Georgia - 12th Oct 2019- Travel & Acomm
Printed From: You Boys in Green
Category: International
Forum Name: Away days + World Cup 2022 Accommodation and Travel
Forum Description: Qatar n' all in anyways
URL: https://forum.ybig.ie/forum_posts.asp?TID=54264
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 1:09am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.00 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Georgia - 12th Oct 2019- Travel & Acomm
Posted By: Green-Gallagher
Subject: Georgia - 12th Oct 2019- Travel & Acomm
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 8:27pm
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Hey all how's things? Firstly I know this is next September and well off but I wamt to start looking at options and which away game I'm going to pick for the campaign. I know I've posted before about possible trips to Belgrade and Maldova etc. But I'm thinking of maybe budgeting for the game away to Georgia in September 2017. It just seems like a right old adventure. And as somebody like me who is a travel addict its another part of the world I could tick off the list. I was just wondering if any guys who had been to Tbilisi in the last campaign or over the years could suggest weather a trip out is worth it and how does it rank in terms of away days? I was seriously thinking about Belgrade, but would you hold out and head to Tblisi alternatively? Sadly can only do one away game as the funds are tight. Thinking the Georgia game will give me some space. Anyway all advice and tales welcome on helping me to start looking at putting a trip together. Cheers. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 9:37pm
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I was there for last game, flew solo, and will probably (almost 100%, who am I kidding!) do same again. Flew via Amsterdam and Istanbul like a fair few Ybiggers. Not a bad spot, cheap food and drink, plenty of bars, which were always pretty empty, locals sound enough if a bit reserved. City isn't prettiest in world but interesting enough to dander round. Weather was decent so should be again as it's same time of year. Some of the taxi drivers and shop owners may try to semi rip you off, but you'd get that in plenty of places. Few of fans made trip to Stalin's home town, which I'd be keen to do this time round. Oh, no beer on sale in stadium (which is very central and easy to get to), only Coke, so if you can last 90 minutes without a swally you'll be fine ------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: Trap for Pope
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 9:39pm
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Tbilisi trip last campaign was fantastic. Positives: We took over a bar for the weekend Said bar had no closing time Georgian supporters club met us off the plane and transferred us by bus to the hotel Hotel Betsy was deadly The way we got the result was epic! Negatives: Three flights home nearly killed me. Save up, book early and go direct to Istanbul and then connect for Tblisi. ------------- Living for Away days |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 10:14pm
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I echo what trap for pope said plus... - The weather was fantastic. Mid to high 20's. - it's dirt cheap. a fiver for a pizza. Beer costs between one euro and two. - accommodation is cheap. Look for somewhere close to the hangar bar and McLaren's. That's where the craic will be. - Stalin's home town of gori is well worth a visit - Georgian fans were good craic Definitely go if you can. The match is a Saturday. Try and go Wednesday because it'll take about 12 hours to get there factoring in connections. Most will be on the early hour rtn flights after the match so you'll be home at some point on the Sunday. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 11:40pm
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First time in Tbilisi last campaign, second time in Georgia. It's a nice enough country, but it wouldn't have tons of stuff to do. Tbilisi is a grand town, but we pretty much done it all in the three nights we had there. If you're going for several days, Gori is worth a visit only for the Stalin museum, nothing else in the town. Batumi over on the west coast is really interesting. It's mostly a dump, but then there's these amazing casinos along the coast. The food and wine are both good, people are friendly and it's cheap. I'd definitely recommend it as an away trip, but honestly wouldn't recommend someone to go just as a normal holiday. This time round, we'll be flying to Batumi or Kutaisi, spending a night or two there, then heading to Abkhazia for a night. More than happy to do just the one night in Tbilisi. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: Butch
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 11:53pm
Only 2 aways in 2017 , will defo do this journey to Georgia . I think we are well over due an away friendly but doubt we have 1 in 2016 but maybe I am wrong & someone knows more 
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Posted By: OscarDelta
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 12:20am
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Looked at flight options from Tblisi as that gives a guide to where Airlines fly to from there. LOT (Polish Airlines) fly to Tblisi via Warsaw which must admit would much prefer transiting through than any Turkish Airport at the moment. No direct flights to Warsaw Chopin from Dublin at the moment but there are from London.................... reckon £200 would be best price as BA to Warsaw and LOT to Tblisi may be best option. |
Posted By: Saint Tom
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 7:10am
------------- My destination inchicore my next stop being kilmainham Where patriots and super saints are the topics of conversation |
OscarDelta wrote:Posted By: OscarDelta
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 10:55am
True None came up on Skyscanner when I looked but was looking June next year to get an idea of prices.................... as turns out Aer Lingus on own website only have up to May. Early morning flight from Dub but coming back on Sun is 11am from Warsaw..................... very doable. |
Posted By: kevincronin2000
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 11:17am
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Wizz air fly to Georgia from about 9 European airports. ------------- time is the stuff that life is made of, don't waste it. |
Posted By: colmoc
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 12:29pm
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Well worth the trip. Done this solo last time too. Worked out cheaper than the Germany trip the month later overall. Hopefully be doing it again. Went dub-Istanbul-Tbilisi. Defo worth the few extra quid to do that rather than an extra flight. Turkish airlines from dub-ist has free booze on board as well 
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Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 12:55pm
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Thinking of taking in Azerbaijan or Armenia beforehand and turning it into a 10 day holiday. Wizz Air to Baku is an option from many destinations in Europe and then take the night train to Tbilisi after a few days in Azerbaijan. Perfect time of the year for an away match. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 1:06pm
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Definitely doing this 1 next year as missed it last time around and along with Moldova it was a must do for me once draw was made ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 1:32pm
Visa needed for Azerbaijan though, which is a pain in the arse. Think I'll combine this with a trip to Turkey as well. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: bannerboy95
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 6:17pm
| Think I'll be doing this too will probably book within the next few months as brendy said above a day or two in istanbul would break the journey up nicely |
Posted By: irelandfan
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2016 at 11:15pm
You could alway fly to Modlin in Warsaw with Ryanair and then get modlin bus to chopin cheap as chips and only 1 hr 10 mins journey. ------------- I'm the gaffer whatever I say goes. |
Posted By: newrynyuk
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 4:12pm
And if you have an Armenian visa in your passport from 2010. You won't get a Azerbaihjan one. |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 5:45pm
I don't have an Armenian visa in my passport. I have read online about travellers who've gone from Armenia to Azerbaijan via Georgia so unless it's a new thing I don't think it matters. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 9:06pm
Aye, it's not an issue these days, unless there's evidence that you've been to Nagorno-Karabakh. Or if you have an Armenian name. Which is just racist. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: SuperDave84
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2016 at 3:23pm
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For anyone thinking of travelling via Kutaisi, a few words of warning: There is only one train a day from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, and it runs at 12:15, arriving 17:40 local time (local time kick off is 20:00, so you'd want to be on the train on the Friday at the latest, to be sure). The train out from Tbilisi leaves at 08:55, arriving 14:18. These times could change, so just keep an eye closer to the time. The trains only have a set number of seats, so you'd be well advised to book in advance, as they will not sell tickets if the train is already full. You can buy tickets online, anyway, but you will need to provide passport details. The address is railway.ge but make sure you use a virus scanner: it has been hacked a few times in the past, although it seems to be secure enough now. That said, you could always just take a minibus, which shouldn't be too expensive, and possibly a bit quicker than the bus, albeit it is unlikely to be cheaper. It is motorway about half the way between the two, and the rest should be alright, as it is the main road in Georgia. The train is only about 3 or 4 euro, so I imagine a minibus will be more. ------------- 
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Posted By: Pearse1879
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2016 at 11:02pm
Can't wait to get this booked up whenever flights come out. Going tomake it my first away trip 
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Posted By: Darraghn92
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 12:50pm
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Flights from Dublin to Warsaw for 54 quid on the Wednesday morning (09:45-13:25) with Ryanair, then a flight that night (30th August) for 187 quid @22.30pm, arrives in Tbilisi at 4am Thursday morning. Anyone know any other decent routes? Cheapest direct flight from Dublin to Istanbul the same day is around 260 quid and that's not factoring in the flight from Istanbul to Tbilisi
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Posted By: newrynyuk
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 12:52pm
The match is a year away and already several hotels in Tblisi are fully booked up! 
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Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 2:21pm
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KLM have a direct flight dept from AMS at 10.40am for 190 euro return, as well as another two flights transferring in Kiev. Can start from most UK airports for about 50 euro more... You will need to wait another 2 weeks or so for September to become bookable |
Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2016 at 6:46pm
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There are not many ways of passenger ferry travel any more, but if you
are flying to kiev and then on to Georgia, there is still a twice weekly
ferry going across the Black Sea. I am not entirely sure if the Odessa to Istanbul ferry allows passenger only. The ferry from Odessa to Batumi in Georgia takes 48 hours and costs 100 euros in a 4-berth cabin. The fee includes 3 meals a day. Odessa is gorgeous in early September! There are cheaper ways of getting from Kiev to Georgia ... but I am pretty sure this will be my way ;-) http://redirect.viglink.com?key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&u=http%3A//www.ukrferry.com/eng/schedules/ilyichevsk-poti-batumi" rel="nofollow - www.ukrferry.com/eng/schedules/ilyichevsk-poti-batumi |
Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 5:24pm
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Going to make a bit of a holiday out of this by going over on the Wednesday and home the Monday in time for the home game on the 5th. Looking at flying to kutasi and spending some time there or in batumi For those of yous that were in tiblisi last time how many days you recommend spending in it. Have hotel booked in it for nights around the game would yous recommend staying in it longer ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: Salzburglilly
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 6:31pm
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Did 4 nights the last time and that was grand,got to see plenty of Tbilisi and do a bit of tourist stuff too,wine tasting etc. ------------- Nathan Collins - The best Kildare baller since Johnny Doyle! |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 7:36pm
Will save the time instead to see more of Georgia and hopefully Armenia. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: Hickster74
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 7:29pm
Thought you were having a laugh but noticed that earlier. A huge amount of central 3 and 4 star hotels are all fully booked the nights around the match. Strange. Must be something else on too? ------------- "Perhaps the reason that they did not consider the worst, was because discussion of such cases would have cast suspicion on the planner as being a "saboteur". Paranoia was rampant throughout." |
Posted By: Sham157
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 7:42pm
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Posted By: Hickster74
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 7:54pm
That's probably it. Looks like there's some serious steep hills there too.. ------------- "Perhaps the reason that they did not consider the worst, was because discussion of such cases would have cast suspicion on the planner as being a "saboteur". Paranoia was rampant throughout." |
Posted By: Sham157
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 8:03pm
| Yep, stayed in Betsy the last time for the pool that Imnever used once. Was on a fair hill. Booked into a digs onFreedom Sq this time |
Posted By: Hickster74
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 8:15pm
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Yeah, got one earlier very close to the square. First one I booked was alot cheaper but up one serious hill... ------------- "Perhaps the reason that they did not consider the worst, was because discussion of such cases would have cast suspicion on the planner as being a "saboteur". Paranoia was rampant throughout." |
Posted By: manchesterbhoy
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 8:41pm
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Flights for this are honking too lot via Warsaw arrives 4am departs 50 mins later Lufthansa option isn't a lot better Don't fancy using g lies or Istanbul if anyone has better ideas |
Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 9:22pm
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Had hotel betsy booked but just booked an apartment in freedom square for the 3 nights Going to spend a night or 2 in either batumi or kutasi and then head to tiblisi Is several different flight options obviously have the Istanbul and Kiev routes and then have the options through kutasi ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 10:49pm
UIA does €61 one-way Kiev-Tbilisi Dept Kiev 11:25 Arrive Tbilisi 16:10 On the way back its: Dept TBI 17:10 Arrive KIEV 18:15 Stayed a week in Kiev this March. Great city! |
Posted By: rossieman
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 11:34pm
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Is around Freedom Square the best area to book? |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 7:45am
...and re: hickster > ya it's very hilly. A bit like Sarajevo you want to be looking for a gaff close to the river. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: irish_goat
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 10:26am
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http://www.google.co.uk/maps/@41.6917173,44.8073105,17.25z" rel="nofollow - http://www.google.co.uk/maps/@41.6917173,44.8073105,17.25z
Anywhere around the above would be a decent spot to stay. We stayed on the other side of the river last time and there wasn't much life about it.
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Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 11:33am
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Some great photos and loads of reviews here https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g294195-d2301874-Reviews-Old_Town_Altstadt_Tbilisi-Tbilisi.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g294195-d2301874-Reviews-Old_Town_Altstadt_Tbilisi-Tbilisi.html |
Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 12:16pm
For handiness, yes. Taxis are dirt cheap and very plentiful, but the drivers are an absolute nightmare. You'd honestly think they've never seen the place before, none of them know where anything is or how to get there, even if pointed out to them on a map and in three different languages. It's not the place you want to be using any form of transport bar on foot or by metro. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: Gearoid101
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 12:50pm
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Just booked the Point Hotel Tbilisi |
Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 1:51pm
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Seems the apartment we have booked is right in the middle of freedom square. Will do the job for the few days we are there and seems to be walking distance to everything ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: irish_goat
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 2:11pm
We've one there as well.
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Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2016 at 4:48pm
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Booked hotel I was in for last game. North of the river, 10-minute walk from ground and 20 minutes from Freedom Square, happy enough. That's simple part... now, if I could get flights that get me into Tbilisi in daylight! ------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: Sham157
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2016 at 4:55pm
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Posted By: Monaghan abu
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2016 at 10:17pm
| there is a flight at 6 in morning out of Warsaw v kiev get in 15-45 |
Posted By: newrynyuk
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 11:10am
To make that flight would require an overnight stay in Warsaw, no? It's a bugger gettin' to Tblisi alright.
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Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 4:47pm
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One from Gatwick just after midnight on the Wednesday via Kiev that'll get me in at 4.45pm the same day, looks like the best option. Six-hour stopover in Kiev. Return on day after match gets into Gatwick at 11.25am, with another stopover in Kiev. Handy to get me to and from Belfast. Anybody know if the bars are 24-hour in Kiev Airport?
------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 11:29pm
I was at Kiev airport in March. Whatever you do, try to stay air-side, as land-side there is only a very small cafe and quite a basic restaurant (that probably sells booze, but I didn't check). Must admit that when I landed (at 1am) the place looked kind of deserted, but I wasn't on the look-out at the time for bars etc. I stayed in a fairly decent hotel about 5km away from the airport for just 7 euro a night (single room) or 10 euro double - they had a 24 hour restaurant and bar as well ;-) Let me know if you need their details |
Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2016 at 1:48am
Cheers for the info, appreciate it ------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: wicklowrunner
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2016 at 9:29am
You can get this trip for €350 from Dublin...but 2 stopovers... Gatwick & Kiev...
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Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 7:20pm
Booked this, slightly different times. Outta Gatwick on the Tuesday night at 11pm, gets me into Tbilisi at 4.20pm on the Wednesday. Back to Gatwick on the Sunday by 11.25am. All via Kiev, 7+ hour stopover on way out but only couple hours on way back. Just over £250. Flights to Gatwick from Belfast cheap during week, so happy enough. ------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 7:50pm
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Note that Kiev airport is a fair way out form the city centre. Reckon on a good hour by taxi (haggle hard for 300Gv fare - 10 euro) and around 70 to 80 minutes by Sky Bus 322 also called 'Palet' (costs 60Gv - about 2 euro). Security and passport checks at Kiev were a total breeze - but do allow 40-45 minutes prior to departure, even if you have nothing to check in. This should give you about 3 hours net time in Kiev. Enjoy! Timetable - https://kbp.aero/en/transport/sky-bus/" rel="nofollow - https://kbp.aero/en/transport/sky-bus/ |
Posted By: Tyronebhoy
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2016 at 5:43pm
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Probably will just try and get head down in airport after few beers rather than go into town. We had six-hour layover in Glasgow on way to Malta for game in 1999 and very nearly missed the plane after going on rip in city... surreal experience to hear your names being announced all over an airport telling you the gate's about to close  ------------- Northmen, Southmen, Comrades All |
Posted By: baresi41
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 1:26pm
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Turkish Airlines Dublin - Istanbul -Tbilisi works out at €462 presently that's Thursday -Monday. Ukrainian Airlines London Gatwick - Kiev - Tbilisi return out Thursday back Sunday works out at £254 stg. Ryanair and Aerlingus fly into Gatwick cheap enough most days approx €70 return. Good times out of Dublin. Flights back to Gatwick early morning from Tbilisi give you plenty of time to connect onward to Dublin. ------------- FRANCO BARESI: Always supporting the green brigade |
Posted By: willmcc83
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 3:01pm
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Stupid question - is the Station Square metro on Freedom Square.. The map I'm looking at on booking.com doesn't actually say Freedom anywhere.. ------------- Time To Get Behind Mick & The Team |
Posted By: manulike
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 10:52pm
Station Square is about 4km North of Freedom Square. It looks very handy for the Dinamo Stadium, though - less than 1km... Pushkin Square and Freedom Sq are the two which are spitting distance from eachother |
Posted By: Butch
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 10:56pm
| 4 day trip enough ? |
Posted By: SuperDave84
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 11:07pm
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Plenty. If you've not been before, I'd recommend a day trip up to Gori and the Stalin museum and a day trip to the mountains. That's two days and match day is a third day, so that's perfect. I assume you mean four days and three nights. That actually might only leave one full free day but that's still fine. -------------
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Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 7:47am
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Four full days is ideal but remember it takes the guts of a day to get there and you'll be leaving more than likely on a flight in the early hours. The last time i went for 3 nights but in reality I was only in Georgia for little over 36 hours given the long haul (left London on Friday midday arriving at Tbilisi airport in the early hours of Saturday morning and left after the match on a 4am flight on Sunday night / Monday morning). ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 8:21am
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Anyone booking this now remember we have a home game on the Tuesday night. For us culchies it might be an idea to fly back to dublin on the Monday evening and stay in Dublin that night for the game on Tuesday ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: willmcc83
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 8:26am
Cheers pal ------------- Time To Get Behind Mick & The Team |
Posted By: irish_goat
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 8:46am
I'd combine those into the one day. That's what we did anyway. Didn't feel like there's enough in Gori to last a full day anyway.
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Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 9:03am
Aye there's nothing in Gori apart from the Stalin museum which for those who haven't been is well worth visiting. We even failed to find a restaurant or a bar whilst there. Anyone into hill walking / hiking would love Georgia. The Caucasus mountains are incredible and littered with walking trails. Just throwing that out there as another thing to do. http://www.caucasus-trekking.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.caucasus-trekking.com ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: irish_goat
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 10:18am
Yeah we only found a bakery and then headed back home after the museum. For people wondering about how to get to Gori or go see the mountains, you can hire a taxi to take you about. I think we paid €40 and the fella drove us to 3 different places. Was about 6 hours in all so pretty good value. He had originally asked for twice the amount but we knew the going rate and he was happy to take it after a bit of haggling.
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Posted By: reddladd
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 10:30am
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We did a trip up the Military Road to the mountains in the North not a million miles away from South Ossetia. Had few stops on the way, mainly around old churches. Taken up to a church in jeeps because you wouldn't do it in a bus. It was an interesting day and I think it was 10.30pm or so before we got back to Tbilisi. We left about 11am so a fairly full day. ------------- I could agree with you but then we'd both be wrong. |
Posted By: SuperDave84
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 5:35pm
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Yeah, that was a good day. It wasn't expensive either, iirc, and they gave us food and some local fire water that may as well have been petrol. -------------
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Posted By: manchesterbhoy
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2016 at 11:50am
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Just booked this one via Amsterdam and Kiev Doing the overnight in the dam both ways due to flight times Flight price all in £225 which includes luggage and seat res on Kim Flights all linked up so no hassle with delays Now for a hotel |
Posted By: ShamtheRam
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2016 at 7:11pm
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Think I might go to this game. Have always took the safe options on away trips...be nice to go to one of the less traditional away games. Won't be able to rubber stamp the trip until November though. What seems to be the best route from Ireland?? ------------- YBIG NPF founder and CEO |
Posted By: SuperDave84
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2016 at 7:56pm
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There are a load of options but it depends on your priorities and whether you are prepared to pay a bit more to fly at more sociable hours, or to deal with three flights rather than two. Also, some of the potential cheaper options haven't gone on sale yet, and those that have might yet come down in price. A lot of people flew three flights each way last time around, the second two with Pegasus through Istanbul, but they aren't up for sale yet. Most of those options involved Ryanair flights to places like Stansted, Charleroi, Amsterdam and the likes, then two flights from there via Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. Even the two flight options (generally with Lufthansa via Munich or Istanbul with Turkish airlines) tend to arrive and leave at mad hours, like arriving in at 3am and leaving at 4am. If you want to leave Tbilisi at a reasonable hour of the day, rather than like 4am, you'll probably need to spend an overnight somewhere on the way back, although maybe not on the way over, flying with Ukraine International Airlines, via Kiev, with ryanair connections booked separately, whether you're flying via London, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, or somewhere else. There are loads of options. This all leaves aside the options that go to and from Kutaisi (rather than Tbilisi) with Wizzair and connecting Ryanair flights to those.... however, the Wizzair flights are pretty expensive at the minute. They are likely to come down in price closer to the time, in a way that some other airlines aren't, and could well end up being the cheapest way there and back, depending on the options. That all being the case, you might well not need to book yet, but it's hard to know. If you find an option at a reasonable price that you are happy with, just go with it. -------------
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Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2016 at 9:38pm
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I know all the flights aren't up yet, but I can't find any way of leaving Ireland and arriving the same day at any sort of reasonable time. Best seems to be arriving around midnight, most are in the early hours of the morning. So your choice is to spend a night on the continent or arrive at night. Some of the flights from the continent leave early in the morning, so you could get by without a hotel for the night. If you chose to arrive at night, just make sure you can still check-in at that time, particularly if it's an apartment. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: irishmufc
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2016 at 9:44pm
Arriving the same day? You could if you were on the same mode of transport as Captain Picard ------------- Wings? They're only the band The Beatles could have been. |
Posted By: AidoM
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2016 at 12:05am
Flights to eastern European countries such as Georgia arrive and leave VERY early in the mornings  ------------- But what they do have and no-one can deny this now, they have the finest collection of boilers in the world! And I include Canada in that! |
Posted By: de scientist
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2016 at 2:44am
Fair play Aido for stating the obvious again......
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Posted By: manchesterbhoy
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2016 at 9:28am
| If your looking daytime flights you'll have to go via Kiev or similar |
Posted By: The White Cafu
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 8:48pm
| Shannon - Berlin - Kutaisi- tbilisi can be done for 100 but need a stop over in Berlin, best route I've found yet. |
Posted By: Butch
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 9:06pm
Keep your cards close to your Chest mate , when we have 5k lads looking to get here in Sept then the prices will go through the roof |
Posted By: cathalb96
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 9:18pm
5k? More like 500 ------------- Cathal Bourke |
Posted By: The White Cafu
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 10:07pm
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In fairness we're playing Georgia, will have about 500 I'd say a lot less than half will even see that post and a very miniscule amount of those will even consider booking it, with Austria in a few weeks I would be pretty shocked if them prices go up too much from people booking them, lots of cheap ways through kutaisi im sure there'll be a couple of buses being run. And I'm pretty sure Butch is joking with the 5000
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Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 10:20pm
You organising the bus this time lad  most likely going to go via kutasi as well ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: Georgi
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 10:46pm
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So I was reading the topic and since I'm from Georgia I thought I'd register and offer a couple of tips. Some people are getting destinations way wrong. Gori and Kutaisi aren't worth a visit imho there are much much better places in Georgia. Mtskheta is right next to Tbilisi, oldest town in Georgia with the best food/restaurants in the country as well as medieval temple on top of the mountain with great views if you're into sightseeing. Georgia is a known wine making country, and if you're interested in knowing what wine tasted like 3000 years ago you can visit Telavi or Sighnaghi, both lovely towns with huge cellars and common wine tourism. Georgia is a huge destination for trekkers, and nature freaks. there is no shortage of amazing natural sights if you have a few days and good legs. here is a nice preview of what you might expect. https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/4ywfxt/hello_europe_from_georgia/ Batumi is a nice town with casinos, a lot of music festivals are also held there, don't know if there will be any at the same time as the game but might be worth a visit. Also Tbilisi is known to have a vibrant nightlife, Raving is a lifestyle for the youth, if you are into that. here's a great in depth article https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/2666 whatever helps you get over losing the game. There's ton of other stuff that I can't recall right away. Also one guy mentioned visiting Abkhazia. Make sure you don't go there before going to Georgia since it's illegal and Georgians won't like it either because you're supposed to go from Russia, which means supporting legitimacy of the separatist regime. For those that just want to go to the game, There are ton of English speaking Expats in Old town Tbilisi, many hang out in Hangar bar, and similar places. You can go up in Narikala fortress or Mtatsminda if you have time. If you have any questions I'll answer(if i remember to come back to this forum) |
Posted By: The White Cafu
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 10:59pm
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I think I'll leave that to the experts I thought you would have realised after this weekend I'm the last person you'd want organising a bus
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Posted By: ringerbell
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2016 at 11:52pm
Aw no bother to you lad probably could of got 1 in Moldova for what you paid that taxi ------------- the closest i will ever come to playing for ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_7w4JyvI4 |
Posted By: de scientist
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2016 at 1:44am
| lads there are too many lurkers on this page. i said it before and i will say it again..... this section of YBIG should be private and not open to the public. |
Posted By: lassassinblanc
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2016 at 4:22pm
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Do you need a visa for Georgia?? |
Posted By: irishmufc
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2016 at 4:31pm
No ------------- Wings? They're only the band The Beatles could have been. |
Posted By: kevincronin2000
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2016 at 10:03pm
------------- time is the stuff that life is made of, don't waste it. |
Posted By: Fr Fintan Stack
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 1:35am
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Kutaisi would be some shout alright! Am i right in saying its the least visited place on earth ahead of Moldova? No joke!! ------------- tumblr_o987lwB0np1vthlfbo1_500.gif |
Posted By: kevincronin2000
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 6:59am
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Price of hotels in Kutaisi lol ------------- time is the stuff that life is made of, don't waste it. |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 8:11am
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Will need to nail the Georgian alphabet this time (it's not Cyrillic but their own unique alphabet). Getting to Gori by Marshrutka (minibus taxi) was a struggle ...and even though I had the aid of a Russian speaking lad travelling with me it was still difficult to find the correct marshrutka in the chaotic bus station. Looking forward to Georgia as I really enjoyed it the last time we were there but would like to see more of the country and maybe a bit of Armenia or Azerbaijan as well. Time permitting of course. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: irishmufc
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 8:46am
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Anyone thinking of staying a night or 2 in Batumi? Probably going to take a full week for this one as there's too many flights & travelling to make it a 3 night trip. Going to need at least 2/3 days travelling alone
 ------------- Wings? They're only the band The Beatles could have been. |
Posted By: Claret Murph
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 9:38am
------------- Lansdowne Road debut aged 52 and 201 days . |
Posted By: brendy_éire
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 11:13am
Georgian stamps are fine. The Azeris won't let you in if you have a Nagorno-Karabakh stamp, and you might get some grief with an Armenian one too. Think I'll do a night in Kutaisi for this one. There's not much to do in Tbilisi, and it seems a bit of a waste to travel that far and only stay one night. Was considering Sukhumi too, but it would involve quite a lot of travel. Any other decent towns to visit? Been to Gori, but wouldn't recommended an overnight there. ------------- City Till I Die |
Posted By: lassassinblanc
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 11:30am
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You need a visa to go through Turkey right? |
Posted By: nvidic
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 11:34am
Nope
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Posted By: irishmufc
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 11:36am
Isn't it Armenia & Azerbaijan that have some bad relations relating to territory or gas pipelines? I don't think they can be drawn together in qualifying groups. Heard it somewhere before. ------------- Wings? They're only the band The Beatles could have been. |
Posted By: kevincronin2000
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 12:13pm
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Did a google image search on Mtskheta looks nice, near tiblisi and cheap as chips ------------- time is the stuff that life is made of, don't waste it. |
Posted By: colemanY2K
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 12:26pm
Bad relations is right ...they are technically at war.I'm only considering going to one or the other. It would be too much traveling when you consider you can't travel directly between the two countries (travel via Georgia is the only way). From what I read having a Armenian stamp is not a problem getting into Azerbaijan or vice versa but you may come a cropper trying to enter Azerbaijan with Nagorno Karabakh stamps on the passport. Anyway it won't be an issue for me. The bigger issue is trying to find a reasonably priced route to either Azerbaijan or Armenia from London (direct or indirect). From the limited research done I may have to settle for Georgia which ain't no bad thing I guess. ------------- "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942. |
Posted By: horsebox
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2016 at 12:32pm
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Definitely going to Mtskheta, it's a more realistic option than Batumi which is 6 hours from Tblisi ------------- It was far across the sea, When the devil got a hold of me, He wouldn't set me free, So he kept me soul for ransom. na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na. I'm a sailor man from Glasgow to |