Kick off your World Cup on the right foot
With the World Cup only nine days away, hopeful football fans will be making their way to South Africa with winning on their minds. Bob Atkinson, travel expert at moneysupermarket.com, provides his need to know guide for Brits travelling to this year's festival of football.
World Cup top tips:
Don't just take the travel insurance policy from your travel agent, tour operator or airline. Buy a policy straight away, taking a little time to use a comparison site and to save a significant amount of money on your premium.
Don't just go for the cheapest deal, make sure that the policy suits your needs, especially if you are taking expensive equipment like a camera or iPhone
Always carry some cash with you in South Africa, especially smaller notes. The use of debit and credit cards is not as widespread as in the UK and many petrol stations do not accept credit cards. Street traders, a common sight in South Africa, only accept cash and will be open to ‘haggle' over
Avoid 200 Rand notes where you can unless you are getting them from banks. Forgeries are widespread.
If you are planning on using your mobile phone, check with your network that you are on its roaming service - this can save a significant amount of money on your mobile bill
Travel insurance
"Brits flying across the globe to support their favourite football team must make sure they do not get caught up in the World Cup frenzy and forget to purchase adequate travel cover. I would always urge holidaymakers to buy a policy as soon as their travel plans are confirmed, and if not have an annual plan in place if you travel often.
"Travel insurance is vital for claiming for cancellations, lost cash or thefts and providing emergency medical treatment. However, policies can vary and exclusions and caveats are commonplace so it is important to always check the small print carefully and choose a policy that suits your needs. I therefore advise football-mad Brits to plan ahead and compare policies to ensure you get the best value for money."
"Keep a copy of your policy details and emergency numbers with you at all times and ensure one is left at home back in the UK with a friend or relative and one left in your hotel"
Travel money
"When exchanging Sterling, it is important to shop around for the best deal, as rates and commission charges can vary significantly. As credit and debit cards are not so widely accepted in South Africa as they are in the UK, it is important for tourists to carry a certain amount of cash with them. However, football fans visiting South Africa should make sure they are conscious of keeping their money secure at all times. The use of a safety deposit box and body belt will help in this regard and visitors should also try to avoid taking 200 Rand notes - as forgeries of this denomination are quite common. Shop around for currency on line in the Uk before you depart and always focus on the total amount of Rand you will get for your pound, not just the commission rate or charges"
Using your mobile abroad
"South Africa is traditionally one of the most expensive destinations for mobile use and those travelling to the World Cup could be charged up to £1.50p/m for receiving calls as well as making them, so before you leave, check with your operator how much calls, texts and internet use will set you back when you're away, and most importantly if there is a cheaper international tariff available.
"In the run up to the tournament, we may see most operators announcing special deals. Vodafone has already added South Africa to its Passport service for June and July and 3 will drop its data roaming prices by 50% in June and July although call charges remain fairly high. O2 also offer a good deal on its ITS service which is free for customers on plans with 600 minutes or more or £2.99 for other tariffs. If you are planning to use your phone a lot while away, then it may be best to get a local South African SIM card for use during your trip.
"The cost of using the internet on your mobile or using a dongle can also result in crippling bills. It will be interesting to see if any operators follow suit with 3 and drop charges over summer, but if not, those who have internet access on their phone and pay a set price for using it in the UK should be aware using the internet abroad is not included. You don't want to ruin your trip by running up big bills watching the football highlights on your smartphone."