First post so instead of creating a new thread, I thought I should revive this one and the err of doing something wrong as a newbie.

I (and 3 others friends) got tickets to a few events during the Rio Olympics. I've been a lurker of Flyer Talk off and on for a few years but this trip to Brazil (and probably another country, Argentina or Peru?) is going to be a big and costly one so I decided I needed help planning.

I got the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to rack up points (and am constantly checking the miles buzz forum) to lessen the cost of the flight(s) but also wanted more logistic help, like referrals for places to stay. That's our big issue: lodging. During London 2012 and Sochi 2014, there were a lot of hotel cancellations (like 100k or so) and we don't want to be left in the lurch a few days/weeks before we leave for Rio and find out our reservations to a hotel/hostel/whatever have been cancelled.

I also think if there's anyone else going to the Rio Olympics next year, it'd be good to have a quasi-network of people in the same city for a common purpose in case anyone needs help/advice/etc.