10 TRAVEL TIPS FOR VISITING RUSSIA DURING FOOTBALL WORLD CUP
MOSCOW (dpa) - Russia will host the FIFA World Cup in June and July in 11 of its European cities. The host city that is farthest east is Yekaterinburg, where the European continent meets Asia in the Ural Mountains. Here are some tips for visiting the world's largest country this summer.
1) Russia is not always cold, so bring a range of clothing. The summers can be quite warm. Expect an average of 25 degrees Celsius in central cities, such as Moscow, and around 30 C for southern cities, such as Sochi.
2) Carry cash. Many places will not take credit cards. Russians can also be superstitious about taking money directly from hand to hand, so there is often a small dish at the cashier in a supermarket or store to place the money on. Pay for a taxi by putting the money on the dashboard or the centre console.
3) Tipping for good service is widely accepted. A tip of 10 per cent of a restaurant bill is a good amount. It's also nice to tip 100 roubles (about 2 dollars) to the person running the coat check at a restaurant or museum, or to a polite taxi driver.
4) Carry your passport and possibly registration if your hotel gives you that. Also, keep the white slip they give you at passport control in the airport. You'll need to present that slip when leaving the country.
5) Familiarize yourself with the alphabet. Many words for amenities are similar or the same as their equivalents in English, if you can read them: park, supermarket, cafe, bar, restaurant. Yes is "da," and no is "nyet." And "no, thank you" is "nyet, spaseeba," with the emphasis on the second syllable. You're welcome, "pojalsta."
6) Bad news: Supermarkets stop selling hard liquor at 10 at night and beer at 11, so stock up during the day if you plan on having a party. Good news: Pubs and nightclubs can serve alcohol all night.
7) Russians often drink vodka at dinner with friends or family. This stereotype is true. When someone says a toast, clink glasses and take a sip. You don't have to finish the shot. It's good to pace yourself.
8) All traditional Russian food goes well with vodka. Try borscht, a hearty, beef- and beet-based soup, with a spoonful of sour cream in the broth. Blini, crepe-style pancakes, go well with red caviar.
9) If invited to a friend's home, don't show up empty-handed. Bring something to eat or drink that you would like to share, such as a bottle of wine, canned olives or an assortment of cheese or sliced meat. It's polite to take off your shoes after entering, and your host could offer you slippers to wear inside.
10) Consider hiring a personal tour guide for a whole day. Many hotels work with guides who can speak your language and might have a car to drive you around to all the sites.