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Tips for traveling to a major sporting event

What should you remember when traveling abroad for a sporting event? Read on to find out

With so many international sporting events being held all the time, the day will come when you will want to travel to a foreign country for a few days to watch your favorite team in action. 

No matter where you’re going, whether it's to Thailand, Germany, or England, remember that Indiana has similar options to anywhere overseas. Planning ahead and knowing where you are staying will ensure that you get the most out of your journey.

Plan ahead
The first thing you should be doing is planning, especially if you will be traveling somewhere that you haven’t been before. Not being able to speak the native language increases the need for planning, as you don’t want to end up having to find out crucial information from someone you can’t communicate with. 

Planning also involves booking transport. How are you getting to your accommodation and then to the stadium? Do you need to buy a train or bus ticket? Or are there taxi services available? Once again, the last thing you want to do is travel around an unfamiliar country without preparing in advance.

Planning also allows you to have your pick of flights and hotels. Depending on the size of the event, (take the World Cup, for example; hundreds of thousands of people will be traveling around the same time) you don’t want to be forced into the most expensive hotel just because you’re booking late. 

Tickets for the actual event should also be purchased ahead of time, and from legitimate sources. While this may sound obvious, you might arrive and decide that you want to go somewhere else, so do your due diligence first. 

Research sportsbook providers
If you are traveling to watch your team, you want to see them win. Most fans will also dabble in a bet or two. While betting can now be done online, rates and odds will vary from location to location.

Do a quick search and find out which are the best options for you, depending on the country you are going to. Know what you can and can’t bet on, and then act accordingly.

Pack correctly


Photo by STIL on Unsplash

When you’re traveling somewhere new, what you pack is essential. Throwing a shirt or two into a backpack and heading to the airport may sound whimsical, but it is a recipe for disaster. 

Ensure you have clothes for hot and cold weather, as well as some headache tablets or something for settling your stomach; you don’t know how new food will affect you. What you’re trying to do is to cover every eventuality, but still not have two suitcases to lug around. 

Find the balance between having clothes for all weather types and fitting everything you’re taking in one bag. Don’t forget to take phone or laptop charging cables, as well as a portable charging device so that you aren’t walking around with a dead phone.

Be aware of extra costs
While planning can ensure there aren’t many surprises, you still need to be prepared for any extra costs that could crop up. Drinks and food could end up being more expensive than you think, and maybe you’ll need a private taxi that takes a chunk out of your budget. No matter the problem, you need extra cash on hand to be safe.

Having a separate stash that you carry around with you in case of emergencies is a brilliant idea; it also means you’ll never be stuck anywhere or need help from someone you don’t know.

Have essential paperwork on hand
While you shouldn’t travel day-to-day with your passport and identification documents on you, you should be traveling with photocopies in your pocket or backpack. Leave your originals at the hotel in the safe. 

You never know when you will have to identify yourself, for whatever reason, so you always want to have the paperwork on hand. This also means that if your backpack or wallet gets stolen, you still have the original documents.

Have a game day schedule 
When it’s time for the event or game, have a schedule planned out. When will you be leaving the hotel? When will you eat and how will you be getting back to where you’re staying? These are all things that you should know before you step out of the hotel. 

Food and drink will always be more expensive in a stadium than at the restaurants around it, so be sure to eat something before heading in, so you don’t blow your money on overpriced snacks.

Arrive early
When it’s finally the day of the event, arrive early. The US is the perfect example of hours of activities before an American Football game, for instance. Tailgating, having a few drinks, singing…it’s all part of the experience of going to a game. 

The same can be said about a football game in the United Kingdom. Almost every team has a pub that its fans go to before a game, to soak in the game-day atmosphere. These events can’t be missed; as mentioned, they are part of the whole experience. 

Traveling abroad for an event can be a bit of a daunting task, but with the correct planning and knowing what you will be doing each day, you won’t have any worries and can take in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Photo by Piero Huerto Gago on Unsplash

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