UEFA Europa Conference League-Knockout stages (Olympiacos)

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Thought this would be fairly easy to get to, but i'm struggling to find flights for a decent price, currently only 1 direct flight out of London on the Wednesday....retun flight about £480. Anyone got a more creative way of getting there?

How about getting a flight from London to Brindisi, then taking a ferry to Patras on the Greek mainland. Its then about a 2 1/2 hour bus to Athens.
I remember going on this ferry many years ago, takes 16 hours but it was very pleasant and boat travel is a great way to relax if you have the time.

[claret+blue ed]

Think you were on the same excursion to Lille as me Liam. Thought it was very good VFM, but I did sleep for about 3/4 hours each way. Definitely take this option for another Western Europe adventure.

Not doing Olympiacos , but having paid quite a lot of attention to the affected dates/flights for the final, against my usual cautious/thrifty nature I've booked the potential final flights today. That is definitely on the upswing price wise, especially as the week/weekend is halfterm. A few of our potential group have dropped out because of the cost or the amount of days involved to keep the cost down. We're doing 4 nights, worse case scenario we'll head across to Marathan for beach side after a day in Athens. Plenty of accommodation available but there's not an endless supply or capacity UK direct to Athens.

I’d been watching flights for the final, but didn’t dare commit, not sure whether it was confidence or just sheer joy after knocking out Lille, but I booked flights with Jet2 from Manchester for £350, seen today that the same flight is now £679!!!! There are plenty is you want a stopover somewhere, but even they are going up now

[algy]

Thought this would be fairly easy to get to, but i'm struggling to find flights for a decent price, currently only 1 direct flight out of London on the Wednesday....retun flight about £480. Anyone got a more creative way of getting there? Went on a coach to Lille as 2 of my kids came so kept the cost down for them....NEVER AGAIN! no fault of the organiser, but i'm to old to be sleeping on a crowded coach with my legs in the aisle, esepically after missing the midnight ferry home due to ET and the police keeping us in...next one was 4am.  Although the quick turnaround prevented getting me from getting back on the beer so that meant no hangover for the first time on this European adventure.

If we get to the final, was planning on Interrail:
https://www.seat61.com/Greece.htm  -> route via Bari looks the best.

Reckon it'll cost around £1000 including accommodation, but you do get some spectacular scenery on the way

[V1lla]

I'm in the Scilly Isles for the second leg. Does anyone know if there is likely to be any pub that may have sport on?

Are your staying on St Mary’s?  I’d say the Mermaid may well have it on. Also the Scillonian club (they do short term memberships).

[itbrvilla]

I'm in the Scilly Isles for the second leg. Does anyone know if there is likely to be any pub that may have sport on?

Are your staying on St Mary’s?  I’d say the Mermaid may well have it on. Also the Scillonian club (they do short term memberships).

Ye, staying on St. Mary's. Thanks for that I'll check them out.

Edit. With Scouse and Wham being knocked out it'll be more likely we'll be on too.

[Brazilian Villain]

Are your staying on St Mary’s?  I’d say the Mermaid may well have it on. Also the Scillonian club (they do short term memberships).

Yes, staying on St. Mary's. Thanks for that I'll check them out.

Edit. With Scouse and Wham being knocked out it'll be more likely we'll be on too.

We're the only show in town now, so should be on.

[VillaTim]

Hotel been booked for months . Flights not so .

[Dave P]

Hotel been booked for months . Flights not so .

Same.  I've got a hotel booked but I'm not brave enough to book flights without a) us getting there and b) a match ticket.

[olaftab]

Thought this would be fairly easy to get to, but i'm struggling to find flights for a decent price, currently only 1 direct flight out of London on the Wednesday....retun flight about £480. Anyone got a more creative way of getting there?

How about getting a flight from London to Brindisi, then taking a ferry to Patras on the Greek mainland. Its then about a 2 1/2 hour bus to Athens.
I remember going on this ferry many years ago, takes 16 hours but it was very pleasant and boat travel is a great way to relax if you have the time.

The best option is to turn up at port of Esmima where the Ottomans' are preparing ships to sail to Atenas for their annual assault that starts around local Easter celebration. Any one fit and able to carry a full grown lamb on their shoulders is welcome.

[claret+blue ed]

Hotel been booked for months . Flights not so .

Same.  I've got a hotel booked but I'm not brave enough to book flights without a) us getting there and b) a match ticket.

I was same, but saw the flights going up and thought i'd risk it and book, i'll have made the right decision if we do make it as the flight has doubled in a few days, if not i'll be reminded about it forever by the wife!!!

I doubt i'll have much hance of a match ticket with only being a member, despite going to all the home CL games, but times like this don't come around very often and what better way to spend time than with fellow Villans in the sun

[Villaarcher]

I notice on twitter / X that Sport Options are doing a flight to Athens for Olympiakos . Direct from Birmingham £429 which seems alot better than anything else I can find. I went with them to England games in Ukraine euros years ago 2012 .

[claret+blue ed]

I notice on twitter / X that Sport Options are doing a flight to Athens for Olympiakos . Direct from Birmingham £429 which seems alot better than anything else I can find. I went with them to England games in Ukraine euros years ago 2012 .

Hopefully if we do make the final, the club will make arrangements with a travel firm to put on a few flights from Birmingham

[Holte L2]

I booked flights for the Final after we beat Ajax. Took a punt at £140. Those same flights are now £425. Going Monday - Thursday from Stansted.

[DeKuip]

Thought this would be fairly easy to get to, but i'm struggling to find flights for a decent price, currently only 1 direct flight out of London on the Wednesday....retun flight about £480. Anyone got a more creative way of getting there? Went on a coach to Lille as 2 of my kids came so kept the cost down for them....NEVER AGAIN! no fault of the organiser, but i'm to old to be sleeping on a crowded coach with my legs in the aisle, esepically after missing the midnight ferry home due to ET and the police keeping us in...next one was 4am.  Although the quick turnaround prevented getting me from getting back on the beer so that meant no hangover for the first time on this European adventure.

If we get to the final, was planning on Interrail:
https://www.seat61.com/Greece.htm  -> route via Bari looks the best.

Reckon it'll cost around £1000 including accommodation, but you do get some spectacular scenery on the way

A possible problem with that route is Fiorentina fans could be filling the trains down to Bari, and onward ferry, and they would have a day’s head start on booking it.

[algy]

Thought this would be fairly easy to get to, but i'm struggling to find flights for a decent price, currently only 1 direct flight out of London on the Wednesday....retun flight about £480. Anyone got a more creative way of getting there? Went on a coach to Lille as 2 of my kids came so kept the cost down for them....NEVER AGAIN! no fault of the organiser, but i'm to old to be sleeping on a crowded coach with my legs in the aisle, esepically after missing the midnight ferry home due to ET and the police keeping us in...next one was 4am.  Although the quick turnaround prevented getting me from getting back on the beer so that meant no hangover for the first time on this European adventure.

If we get to the final, was planning on Interrail:
https://www.seat61.com/Greece.htm  -> route via Bari looks the best.

Reckon it'll cost around £1000 including accommodation, but you do get some spectacular scenery on the way

A possible problem with that route is Fiorentina fans could be filling the trains down to Bari, and onward ferry, and they would have a day’s head start on booking it.

Just going to have to hope to hell that doesn't happen ... or at least we're far enough ahead in the 1st leg that I'm willing to risk spaffing out for the pass & the potentially problematic reservations (Milan -> Bari and the ferry) whilst they're labouring against Club Bruges.

Is it a particularly well used route to get to Greece from Northern Italy?  I've genuinely no idea ... kind of assumed there'd be a large percentage flying.