What you need to get

Congress of Thailand without paying the tourist tax

Since 2014 all the tourists at the entrance to Thailand will pay a special tax. During the stay in the country for more than three days will have to pay 500 Thai baht (a little less than 500 rubles). And for up to three days tourists will bring in the treasury of 30 Thai baht (about 30 rubles).
Initially, the authorities were going to introduce a tax on 1 January 2014, but at the last minute rescheduled for mid-January - afraid to scare away tourists this tax, sold out tours to Thailand for New Year holidays.





Smoke on the Hawaiian beach

For those who want to enjoy a cigarette on a Hawaiian beach, remained a matter of days. From 1 January 2014 will come into force a ban on smoking on the beach, in parks, at the pool and at bus stops. Of course, you could try to contemplate the sea in a cloud of smoke illegally, but then have to be reserved just in case "penalty" of $ 100.
On the eve of the entry into force of the law authorities conducted an information campaign and explained the reasons for this decision. The ban will allow locals and tourists "to enjoy your vacation in a healthy atmosphere without smoke", and cigarette butts under your feet will be less.



A cruise in Venice

Residents of Venice is not the first call on the Italian authorities to restrict the flow of tourists who flood the city sinking (according to research by American scientists, soil settles to 4 mm per year). Rome finally heeded the entreaties of the Venetians, and Jan. 1, 2014 large ships access to the port of Venice lagoon will be strictly limited, and from 1 November - at all prohibited. The government actually put an end to cruise tourism in Venice: the displacement of most passenger ships exceeds new standard - 96 000 tons.
Until a decision has been taken, cruise routes run through the central channel, the ships were in the immediate vicinity of the buildings and any accident would be catastrophic with hundreds of victims. On the other hand, there are also positive news: the mayor of Venice, Giorgio Orsoni already thinking about the construction of the port, which will be located outside the Venice Lagoon, and be able to receive tourist ships.



Flaunt in Google Glass, until they were all

Google promises that "smart glasses" will appear in the mass market in the next year, and while thousands of Google Glass transferred only application developers. The few lucky prohibited not only selling points, but even to transfer them for temporary use to someone else.
Cost of Google Glass test batch was $ 1,500 apiece. However, industry analysts say that Google will put on sale a stream only when the price dropped to $ 300. There is another difficulty: not the fact that Google Glass can be worn anywhere. In some countries (such as Belarus) devices that allow unnoticed conduct photo and video recording is prohibited by law - they can violate privacy.



Buy a single trip on the subway for 30 rubles

This last chance relevant for those who go down to the subway every day, but from time to time. Since January 1, the cost of one card and two trips in the Moscow metro will increase by 30% from 30 and 60 to 40 rubles and 80 rubles respectively. Prices for long-term tickets (four trips and more) and tariffs for the card "Troika" will remain the same. Thus, the Ministry of Transport wants to reduce the number of paper travel and therefore reduce the queues at the box office.
In the summer, the outgoing government in general consider the possibility to cancel the card at one and two trips, but then rightly judged that the Moscow subway are not only residents of the capital, but also tourists. At the same time, the head of the city Department of Transportation and Development of road transport infrastructure Maxim Liksutova, single tickets, so buy only 5% of passengers.



Continue in the train at the old price

Following the subway and overland transport from 1 January 2014 will rise in price travel on trains - the first time in four years. The corresponding decree was signed on December 19 Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Fares on trains within the capital increase by two rubles to 28 rubles.
This price will apply to direct a trip regardless of the distance to 23 major destinations. More expensive and the cost of travel in suburban trains. The price of the ticket within one zone will increase from 16, 5 to 17, 5 rubles.



Walk through the pedestrian zone Moscow unattended

Walk through the passage of Tver, Kamergersky lane and other pedestrian zones between Moscow and New Year will be possible only under the supervision of guards. As the head of the Department of Culture of Moscow, Sergei Kapkov, 11 pedestrian areas of Moscow will be on duty round the clock private security guards. The official explained the need for additional oversight by the fact that in these areas are often held public events and ordinary police units at a large gathering of people can not cope with the tasks.
Chopovtsy will monitor the behavior of pedestrians and motorists, and drivers stop attempts to move the bollards - Retractable bollards road. Guards ban smoking, as well as rude pedestrians and motorists.



Buy sim-card in the street

In accordance with the amended law "On Communications", on January 1, buy a sim-card in Russia will be possible only in a room or in a specially equipped for this place. Moreover, sellers will be obliged to draw up contracts to fix them information about the subscriber and send one copy of the service provider. The latter, in turn, will have to also verify the accuracy of this information. For violation of the order provided for fines: for citizens - 2000-5000 rubles for officials - 10 000-50 000, for legal - 100 000-200 000.
Now buy a sim-card will be more difficult, especially for tourists. But, on the other hand, since the authorities are trying to deal with fraudsters who buy unlisted number, and then use them to lure money from people or plan a much more serious crimes.



Arrange Internet shopping in stores abroad without fees

If you believe the estimates research agency Data Insight, the market of goods bought Russian citizens via the Internet, exceeded 400 billion rubles. If the lion's share of this amount falls on the orders of foreign online stores: clothes, shoes, cosmetics and even furniture there are an average of one-third, and sometimes half the price than in Russia, even taking into account postage paid.
Number of parcels that pass through Russian customs, tens of millions. In the autumn of the Federal Customs Service started talking seriously about how to introduce a 10% fee for each international departure from the online stores. As long as the relevant law has not been adopted, but the threat is real. In addition, restrictions and so there: at the moment duty have the right not to pay only the fans of online shopping, whose orders are less than 1,000 euros per month, and the total weight of the parcel does not exceed 31 kg.



Tighten the cigarette in a bar in Luxembourg

With the New Year in bars, restaurants and nightclubs of Luxembourg will no longer be free to smoke. Microstates followed the course of the European Union and decided to introduce a smoking ban. For owners will be obliged to equip the special areas for smokers (for those over 18 years) and post signs with information about the dangers of passive smoking.
It began largely due to the initiative of citizens of Luxembourg. A local resident made a petition to the Minister of Health and published it on the network. She complained that during pregnancy she had to refuse to visit smoke-filled restaurants and bars. Antitobacco petition only for the first week was signed by about 3,500 people.



Visit the store in Los Angeles with a plastic bag

Outside the US "green" holiday: from 1 January 2014 in the "City of Angels" plastic bags in stores will be outlawed.
Restrictions affect large supermarkets with annual sales between $ 2 million and sales area of ​​more than 10 000 sq. ft (about 92 sq. m). And from June 1, 2014 the ban will come into force for all other shops. The penalty for the use of non-ecological bags range from $ 100 to $ 500.
Packaging shopping in supermarkets of the city can be in paper bags for 10 cents or reusable bags.



Do not pay for a good road between Moscow and Minsk

From 1 January 2014 toll road section connecting the highway Moscow - Minsk Moscow, will be paid. The corresponding order was signed in December, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The length of the toll road is 18, 5 km. It is a backup of the head portion of the federal highway M-1 "Belarus" and bypasses the settlements, including the town of Odintsovo. The fare on the route will be 10, 35 rubles per kilometer.
For this money, the drivers will be able to move at a speed of 120 km / h on a six-lane road. Stand-Minsk highway will be the most expensive toll road in the country. For comparison, the paid sections of the road "Don" fare ranges from 1, 3 to 1, 5 rubles per kilometer. It soothes the mere fact that regular users of the road, may be established preferential tariffs.



Buy Norwegian herring, cod and haddock

Chilled herring, cod and haddock from Norway on January 1, will disappear from the Russian shelves. The ban has not yet touched the popular salmon and trout (they account for 60% of the Russian market of fresh salmon).
Restrictions imposed Rosselkhoznadzor. According to the agency, the Norwegian suppliers do not comply with veterinary and sanitary requirements of Russian and supervisory authorities do not monitor the safety of the fish. True, some suppliers Rosselkhoznadzor yet approved, his inspectors checked the 29 companies and made their products to the Russian market.
About a possible ban on imports of fresh Norwegian fish talking in April 2013, when the party chilled cod liver from Norwegian companies Tobo Fisk AS were found wormlike larvae of parasites.



When purchasing light bulbs in Canada

On January 1, Canada enters into force a ban on the sale of 75- and 100-watt incandescent lamps, and by the end of next year, the government expects to get rid of the 40- and 60-watt models. These measures must, firstly, to contribute to saving energy, and secondly, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The liquidation of "bulbs Ilyich" Canada is not a pioneer: Russia and the European Union started it back in 2009. Replace the usual fluorescent bulbs offer Canadians: at retail, they are more expensive than their older predecessors, but are much longer.



Olympic Congress in Sochi car

From early January to mid-March entry into the Olympic capital limit: skip in Sochi will be only those vehicles which are registered in the city or have a special accreditation. Delay machines emergency services, of course, also will not be. This step is dictated, firstly, enhanced security measures, and secondly, attempts by local authorities to deal with traffic jams.
According to statistics, residents of Sochi falls more than 170 000 vehicles, and traffic congestion there - not a rarity. With the unprecedented influx turistov- "olimpiadnikov" plug and all can become a gigantic problem. In addition, at the time of the Games to ban private car use special "Olympic" lanes roads that will mark using the markings and warning signs.



Buy an armor in the free market

January 1 Latvia officially join the euro zone, and will be the main currency is not LVL, while the euro. In the New Year's Eve will be an automatic exchange of money in bank accounts; course of the Bank of Latvia and the finance ministers of the European Union established in the summer: 1 euro equals 0, 7 Ls. The first couple of weeks of January armor will still be accepted in shops, but buyers will get the change in the euro. ATMs after 31 December and at all stop and take issue armor. Within six months to exchange lats to the euro will be at all commercial banks of the country.
Latvia is ready ahead of time: in October ordered all traders on the price tags to indicate the value of goods in lats and euro. Since January Latvia will be the second Baltic country to join the Eurozone: Estonia did it back in 2011.



Spain enjoyed a cheap meal, cooked in olive oil

From 1 January 2014 the Spanish cuisine in restaurants can appreciate. The reason for this - a ban on the repeated use of olive oil, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Spain. Thus, the government hopes to improve the quality of food in cafes, bars and restaurants. And to have the cooks had no desire slukavit and still use olive oil again, the authorities have decided to err another law, which also comes into force on January 1, 2014. According to him, olive oil must be packaged in containers that can not be after the opening will be filled again.



Arm yourself with cigarettes, alcohol and petrol at the old prices

Since January 1, come into force amendments to the Tax Code of Russia, which will determine the rates of excise duties on petrol, tobacco and alcohol for 2014 - 2016. Apparently, we are waiting for higher prices.
Excise taxes will increase by an average of 20%. With light (up to 9 degrees) wines and beers received humane: they are indexed in line with the projected rate of inflation. So at this time to strong component of the New Year's table should be approached with great responsibility and generosity. Smokers also have easy: the new excise rates will be higher than the existing more than 40%. The rate on petrol will rise in the range 15-17%.



Imported foreign car in Russia rare

From 1 January in Russia from abroad, it will be possible to import only those vehicles that meet environmental standards Euro-5: the content of harmful substances in their exhaust gases must not exceed the specified level. The certificate of conformity of the machine with the new standard will be issued specially accredited by the company after the examination of the exhaust.
At the same time deciding which car can be considered relatively harmless to the environment, and what is not, experts will focus not only on the year of its release, but also to a number of specifications, including mileage. Used cars, on which so struck the previous standards (first to fourth), fall into disgrace. And while the old machine can be converted to the new "eco-friendly" engine, it takes time and money. In the meantime, the Russian border - for example, in the Far East - already reigns unprecedented automotive excitement.



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