Bound for World Cup With 100,000-Plus Americans? Take This Advice

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 14, 2010— -- With less than a month until 2010 World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world with hundreds of thousands of fans attending and billions watching, all eyes will be on South Africa, the host country.

U.S. soccer fans have made up the bulk of ticket holders but, understandably, have some concerns about going to a country so far away with a less-than-stellar reputation.

With all the media reports on whether the African nation is ready for such a large event, ABC News wants to give fans a little cheat sheet of "do's and don'ts" to help make their World Cup experience truly other-worldly. The month-long event starts June 11.

And CLICK HERE to Read About World Cup-Bound Americans as They Prepare, With Some Trepidation

Do:

In Cape Town, try to book a tour of the infamous Robben Island prison, which housed Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists for nearly 30 years. (You may need to book your spot now before you go.) Cape Town has often been called one of the most beautiful cities in the world and for those who don't mind the trek, or the cold, a hike up to Cape Point will reward with breathtaking views, and you can always reward yourself with some amazing wine. The area sports world-class vineyards.

And don't forget about the wildlife. Just a few hours outside of Johannesburg lies Kruger National Park, famous for its large abundance of the "Big 5" for safaris: Lions, elephants, cape buffalo, rhinos and leopards.

Infrastructure will be quite familiar, particularly in the host cities. Businesses have taken great pains to make sure they are tourist-friendly, and that means accepting credit and debit cards. For those services that won't accept a card, such as some gas stations, cash is quite easy to come by. There are many banks that offer ATM machines in South Africa that usually take international bank cards from both Visa and Mastercard (a rarity in the rest of Africa). So, in terms of packing and planning, your needs won't be too much different than if you were travelling to Europe