Kazakhstan (A) - general (Fri 07/09/12)

**pineapple stu** · 31/07/2011, 6:58 PM

Post away on this trip.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 04/08/2011, 11:17 PM

Spoken to a very good travel contact who says this won't be a cheap trip. Ireland's most ever expensive game costing at least �1000 for travel, hotel, food & drink. The latter not being necessarily alcoholic.

On a mainly unrelated point, was also very downbeat about The Faroes being financially viable.

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 8:18 AM

Don't think it'd take a travel expert to work out that going to the centre of Asia - to one of the biggest and least dense countries in the world at that - would be expensive.

**paul_oshea** · 05/08/2011, 9:24 AM

Definitely going on this. Flybmi fly from london i believe.

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 9:29 AM

BMI go to Almaty. The game will be in Astana. Austrian Airlines fly via Vienna.

**Junior** · 05/08/2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

BMI go to Almaty. The game will be in Astana. Austrian Airlines fly via Vienna.

I hardly ever flew with Austria before this current campaign and I've now flown with them for the last 2 away trips to Armenia and Macedonia - They have been good too and reasonable fares.

Just had a quick look at flying LHR-VIE-TSE (Astana) - Staying a Saturday night (which I think is important for keeping the cost down) I just picked June2012 and you can get an economy return for �625.

I couldnt get any REDticket fares which are their cheapest ones but Austria Airlines do regularly email offers and ArdeeBhoy posted a 20% discount voucher code when we booked Armenia so I think its one to keep your eyes out for special offers and spread the word people (even if by PM!)

**Junior** · 05/08/2011, 11:24 AM

England played there in 2009, some info on Visa application here. http://www.fsf.org.uk/freelions/news...free-lions.php Also states the games was confimred as Almaty. Though not sure if more recent games have been held in Astana.

Watch the offensive chanting lads and lassies......
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...qualifier.html

Looks as though Charters were doing a DAY TRIP for the England game for around the �850-�950 mark
http://www.thomsonsport.com/tour.php?id=732

Even for the hard core this one is going to require digging very deep in to the pockets. I have to say I fancy it but it will come down to the $$$ in the end.

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Junior

Also states the games was confimred as Almaty. Though not sure if more recent games have been held in Astana.

I was going off the ever-reliable wikipedia, which has all 2010 games played in Astana.

Almaty is the old capital; Astana was pretty much in the middle of nowhere until the head man decided to spend millions transforming it into the capital because Almaty was too near the Chinese border. Maybe that's why the games have only recently changed? The new ground in Astana opened in 2009 - photos here. Fairly run-of-the-mill modern ground.

**paul_oshea** · 05/08/2011, 12:22 PM

Id say ill head if i can convince someone else to come with me.

But i think its a place where i would have to consider doing a little trip or something. Even for me #650 is a lot to justify, not for you though junior

**ArdeeBhoy** · 05/08/2011, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Don't think it'd take a travel expert to work out that going to the centre of Asia - to one of the biggest and least dense countries in the world at that - would be expensive.

The point is it costs more to fly there than Japan or Australia/NZ/S.America.
Go figure....

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 12:37 PM

Economies of scale obviously.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 05/08/2011, 12:38 PM

Obviously.

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 12:41 PM

Lots of people go to Japan/NZ/Australia. Not many people go to Kazakhstan. Fewer passengers means you have to pay more to cover the costs. Basic economics like. The same reason flights to the Faroes are so expensive.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 05/08/2011, 1:37 PM

Well, yes.

That was my original point.
Like I said then, go figure....

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 1:46 PM

I did go figure. Economies of scale is the reason. I even explained it for you.

Back to Kazakhstan so. Astana looks like something out of the Jetsons!

**Spudulika** · 05/08/2011, 3:29 PM

There is a very cheap and decent land service from the old to new capitals. The country is well worth taking a holiday in, great skiing, amazing scenery and the food can be great in places. I wouldn't talk bad about the president, or his daughter though. Might not be too healthy!

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

There is a very cheap and decent land service from the old to new capitals

And very time consuming! About 20 hours by train (if this search link works)

**Spudulika** · 05/08/2011, 3:56 PM

PS, think of the drinking time, and if John Delaney is on board......... :-) I'd recommend it if you plan a week long stay, Kazakhstan is really worth it!

**pineapple stu** · 05/08/2011, 4:06 PM

Ah I know; I had plans for a trip to Kazakhstan this summer, but they fell through. The train was part of it. Would really like to make this trip.

**Spudulika** · 05/08/2011, 4:42 PM

You'd love it, as a country it is stunning, mountains, desert, great cities, history and just a very alien culture. It's cheap to stay over in regional towns and reasonably clean and comfortable too.