Helpful Tips for Fans Traveling Internationally to a Sporting Event
In football, the FIFA World Cup is the sport’s largest and most attended tournament which takes place every four years.
Sports are so much more than just opportunities to watch leagues and players compete in live matchups. Events like the World Cup, Tour de France, Wimbledon, the Grand National and more attract millions of viewers to their regions, as well as travellers to their respective country’s turf. Enthusiastic followers will cross oceans and states, board planes and trains just for the chance to cheer on their team in real-time.
For some this is a common occurrence, but for others whose teams are located far away from their home base, traveling just to see a game may take some serious preparation. If there’s a specific sporting event you’d love to attend at least once in your lifetime, check out this helpful list of tips and tricks that will make your journey stress-free and unforgettable.
Plan every aspect of your trip ahead of time
Of course, taking time to extensively plan and research for any trip is crucial. However, when you’re traveling for sporting events, there are even more factors to take into account. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure that the hotel you’ll be staying at is conveniently located close to the stadium, court, or track where the event is set to take place. If not, you may have to pay a hefty price for a taxi ride across the city.
If you’re planning on attending a series of games that will be held in one area, it can be more cost effective in the long run to book accommodation as close to the venue as possible. This way you’ll eliminate the need for a driver, Uber, or taxi and can simply commute back to your hotel on foot once the game ends.
In addition to your passport and booking confirmations, it’s advisable to print copies upon copies of your event tickets so that you’ll have backups if they are lost. After all, it would be a shame to travel across the world for a sports competition just to realize you don’t have the paper you need to enter. Keep these documents safe and sound and close to your person at all times, especially during gameday when you’ll be in huge crowds.
Research sportsbooks providers in the area
A popular way that sports fans commonly engage with the teams and athletes they support is by reviewing expert picks and odds, and then wagering on various games that feature their favorites. Although this is an activity with roots that date all the way back to the 18th century, nowadays it has been largely digitalized, as fans enjoy the convenience and accessibility of online sportsbooks in the modern world.
This means that travelers who want to place bets while abroad just need to research the best platform for them, making sure it aligns with that country’s specific rules and regulations for online betting. Luckily, many sites provide overviews of their offerings as well as special bonuses and deals for new users. For example, in the United States, the DraftKings sportsbook review outlines the provider’s pros and cons so that potential customers can understand details about the platform before signing up. Site like these are especially useful for events like the Super Bowl or NBA Finals, as football and basketball fans can review odds and place wagers on these extremely important sporting competitions.
If you happen to be traveling to the U.S., simply research which states provide legal sports betting and get started instantly with your laptop or mobile phone. Investing in a VPN for these purposes could be a great idea, as it will give you around-the-clock access to sites like these and a variety of other platforms even while travelling abroad.
Online sportsbooks connect fans with their favorite teams and players remotely by allowing users to place bets on game outcomes from wherever they may be.
Familiarize yourself with the event’s customs and etiquette
When traveling, it’s always important to respect the culture and customs of the place you’ll be visiting. Particularly when it comes to attending sporting events in places you’ve never been to, it’s advisable to read up on things like dress code and permittable items (camera, food, drinks, etc.) before arriving.
For example, you wouldn’t wear the same thing to England’s Royal Ascot horse racing tournament as you would to American baseball’s World Series championship. In the same way, golf events like the Masters generally don’t allow their spectators to take photos inside the course, and visitors should remain quiet during the performance so as to not disrupt the players. This is quite helpful information to have as the normal sporting event involves a significant amount of shouting and cheering.
Being in-the-know about these things may also inform your packing decisions, as you wouldn’t bring a noisemaker to the Masters, but perhaps it would come in handy during a rowdy college football game. This takes us to our next tip: pack for every eventuality.
Pack for every eventuality
Packing smart is a great habit for any type of trip, not just when going to see live sports. However, especially during events that may take place in outdoor stadiums or courts, being prepared for anything and everything is vital. Since you don’t want rainfall to disrupt your spectator experience, bring ponchos, umbrellas, and rain boots if your destination is prone to downpours. Depending on the sport, the show may go on through rain or shine, so it’s important that fans are prepared to take part in the action no matter the weather.
Another tip is to pack light to avoid unnecessary baggage and weight during transitions. Large sporting events may often require you to take a shuttle bus from one site to another, so ensuring that you can move with ease is a top priority. Traveling with lesser baggage also lowers the risk that you will lose an important document or item along the way.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack the suitcase and purchase the ticket. A quick journey abroad could be all that’s separating you from the fan experience of a lifetime.
