Russia (A) - accommodation

[pineapple stu]

Post all info on getting to Russia in here. I'll try keep a summary of the main links in this thread.

Other links -

Flights (or other means of getting there) (http://foot.ie/threads/131560-Russia-(A)-flights)
Charter travel (incl tour operator bookings, charter buses, taxis, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131562-Russia-(A)-charter-travel)
The game (match tickets, kick off time, directions to the ground, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131563-Russia-(A)-the-game)
Places (towns, internal travel, reccies, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131564-Russia-(A)-places)
Pubs (things to do, other chat) (http://foot.ie/threads/131565-Russia-(A)-pubs)
General (things to do, other chat) (http://foot.ie/threads/131555-Russia-(A)-general)

[Spudulika]

I know this is way too early, but better early than never.

For anyone heading over there will be lots of charters no doubt. s7 airline (Siberian airline) will be operating again out of Dublin and will also, according to their Dublin rep (an Armenian) be operating direct flights to Armenia, for the game. A good cheap way over to Moscow is with British Midland who leave and arrive at decent times. Otherwise a hop over to Germany and you've Germanwings and Air Berlin servicing Russia from a number of destinations.

For accommodation in Moscow you'll pay through the nose, it's over priced and rubbish standard (even decent chain hotels). There is an alternative - if you don't mind good old Soviet style rooms that are clean, decent and functional. An hour outside of the centre of Moscow you have a number of spots where you'll pay €10-20 per night for a room. Trains and fast buses run out of Moscow until the wee hours (stopping 1 or 2 am restarting at 4am - both ways) and the connections are right into the main stations - for example Fryazino - rail link into Yaroslavski Station which is on the red metro line and thus ideal for the Luzhniki (or Lokomotiv).

The above is for anyone on a budget and looking to go over for less than a kings ransom.

[Spudulika]

Just to follow up on this (having just booked friends over on holidays). There are 2 very cheap and cheerful hotels in Fryazino, they have plenty of space and it's 70minutes by train to Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow (and from there just a short hop to Loko or Luzhniki on the red line). Also food in the town is good and cheap, with a couple of small-ish nightspots. Schelkovo is another spot, 15minutes closer to Moscow, is also cheap and cheerful - but with a McDonalds.

Also near Shelkovsky Metro station there are a number of low cost hotels, I have been to two of them and they're clean and convenient.

[Spudulika]

Oh, and the Russian Sports Council are considering opening up their sports hotels for Irish fans, though no news until after the 3rd of November.

[brendy_éire]

We stayed in the Godzilla Hostel this year. It was 20 odd a night, and grand for a hostel. It's about 10-15mins walk north of Red Square. It's across the street from the Moscow Police HQ and round the corner from the Venezuelan Embassy, so apparently it's a pretty safe area.
Also, they didn't make us register our stay, so saved 15 that way. And it's Moscow, so ye need every cent.

[Closed Account 2]

if you stay outside the ring road (or ring metro) you'll find Moscow isnt so expensive, in the city center it can be pricey if you go to the upmarket or western style places. Barashka Restaurant on Petrovka ul. is pretty good if you like to try southern cuisine (Azeri), as is Zolotaya / Golden Bukhara near Petrovsky Park / Leningradskii Prospect - all these were good a few years ago.

[mypost]

Trains and fast buses run out of Moscow until the wee hours (stopping 1 or 2 am restarting at 4am - both ways) and the connections are right into the main stations - for example Fryazino - rail link into Yaroslavski Station which is on the red metro line and thus ideal for the Luzhniki (or Lokomotiv).

Anyone using those trains or other transport on a regular basis, should exercise caution. As seen earlier this year, Chechens like the Moscow Metro too, albeit for different reasons. An incident while our fans are there would be massive publicity for them. When they visited the Nord-Ost theatre, it was just 6 weeks after our last game there.

Be vigilant at all times.

[Closed Account 2]

It's a lovely (if long) walk along the Moskva to Luzhniki stadium, go out of the Kremlin / Saviour Church, you'll see the river infront of you dont cross over it, go to the riverbank and head right (due west/south-ish) and you'll be on Prechistenskaya nab, then it becomes Frunzenskaya na. (as in Mikhail Frunze), then it becomes Luzhnetskaya, but its all the same road.

[Spudulika]

cfdh - that is a massive walk, but well worth it! And maybe there'll be a new statue where Peter the Great's stands now - they're looking to get rid of it since the Mayor was kicked out! An addition to what you've put (which is spot on) is to cross over the bridge - Krimski Most - and visit the Garden of Art (right next to Gorky Park). It's got a collection of statues taken down since 1991, as well as other sculptures, and is a little surreal.

Mypost, you're right about how people need to be vigilant, though I'd be rather more certain that the 4-2 loss at the Lokomotiv stadium was less to do with the Dubrovka siege than the fact that Putin and his FSB cronies blew up Russian trains and apartment blocks to bring Putin and the FSB into power and use this as a prelude to the 2nd Chechen War. But who knows, maybe if Ireland had have coped with the choking smoke and come away with a hard fought point the theatre would have gone untouched (sorry gallows humour).

[paul_oshea]

I hope yer not writing that from Russia!!! haha

[Spudulika]

I hope yer not writing that from Russia!!! haha

Unfortunately yes, but only for a few more days, then it's home for the last 3 games of the season! And we had our first fall of snow on Wednesday, so it's time to escape!

[mrtndvn]

Hi Lads,
This is probably a bit early but as fans need accommodation to apply for visa's hopefully this will stay up.

Doesn't anyone have any accommodation suggestions for Moscow?

Thanks

[brendy_éire]

Marty,

I stayed in this place last year, http://www.godzillashostel.com/

Across the street from the Police HQ, and about 15 minutes walk from Red Square. Spot on.

[finbarrk]

Any update on hotels where Irish fans are staying?

[mrtndvn]

Cheers Brendy,
This was the best place we found and there are 7 of us booked.

Good tip

[Closed Account 2]

Any news on tickets for this game? With the visa process being a bit of a ball ache (in terms of time) it's strange there is nothing obvious on the FAI site nor the RFS site

[Spudulika]

Tickets will be on sale via net and local ticket shops. Plenty to go around. The capacity is to be set at 60,000 with 10-15,000 places for Irish fans, though it will struggle to sell out. No hassle with landing into the Russian/neutral sections, local fans will be grand - most of the local club followers don't follow the national team actively when it's in another clubs stadium (hence Spartak, Dinamo and CSKA fans were rather absent for the Slovakia game).

Anyone looking for low cost hotels fire me a pm, a couple of dozen friends and colleagues have booked for 4 nights at $20 per night b+b, decent hotels too, an hour from the city centre and with cheap drink abound.

[mypost]

In Russia, you don't take chances. The rules are the rules, and they are implemented.

Abbey are charging almost 1500 for a 2 night trip there. It is over that when taxes, visas, accommodation, game ticket, and local expenses are considered, and they will not sort visas for those travelling.

I'll be amazed if we have even 1,000 at the game. Most will simply swerve it and go to Andorra instead.

[Claret Murph]

Was always going to give this game a miss , still will be broken hearted on the day of the game not been there .

[Spudulika]

In Russia, you don't take chances. The rules are the rules, and they are implemented.

Abbey are charging almost 1500 for a 2 night trip there. It is over that when taxes, visas, accommodation, game ticket, and local expenses are considered, and they will not sort visas for those travelling.

I'll be amazed if we have even 1,000 at the game. Most will simply swerve it and go to Andorra instead.

How the hell can Abbey justify this - 350-400e for a flight, 50e airport transfers (taxi), staying at a 5-star hotel 150e per night (not pps) in the city centre - near metro Dinamo.

For a one shot visa invite it's only 25e, so that and the visa attainment is 100e total. Something smells with that!

(It's costing my cousin 700e from Dublin, that's including hotel, 3 nights, transfers and tickets).

[mypost]

How the hell can Abbey justify this

They're the official team carrier. The other well-known travel agent taking fans there, is asking for the region of 650-700 for a 2-night trip. They will sort visas, but after that, taxes, ticket, and expenses are considered, it comes to about 1k pp. Their flights are also indirect.

Many said they weren't going before these figures were announced, all these figures have done is scare more people away. There are reasonable standard flight fares still available, if people are still willing to put themselves through the visa process and the frustration involved during the trip itself.

[Spudulika]

I'm still surprised by Abbey, though it's normal for the carrier of a club/team to offset costs for the players and staff to make fans pay through the nose. Surely it'd make so much more sense to run it like a proper trip - even hotel prices here can be sorted out (the Renaissance 4-star up by Prospect Mira can be gotten to $70 for a twin/double room). It's a shame that one of our biggest matches will not get the numbers it deserves, because we can do a number of the Russkis.