GroundsKeeper Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 I have been to over 100 away games ( or approaching that number) I have very rarely used charter companies as they are very expensive, but time is money. I have used passport travel before, don't think they exist anymore. But they were very professional. Went to Paris with them ( berti vogts) and the Ukraine game in 2006, the one when there was trouble. Headcounts on busses against names lists, etc very professional. Never used Sport Options any body been with them, any good ? I seen they were handing out boarding passes at their hotels before transfer to the airport. They look very well organised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euan2020 Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 never used charter - closest i have been was couple buses organised by troops (joe Mcgunigle) to get us from Vilnius to Minsk in 2005 i think it was i like organising my own stuff, to get flights i like, location i like and transport i like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Jim Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) Passport Travel were great for us getting started on this road, but we moved on doing our own thing. They even organised middle of the night pick-ups to get to the airport, and when Paris was seriously disrupted by some march or something, the guys went around the stadium after the game with a placard to collect people for the mystery bus location. I don't think they lost a soul, (but mind a WESTA bus leaving Easter Road without someone. I presume they didn't want to be found). Edited December 15, 2023 by Grim Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzo Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 I've only used charters twice, passport travel to Ukraine and tartan army travel (I think) to Bari both were fine as they suited us at the time but always prefer doing my own thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Bongo Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 In the days before mobile phones and cheap flights aplenty organised trips were great and you met some fantastic folk as well as arseholes (us) I could write a book on my adventures with Ian Sharp's Euroscot Doubt there will be anything like that these days Passport Travel were for the well off and lazy that were too used to home comforts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Jim Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 1 hour ago, Ally Bongo said: Passport Travel were for the well off and lazy that were too used to home comforts Ha! 😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotschic Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 We used Sport Options for Moldova last time there, and very well organised. We had to sort our own hotel and all transport but it was fine. Just recently went to a Georgia with Wonky Sheep and they were far more impressive. All communication was very good and swift, regardless of in or out of normal business hours, they had 3 staff on the flight and in the same hotel should you have any issues. Transfers to/ from the hotel in Georgia was also very organised, head counts, set busses for everyone etc so spot on. 6 of us have booked their Euros full trip as we joined their club after Georgia too. Will likely use them for nations league next year if there is another awkward city to get to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 3 hours ago, Scotschic said: We used Sport Options for Moldova last time there, and very well organised. We had to sort our own hotel and all transport but it was fine. Just recently went to a Georgia with Wonky Sheep and they were far more impressive. All communication was very good and swift, regardless of in or out of normal business hours, they had 3 staff on the flight and in the same hotel should you have any issues. Transfers to/ from the hotel in Georgia was also very organised, head counts, set busses for everyone etc so spot on. 6 of us have booked their Euros full trip as we joined their club after Georgia too. Will likely use them for nations league next year if there is another awkward city to get to. I have to admit, i thought the Wonky Sheep 3 game trip was very reasonably priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfieMoon Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 I used Passport Travel a number of times back in the day and they were great. The more often that we can get Sport Options and Wonky Sheep offering trips, the better. I can’t reasonably get away for more than 2 nights at a time which becomes restrictive for trying to get flights. Direct flights with charter companies will always be a massive bonus. Like Squirrelhumper says - the wonkysheep pricing for euros package seems very reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOsCo2 Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 10 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said: I have to admit, i thought the Wonky Sheep 3 game trip was very reasonably priced. I agree. We organised ourselves and will probably only be marginally cheaper than their quoted price. For us it would have been a bit of a gamble waiting for their package, but certainly looks like a great deal for anyone who has not booked up yet! And no, I'm not on commission! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotschic Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 I was over the moon with that price from wonky. For other reasons we couldn’t book at the t8me of the draw and I’d spent hours looking at routes via here and there plus hotels in and out of cities and it was looking a pricey trip! After many one stop trips this year we were fed up doing that so this direct flight deal is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton wanderer Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 Only been with Wonky Sheep once to Moldova and it was excellent. I heard nothing bad from those on the Sport Options trip to Moldova to be fair and it's great to have 2 charter companies providing this service as there really was a huge gap after Passport Travel ceased to be. I'm on the 11 day trip with Wonky Sheep because I am confident in them and it's cheaper than I could do it myself and that is actually something new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 Only ever used one for Faroes back in 2002 when one did 3 nights out of Aberdeen. Served its purpose at the time, but now so much cheaper and easier to do it myself (granted I know a lot of people like others to do all the work and charters suit them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaint Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 14 hours ago, rOsCo2 said: I agree. We organised ourselves and will probably only be marginally cheaper than their quoted price. For us it would have been a bit of a gamble waiting for their package, but certainly looks like a great deal for anyone who has not booked up yet! And no, I'm not on commission! As charter companies go Wonky Sheep are not too bad regarding prices but at £1600 still nearly twice the price of our 12 day trip that we put together. Only real difference is the outbound flight to Munich which we are doing via London. We booked it after the draw so didn't get it booked before the rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broath Boy Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 Just booked up for Wonky Sheep, £1620 a good price considering you are in each host city for a few days. Looking for advice on getting to Cologne from Munich on 17th and Stuttgart from Cologne on 21st, I assume ICE would be the most convenient, I think the ICE tickets are on sale very soon, is this correct and travelling on those dates being match ticket holders is there any free/cheaper that we can get or is it very little difference in price, any advice “TA West Germany” or others greatly appreciated, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaint Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Broath Boy said: Just booked up for Wonky Sheep, £1620 a good price considering you are in each host city for a few days. Looking for advice on getting to Cologne from Munich on 17th and Stuttgart from Cologne on 21st, I assume ICE would be the most convenient, I think the ICE tickets are on sale very soon, is this correct and travelling on those dates being match ticket holders is there any free/cheaper that we can get or is it very little difference in price, any advice “TA West Germany” or others greatly appreciated, cheers. Yes. Wonky sheep not stupidly expensive or anything but as i said in an earlier post we got booked up with 4 days in each of the match cities for less than half that price. Only real difference is we are going to Munich via London. Everything else is very similar to the Wonky Sheep trip. As for the journey between Munich and Cologne and then Cologne and Stuttgart it will be the train with two 29 euro tickets which go on sale on 17th January. Hopefully anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TA-West Germany Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 3 hours ago, thesaint said: Yes. Wonky sheep not stupidly expensive or anything but as i said in an earlier post we got booked up with 4 days in each of the match cities for less than half that price. Only real difference is we are going to Munich via London. Everything else is very similar to the Wonky Sheep trip. As for the journey between Munich and Cologne and then Cologne and Stuttgart it will be the train with two 29 euro tickets which go on sale on 17th January. Hopefully anyway. No other option than ICE but should be cheap if you book early enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantyboy1983 Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 6 hours ago, Broath Boy said: Just booked up for Wonky Sheep, £1620 a good price considering you are in each host city for a few days. Looking for advice on getting to Cologne from Munich on 17th and Stuttgart from Cologne on 21st, I assume ICE would be the most convenient, I think the ICE tickets are on sale very soon, is this correct and travelling on those dates being match ticket holders is there any free/cheaper that we can get or is it very little difference in price, any advice “TA West Germany” or others greatly appreciated, cheers. My understanding is that the cheap match ticket holder train tickets are for matchdays that you will be attending. Seeing as Scotland are playing in Cologne on the 19th and you want to travel on the 17th then you won't be eligible for these. Same goes for your travel from Cologne to Stuttgart as different day from matchday, unless I am mistaken and others wish to advise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantyboy1983 Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 (edited) Incidentally, I've just booked 2 tickets from Munich to Bonn on the 17th June for 85 Euro (42.50pp) one way, 2nd class, leaving approx 0930. That included seat reservation cost as well. ICE service Edited December 20, 2023 by Grantyboy1983 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaint Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 11 hours ago, Grantyboy1983 said: My understanding is that the cheap match ticket holder train tickets are for matchdays that you will be attending. Seeing as Scotland are playing in Cologne on the 19th and you want to travel on the 17th then you won't be eligible for these. Same goes for your travel from Cologne to Stuttgart as different day from matchday, unless I am mistaken and others wish to advise? The cheap db euro train tickets can be used on any day between 14th June and 14th July. The free 36 hour pass is the one that can only be used in the 36 hours inclusive of matchday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantyboy1983 Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 42 minutes ago, thesaint said: The cheap db euro train tickets can be used on any day between 14th June and 14th July. The free 36 hour pass is the one that can only be used in the 36 hours inclusive of matchday. Gotcha, thanks for clarifying 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaint Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 42 minutes ago, Grantyboy1983 said: Gotcha, thanks for clarifying 👍 No problem. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Bongo Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 It was £500 to go to France 98 on a Double Decker, staying in motels "near" Paris, Bordeaux & St Etienne The Bus took us everywhere including to the opening game at St Denis and the final game in St Etienne - didn't need it in Bordeaux as we were only a short taxi ride to the centre of town where you could walk to the stadium Going by inflation £500 in 1998 is £1000 today Just putting the £1600 for Wonky Sheep into perspective - not bad as you are flying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotschic Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 On 12/20/2023 at 5:03 PM, Broath Boy said: Just booked up for Wonky Sheep, £1620 a good price considering you are in each host city for a few days. Looking for advice on getting to Cologne from Munich on 17th and Stuttgart from Cologne on 21st, I assume ICE would be the most convenient, I think the ICE tickets are on sale very soon, is this correct and travelling on those dates being match ticket holders is there any free/cheaper that we can get or is it very little difference in price, any advice “TA West Germany” or others greatly appreciated, cheers. 6 of us from Dundee booked on it too. We booked our trains last week there. Did you get trains sorted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broath Boy Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Scotschic said: 6 of us from Dundee booked on it too. We booked our trains last week there. Did you get trains sorted? Cheers. Yes, managed Munich to Cologne for £106 for 2 first class and Cologne to Stuttgart for £76 second class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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