Georgia Away - 6th September 2008

[cobra]

My plane doesn't land in Tbilisi until 03.10 Saturday morning. Is there anyone else on the same flight. Whats the story with accommodation. Will I have to pay for the Friday night if I want to check in at that hour in the morning or will I have to wait until say 10.00 before I get the chance. Don't want to be called a cheap c**t but don't see the point paying for a nights accommodation if I won't be using it. Also I haven't booked accommodation yet. Where are the Irish fans staying in Tbilisi and Podgorica.

we arrive around 3am on friday morning and out 4am sunday morning.. have booked thurs and fri night, sat night will be match- pub-airport..
when arrive in tbilisi fri morning, def want a few hours sleep as wont get much after it

[kingdomkerry]

OK the bank finally sent me my new unexpired credit card. So Im going to book the trip later on tonight.

2 choices

1. Dublin-Riga-Tiblisi: one night in Riga, one night in Tblisi €500 for flights

2. Dublin-Prague-Tiblisi: 2 nights in Tblisi €417 for flights

I think ill go with option 2 as its cheaper
its only two flights instead of 4 and no stayover in another city
Im not going to Montenegro. I know alot of people who are going to both games are going the Riga route cause they need to get back to Riga to get to Montengro.

[Greenforever]

OK the bank finally sent me my new unexpired credit card. So Im going to book the trip later on tonight.

2 choices

1. Dublin-Riga-Tiblisi: one night in Riga, one night in Tblisi €500 for flights

2. Dublin-Prague-Tiblisi: 2 nights in Tblisi €417 for flights

I think ill go with option 2 as its cheaper
its only two flights instead of 4 and no stayover in another city
Im not going to Montenegro. I know alot of people who are going to both games are going the Riga route cause they need to get back to Riga to get to Montengro.

Are you on the funny pills?? Dublin Prague 1 Prague Tibilisi 2 Tiblisi Prague 3 Prague Dublin 4 flights.

Rigas a great city if you have to stop over, mind you so is Prague! cheap beer in one and cheaper in the other

[kingdomkerry]

Are you on the funny pills?? Dublin Prague 1 Prague Tibilisi 2 Tiblisi Prague 3 Prague Dublin 4 flights.

Rigas a great city if you have to stop over, mind you so is Prague! cheap beer in one and cheaper in the other

The stop over in prague is only an hour and a half on the way over and 2 and a half on the way back. Just enough time to run down to the bar for one in prague airport. Its the same plane so id consider it as one.

[Greenforever]

The stop over in prague is only an hour and a half on the way over and 2 and a half on the way back. Just enough time to run down to the bar for one in prague airport. Its the same plane so id consider it as one.

What makes you think it's the same plane? It may well be a through ticket, but unlikely to be the same plane.

[cobra]

OK the bank finally sent me my new unexpired credit card. So Im going to book the trip later on tonight.

2 choices

1. Dublin-Riga-Tiblisi: one night in Riga, one night in Tblisi €500 for flights

2. Dublin-Prague-Tiblisi: 2 nights in Tblisi €417 for flights

I think ill go with option 2 as its cheaper
its only two flights instead of 4 and no stayover in another city
Im not going to Montenegro. I know alot of people who are going to both games are going the Riga route cause they need to get back to Riga to get to Montengro.

Can get to Montenegro on Prague route as well.. spend a few nights in Prague and sky europe fly from prague -dubrovnik(€62 inc taxes) morning of game..

[Green Tribe]

I've my flights booked, taking the scenic route though. Fri 5th Sept depart Dublin 05.55, arrive Riga 10.55. Depart Riga 22.40 arrive Tbilisi 03.10 Sat morning. Mon 8th, Depart Tbilisi 03.45 arrive riga 06.20, Depart Riga 12.25 arrive Minich 13.40. Depart Munich 15.50 arrive Cologne 17.00, depart Cologne 18.15 arrive Belgrade 20.15. Anyone out there with the same flights, probably not I say. Also does anyone know about the train timetables in Serbia and Montenegro, I need to get a train or bus from Belgrade to Podgorica.

we are on some of your flights. We got a JAT flight BEL/POD on monday try them although they could be busy now.
You could get an train from Belg to Podgorica also, there is an overnight train....try www.bahn.de

Pilgrims abroad have booked the 2240 RIX/TBS flight also so that will be a party plane.

[da griff]

we are on some of your flights. We got a JAT flight BEL/POD on monday try them although they could be busy now.
You could get an train from Belg to Podgorica also, there is an overnight train....try www.bahn.de

Pilgrims abroad have booked the 2240 RIX/TBS flight also so that will be a party plane.

Cheers for that Green Tribe, Are ye staying in Podgorica for a few days. Looked up accommodation and there isn't much to choose from. Most of the hotels available are in either Tivat or Budva. I'm around for a few days as my flight doesn't leave until 12.40 Friday. I presume anybody travelling to the Montenegro game is going home via Dubrovnik. Do you know of any buses operating from Podgorica to Dubrovnik on the Friday.

[Green Tribe]

not much accomodation at present left in Podgorica da griff, they are slow at opening up their bookings. A lot are staying on the coast. There are buses which run from podgorica to dubrovnik, long journey apparently as goes along coast, timetable below;

http://www.libertasdubrovnik.hr/voznired.swf

Staying in podgorica, maybe one night in budva

[RodgenotPodge]

If you can get a hotel in Podgorica for the night of the match then it would be more convenient but the coast is only an hour away and loads of hotels in Budva or Petrovac. It should be easy to arrange a taxi and not much if shared.

Podgorica to Dubrovnik is only 135km but it can be slow - very pretty road but easy to get stuck behind a truck or bus. There are two delay points - the ferry across Kotor Bay can get backed up but it should be OK in September. Also the border into Croatia is unpredictable; it can take 2 minutes one day and an hour the next.

[Colie]

Colie, if it's the Sympatia myself, Bear11, the Banner Man and another are in there, arriving in Tbilisi 3 am on Friday and departing Saturday night/Sunday morning after the match for Prague, Belgrade and Podgorica.

Good stuff lad. I'm on the same trip in and the same route to Podgorica but I decided to give myself a lie in on the Sunday in so I'll follow on the next day.

[Green Tribe]

Good stuff lad. I'm on the same trip in and the same route to Podgorica but I decided to give myself a lie in on the Sunday in so I'll follow on the next day.

God help ya Colie, same hotel as that lot
Make sure you get a pic with the "Flag"

[AidoM]

The venue for this per FAI website Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi. That's a surprise . Time not yet confirmed. Stu, maybe put up on Summary Thread.

[Sligo Hornet]

The venue for this per FAI website Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi. That's a surprise . Time not yet confirmed. Stu, maybe put up on Summary Thread.

With a capacity of 78,000, shouldn't be any difficulty in obtaining tickets

[pineapple stu]

The venue for this per FAI website Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi. That's a surprise . Time not yet confirmed. Stu, maybe put up on Summary Thread.

Done, cheers.

Pictures here. Looks a nice modern ground; wasn't expecting that for some reason (communist falling-apart ground with terracing and running track still springs to mind!)

[RodgenotPodge]

Looks can be deceptive; it s a crumbling post-communist wreck. They must have done lot of work on it in the past while as when I was last there it was a long, long way from FIFA standards.

For the last 4 or 5 years all games have been in the smaller but much more modern Lokomotiv Stadium. I'll try to find out from local contacts.

[AidoM]

Looks can be deceptive; it s a crumbling post-communist wreck. They must have done lot of work on it in the past while as when I was last there it was a long, long way from FIFA standards.

For the last 4 or 5 years all games have been in the smaller but much more modern Lokomotiv Stadium. I'll try to find out from local contacts.

From Wikipedia:

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

[RodgenotPodge]

Good news! I have confirmation from Tbilisi that the match will be in Dinamo stadium - the national stadium - with much bigger capacity. It has been renovated and now meets FIFA standards.

[AidoM]

From Wikipedia:

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

Good news! I have confirmation from Tbilisi that the match will be in Dinamo stadium - the national stadium - with much bigger capacity. It has been renovated and now meets FIFA standards.

Rodge

Check it out - they are the same

[RodgenotPodge]

Yes, the Dinamo stadium is the national stadium. The Irish game last time was in the Lokomotiv stadium which is much smaller.

When I was last in the Dinamo stadium (about 2-3 years ago) only a small part had "proper" seating - the rest was just concrete slabs. They played rugby internationals and some local soccer matches there (they also have bike races around the perimiter track at half time!) but couldn't use it for internationals. A mate in Tbilisi yesterday confirmed it has been upgraded but Wikipedia is ahead of the game!

Its pretty centrally located - just a walk across the river from the main part of town.