Want to see the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia? Here are 5 things you need to know:

How to Get Tickets

Before you can begin planning your trip, you need tickets. Cosport.com is the only official ticket reseller for US residents. If you buy tickets anywhere else, you are likely to get scammed.  On the Cosport website, you can purchase individual tickets or get a package that includes hotel booking and/or access to the Cosport Hospitality Center. When buying tickets for individual events, allow two to three hours in between events- it may take that long to get from one venue to the next.

Spectator Passes

You cannot gain entrance to the 2014 Winter Olympics with just a ticket alone. You must also obtain a “spectator pass” involving a background check by the Russian government. Everyone over the age of 2 needs a spectator pass. Fortunately,  once you have your ticket, you can apply for the spectator pass onlinefree of charge.

Hotels

Don’t wait to book your hotel room. According to the US Embassy in Moscow,hotel room shortages are to be expected during the Olympic period. Also, rooms may be expensive. In theory, the Russian government has capped room rates during the 2014 Winter Olympics, but according the Embassy many hotels are not abiding by the caps.

Transportation

A shuttle will be available to take Olympic guests between the Olympic sports venues and the city of Sochi. The shuttle is free to guests with valid tickets for an Olympic event taking place the same day. Otherwise, your best bet is to use public transportation. Driving in Russia is a bit of an adventure at the best of times for most Americans, and traffic is guaranteed to be horrendous.  Go here for a brief description of the different transportation options available in the city of Sochi.

Getting a Russian Visa

According to the US Embassy in Moscow, “There is no indication that ticket holders for Olympic events will be exempt from the visa regime currently in place between Russia and the United States.” You will need a Russian visa. The State Department calls Russia’s visa system “restrictive and complicated.”  Applying can be a headache; mistakes are easy to make and extremely costly. Plus, you can’t legally resell your Olympic tickets, so good luck recouping the money you’ve already spent if you don’t get the visa you need. Why take chances with your Olympic dream? Get help from someone who knows the system! At RushMyTravelVisa, we can walk you through the paperwork, help you collect the necessary documents,  and deal with the Russian consulate on your behalf. Don’t get caught up in red tape. Apply for your Russian visa with us today! Photo Credit:  Some rights reserved by caseyyee

Tags: 2014 Olympics, Russia, Russian visa

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 15th, 2013 at 4:41 pm and is filed under Country-Specific Visas, Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.