Hi there:)
I am from Belfast and live in Perugia with my 14 year-old son, Patrick (of course). I have been in Italy 30 nearly 30 years now, including 3 years in the Rimini area where I still have friends.
My first experience in helping football fans travelling independently to Italy was with Dundee in 2003
http://www.italywithus.biz/ezine/12oc/page3.htm#title. Then some of the Dundee people asked me to help them when Scotland played in Milan last Easter and that lead to me bringing about 500 Scots to Ljubljana from the various airports they flew into in Italy.
Basically I help organise the easiest and cheapest way of travel from any airport to your accommodation (this means you can take advantage of more cheap flight options), get group deals with hotels, transportation to and from the match (if needed), answer questions about various aspects of visiting Italy and bits and pieces like bargaining down the prices of drink, organising parties etc. In Milan I was also able to get extra tickets for hundreds of the Scots.
I earn my keep by offering a good service with low price x large numbers. I also contribute without any payment by helping with train tickets, giving information etc. I have asked permission to help on this forum because I know some people hate to think of others using a board for their own benefit. If I am not welcome there is no problem, if anyone want to contact me directly I will help them via my own site/message board. I take the view that answering questions and giving details of services available etc. on an open forum guarantees (as much as is possible) the best and most honest help possible. Every thing is more transparent:p
I am a "regular" on a few forums so it won't be difficult to find people who know me - I hope we can become friends too:D
Hi there:)