Traveling to Russia during the World Cup: A Complete Guide

Posted on 27 June 2018 (0)

The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia from June 14th to July 15th. Every four years, it is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, but also one of the most beautiful popular festivals in the world, which unites far beyond football fans. Rather than follow the matches in front of his TV, why not take the opportunity to go on site and combine both the passion of sport and travel? With supporters from all over the world coming out to cheer on their team, it feels like going around the world while staying in the same country.

 

So how do you go about organizing a trip to Russia to see the World Cup?

Recently I had my car towed and the driver had give me the following good advice related to the World Cup. Contrary to popular belief, we can very well attend a World Cup without breaking the bank, if we are resourceful, flexible and not demanding on comfort on the road. Whether for South Africa or Brazil, I did not organize anything in advance. But for Russia, the configuration looks different. It is a country more complicated than the others and which is not very touristy. I have been there three times.  As for the World Cup, here is the main information that I could gather and the tips that I can give strong of my experience of last two World Cups.

 

Russian visa instructions for the World Cup

This is the first good news: fans holding tickets for matches will be exempt from visa to enter Russia. When you know the galley to get it and the price to pay, it’s a big advantage! It will be sufficient to have purchased at least one ticket (on the FIFA website), and this will entitle you to stay in Russia in a period starting ten days before the first match (ie June 4 from 00:00) and finishing ten days after the final (ie until 23:59 on July 25), so much more than the tourist visa which is limited to 30 days. It will however make a request for Fan-ID, kind of ID of the supporter, it will be necessary to present to access the stadiums.

For those wishing to attend the World Cup without buying match tickets in advance, who just want to enjoy the atmosphere or who accompany supporters, it will be necessary to apply for a traditional Russian visa.

 

Buy tickets for Mondial matches

This is of course the most important step: to successfully buy a ticket (s) for the competition. The FIFA website is the only official website to buy tickets. There have already been several sales phases, including a random draw or first-come, first-served basis. The last phase takes place from April 18 to July 15, the day of the final. The best way to buy these last minute tickets is to connect to the FIFA website in the middle of the night. This is where there is more shopping opportunity, otherwise in the course of the day there is nothing.

I found that it was not too difficult to buy tickets at the last minute before the stadiums before the start of matches. So actually it is not legal, but contrary to popular belief, not necessarily need to pay more than the price of tickets. There are always individuals who resell tickets because they have one or friends who have not seen coming.

Italy: 4 destinations off the radar

Posted on 22 July 2018 (0)

Italian houses on cliff at ocean | 4 destinations off the radar

 

Destinations Off the Radar

Italy is a destination of choice, very often acclaimed by travelers. An almost familiar destination, with the Milanese haute-couture houses, the Vatican City, the paintings of the Sistine Chapel … Rome, Venice, Florence have a lot to offer, but other Italian cities and regions also have some nice stories to tell and we too often miss them. With its mountains to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Italian landscape changes over the regions crossed, and smaller towns, more discreet or more remote, conceal treasure just as great.  For your visit to be complete, we recommend 4 destinations off the radar, which might be new to you.

 

Castellabate, in Campania

2 hours drive south of Naples, Castellabate is a more intimate destination where Italians love to spend their holidays. Located along the coast of the province of Salerno, just 10 minutes drive from the coast of Cilento. Castellabate is a small town of character that will seduce the curious history with its castle and its museum religious art. It also has narrow streets and squares leading to a church or chapel. Sun bathers with its beaches nearby is also very popular. Then gourmets with its restaurants with local flavors.

 

Lecce, in the Puglia region

Often referred to as “Florence of the South”, Lecce transports you back in time. By virtue of its numerous monuments and Baroque works of art, Lecce is also rightly called the “Baroque city”. You can see many churches such as Santa Maria della Providenza, the Basilica of Santa Croce, pretty squares like Piazzetta dell’Addolorata. And if that were not enough, Lecce also houses in the heart of the city, in Piazza Sant’Oronzoun, a Roman amphitheater dating from the second century, often used for cultural events. The atmosphere of the city is very pleasant, with its wide choice of restaurants, bars, pizzerias and quaint traditional craft shops.

 

Greve in Chianti, in Tuscany

Greve in Chianti is a small town that owes its reputation above all to its geographical location, in the middle of the very picturesque Chianti Classico, and to its status of regional wine capital. Listed in the heart of a valley, Greve in Chianti is organized around Piazza Matteotti lined with flowering terraces. In the middle of the square stands the imposing statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano. He was an explorer navigator, from a noble family of the city, famous for its discovery in 1524 of the site corresponding today to the port of New York. This is one of the best destinations off the radar that Italy has to offer.

 

The Sibylline Mountains National Park, in the Marche region

There are places in the world that have everything. The Sibillini Mountains National Park is one of them. From lakes in altitude to flourishing and multicolored meadows, the landscape changes along the hiking trails. Routes can even be traveled by car. With mountain bike trails, sports climbing walls, the park fills sports and nature lovers. Remember to plan your stay well because the park is big and there is a lot to see and do.

 

For strange rules in Taiwan that are off the radar to tourists, you should click here for a good read.

A Tourist Haven-Xa Loi Pagoda

Posted on 09 November 2017 (0)
Xa Loi Pagoda

Xa Loi Pagoda in Vietnam

The Xa Loi Pagoda above is well known for its economic activities the world over. For tourists, it also has a lot on offer. If you are planning your next tourist visit, a consideration of this pagoda is not something you will regret. It will give any tourist an experience worth the duration of stay in the city. You will have your hands full.

Why Xa Loi Pagoda?

This pagoda was built in the year 1956 and it is reputed to be the largest Pagoda in the whole of Vietnam. It is the headquarters of Buddhism in the whole of South Vietnam. The custodian of the sacred relic of Buddha. This city is noted for the dramatic history surrounding it. There is something for every tourist here.

Why you must visit Xa Loi Pagoda

  • Quiet place for worship.

For those who desire to go on a religious pilgrimage, this place of worship will give you the enabling environment to communicate without any form of distractions. A place to get quick answers to prayers.

  • An enabling environment

One of the goals of a tourist is to have an environment that will make one forget about the tedious life of work and will present the environment that will give you that serenity to make you regain your composure. The environment is quiet; it is sacred.

  • The Buddha relic

This is home to the relics of the Buddha. You will see things first hand and be told the history behind the temple. It will present a memorable experience to see first hand the Budha relics; the pictures taken here will serve a long time memorial.

  • The Xa Loi Pagoda presents the perfect setting

This is a perfect setting for pagoda; no shots allowed. Your shoes must be removed before you are granted entry; ladies must cover their shoulders as well as their head. Everything comes in a perfect order; there are warnings before enforcements are brought to bear.

When you are at Ho Chi Minh, a visit to Xa Loi Pagoda is a highly recommended. Any intending tourist will have an experience that can last a lifetime.

 

 

Strange rules in Taiwan that tourists need to know about

Posted on 17 September 2017 (0)

Taiwan. This is a country that most people know and so many people consider to go to on holiday. Before you can go to this country, you need to make sure that you are aware about some of their strange rules that they have in this country. Some of these rules you might not believe, but they are all true and you need to make sure that you are remembering it, no matter what. These are some of the strangest rules that you can came across in Taiwan:

Young men don’t sit on the subway

Something that men should know is that the younger men don’t sit on the subway. Even if there is much open seats available. This is something that doesn’t get done in Taiwan, and if you want to get some bad comments, then you should sit on the subway if you are a man.

You might even get into some serious trouble if you are sitting and there are some women that are standing and that doesn’t have seats. They are really serious about this, and you should remember it, especially if you are a younger male.

You should be friendly towards the Taiwan people

This isn’t a normal rule that you need to know, but this is something that will be helpful when you are friendly towards the people living in Taiwan. They don’t normally get friendly tourists, and if you are friendly they will go out of their way to make sure that you are comfortable and have everything you need while you are staying in their country.

If you want to make sure that you have someone that you can trust in Taiwan, all that you need to do, is to be friendly

Wearing a doctor’s mask when you are sick is a must

A rule that they are serious about, is the fact that you should wear a doctor’s mask when you are sick. No matter if you just have a light flu. They believe that you should take precautions when you are sick, so that you don’t give it to other people.

This is because they want to prevent outbreaks of serious illnesses. For them, being sick isn’t a possibility and it is the responsibility of the sick person to stay out of public or to wear a mask.

With these rules, you will be able to go to Taiwan, without worrying about breaking a rule that can get you into serious trouble. There are many people that are going to Taiwan, that doesn’t know these rules and they don’t know that when you are friendly with the people, that you are going to make a friend for life. Taiwan is a great holiday destination, and but they have some strange rules that you need to know before you are able to enjoy a great holiday there.