Italy Away - 1st April 2009

[Helen Donegan]

Well done Helen , very good info .


Thanks :D

The train situation is a bit difficult - the "amica" fares are the cheapest but you can only usually get them if you pay well in advance and it is difficult to pay for tickets online if you aren't an Italian resident.

Going on the example of the Scots visit to Bari the trains will be fully booked up in advance, people should try and get tickets asap. If anyone wants help just email me and I will see what I can do (no extra charge :cool:). There used to be a fare called Tok, really cheap, but can't find it now.

Pub info for Rome is easy to find online.
Fidlers Elbow and Druids Den are two of the oldest Irish pubs - near the station/Santa Maria Maggiore. Druids Rock a new addition to this group.
Finnegan's is owned by a Belfast man - a Celtic pub, great team!!!!

We are going to have a special Irish pub crawl on the Sunday and Monday - details to follow:cool: (very limited number of smilies on this site)

[Saint07]

Just booked Amica tickets online no problem €33 each way.

Wasn't asked were I was resident or anything like that. Only 4 weeks now cant wait

[Helen Donegan]

Just booked Amica tickets online no problem €33 each way.

Wasn't asked were I was resident or anything like that. Only 4 weeks now cant wait


Great - that is what it should be but some have had problems - the sooner you book the better. Are you travelling from Rome?

[Saint07]

Great - that is what it should be but some have had problems - the sooner you book the better. Are you travelling from Rome?

Yeah arrive Tue evening and getting train 1st thing Wed morn

[magnumpi]

we're staying in brindisi the night before the game, its only a 1:20 train journey, so i'm assuming that booking tickets head isn't necessary or should i be booking them now?

[Helen Donegan]

we're staying in brindisi the night before the game, its only a 1:20 train journey, so i'm assuming that booking tickets head isn't necessary or should i be booking them now?


The cheaper fares go fast - otherwise remember that the heel of Italy is a bit out of the way, not so many trains etc. Local trains aren't a problem so if you can't get on a fast train there will be local trains from Brindisi to take the strain (you can't book seats on them). Be careful where you go in Brindisi - it has a bad reputation :(

[finbarrk]

Beach party in Bari - buses to and from the stadium.
Full details in a day or two :)
__________________
Intresting, should be fun!

[Helen Donegan]

One or two of you may be interested to know if there will be a ban on alcohol or not.;)

They had a ban when the Scots were in Bari but it didn't really work. Buses and trains were filled with beer etc. (and I mean filled!!!) Then the beach where we had the party was outside the control zone so that was ok!!!So all in all the only people who suffered were the owners of bars in the centre.

I was talking to someone in the major's office this morning and they haven't decided anything yet on the matter - said it was far to early to make plans for a match on April 1st, they don't like rushing anything in the south of Italy!!

I was also talking to someone in the police who will be co-ordinating things. I keep telling them what a failure the ban was the last time - hopefully they will have learnt something by now:p

[Helen Donegan]

Beach party in Bari - buses to and from the stadium.
Full details in a day or two :)
__________________
Intresting, should be fun!

It was fantastic the last time - sun shining but cold for the Italians, Scots in kilts and short sleeves - some had their kilts off and in the water in no time :p
Italians came from all over to watch!!!

[rambler14]

It was fantastic the last time - sun shining but cold for the Italians, Scots in kilts and short sleeves - some had their kilts off and in the water in no time :p
Italians came from all over to watch!!!

Will it be after the match or the night before. Me and the buddy don't arrive till Wednesday morning!

[Helen Donegan]

Wl it be after the match or the night before. Me and the buddy don't arrive till Wednesday morning!

It will be the afternoon of the match and maybe after as well - buses will be leaving from the party to the stadium and then back to Bari train station/beach after the match :cool:

[Paulie]

It will be the afternoon of the match and maybe after as well - buses will be leaving from the party to the stadium and then back to Bari train station/beach after the match :cool:

If you're intending on getting the bus from the party and then back into Bari after the game, do you need to organise that in advance or can it be done on the day?

[Helen Donegan]

If you're intending on getting the bus from the party and then back into Bari after the game, do you need to organise that in advance or can it be done on the day?


Well in advance - the number of buses in Bari is limited. Full details in a day or two ;)

[citizenerased]

will therer be much totti floating about for the paddys helen?

[Helen Donegan]

will therer be much totti floating about for the paddys helen?


We don't need to worry about a thing - Totti or no Totti, this is down as a great victory and a great party :p;)

[Paulie]

Well in advance - the number of buses in Bari is limited. Full details in a day or two ;)

Thanks for the information Helen.

[Helen Donegan]

Thanks for the information Helen.


You are very welcome:)

Now can you tell me how Pineapple Stu got his name :confused:

[rambler14]

Now can you tell me how Pineapple Stu got his name :confused:

His father was a pineapple!

[DeLorean]

His father was a pineapple!

You don't mean.....surely not....

http://www.livefootball.org/blog/uploaded_images/Jason-Lee-753731.jpg

[Helen Donegan]

His father was a pineapple!


No - I don't believe it - it must have been his mother :p

[Dallasirish]

Last minute decision to go but just secured flights for 4 of us flying from Dallas Tx. Staying in Rome on Saturday and Sunday night and then on to Bari on Monday. We are staying till friday. Cant find any accomadation. Does anyone know of any apts and or hotels in Bari that are available. Any help would be great.

[magnumpi]

Last minute decision to go but just secured flights for 4 of us flying from Dallas Tx. Staying in Rome on Saturday and Sunday night and then on to Bari on Monday. We are staying till friday. Cant find any accomadation. Does anyone know of any apts and or hotels in Bari that are available. Any help would be great.

my advice would be not to panic book. there'll be some hotels re-offering availability when the package deals for this trip aren't all sold out.

i got a B&B from a website, not sure of the link but it was sent to me somewhere on this thread, probably still has availability.

[Green Tribe]

worth emailing the hotels on this list, they may still have availability

http://www.enit.it/alberghiris.asp?Lang=UK&ID=83

[Sono_il_capo]

I have had a good look- appears to be no vacancies within a 15k radius of Bari- Anyone any idea how many Irish are expected? I heard 5k- would have thought it would be closer to ten- Anyone any idea on what Bari is like? Pubs clubs etc.....

[DeLorean]

I have had a good look- appears to be no vacancies within a 15k radius of Bari- Anyone any idea how many Irish are expected? I heard 5k- would have thought it would be closer to ten- Anyone any idea on what Bari is like? Pubs clubs etc.....

Go back the thread. Page 31 post 602 is of particluar interest I think.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Did anyone get anything back from the FAI about being allocated tickets?

[SUB of the day]

Did anyone get anything back from the FAI about being allocated tickets?
Confirmation in the post today, four tickets as requested......48 euro the lot inc handling charge of 2 euro per ticket.....cheap as chips!

[DeLorean]

Confirmation in the post today, four tickets as requested......48 euro the lot inc handling charge of 2 euro per ticket.....cheap as chips!

Excuse my stupidity but €12 per ticket including handling charge, is this actually right?

[Sligo Hornet]

Excuse my stupidity but €12 per ticket including handling charge, is this actually right?

Yes...I just checked it on my calculator, and 48 divided by 4 is indeed 12!;)

[DeLorean]

Yes...I just checked it on my calculator, and 48 divided by 4 is indeed 12!;)

Ha I did it in my head:p

[rambler14]

Confirmation in the post today, four tickets as requested......48 euro the lot inc handling charge of 2 euro per ticket.....cheap as chips!

Fantastic value! We wouldn't get half a ticket for a home match for that.:(

[DeLorean]

Fantastic value! We wouldn't get half a ticket for a home match for that.:(

More like a seventh!! we are being rode no doubt about it.

Sub- Is it just some letter confirming you were successful or the actual tickets?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

More like a seventh!! we are being rode no doubt about it.

Sub- Is it just some letter confirming you were successful or the actual tickets?

Presume a letter. I don't remember giving c/c details on the initial application

[Schumi]

They don't send you the tickets until you give them passport numbers and flight details and all anyway.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Someone sent me enquiry re. Bari accomodation.
Can you re-send PM ASAP!

[rambler14]

Is anyone else finding www.fai.ie/tickets the site given to confirm isn't working???

[Paulie]

Fantastic value! We wouldn't get half a ticket for a home match for that.:(

Wait until we see where we're sitting before saying it's great value. We'll be behind the goals and with a running track around the pitch, if you're pretty blind like me, you'll need somebody standing beside you narrating the action on the pitch!

Still, bring it on.

[Green Tribe]

Is anyone else finding www.fai.ie/tickets the site given to confirm isn't working???

yup, i emailed them earlier just in case they weren't aware of it, they were and there is a problem with it, they hope to have it fixed by tomorrow, so try again then. No hurry anyway.

[rambler14]

yup, i emailed them earlier just in case they weren't aware of it, they were and there is a problem with it, they hope to have it fixed by tomorrow, so try again then. No hurry anyway.

Thanks! Sure if it ain't fixed by tomorrow i'll post it!

[WorldCupFever]

Hi All,
Just arranged trip to italy there yesterday, just appears very difficult to get accommodaion on the tue and wed night in Bari, anyone have any luck recently or could recommend anything? Cheers

[gspain]

I assume the handling charge is the usual €2. This means the Italians are charging a tenner a head for the tickets. This is double what the Montenegran FA charged. Ripoff merchants. :D

[RedBobby]

Hi All,
Just arranged trip to italy there yesterday, just appears very difficult to get accommodaion on the tue and wed night in Bari, anyone have any luck recently or could recommend anything? Cheers

you could try the boston hotel in bari from hotels.com or booking.com
I remember seeing a few rooms left there, like 2 or so :D

[Sligo Hornet]

you could try the boston hotel in bari from hotels.com or booking.com
I remember seeing a few rooms left there, like 2 or so :D

If you manage to get in here.....you'll be amongst illustrious company!:D

[Bottle of Tonic]

I worked with the Tartan Army in Milan, Ljubljana and then Bari - have also worked with Celtic supporters in Copenhagen, Milan (twice) and Barcelona.

When Scotland played in Bari there weren't enough hotel rooms and we organised buses from Rome, Naples and Ancona for those who only wanted to travel to the match. We also had a beach party and buses to and from the match. The local council put on a free bus service to the stadium but this was far from adequate.

I am from Belfast and based in Rome (beside the Vatican) and a "regular" on Celtic Minded. You can contact me for information and/or help. ;)

Worst case scenario would there be any hope of camping out in Bari? Few of us going with no accomdation. Can't find any campsite within bari on the net........

[gspain]

Worst case scenario would there be any hope of camping out in Bari? Few of us going with no accomdation. Can't find any campsite within bari on the net........

We camped near Bari during Italia 90 for one night.

We had a car. We never even went into the city but did see a game in the stadium.

I did check but none of us can remember where it was. The campsite came out of a book as the internet was pretty limited in those days. Just check Puglia region rather than Bari itself.

http://www.campingcompass.com/camping/italy/puglia

[jbyrne]

Worst case scenario would there be any hope of camping out in Bari? Few of us going with no accomdation. Can't find any campsite within bari on the net........

i cant believe with only 5,000 or so going that there wont be accommodation available. id say a lot of agents block booked hotels but wont be able to fill them. id say stuff will become available in the next week or two

[Helen Donegan]

Worst case scenario would there be any hope of camping out in Bari? Few of us going with no accomdation. Can't find any campsite within bari on the net........


The main problem the Scots had was finding accommodation - we ended up putting on 10 buses from Rome, 2 from Naples and 2 from Ancona. There would be a shortage of accommodation anyway but some hotels don't open up until Easter.
If you stay outside Bari transport can be bad - not easy to move around :(

[Sono_il_capo]

5 of us headin for Bari on the Sunday evening and will be staying in the Boston hotel, if anyone is around these nights let me know and we can go on the lash.

[Lodger]

If you stay outside Bari transport can be bad - not easy to move around :(

Are taxis easy to come across?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Been trying to sort out for a mate, but one hotel contact telling me of ltd.accomodation from c.€50 pppn, but don't think it goes above €70 ppn.

No idea if that's 'good value', but think we're paying €55-60 ourselves.....