempiras in Honduras. ATM’s are not common in Honduras and they tend to only be inside banks; not making them accessible outside of banking hours We advise everyone bring USD with them. Suggestion is 80 USD per day. Advise your bank that you’re travelling to Honduras beforehand. Visitors are required to show their passport, or a certified copy of the passport identification page, when changing money. Only use ATMs during daylight hours, in controlled areas such as banks or shopping centres, and change money in hotels or banks. Beware your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes

Departure Tax:

Honduras – If flying out of Honduras, a departure tax of US$39 is usually included in your international airfare.

Weather in Honduras:

Please note that Hurricane season is June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. We monitor these situations as they may arise, so that itineraries or activities can be amended as necessary.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller’s medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

• Dengue fever: Dengue fever and Chikungunya virus are transmitted from infected mosquitoes and are present in Honduras. There is no vaccine to protect against Dengue.
• Malaria: Malaria is also a risk throughout the year in Honduras and north of San Pedro de Sula, particularly during the rainy season (May to November). Other insect-borne diseases (including Chagas’ disease and leishmaniasis) are also a risk to travellers, particularly during the wet season (April to November). You should consult your doctor or travel clinic about prophylaxis against malaria and take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent, wearing long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and ensuring your accommodation is mosquito proof.
• Zika: There is widespread transmission of Zika virus in Honduras. All travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites. The Australian Department of Health advises pregnant women to discuss any travel plans with their doctor and defer non-essential travel to affected areas. Further advice for both females and males is available from the Department of Health. Also see our Zika virus travel bulletin.
• Yellow Fever: A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for travellers arriving in Honduras only from Yellow Fever endemic countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a list of countries in which yellow fever is endemic. Honduras is not one of them.
• Food and Water: Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, typhoid and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water with intact seals, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. HIV/AIDS is a significant risk in Honduras. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
• Medication: All medication must be transported in its original container and have a clear label. Prescription and controlled medication must be accompanied by a prescription from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery and include the medication’s generic name. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Honduras for a list of restricted medication.

Crime:

The very high level of crime and violence persists across Honduras. It often involves firearms and is frequently related to violent street gangs. Maintain heightened awareness of your surroundings at all times due to the very high levels of violent crime in Honduras. If you are a victim of an attack, you should not resist. Avoid leaving food and drinks unattended in bars and places of entertainment as the number of ‘spiking’ incidents has increased. The risk of being a victim of violent crime increases at night. Travelling or walking alone after dark is particularly dangerous, including in San Pedro de Sula. Visitors are recommended to travel in groups and to avoid travelling outside of your hotel after dark.

Scams

Scams and credit card fraud have also been reported. Foreigners have also been robbed after withdrawing money from ATMs. Be aware that local law enforcement authorities often have limited capacity to respond to the increasing levels of violent crime and assistance to victims of crime can be limited.