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Post by fireboy0610 on Jun 7, 2023 21:17:43 GMT
Got my tickets emailed today Don't you mean you have got an email giving you instructions to where and when you have to pick your tickets up in samsun? |
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Post by manulike on Jun 7, 2023 21:42:03 GMT
Got my tickets emailed today Don't you mean you have got an email giving you instructions to where and when you have to pick your tickets up in samsun? I also got my ticket emailed today. Only a percentage of people will need this time to collect in person - seems to be pressure from the FSA.
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Post by cantonwelsh79 on Jun 8, 2023 12:04:43 GMT
What part of the city is everyone staying in? I'm booked in the centre near ticket collection but sounds like the nightlife area is near the Gol party bar in Atakum a few miles away so thinking of switching thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-cymru-guide-to-turkey/It's a tricky decision - I've finally settled on the City Centre. I like the look of it and I know that if I'm by those bars up on the coast I'll probably just see them and miss the rest of the city! Will probably have a stroll up on the day of the game (probably with a few pit stops!) but the tram looks quite good and I bet taxis will be cheap. |
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Post by CrackityJones on Jun 8, 2023 12:50:01 GMT
Yeah I'm leaning toward that as well cheers. Arrive Sunday evening so will probably stick to the centre then and venture up that way next day
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Post by felinessex on Jun 8, 2023 13:40:52 GMT
Yeah I'm leaning toward that as well cheers. Arrive Sunday evening so will probably stick to the centre then and venture up that the way next day We’ve gone for the city centre. Around 15 minutes on a tram or cheap cab ride to Atakum. Located a few bars to try near the hotel, allegedly much cheaper than the beach venues ? There’s a huge bazaar on the prom bang in the centre. Planning on travelling light and picking up some Abibas trainers and Shen Berman shirts to wear out there. See link to vid. youtu.be/lnocCKq7dpw |
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Post by CrackityJones on Jun 8, 2023 13:48:13 GMT
Sounds ideal...I need some new flop flips
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Post by manulike on Jun 8, 2023 22:28:02 GMT
I'll remember to bring my Russian phrasebook with me - I hear the Russians are loved over there ;-)
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Post by cogancoronation31 on Jun 9, 2023 9:06:49 GMT
There probably will be a lot of Russian holidaymakers there in Samsun.
My experience of their football supporters in Toulouse at Euro 2016 was that they were very friendly.
They're so unlucky to find themselves where they are currently, regime-wise.
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Post by jbt95 on Jun 9, 2023 17:23:31 GMT
Yeah I'm leaning toward that as well cheers. Arrive Sunday evening so will probably stick to the centre then and venture up that way next day I had booked a hotel in Atakum but with the game ending at midnight and the buses only dropping off at the centre after the game have decided against staying so far out, not sure how easy it would be to get back there. |
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Post by manulike on Jun 9, 2023 20:13:10 GMT
There probably will be a lot of Russian holidaymakers there in Samsun. My experience of their football supporters in Toulouse at Euro 2016 was that they were very friendly. They're so unlucky to find themselves where they are currently, regime-wise. Agree with you comepletely ;-) |
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Post by felinessex on Jun 10, 2023 3:39:27 GMT
There probably will be a lot of Russian holidaymakers there in Samsun. My experience of their football supporters in Toulouse at Euro 2016 was that they were very friendly. They're so unlucky to find themselves where they are currently, regime-wise. They probably think the same about the UK…. |
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Post by gwernybwch on Jun 10, 2023 6:55:12 GMT
There probably will be a lot of Russian holidaymakers there in Samsun. My experience of their football supporters in Toulouse at Euro 2016 was that they were very friendly. They're so unlucky to find themselves where they are currently, regime-wise. Save the sympathy for Russians that can afford an overseas holiday during wartime economic sanctions (or even scarpered at the first sign of a military draft). The "Ivanovs" got their money on the back of the Putin regime. I ended up in a Russian owned bar in Toulouse, had a cracking night. But they didn't half remind me of the English. Yearning after the good ole days when they had an empire and territories such Ukraine / Wales were under their full control. |
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Post by hw83 on Jun 10, 2023 16:37:02 GMT
Is anyone planning on heading straight to the airport after the game? Or does anyone know the best plan for luggage storage?
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Post by CrackityJones on Jun 10, 2023 22:05:05 GMT
There are hotels right next to the stadium, look into staying there if you have an early flight
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Post by welrus on Jun 11, 2023 22:04:53 GMT
Yeah I'm leaning toward that as well cheers. Arrive Sunday evening so will probably stick to the centre then and venture up that way next day I had booked a hotel in Atakum but with the game ending at midnight and the buses only dropping off at the centre after the game have decided against staying so far out, not sure how easy it would be to get back there. Personally it’s great to have to buses but disappointing that at least some aren’t making a return to Atakum where I’m committed to staying now. This is the kind of info that would have been so much more helpful earlier. |
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Post by CrackityJones on Jun 12, 2023 8:44:25 GMT
corky have the Turkish FA confirmed buses will definitely be provided to and from the game?
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Post by manulike on Jun 12, 2023 21:53:35 GMT
corky have the Turkish FA confirmed buses will definitely be provided to and from the game? I thought the tram goes right to the stadium? |
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Post by bluephill on Jun 12, 2023 22:30:47 GMT
corky have the Turkish FA confirmed buses will definitely be provided to and from the game? I thought the tram goes right to the stadium? According to the FAW the advice given locally was that the trams to the ground will be very busy. Maybe it’s true, maybe the free buses are genuinely to make it easier for us, or perhaps it’s just to try to keep us together and away from the home fans? |
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Post by manulike on Jun 13, 2023 17:33:05 GMT
I thought the tram goes right to the stadium? According to the FAW the advice given locally was that the trams to the ground will be very busy. Maybe it’s true, maybe the free buses are genuinely to make it easier for us, or perhaps it’s just to try to keep us together and away from the home fans? Anyone know a city centre location for said buses? |
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Post by manulike on Jun 13, 2023 18:00:40 GMT
I've been holding back from getting my return flight back from Turkey until later this month. Appears that on 22 June there is a big meeting of the new (female) chief of the Turkish central bank, and there is talk of increasing the base interest rate from the current 8% to 20%-25% overnight. If that happens, the lira will plummet by another 20% or so and stabilise around 35 to the ££. I am no expert, but if you plan to be in Turkey til the end of June, you may wish to buy only small amounts of lira at a time. www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/analysts-bet-bumper-turkish-rate-hikes-way-2023-06-13/ |
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Post by bluephill on Jun 13, 2023 20:46:40 GMT
According to the FAW the advice given locally was that the trams to the ground will be very busy. Maybe it’s true, maybe the free buses are genuinely to make it easier for us, or perhaps it’s just to try to keep us together and away from the home fans? Anyone know a city centre location for said buses? As I understand it, they are supposed to be leaving from the Akatum area, I think near Bar333, then dropping back to city centre. |
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Post by fireboy0610 on Jun 13, 2023 21:04:16 GMT
Genuine question and not a dig at the FAW, but why do tickets go on sale so late? The venue was announced months ago so why the delay? I'm fine for tickets as ion 8 of 9 last aways but for those sweating on tickets it's not a cheap trip and some won't risk it, booking late is then normally more expensive so a bit unfair. Can't do turkey but definitely doing Latvia and Armenia, might struggle getting a ticket for Latvia but still going anyway as I've always wanted to go there and I will be meeting up with loads I know, hoping I will have a very good chance for Armenia as not as many will go plus I will want one for eldest as it will be his first away. |
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Post by manulike on Jun 15, 2023 20:50:16 GMT
A useful indicator of the exchange rates at most banks. Obviously, the rate changes 3-5 times per day, but as an indicator its useful to see the better banks.
POSSIBLY WORTH LOOKING OUT FOR THE ZIRAAT BANKASI ATM as well as bank desk at IST airport.
They do not charge a commission / fee and currently offer 29.57 / £ which is certainly better than most High St exchange places!
ATM MACHINES THAT USUALLY DO NOT CARRY A FEE / CHARGE ARE:
ING bank, Seker bank , Ziraat bank, Halk bank , PTT Post Office and Fiba bank
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Post by felinessex on Jun 16, 2023 23:18:53 GMT
Drinking out in Atakum tonight. Very different atmosphere to the city centre, loads of bars.
Got a tram out there, a bit complicated getting a Samkart from the vending machine at the tram stop. The guy working there sorted us out.
We paid 40try - around £1.50 loaded on to one card. The local guru assured us we didn’t need a card apiece. He was right. We just swiped in using the same card.
Luckily none of the bars showed the Wales game. Watched Latvia v Turkey with a load of happy waiters.
Beers were around £3 a pint, grabbed kebab and chips at 2am for £3, then cab back to the city centre £4, including a generous tip.
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Post by eppingblue1 on Jun 17, 2023 16:37:57 GMT
Drinking out in Atakum tonight. Very different atmosphere to the city centre, loads of bars. Got a tram out there, a bit complicated getting a Samkart from the vending machine at the tram stop. The guy working there sorted us out. We paid 40try - around £1.50 loaded on to one card. The local guru assured us we didn’t need a card apiece. He was right. We just swiped in using the same card. Luckily none of the bars showed the Wales game. Watched Latvia v Turkey with a load of happy waiters. Beers were around £3 a pint, grabbed kebab and chips at 2am for £3, then cab back to the city centre £4, including a generous tip. That all sounds pretty good. Not long back from Cardiff and leaving for Turkey in a couple of hours. Never been so knackered at the start of a trip. What are the taxis like from the airport, availability and cost. |
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Post by manulike on Jun 18, 2023 3:30:33 GMT
MONEY CHANGING
Just a heads up, as I tried 5 Money Exchange bureaus, in both Antalya airport and the new ISTANBUL airport - and they all offered 23 to 24 to the pound.
I just used my Starling debit card in the ZIRAAT bank ATM, pressed "DO NOT REQUIRE PDD conversion" and I got a rate of 29.6 - that was a £20 saving on 3009 lira withdrawal...
More baklawah money :+)
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Post by southcoastwelsh on Jun 18, 2023 8:03:28 GMT
There's a small taxi booth across the road after you exit the airport and a fella there to help get a taxi. We had to wait about 10 mins. Journey was on the meter and cost 300 lira, with a decent tip, to the center. Good value as its a good 25 minute drive.
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Post by majorraglan on Jun 18, 2023 22:02:47 GMT
MONEY CHANGING Just a heads up, as I tried 5 Money Exchange bureaus, in both Antalya airport and the new ISTANBUL airport - and they all offered 23 to 24 to the pound. I just used my Starling debit card in the ZIRAAT bank ATM, pressed "DO NOT REQUIRE PDD conversion" and I got a rate of 29.6 - that was a £20 saving on 3009 lira withdrawal... More baklawah money :+) Coming back from Qatar I priced changing money in Dubai and Bahrain airports, the former was much more expensive than the latter and still more expensive than changing the cash back in the U.K. Steer clear of the airport bureaus, they are a rip off. |
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Post by felinessex on Jun 20, 2023 22:57:47 GMT
Still out in Samsun tonight (Tuesday), back to Istanbul tomorrow for a few days. Have to say that the reception we’ve had everywhere this evening has been fantastic.
Not that it wasn’t good before the game, but this was different.
Went for a meal at a city centre restaurant and the whole crew, young and old, just wanted to come out and talk football and stuff in general. Obviously every conversation was started with a celebration of the result, but after that, it was all good fun.
Same reception in city centre bars afterwards. A cracking night was had. I think we deffo made a favourable impression in Samsun.
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Post by manulike on Jun 21, 2023 7:38:26 GMT
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