Travel tips for Kazakhstan - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

1. Be ready to spend quite a big sum – Kazakhstan is not a country for budget holidays. When comparing prices for hotels, transport, and services, it turns out that Kazakhstan is the most expensive country in Central Asia.

2. A service fee of 5 – 15% can be already included in the total if it is a high-class hotel or restaurant. It is recommended to leave tips to drivers. Tips in other venues are not common.

When visiting a local market, tourists need to be prepared for high prices. Local sellers increase prices deliberately because bargaining is common in Kazakhstan. Don’t be shy and bargain!

4. The majority of foreign guests are obliged to get temporary registration. This registration must be obtained within five days of arrival. A failure to do that may result in a fine when leaving the country.

5. Don’t forget to buy entrance tickets when visiting national parks and nature reserves. Attention: there are fraud cases with tourists involved. Swindlers claim they are customs officers or ecologists and force tourists to pay the fine. Vacationers need to be careful in order not to become victims of these impersonators.

6. Do not be tricked by a gloomy look of Kazakh people in public transport or on the streets. Yes, local people are calm and prefer to control their emotions, but they are always very cheerful and ready to help.

7. The Kazakh language is the official language in the country. Almost everyone understands Russian, and young people also speak English. However, such a simple word as “rahmet” (thank you) will please local people and make them even friendlier. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

8. Local people sometimes call streets by their old names that date back to the Soviet Union era. It is always a good idea to check modern maps.

9. Local taxis can have no taxi symbols or signs. Quite often, private individuals in their own cars offer “taxi services” by picking several clients.

10. Delays in the start time of events are typical in Kazakhstan. A concert can start not just 15 minutes later but 2-3 hours later. In this case, visitors need to be patient because they will get nice treats for the inconvenience.

11. Travelers need to be prepared to pay if they wish to visit the famous ski resort of Shymbulak. Prices at this mountain resort are on par with the best ski resorts in Europe.

12. When inviting a woman to visit a restaurant, the inviting person must be ready to pay the bill. An offer to separate the bill will be considered offensive.

13. Travelers need to stock up on not only paper banknotes but also coins. Many public toilets are paid, and no one will search for the change.

14. Kazakhstan is considered the motherland of cannabis, but this doesn’t mean that smoking weed is legalized in the country. All manipulations with narcotic substances are strictly prohibited.

15. It is not hard to find exclusive handmade items, but many items by internationally famous brands are replicas. That being said, fake Dolce & Gabbana or Versace are available for sale even in shopping centers.