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AONISC
Sep 5, 2023, 12:51:42 PM9/5/23
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Although we didn't carry out a site visit to Astana, we've worked with a number of contacts to put together some information ahead of Sunday's match.
We hope that it's useful.
𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟
Just a few things you should think about before you get there.
Check your travel insurance. If you have a European policy, check which countries are covered. Kazakhstan may not be included in your policy.
The local currency is the Tenge. This is a 'closed currency', so you can only get it in Kazakhstan. While cards are accepted, it's recommended that you have some cash, just in case. It's suggested that Sterling, Euros, or US Dollars can all be accepted in exchange for local currency.
It costs a lot to use your phone in Kazakhstan. O2 charge £2 per minute to make and receive calls, texts are 50p to send, so check with your network provider.
It's probably a good idea to turn off your data roaming to avoid a big phone bill for data usage. We'd recommend using WiFi and WhattsApp where possible.
𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘
To register, text GAWA to 88802. You'll be charged the price of one standard message at your normal network rate (if you're doing it while in a country that's not covered by EU Roaming, then it'll cost more).
Our texts are free to receive.
When you register, you'll receive a text that tells you how to unsubscribe. You will be charged the cost of one text at the normal network rate if unsubscribing (if within the EU Roaming area).
𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
You can either take the bus from the airport or take a taxi. Bus No10 or No12 will take you into the centre, but although it's very cheap, it makes numerous stops. You can buy a transport card for the bus at the ticket vending machines.
It's recommended that you download the 'Yandex' or Uber apps and book a transfer this way, rather than jumping into a taxi outside the airport.
The journey from the airport to the city should be 3000-4000 KZT maximum, which is approximately £5-£7 and takes around 30 minutes.
𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚
Places that you may want to visit for something to eat and drink include 'Draft' and 'Beerhoff'.
You can eat for as little as £3 for fast food and around £10 for something a bit more substantial. A beer averages around £1.40.
𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠:
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦' 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦
Although the journey to the stadium isn't that far, the issue may be getting back again after the match.
Taxis may not be readily available due to the likely high demand and 30,000 people exiting the stadium.
With this in mind, we've organised private hire buses to the stadium.
To book your seat on the buses, email gawa...@gmail.com
You'll then be sent a link to our PayPal account, and once full payment is received, you will be sent a confirmation email. You'll need to submit the names of anyone you're booking seats for.
The cost of the return trip is £4 per head.
Unfortunately, one-way journeys or IOUs aren't available, and only PayPal payments will be accepted (no cash payments).
Please don't message our page to book!
The plan is for the buses to leave the Ramada by Wyndham hotel at 4:45, going directly to the stadium. On the return, there'll be a drop off at the Baiterek Tower and, before returning to the Ramada.
Although the departure time is early, there's a fanzone inside the stadium from two hours before kick-off, and we're also advised that there's a pub nearby.
Final details will be confirmed for everyone by Sunday morning at the latest.
Spaces are limited. Once the buses are full, they're full!
𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠
The Kazakhstan authorities have said that you need to bring your passport with your ticket for admission to the stadium. With that in mind, we'd advise having your passport details recorded somewhere just in case you lose yours.
They've also warned that anyone who is considered excessively drunk is likely to be refused admission to the match, so be warned.
Your ticket can be scanned off your phone, but remember the usual advice about cracked screens and battery levels!
We'd also advise that Lead Bookers keep a list of which tickets have been allocated to whom. It makes life easier if trying to have a lost ticket replaced.
As mentioned already, there's a fanzone inside the stadium, and it's recommended that you use cash.
Northern Ireland fans will be in the South-West Stand in the Astana Arena.
Our helpline is available. Bearing in mind the costs for using your phone, we'd advise contacting us via WhatsApp on +447943542100
The British Embassy in Astana can be contacted on +7 (7172) 556200.
Stay safe, have fun, and be a good ambassador for Northern Ireland. 💚
We hope that it's useful.
𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟
Just a few things you should think about before you get there.
Check your travel insurance. If you have a European policy, check which countries are covered. Kazakhstan may not be included in your policy.
The local currency is the Tenge. This is a 'closed currency', so you can only get it in Kazakhstan. While cards are accepted, it's recommended that you have some cash, just in case. It's suggested that Sterling, Euros, or US Dollars can all be accepted in exchange for local currency.
It costs a lot to use your phone in Kazakhstan. O2 charge £2 per minute to make and receive calls, texts are 50p to send, so check with your network provider.
It's probably a good idea to turn off your data roaming to avoid a big phone bill for data usage. We'd recommend using WiFi and WhattsApp where possible.
𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘
To register, text GAWA to 88802. You'll be charged the price of one standard message at your normal network rate (if you're doing it while in a country that's not covered by EU Roaming, then it'll cost more).
Our texts are free to receive.
When you register, you'll receive a text that tells you how to unsubscribe. You will be charged the cost of one text at the normal network rate if unsubscribing (if within the EU Roaming area).
𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
You can either take the bus from the airport or take a taxi. Bus No10 or No12 will take you into the centre, but although it's very cheap, it makes numerous stops. You can buy a transport card for the bus at the ticket vending machines.
It's recommended that you download the 'Yandex' or Uber apps and book a transfer this way, rather than jumping into a taxi outside the airport.
The journey from the airport to the city should be 3000-4000 KZT maximum, which is approximately £5-£7 and takes around 30 minutes.
𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚
Places that you may want to visit for something to eat and drink include 'Draft' and 'Beerhoff'.
You can eat for as little as £3 for fast food and around £10 for something a bit more substantial. A beer averages around £1.40.
𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠:
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦' 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦
Although the journey to the stadium isn't that far, the issue may be getting back again after the match.
Taxis may not be readily available due to the likely high demand and 30,000 people exiting the stadium.
With this in mind, we've organised private hire buses to the stadium.
To book your seat on the buses, email gawa...@gmail.com
You'll then be sent a link to our PayPal account, and once full payment is received, you will be sent a confirmation email. You'll need to submit the names of anyone you're booking seats for.
The cost of the return trip is £4 per head.
Unfortunately, one-way journeys or IOUs aren't available, and only PayPal payments will be accepted (no cash payments).
Please don't message our page to book!
The plan is for the buses to leave the Ramada by Wyndham hotel at 4:45, going directly to the stadium. On the return, there'll be a drop off at the Baiterek Tower and, before returning to the Ramada.
Although the departure time is early, there's a fanzone inside the stadium from two hours before kick-off, and we're also advised that there's a pub nearby.
Final details will be confirmed for everyone by Sunday morning at the latest.
Spaces are limited. Once the buses are full, they're full!
𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠
The Kazakhstan authorities have said that you need to bring your passport with your ticket for admission to the stadium. With that in mind, we'd advise having your passport details recorded somewhere just in case you lose yours.
They've also warned that anyone who is considered excessively drunk is likely to be refused admission to the match, so be warned.
Your ticket can be scanned off your phone, but remember the usual advice about cracked screens and battery levels!
We'd also advise that Lead Bookers keep a list of which tickets have been allocated to whom. It makes life easier if trying to have a lost ticket replaced.
As mentioned already, there's a fanzone inside the stadium, and it's recommended that you use cash.
Northern Ireland fans will be in the South-West Stand in the Astana Arena.
Our helpline is available. Bearing in mind the costs for using your phone, we'd advise contacting us via WhatsApp on +447943542100
The British Embassy in Astana can be contacted on +7 (7172) 556200.
Stay safe, have fun, and be a good ambassador for Northern Ireland. 💚
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