For the past month or so, we have been pretty excited about the upcoming ski season. With our partnership with Solitude Mountain Resort and so many great models perfect for the snow enthusiast of every level, how could we not be?
Salt Lake is a unique city in that it is a winter destination with world-renowned snow. Plus, it has the distinction of being known as an Olympic city. Only 20 other cities around the world have had the privilege of hosting this monumental event. And with the next games just a few short months away, we’d like to offer a few pieces of advice to those who are thinking about attending the games in Pyeongchang.
PYEONGCHANG—THAT’S IN SOUTH KOREA
First, lets just put to rest where the Olympics are being held in 2018. They are in the province of Pyeongchang in South Korea. Not to be confused with the capitol city of North Korea which as a deceptively similar name—Pyongyang. This is very important to know when you are booking your flights to the games. You don’t want to end up in the wrong place.
TICKETS—START HERE
Tickets for the games and all the events went on sale back in September, but there are still tickets available for the majority of events. Before you ever start looking at flights or hotels, you need to secure your Olympic event tickets. This will determine largely where you are going to want to stay in conjunction with the events that you are going to attend.
Pyeongchang is not a single city in South Korea. You could consider it like a county in the United States. Similar to when the games were hosted in Salt Lake, different events are taking place in different cities. For example, in 2002 many of the ice skating events took place in and around Downtown Salt Lake City. Pay close attention to where certain events are taking place and plan your stay accordingly.
BOOKING FLIGHTS—EXPECT TO PAY MORE
The fact of the matter is, you are not the only one dying to attend the Olympic Games. You can expect that flights to South Korea are going to be pretty pricey. But you really can put a price on an experience like this. Be wise about how you book and expect the same thing when you are booking someplace to stay. We are sure, however, that the Korean hospitality will more than make up for the exuberant costs of staying near the Olympic venues.
P.S. Unlike the last two Olympics in Russia and Brazil, U.S. citizens do not need a special visa to travel to South Korea.
LANGUAGE—/PYAHNG-CHONG/
It is always in the best interest of any traveler to learn certain key phrases when they are traveling to a different country. It is a universal sign of respect and should still be followed even when you are attending a global event like the Olympic games. We are certain that there will be plenty of English-speaking people but remember you are a guest of the Koreans and should play to their universal hospitality.
SECURITY
Ever since the games held here in 2002, the security at the Olympic Games is of utmost importance. But more importantly are measures that you should take for personal security. There will always be individuals present who will be skilled pickpockets. Avoid carrying bulky bags or large expensive items. Limit yourself to carrying cash, a form of ID—a passport if possible—and your smartphone. We suggest your smartphone over large bulky cameras to save space. If you are thinking about taking a credit card, consider getting reloadable cards like the Visa Simple. These are cards that can have money transferred onto them and are monitored by a simple and efficient phone app. That way if you lose it, you won’t be without any personal bank information. Much more secure.
FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO PYEONGCHANG
Never mind all the negativity that comes with the Olympic Games. Trust us, the traffic was terrible back in 2002, and we are sure that will be true in 2018. But this is the chance a lifetime for the athletes competing and those of you lucky enough to attend. It isn’t very often that you will have a front row seat to see someone’s dreams come true.
Give the Olympics a chance this year! While many of us will still watch them from our homes, that doesn’t mean you should miss out on the opportunity to see it live. But for those of us staying home and getting inspired to head up the mountain to take on the slopes ourselves, be sure that you are driving a Chevy to get you there. Take a look at our inventory online and schedule your test drive today so you can head to the mountains with the confidence of a true Olympian this winter.
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