Pilgrimage help:

[SuperElf]

Hey y'all.

Planning my pilgrimage to Anfiled next season, and I was wondering if you guys knew of any hotels within walking distance of the ground.

In addition, are the touts really gonna charge me 70 or 80 pounds for a match against some minnow like WBA?

Also, any advice from anyone who's done this on their own? I was hoping to go with the NY club next year, but it looks like my calendar isn't going to allow it . . .

Thanks for any help y'all can give me. I remember we had a thread on this kind of stuff going before the last crash, so I apologize if you're one of the ones who had posted on this stuff before.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

You can try to get tickets through the official site. A hostel is always a cheap way to stay, not luxurious, but cheap. I am planning to go over there next season as well, probably during the Christmas rush of mathces. That way I have a better chance at seeing one.

[Matt Clark]

OK - first of all: you do not want to stay in L4. Trust me.

You can get a hotel in the city centre and be up at Anfield in 10 minutes by taxi. That's what everyone does. Hotels in the centre include all the usual suspects - Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn. There are also loads of cheaper hotels and hostels, mainly on a street called Mt Pleasant. The Feathers is alright, the Aachen also. You can always go with the faded Victorian splendour of the Adelphi Hotel (http://www.infotel.co.uk/scripts/details.asp?showmenu=yes&id=16332), which is slap-bang in the middle of town and right next to Lime Street station.

Otherwise, just check out Liverpool Hotels Online (http://www.liverpool-hotelsonline.com/) for a variety of choices.

Ticket-wise, the best thing to do is to look out for the sale on the official site. They sell a limited amount of tickets via a Ticketmaster deal they have - you would probably have to be online at some ungodly hour to get into it from your side of the pond, but hey! Do you want to come to Anfield or not? ;)

Touts will charge you whatever they can get away with. Remember, yer average Scouser is a merchant. Always open to a bit of bargaining*. For a lesser game, they will not be doing much business. You should be able to get a ticket for as little as £35 if you have the wherewithall to deal with the guy. Ever bought a second hand car? Then you can deal with a tout. Oh - and if you are going to do it that way - get the tout action out of the way BEFORE you go to the Megastore and buy your merchandise. The bright red plastic bag does very little for your bargaining position.

(*CAVEAT: That, or he'll just twat you for being cheeky. Don't blame me.)

If you're really stuck, give me a shout and I will see what I can do. Don't take the piss and rock up for Arsenal, Everton or the Scum at home though, eh? ;)

On match day, get up there early. If it's your only visit, you will want to check out the 13 pubs within spitting distance of the ground before settling on a haunt for the day (remember, the game is the mid-way point). My local up there is the Oakfield. For a preview of the pubs around there, thank the city's students. (http://iasc1.scm.liv.ac.uk/anfield.html) Obviouslt bear in mind that the closer to the ground you are, the more rammed it will be.

The Oaky is full of LFC's foreign fans, for some reason. Loads of the Irish and the Scandiwegian. It's also a Rangers pub, just so's you know.

Anyway - nearer the time, let me know if you need to know more.

[liverbird]

If the match is not too important, you can get tickets directly through the official internet site (I did for LFC at home to Chelsea last Easter) or through the phone. Tickets go on sale the Thursday immediately two weeks before the game. More info on the site. Not much right out by Anfield to stay. My son and I stayed at a nice hotel, Feathers, within walking distance of Lime Street Station and the center of the city. From there the LFC store is six or seven blocks away. They have a full breakfast (boiled English breakfast) included in the room rate. Lime Street Station is the main train station and you can get there on a direct train right from the Manchester International Airport ( the closest to Liverpool). I'd recommend Feathers also for the nice looking ladies on desk staff. Down town is better for food, entertainemnt, and connection to Beatles sites. Remember to seperatelt schedule a visit to the LFC museum and Anfield tour. The boot room, and pitch visit is not to be missed. Every one gets to take pictures and touch the This is Anfield sign.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Originally posted by liverbird
The boot room, and pitch visit is not to be missed. Every one gets to take pictures and touch the This is Anfield sign.

I can't wait...saving my pennies. Of course I'll happily accept donations to my cause! :D

[usscouse]

Originally posted by LiverpoolFanatic
I can't wait...saving my pennies. Of course I'll happily accept donations to my cause! :D Remember the weather in Liverpool isn't quite the same in December as it is in the Islands. The Hawaian shirt, baggies and pucka shell choker won't keep you warm but you will give them something to talk about in the pub...!

[Matt Clark]

Eh - did yers see tha' Yank runnin' araaand withowt no clothes on? Fuchen lairy nomarch. Berries a fuchen kopite. ;)