Macedonia (A) - charter travel

[pineapple stu]

Post any info on organised travel to and in Macedonia in here. I'll try keep a summary of the main links in this post.

Other links -

Accommodation (hotels to campsites)
Flights (or other means of getting there)
The game (match tickets, kick off time, directions to the ground, etc)
Places (towns, internal travel, reccies, etc)
Pubs (things to do, other chat)
General (things to do, other chat)

[willk1977]

Just got this mail from Abbey Travel.

Please find below details of out Macedonia trip in June Package includes
Return flights from Dublin - Skojpe Out on Friday 03June ( morning ) and leaving Skojpe Sun 05June ( Afternoon )
Return airport transfers
Guaranteed Irish section match ticket
2 nights B&B Based on the 3* Karpos Hotel the price is 479eur + 75eur Tax
3* superior Best Western price 519eur + 75eur tax
Both hotels central and stadium is within walking distance of the city centre.
We would need a booking deposit of 100eur per person

[mypost]

For 550-600 Euro, you'd want more than 2 nights. And the bank holiday as well.

Even in these economic times, prices for these charter trips are still way, way, way, way too expensive. Cut it in half, and you'd be prepared to give it a go.

[Willum101]

Hey all

A few of us are looking to go over and have found cheap flights london - sofia for 100quid return. We were then looking at renting a car and driving the 4 hours (ish) to skopje. Does anyone know if there are any restrictions or problems with taking a rented car over the border into macedonia? The whole lot would work out at 125quid each minus accomodation but we were planning on winging that! cheers

[Willum101]

Also whats the story with tickets? I have read on the tartanarmy boards that when they played out there in '08 they were only allocated 1000 tickets...

[Jicked]

Hey all

A few of us are looking to go over and have found cheap flights london - sofia for 100quid return. We were then looking at renting a car and driving the 4 hours (ish) to skopje. Does anyone know if there are any restrictions or problems with taking a rented car over the border into macedonia? The whole lot would work out at 125quid each minus accomodation but we were planning on winging that! cheers

Save yourself the hassle and just get a bus and a bag of cans, it's what I've been thinking of doing

"If you wish to travel to Skopje from Sofia, there are 5 buses a day. Matpu 96 which can be found in near to the Sofia Central Bus Station has buses at 07:00, 09:30, 16:00, 19:00, and 00:00. The cost of a ticket is approximately 30 Lev (15 euros) but they accept euros too. The journey will take around 6 hours and will also include a time zone change from Sofia (GMT + 2) to Skopje (GMT + 1 or Central European Time), so the 16:00 bus will arrive at Skopje Bus Station at approximately 21:00. The website of the bus company is available in English - [2]"

[Hibs4Ever]

Also whats the story with tickets? I have read on the tartanarmy boards that when they played out there in '08 they were only allocated 1000 tickets...

Some of my Scottish mates went to that. They were given only 1000 tickets, and even though stadium was have empty they weren't given anymore. When hundreds without tickets got to the ground the security (knowing they were Scottish) pointed them to a ticket office to buy tickets for home end, when the Scottish lads got the tickets the security then wouldn't let them in saying strictly no away fans in home end or give them a refund

[pineapple stu]

The website of the bus company is available in English - [2]"[/i]

Have you that website link, Jicked?

[gspain]

Some of my Scottish mates went to that. They were given only 1000 tickets, and even though stadium was have empty they weren't given anymore. When hundreds without tickets got to the ground the security (knowing they were Scottish) pointed them to a ticket office to buy tickets for home end, when the Scottish lads got the tickets the security then wouldn't let them in saying strictly no away fans in home end or give them a refund

They have since built a new 36,000 cap0acity stadium though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_Arena

I doubt if tickets will be a problem.

Note due for full completion in April but already in use so even if late should be loads of tickets for June.

[willk1977]

Save yourself the hassle and just get a bus and a bag of cans, it's what I've been thinking of doing

"If you wish to travel to Skopje from Sofia, there are 5 buses a day. Matpu 96 which can be found in near to the Sofia Central Bus Station has buses at 07:00, 09:30, 16:00, 19:00, and 00:00. The cost of a ticket is approximately 30 Lev (15 euros) but they accept euros too. The journey will take around 6 hours and will also include a time zone change from Sofia (GMT + 2) to Skopje (GMT + 1 or Central European Time), so the 16:00 bus will arrive at Skopje Bus Station at approximately 21:00. The website of the bus company is available in English - [2]"

Sounds like hell

[mypost]

Just got this mail from Abbey Travel.

Please find below details of out Macedonia trip in June Package includes
Return flights from Dublin - Skojpe Out on Friday 03June ( morning ) and leaving Skojpe Sun 05June ( Afternoon )
Return airport transfers
Guaranteed Irish section match ticket
2 nights B&B Based on the 3* Karpos Hotel the price is 479eur + 75eur Tax
3* superior Best Western price 519eur + 75eur tax
Both hotels central and stadium is within walking distance of the city centre.
We would need a booking deposit of 100eur per person

Apparantly according to ybig, the first flight has sold out, so another flight has been chartered and the cost has increased again.

Those looking for a cheaper option, can access Skopje via Belgrade in Serbia, Sofia in Bulgaria and Tirana in Albania. However, the rail line between Salonika and Skopje is shut, as the Greeks have suspended their international raillines.