Georgia Away - 6th September 2008

[NeilMcD]

According to the Czech airlines website

http://www.czechairlines.ie/en/portal/passengers/where_we_fly/flight_schedule.htm?flight_from=TBS&flight_to=PRG&depDay=20&depMonth=1&arrDay=21&arrMonth=1

Tbilisi - Prague
TBS - Novo Alexeyevka, Tbilisi, Georgia
PRG - Ruzyne, Prague, Czech Republic

Validity Days Flight Depart Arrival Type
25Apr - 24Oct -- -- We -- Fr -- Su OK0935 TBS 04:00 PRG 06:00 32S

I've actually paid for my flights incl Tbilisi to Prague. As per the website they only appear to fly from April to October but that is fine for us.

How much was the Tiblisi to Prague flight.

[Bluebeard]

Spent toomuch time trying to find a scheduled overland or sea route.

Sailing the Black sea takes too long - you don't arrive in Varna until the day of the Montenegro game

Similarly with rail - You'd need to leave Tbilisi immediately after the game, if I have things right, and then you are reliant on all connections working to time, getting minibuses at the right paces at the right times, not really having more than an hour anywhere to get off the train and buy food, and so on. Must go through Turkey as the troublesome North Western Corner is blocked at the moment what with some place (Astrakhan? I cannot recall) deciding it is a country, and Russia kind of nodding it on.

So, What I am reckoning, for the adventurous type, is buying a van in Tiblisi, setting off the morning after, and going hell for leather on the quieter Turkish roads, driving for about 18 hours a day, for the following three days, not including time spent at border control, going Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro (Uncertain of the current situation in Kosovo, and the speed you could manage the back roads through Kosovo at). The fourth day should be about 8 hours travel, and you should arrive in Podgorica for 16h. If the van doesn't die, you don't get stopped by cops wanting a bribe, remember to bring enough food, don't encounter a major "cattle on the road" incident, don't annoy any North Eastern Turkish Kurds, you should make the game with time for a pint. As long as it isn't a three o'clock kick off.

I'm up for it - anyone else?

By the way, I should mention that I don't drive...

[SuperDave]

oh my god! what a great idea!

buy a van among five guys for usd$500 cash... usd is the currency of choice... and drive, drive, drive... maybe 2000km at average 50kmph given the roads, cities, border control by 4 etc etc etc, maybe even 40kmph... means 50hrs driving or thereabouts = 16hrs a day, sunday monday and tuesday....

just about doable.

[NeilMcD]

I just booked mine for €440 all in. I have the mother of all trips on the Monday though

Dublin - Riga Thursday

Riga - Tiblisi Friday

Tiblisi - Riga Monday

Riga - Stansted Monday

Stansted - Zadar Monday

Not booked the final bit as I might stay in Croatia for a few days and chilll out.

[Saint Tom]

hey Tom, what total are you coming up with?

how do sir!

Czech airlines from dublin to tblisi on the 4th sept via prague

Czech airlines back from tblisi to prague on the 7th (4am)

Then this gem www.jat.com. they fly to podgorica from prague via belgrade for about €100. we have booked this for the 7th afternoon (sunday)

then back from dubrovnik to Dublin on friday the 12th at lunch time. its not an easy trip but you can do it like that reasonably well and cheaply.


about €600 and booked in full now. Five of us already paid up :)

[Mayo_Bhoy]

how do sir!

Czech airlines from dublin to tblisi on the 4th sept via prague

Czech airlines back from tblisi to prague on the 7th (4am)




I dont know what im doing wrong but i cantr get the one way option for Tibilisi-Prague on the Czech Airleines site nor can i get a price:confused:

Any advice Tom?

[Battery Rover]

Anyone considering the train from Belgrade, it's a 24 hr trip.......


Was actually thinking of doing something on the lines of flying into London and doing the rest by train if it was possible. Don't mind travelling and it might be fun.

Will wait for the Eicom League fixture list first to see whats happening that week

[razorb]

BMI fly from heathrow to Tblisi. about £400 return from london. 5 hour flight. depart friday return monday.

[pineapple stu]

Details of some flight options in the summary thread; mainly taken from here. Just easier to see, if anyone's looking through the thread.

[stiofain]

Was actually thinking of doing something on the lines of flying into London and doing the rest by train if it was possible. Don't mind travelling and it might be fun.

Will wait for the Eicom League fixture list first to see whats happening that week

I was actuctally dreaming up doing a smillar thing for one of the games, it would certainaly be an experience. I've no idea if its feasible though. Have you looked into it at all?

[pineapple stu]

Try this (http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm) site for a start. This (http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.207&seqnr=2&ident=2v.02802207.1200431214&rt=1&OK#focus) site seems good too - London to Podgorica is possible in 40 hours - London to Brussels to Frankfurt to Vienna to Subotica to Podgorica. Doesn't seem to extend as far as Georgia though.

[Battery Rover]

I was actuctally dreaming up doing a smillar thing for one of the games, it would certainaly be an experience. I've no idea if its feasible though. Have you looked into it at all?

Checking all day if there is a way to get there by train. It has to be possible

[pineapple stu]

From Wikitravel -

There are train services from Baku, Azerbaijan which stop at various places on the route and terminate in Tbilisi. Note that the "BP train" has been canceled. Construction of railroad linking Georgian town of Akhalkalaki to Turkish city of Kars is underway and will be finished somewhere in 2009. This will allow for direct link from Tbilisi to Istanbul and further to Europe.

Doesn't sound good...

[stiofain]

Turkey - Georgia

Take a train from Istanbul or Ankara to Erzurum or Kars, then a bus or dolmus (local minibus taxi) to the Georgian border at Sarap, followed by another dolmus the 16km to Batumi, just the other side of the frontier. There is a comfortable daily overnight train from Batumi to Tblisi, with Russian-style 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers.

(from seat61.com)

[Saint Tom]

I dont know what im doing wrong but i cantr get the one way option for Tibilisi-Prague on the Czech Airleines site nor can i get a price:confused:

Any advice Tom?

try ebookers return from dublin to tblisi, thats what we did and dont intend to get the last leg to dublin. for some reason it worked out cheaper. The CSA website or their phone lines are helpful.

[cobra]

am booked going out thurs to tblisi and back sunday morning with czech airlines..done it thru expedia..tblisi not on the czech website

[aidz1]

From what i see airbaltic dont fly tbilisi to riga on the sunday morning as has been suggested in several posts above. From what i read they fly on the saturday morning and monday morning...or have i read this wrong??

[cobra]

thats what i figured too and its not too cheap anymore either

[aidz1]

Got a decent route at affordable prices. Get some time about Dubrovnik and Tallinn as well the 2 football cities

Itinerary

Dublin–Riga Friday 5th 13:40-19:50 Air Baltic;
Riga-Tbilisi Friday 5th 22:40-03:10 Air Baltic;
2 nights in Tbilisi (no accommodation for Sunday night)
Tbilisi-Riga Monday 03:45-06:20 Air Baltic,
Riga-Tallinn Monday 10:40-11:35 Air Baltic ; Cost approx €40
1 night in Tallinn
Talinn-Dubrovnik Tuesday 07:30-09:30 Estonian Air; Cost approx €80
2 nights in Podgorica
1 night in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik-Dublin Friday 12:40-15:05 Aer Lingus;

[NeilMcD]

Fair play aidz thats a pretty good route.

[gspain]

Got a decent route at affordable prices. Get some time about Dubrovnik and Tallinn as well the 2 football cities

Itinerary

Dublin–Riga Friday 5th 13:40-19:50 Air Baltic;
Riga-Tbilisi Friday 5th 22:40-03:10 Air Baltic;
2 nights in Tbilisi (no accommodation for Sunday night)
Tbilisi-Riga Monday 03:45-06:20 Air Baltic,
Riga-Tallinn Monday 10:40-11:35 Air Baltic ; Cost approx €40
1 night in Tallinn
Talinn-Dubrovnik Tuesday 07:30-09:30 Estonian Air; Cost approx €80
2 nights in Podgorica
1 night in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik-Dublin Friday 12:40-15:05 Aer Lingus;


Good one. Best I've heard for those who don't need to come home in between.

[Newryrep]

try ebookers return from dublin to tblisi, thats what we did and dont intend to get the last leg to dublin. for some reason it worked out cheaper. The CSA website or their phone lines are helpful.

Tom

Make sure you luggage isnt through ticketed, it probably will be, i dont know how airlines react to it eg might cost you nothing, or they might not take your luggage because you are not on the flight (beause of Lockerbie), or they might charge you to change

Air Baltic through ticket, i am trying to ascertain if i can hop off in Riga easily - has anybody ever flew with them ?

[kingdomkerry]

Got a decent route at affordable prices. Get some time about Dubrovnik and Tallinn as well the 2 football cities

Itinerary

Dublin–Riga Friday 5th 13:40-19:50 Air Baltic;
Riga-Tbilisi Friday 5th 22:40-03:10 Air Baltic;
2 nights in Tbilisi (no accommodation for Sunday night)
Tbilisi-Riga Monday 03:45-06:20 Air Baltic,
Riga-Tallinn Monday 10:40-11:35 Air Baltic ; Cost approx €40
1 night in Tallinn
Talinn-Dubrovnik Tuesday 07:30-09:30 Estonian Air; Cost approx €80
2 nights in Podgorica
1 night in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik-Dublin Friday 12:40-15:05 Aer Lingus;

How much did you pay for all that?

[AidoM]

how do sir!

Czech airlines from dublin to tblisi on the 4th sept via prague

Czech airlines back from tblisi to prague on the 7th (4am)

Then this gem www.jat.com. they fly to podgorica from prague via belgrade for about €100. we have booked this for the 7th afternoon (sunday)

then back from dubrovnik to Dublin on friday the 12th at lunch time. its not an easy trip but you can do it like that reasonably well and cheaply.


about €600 and booked in full now. Five of us already paid up :)


Tom

Make sure you luggage isnt through ticketed, it probably will be, i dont know how airlines react to it eg might cost you nothing, or they might not take your luggage because you are not on the flight (beause of Lockerbie), or they might charge you to change .........

Tom

Seriously looking at your option but wondering if you booked it omitting the home leg to Dublin - it's a lot cheaper by booking the return. It doesn't seem to have as much travel as Aidz1.I have been unable to get in to the jat site tonight so what time is the flight to Podgorica?

[Sligo Hornet]

Tom

Seriously looking at your option but wondering if you booked it omitting the home leg to Dublin - it's a lot cheaper by booking the return. It doesn't seem to have as much travel as Aidz1.I have been unable to get in to the jat site tonight so what time is the flight to Podgorica?

Aido, I looked at doing Tom's Prague to Podgorica leg, and checked yesterday morning and the price on JAT had leapt to £171 (sterling) EACH!:eek:

[aidz1]

How much did you pay for all that?


totaled about €580 last tuesday night (aerlingus flight home and riga-tbilisi rtn will rise quickly though)
however you could save €70 on taking the early friday morning dublin-riga flight with ryanair.

[Saint Tom]

Tom

Make sure you luggage isnt through ticketed, it probably will be, i dont know how airlines react to it eg might cost you nothing, or they might not take your luggage because you are not on the flight (beause of Lockerbie), or they might charge you to change

Air Baltic through ticket, i am trying to ascertain if i can hop off in Riga easily - has anybody ever flew with them ?


I have done this before by just asking the check in staff on the day, if there is any hassle ill lighten the bag load and take it on as hand luggage.

[Saint Tom]

Tom

Seriously looking at your option but wondering if you booked it omitting the home leg to Dublin - it's a lot cheaper by booking the return. It doesn't seem to have as much travel as Aidz1.I have been unable to get in to the jat site tonight so what time is the flight to Podgorica?

Aido, booked it the whole way through and will jump ship in Prague. Another options with JAT is the fact that they fly regularly from Istanbul to Podgorica via Belgrade (about €115). There is only a one hour break in between on sunday lunchtime in Belgrade if you can afford the Turkish Airlines one way from Tbilisi to Istanbul at about 4 am on Sunday (€263 earlier in the week). Geographically this is the quickest route but price wise its not so cheap.

[zenokelly]

Has anyone tried getting in contact with these yet? http://www.georgian-airways.com/

I've sent them an e-mail about prices etc. but haven't got a response and I've been waiting for the last 2 days. They have handy flights from Paris on Fridays, supposedly, according to the website, might be worth an inquiry

[Green Tribe]

Has anyone tried getting in contact with these yet? http://www.georgian-airways.com/

I've sent them an e-mail about prices etc. but haven't got a response and I've been waiting for the last 2 days. They have handy flights from Paris on Fridays, supposedly, according to the website, might be worth an inquiry

yeah have been looking at every airline flying out of Tbilisi, it's tricky getting from there to Podgorica/nearby. Have considered via Tirana, but don't want to risk getting trafficked to the UK by local gangs:D
There was a great flight out of Shannon but it only goes on a Sunday :mad:
Getting there:rolleyes:

[mypost]

Will have to give Georgia a miss. It's simply too far. For the Montenegro game, I would look at doing a regional tour with most time spent in Greece, and then split the rest of the trip between Skopje and Dubrovnik, with going to Montenegro just for the game itself. There may not be much to do in Montenegro apart from go to the game, and could be an "in and out" job.

Anyway, it's still January. Plenty of time to look at other options yet. :)

[Newryrep]

Folks

the scots went to Georgia last year and had a ball, most reckned it was the best trip(apart from the result). Not sure how to post links (i am sure somebody in the know will) but if you google TAMB messageboards it should take you there, it is in their travel archive They queried the same things we are doing now how to get there? there is it safe etc, do you need a visa etc

[slow2anger]

Folks

the scots went to Georgia last year and had a ball, most reckned it was the best trip(apart from the result). Not sure how to post links (i am sure somebody in the know will) but if you google TAMB messageboards it should take you there, it is in their travel archive They queried the same things we are doing now how to get there? there is it safe etc, do you need a visa etc

So did ROI in 2003

[Sligo Hornet]

Booking these two (Georgia and Montenegro ) has been a nightmare!...in the end we have booked as TWO trips, with a one night stay at a Heathrow Hotel in the middle!

Sept 4th OUT Heathrow to Tbilisi (via Munich ) Lufthansa..arrive 5th at 03.15:eek:
Sept 7th RETURN dep 04.10 :eek:Tbilisi to Heathrow (via Munich )..arrive Heathrow 09.05

Cost:£388

Sept 8th OUT Heathrow to Podgorica (via Budapest )...Malev Airlines..arrive 11.20am
Sept 12th RETURN dep 12.50pm Podgorica to Heathrow (via Budapest )...arrive Heathrow 2.00pm

Cost:£261

Expensive ( and tiring )trip when Match tickets, Hotels,Taxis etc included......hope there's some money left in the kitty for BEER!:(

[Saint Tom]

jesus thats a hell of a trek SH. But glad to have you on board. are there many travelling with you?

[NeilMcD]

Sligo, hope you have Tiblisi sussed out for us for arriving at 0315 on the Saturday morning. I want a text with all the good spots to go etc.

[Sligo Hornet]

jesus thats a hell of a trek SH. But glad to have you on board. are there many travelling with you?

Four of us for Georgia and Three for Montenegro

[NeilMcD]

Who is the slacker Sligo.

[Sligo Hornet]

Who is the slacker Sligo.

Georgia:missing member is Green Hornet

Montenegro:missing members Moscow Mule and Mrs.Mule

[pineapple stu]

There may not be much to do in Montenegro apart from go to the game, and could be an "in and out" job.
You think that, in a country of a million or so people and 5000 square miles, there "may not be much to do"? :confused:

[citizenerased]

boys read the threads from scotish fans site,,,,sounds the business


http://taboard.com/forum/index.php?showforum=39&prune_day=100&sort_by=Z-A&sort_key=last_post&topicfilter=all&st=0

[citizenerased]

http://taboard.com/forum/index.php?showforum=39&prune_day=100&sort_by=Z-A&sort_key=last_post&topicfilter=all&st=0

[lopez]

Booking these two (Georgia and Montenegro ) has been a nightmare!...in the end we have booked as TWO trips, with a one night stay at a Heathrow Hotel in the middle!

Sept 4th OUT Heathrow to Tbilisi (via Munich ) Lufthansa..arrive 5th at 03.15:eek:
Sept 7th RETURN dep 04.10 :eek:Tbilisi to Heathrow (via Munich )..arrive Heathrow 09.05

Cost:£388

Sept 8th OUT Heathrow to Podgorica (via Budapest )...Malev Airlines..arrive 11.20am
Sept 12th RETURN dep 12.50pm Podgorica to Heathrow (via Budapest )...arrive Heathrow 2.00pm

Cost:£261

Expensive ( and tiring )trip when Match tickets, Hotels,Taxis etc included......hope there's some money left in the kitty for BEER!:(I am on the same flights. Couldn't see many other options (possibly Sun and Mon in Vienna and Budapest). Just count it as two trips.

[Moscow Mule]

Who is the slacker Sligo.

If only I could get more holiday. Mr and Mrs Mule will have been married for 25 years this year and have some other trips already bagged, so difficult to make the Monty game. We will just have to make the most of the Georgia game.

Is Paul going?

[Moscow Mule]

Booking these two (Georgia and Montenegro ) has been a nightmare!...in the end we have booked as TWO trips, with a one night stay at a Heathrow Hotel in the middle!

Sept 4th OUT Heathrow to Tbilisi (via Munich ) Lufthansa..arrive 5th at 03.15:eek:
Sept 7th RETURN dep 04.10 :eek:Tbilisi to Heathrow (via Munich )..arrive Heathrow 09.05

Cost:£388

Sept 8th OUT Heathrow to Podgorica (via Budapest )...Malev Airlines..arrive 11.20am
Sept 12th RETURN dep 12.50pm Podgorica to Heathrow (via Budapest )...arrive Heathrow 2.00pm

Cost:£261

Expensive ( and tiring )trip when Match tickets, Hotels,Taxis etc included......hope there's some money left in the kitty for BEER!:(



Rest assured my brother there will always be funds for the cans.

[stojkovic]

Delta Airlines fly direct to Atlanta for about 450euro.

[Mayo_Bhoy]

Delta Airlines fly direct to Atlanta for about 450euro.

Good man yerself. That's a great help. Mind you it's a bit late for the Olympics.
:rolleyes:

[stojkovic]

Good man yerself. That's a great help. Mind you it's a bit late for the Olympics.
:rolleyes:

Wooooooosh ;)

[Saint Tom]

from the TAMB if there is a booze ban on the day of the game I may need to bring a stash! Looking forward to it even more after reading that. Thanks for the link

[humpmeister7]

Who is the slacker Sligo.

Just a note, the hump shall be turning up to both!!:)