Off to Germany: pre-planning stages

[The Magpie]

Glenn Davis, who announced the last 2 WCQ games publishes an article weekly in the Houston Chronicle. He mentioned that Team-USA had chosen Hamburg as its headquarters for WC06.

Yup: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=252191

[tab5g]

Fifa's piece on US Soccer selecting Hamburg.

Pretty much the same quotes and info.

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/051014/1/4yq6.html

[Roehl Sybing]

If I could just ask: what does everyone figure their budget for their WC trip to be? I figure I'll have spent $6000 by the time the group stage is done and I'm flying back to Japan (and that means everything, accomodations, flight, tickets, incidentals, whathaveyou). That seems to me a very conservative number, am I right?

[InteristAmerica]

Hello!

I thought I'd introduce myself, since I'll be on these boards a hell of a lot more now that I just bought my tickets to Germany.

So, um, yeah. My name's Adam. Howzitgoin.

Luckily, my wife travels a LOT for work, and we were able to get two tickets LAX to Frankfurt almost completely with miles. We get in on the 8th and leave the 18th. My wife's parents work for Bayer, and they have a number of friends who live in Leverkusen, so we'll probably be staying there for a little while, and making day trips to any games we get tix for.

After my experience going to the Euro Cup in 2004, I'm less worried about tickets, but I'm more worried about places to stay.

I'm also looking forward to meeting people from Togo. That sounds cool.

As well as soccer powerhouses like Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, and Poland.

[Mikeymike15]

If I could just ask: what does everyone figure their budget for their WC trip to be? I figure I'll have spent $6000 by the time the group stage is done and I'm flying back to Japan (and that means everything, accomodations, flight, tickets, incidentals, whathaveyou). That seems to me a very conservative number, am I right?

Roehl,

I've come up with budget for my group that is about $3000 to $3600 per person for a 2 week stay. $2500 to $3000 for a one week stay. Notably, One third of the costs is airfare.

PM me with your email addy if you want me to shoot you over our groups loose itinerary and budget.

or just shoot me an email to mikekotas@hotmail.com
Mike

[FC Tallavana]

For you NYC folks, this fare may be what you're looking for...

Singapore Airlines:
NYC to Frankfurt
Dep 6/6
Return 6/26

1 adult = $ 550.00
Taxes and Fees = $ 194.20
Service Fee = $ 5.00

Total Price = $ 749.20



I saw it on Travelocity.com

[mandrake]

I will be flying out of NYC, and that is a good price, but I can't seem to find it on Travelocity? Looking at the Singapore website shows some pretty good fares too. $717 for 6-June till 27-June.

[Jabinho]

Does anyone know about taking boats across?

I have a friend who had talked about riding in cargo of a ship, or flying to Iceland and staying 48 hours because it was cheaper than flying straight to mainland Europe...? I'd like to give him some info.
Here's some basic info.. You can find lots more at Google by simply putting "travel by freighter" in as I did below the first link.:

http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0011/miniguide_freighter_voyage.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=travel+by+freighter

[FC Tallavana]

I will be flying out of NYC, and that is a good price, but I can't seem to find it on Travelocity? Looking at the Singapore website shows some pretty good fares too. $717 for 6-June till 27-June.

From the main page search from NYC to FRA for flexible dates from June to June. Then select the 6th for departure and the 26th for return. There may be other dates as well but those dates definitely work as of right now.

[mandrake]

Cool, I found it. I wonder why that doesn't show up when you put in the exact dates? Anywho, thanks much.

[Bigdog]

Yanks In Germany List serve reminder:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/YanksinGermany/

[Palermo10]

I got an email from Orbitz.

There is NYC to Berlin round trip airfare for only $575,
Departing 06/04/2006 - Returning 06/22/2006

Those arent the exact dates of the WC, getting there 5 days early and leaving 2 days early, but that is by far the best price I have seen.

http://www.orbitz.com/App/PerformSearchUsingDealId?dealId=4560681

That should be the correct link.

Edit:

More $575 fares on that link:

Leave June 6 (arrive June 7) and Depart June 23
Leave June 6 (arrive June 7) and Depart June 26
Leave June 8 (arrive June 9) and Depart June 26
Leave June 8 (arrive June 9) and Depart June 27
Leave June 9 (arrive June 10) and Depart June 26

[Mikeymike15]

I got an email from Orbitz.

There is NYC to Berlin round trip airfare for only $575,
Departing 06/04/2006 - Returning 06/22/2006

Those arent the exact dates of the WC, getting there 5 days early and leaving 2 days early, but that is by far the best price I have seen.

http://www.orbitz.com/App/PerformSearchUsingDealId?dealId=4560681

That should be the correct link.

Edit:

More $575 fares on that link:

Leave June 6 (arrive June 7) and Depart June 23
Leave June 6 (arrive June 7) and Depart June 26
Leave June 8 (arrive June 9) and Depart June 26
Leave June 8 (arrive June 9) and Depart June 27
Leave June 9 (arrive June 10) and Depart June 26

FYI, these fares actually end up being $627, watch for the errors.

The flight is on LTU which is a german charter carrier. It Connects in Dusseldorf and to Berlin, Munich, and a couple of other cities on Lufthansa.

The fare is only valid with flights on weekdays....not weekends....

[Palermo10]

FYI, these fares actually end up being $627, watch for the errors.

The flight is on LTU which is a german charter carrier. It Connects in Dusseldorf and to Berlin, Munich, and a couple of other cities on Lufthansa.

The fare is only valid with flights on weekdays....not weekends....


That would explain in some instances the $400 difference for flying on Monday instead of Sunday! :eek:

Have you noticed that a lot? That weekday fares are cheaper? Because I am scheduled to check out of my hostel on Saturday the 24th... but I'm wondering if I should stay an extra night at $17 for the night to save money by flying back on Monday....

[comme]

I know this is a thread particularly for travelling Americans but i thought some might be interested in this thread in the official WC forum.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253842

There's not much in it so far, but I think it could grow to be quite useful.

[Bigdog]

I took the Ltu deal today for $550 to Dussledorf.
Im going to Germany, kay sura-sura!! : ) LOL

Bd

[owian]

Someone mentioned earlier about using Low fare airlines in europe. This is a great deal I was able to get 30 and forty dollar tickets from London to the continent (and sense it is not uncommon for tickets from here to London to be 100 bucks cheaper it works out) just be warned like everything this summer you will not be the only one trying to get tickets. And sometimes it can be hard to book tickets from over here. But the other advantage we have is that most of the fans are not going to go to Germany to see the US play, so lets hope we draw at least one non european team (as long as its not brazil) to make it easy.

[Palermo10]

I booked my airfare yesterday - a little different than everyone else's because I will be in Europe for 6 months.

But it worked out, $874, returning from Berlin on the 26th of June, that I actually SAVE $100 by going to the World Cup than if I were to return in May :D :p

[JacksonJazz#9]

Bltleo... did you get my PM re: frankfurt.... fill me in on this city will ya??? bus service into the city? im staying probably 40-60 min outside of frankfurt

[Bigdog]

Here is some info to get you started:

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/c/frankfurt.html
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/traffic/publictransport.html
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/traffic/index.html
http://www.germany-tourism.de/e/metropole_frankfurt.html

http://www.dansoccerzone.com/germany_2006/