Euro 2012 - general info

[elroy]

Out of interest, who is doing packages?

747 is about 1500 for 2 games, 1800 for 3. Abbey is 1700 and 2500. Both pretty much offer the same packages but Abbey have access to tickets whereas 747 dont. All packages fly home the night of the Italy game - really poor if you ask me (of course thats before you even begin to look at their prices).

at least half the attraction of these tournaments is being in the host country at the time and in the match cities preferably the night before and after our matches. basing yourself in Germany and undertaking a large amount of travel for each of the matches diminishes the tournament experience imo. anyone at WC 2002 who experienced the nights japan and korea were playing will understand

yes, its proving quite expensive but i will do it all ex tickets for less than my flight alone cost for japan!

I agree entirely. What I most wanted was to be in the host city the night before and after the match, didnt really care where I spent the rest of the time. Unsurprisingly the night before the match is the most expensive one charged by the host city hotels, some are even looking for min 3 nights accomodation before they will take a booking,

[mypost]

Japan and Korea have wonderful cities and diverse cultures. Poland is a fairly drab place in general, and staying 8-10 days in Poznan/Torun etc, will be tough going.

I appreciate the romance of being in the cities/countries themselves, but accommodation is scarce, expensive, and there's long distances to travel anyway. For the cost conscious traveller who can't find the guts of 1,5k for a 10 day package in central Poland, alternative options should be at least considered.

[elroy]

I would have initially had considered going with a package but when I saw the prices I decided against. I can only make the last two games but for that the best package was 1500 for 4 nights and leaving straight after the Italy game not to mention travelling from Gdansk to Poznan first on the day of that game.

I booked only a week or so ago and got 6 nights accomodation and direct flights for just under 1k. Not cheap by any means but the wife is coming with me and with not much annual leave to play around with it I was limited in how I could go about it. So for an extra two nights and a better all around plan, 3 nights Gdansk, 3 nights Poznan, doing it DIY was over 500 cheaper than the best package for 4 nights. Now Im crossing my fingers that I get the tickets I need in the FAI ballot but Im hoping that if not, tickets would be too hard to come across.

[EAFC_rdfl]

Likewise we waited on the package prices and then went DIY instead. however our plan is a bit more hectic than elroys!
we are going to frankfurt on 13th AM, to pick up a camper van for the 6 of us (3hr train from frankfurt to pickup point). then either head to Gdansk or Poznan, not decided yet as we have no tickets so far and maybe the Poznan fanzone would be good for the Spain game. Return the camper on the 20th AM with flights back from Frankfurt later that evening. 6 days off work which is the max I can afford, given Im getting married the following month (hopefully ) it will be some last hurrah!!

Oh and the costs so far are flights ~160, camper ~1000, so between 6 thats 325. still need to pay for parking etc

[DeLorean]

We're flying from London to Wroclaw, where we will collect our camper van. The Czechs are playing Russia in Wroclaw the day we arrive so it would be nice to get a ticket for that. Finding places to leave the camper van and obviously match tickets are our only concerns now really.

[bennocelt]

Japan and Korea have wonderful cities and diverse cultures. Poland is a fairly drab place in general, and staying 8-10 days in Poznan/Torun etc, will be tough going.

Lived in Wroctaw for two months - certainly not a drab place at all - good fun and any nation that can provide good quality vodka isnt a place I would deem boring

[lionelhutz]

I e-mailed my FAI guy in the ticket office re this query but havent got response yet so was wondering if anyone could enlighten me. Are you only allowed apply for a max of 2 tickets for each group game through the FAI portal on UEFA.com? We were block bookers and bought 4 tickets per home game with FAI.

Also, when I finalised my application, it said we'd have to wait until the end of March to know whether we got them, is this correct? That would leave us very unsure of whether to book flights and accomm or not. Also, does anyone know the chances of getting tickets through the FAI?

[BonnieShels]

I emailed them with a big huffy email!!! Here's hoping!

[mypost]

Lived in Wroctaw for two months - certainly not a drab place at all - good fun and any nation that can provide good quality vodka isnt a place I would deem boring

So the vodka was one of the "sights" then?

I e-mailed my FAI guy in the ticket office re this query but havent got response yet so was wondering if anyone could enlighten me. Are you only allowed apply for a max of 2 tickets for each group game through the FAI portal on UEFA.com? We were block bookers and bought 4 tickets per home game with FAI.

Also, when I finalised my application, it said we'd have to wait until the end of March to know whether we got them, is this correct? That would leave us very unsure of whether to book flights and accomm or not. Also, does anyone know the chances of getting tickets through the FAI?

You will know by Paddy's Day, whether you got tickets or not. UEFA will draw out the FAI's allocation, at the same time as all the other nation's ballots.

You're only allowed apply for 2 tickets per head, so whether you've applied already or wait until the end of February, your chances of getting your tickets are exactly the same. But the longer you leave it, the less you will have to wait for your answer.

[Bungle]

Lads, does anybody know if you can get lockers to store bags at polish train/bus stations?

Basically, have all my accommodation sorted. Only night I'm not sorted for is the night of the Ireland Italy game in Poznan. Ridiculously expensive there. Was thinking I'm probably going to be on the lash all night so it's not like I need a hostel/hotel and apparently the summers in Poland are good so I can kip on a green or something

I'm flying in to Wroclaw. Was hoping to stay there but it's crazy expensive. Gonna head to Krakow from the 7th - 10th June, then Poznan for one night. Then to Wroclaw to take in the Greece Czech game on the 12th. Leave for Gdansk and stay from the 13th - 15th there. Then on to szchezein. Got an ibis hotel there for 115 for 3 nights. Then back to Poznan to hopefully sing the night away and wake up in a happy drunken state on a park green/Mcdonalds celebrating Ireland's march to the next round. Generally found accommodation very reasonable in cities like Krakow and szchezein.

Also, will keep people posted, as I have a spare Croatia ticket going. My mate who I got it for has just been made redundant so is not sure if he's going to be heading.

[jbyrne]

I e-mailed my FAI guy in the ticket office re this query but havent got response yet so was wondering if anyone could enlighten me. Are you only allowed apply for a max of 2 tickets for each group game through the FAI portal on UEFA.com? We were block bookers and bought 4 tickets per home game with FAI.

Also, when I finalised my application, it said we'd have to wait until the end of March to know whether we got them, is this correct? That would leave us very unsure of whether to book flights and accomm or not. Also, does anyone know the chances of getting tickets through the FAI?

if you have 4 bb tickets my understanding is that you need to get a password for each for the portal that will allow you apply for 2 tickets per match per bb ticket. the ticket office should provide these.

id say applications will have a 50% success. probably 10,000 applications for about 4-5,000 tickets available to the ordinary fan. my hope is that spain and italy dont take their full allocations and that their left overs go to us

[bennocelt]

So the vodka was one of the "sights" then?.

Well it certainly makes the sights seem a whole lotta more interesting!

[punkrocket]

Or Blurred.

[IsMiseSean]

Out of interest, who is doing packages?

Thomson Sport packages are on sale tomorrow at 11am

[mypost]

Basically, have all my accommodation sorted. Only night I'm not sorted for is the night of the Ireland Italy game in Poznan. Ridiculously expensive there. Was thinking I'm probably going to be on the lash all night so it's not like I need a hostel/hotel and apparently the summers in Poland are good so I can kip on a green or something

I'm flying in to Wroclaw. Was hoping to stay there but it's crazy expensive. Gonna head to Krakow from the 7th - 10th June, then Poznan for one night. Then to Wroclaw to take in the Greece Czech game on the 12th. Leave for Gdansk and stay from the 13th - 15th there. Then on to szchezein. Got an ibis hotel there for 115 for 3 nights. Then back to Poznan to hopefully sing the night away and wake up in a happy drunken state on a park green/Mcdonalds celebrating Ireland's march to the next round.

Save your cash from going to the Greece-Czech Republic game, and spend it on semi-decent accommodation where you need it. It's an insult to fans that some have to rest in a field, which could be subject to bad weather like at the last Euros, when there were thunderstorms on some evenings. Personal security is also an issue in a situation like that. You could be robbed, assaulted or both. Have some dignity and get a solid safe roof over your head, even if it's just a night. It'll be worth the expense.

There are a number of private "taxi" firms advertising transport to Berlin from Poznan, which could come in handy if you're doing that route after Poznan games during the tournament. You can schedule them for times that suit you, and rates are reasonable, instead of having to depend on trains with inflexible schedules.

[zero]

There are a number of private "taxi" firms advertising transport to Berlin from Poznan, which could come in handy if you're doing that route after Poznan games during the tournament. You can schedule them for times that suit you, and rates are reasonable, instead of having to depend on trains with inflexible schedules.

i haven't come across these ads - i saw the airport minibus info alright. i'd appreciate a link or two if you have them to hand.

[IsMiseSean]

Have some dignity and get a solid safe roof over your head, even if it's just a night. It'll be worth the expense.

I'm flying in to Gdansk matchday flying home Friday morning. Thinking about kipping in the airport after a few beers.... Anyone ever done this before?
Hotels in Gdansk are ridiculously expensive!

[jbyrne]

I'm flying in to Gdansk matchday flying home Friday morning. Thinking about kipping in the airport after a few beers.... Anyone ever done this before?

slept in dublin airport to welcome the team home after wc qualification in 2002. was the longest 6/7 hours of my life!

[IsMiseSean]

was the longest 6/7 hours of my life!

I was thinking it could be like that...

[Bungle]

Save your cash from going to the Greece-Czech Republic game, and spend it on semi-decent accommodation where you need it. It's an insult to fans that some have to rest in a field, which could be subject to bad weather like at the last Euros, when there were thunderstorms on some evenings. Personal security is also an issue in a situation like that. You could be robbed, assaulted or both. Have some dignity and get a solid safe roof over your head, even if it's just a night. It'll be worth the expense.

There are a number of private "taxi" firms advertising transport to Berlin from Poznan, which could come in handy if you're doing that route after Poznan games during the tournament. You can schedule them for times that suit you, and rates are reasonable, instead of having to depend on trains with inflexible schedules.

Cheers for that mate. Probably need a bit of sensible reasoning!!