Liverpool FC’s famous Champions League victory over Arsenal on Tuesday night has hopeful fans already dreaming of reaching the final in Moscow.
But if the club do manage to overcome Chelsea in the semi-final, fans travelling to Russia for the May 21 final are certain to be considerably out of pocket.
The cost of flights to Moscow that week are already more than £500 in places, with operators predicting them to possibly triple in price once the Final line-up is confirmed on April 30.
Fans may also struggle to find cheap accommodation in the city recently named as the most expensive in the world. Fans should also be aware that no-one can enter the Russian Federation without a visa.
This visa takes eight-10 working days, costs £45 and must include an official tourism document supplied by a travel agent or hotel, indicating where the fans will be staying.
A member of the Russian Consulate in London said they had already received a deluge of enquiries from Liverpool fans.
She said: “It’s been very busy, but fans need to allow time to get their visa back and must include all the paperwork and a passport photograph.”
Liverpool still have to beat Chelsea over two legs, which could lead to an all-English final against Manchester United, and no doubt a major security headache for Uefa.
A quick browse of the main internet hotel sites showed a number of the centrally located hotels in Moscow were already completely booked out for the night of the May 21.
Current prices for two and three star hotels average between £100 and £190 for a three night stay.
But as fans wait with baited breath to see if Liverpool can get to another European Cup Final, some have already booked their flights.
A number of fans on the Red and White Kop forum last night said they had snapped up cheap flights and were prepared to lose the money if Chelsea go through.
Without tempting fate, fans can expect to pay £21.12 for a three-course dinner, £1.69 for a coffee and up to £4 for a pint of Western beer.
Visas take eight to 10 working days, cost £45 and must be accompanied by an official tourism voucher
This voucher, supplied by Russian (British) travel agent or must be included in the application and be signed and stamped.
A Tourist Acceptance Confirmation, written in Russian from an authorised Russian travel agency or a hotel must also be included.
The Confirmation must contain the agency’s reference number and registration number.
More information at www.rusemblon.org/logon_en.htm or on 0207-499-10-29.
Flights aren’t available direct from Liverpool John Lennon, although operators including BMI, Lufthansa, Czech Airlines and Air France fly from Manchester and Leeds.
Flights currently available from Manchester to Moscow start from £250 return with BMI, but travel agents are warning the cost could triple on April 30 when the final line-up is decided. Expedia currently has flights for around £400 return from Manchester with Lufthansa going out on May 20 and returning May 22.
Czech Airlines offer £420 returns for the same date, and Air France £550.
BMI from Leeds Bradford on the May 20, returning May 23 currently has flights for £373.20.
Compared with a six-hour flight time, a train ticket from London across Europe currently comes in at £336, taking just under 73 hours.
Add either the cost of an average £60 return Liverpool to London train ticket or take National Express with fares from £8 each way.
This option takes the Eurostar to Brussels, high speed train to Cologne, sleeper train to Moscow, spending two nights aboard crossing Poland and Belerus.
The adventurous and hardcore fan with a reliable vehicle might also consider driving the 2,038 miles to Moscow.
Based on calculations of a 10-year-old Vauxhall Corsa, with a 1.4 engine, this would cost £266 in petrol.
But if the club do manage to overcome Chelsea in the semi-final, fans travelling to Russia for the May 21 final are certain to be considerably out of pocket.
The cost of flights to Moscow that week are already more than £500 in places, with operators predicting them to possibly triple in price once the Final line-up is confirmed on April 30.
Fans may also struggle to find cheap accommodation in the city recently named as the most expensive in the world. Fans should also be aware that no-one can enter the Russian Federation without a visa.
This visa takes eight-10 working days, costs £45 and must include an official tourism document supplied by a travel agent or hotel, indicating where the fans will be staying.
A member of the Russian Consulate in London said they had already received a deluge of enquiries from Liverpool fans.
She said: “It’s been very busy, but fans need to allow time to get their visa back and must include all the paperwork and a passport photograph.”
Liverpool still have to beat Chelsea over two legs, which could lead to an all-English final against Manchester United, and no doubt a major security headache for Uefa.
A quick browse of the main internet hotel sites showed a number of the centrally located hotels in Moscow were already completely booked out for the night of the May 21.
Current prices for two and three star hotels average between £100 and £190 for a three night stay.
But as fans wait with baited breath to see if Liverpool can get to another European Cup Final, some have already booked their flights.
A number of fans on the Red and White Kop forum last night said they had snapped up cheap flights and were prepared to lose the money if Chelsea go through.
Without tempting fate, fans can expect to pay £21.12 for a three-course dinner, £1.69 for a coffee and up to £4 for a pint of Western beer.
Visas take eight to 10 working days, cost £45 and must be accompanied by an official tourism voucher
This voucher, supplied by Russian (British) travel agent or must be included in the application and be signed and stamped.
A Tourist Acceptance Confirmation, written in Russian from an authorised Russian travel agency or a hotel must also be included.
The Confirmation must contain the agency’s reference number and registration number.
More information at www.rusemblon.org/logon_en.htm or on 0207-499-10-29.
Flights aren’t available direct from Liverpool John Lennon, although operators including BMI, Lufthansa, Czech Airlines and Air France fly from Manchester and Leeds.
Flights currently available from Manchester to Moscow start from £250 return with BMI, but travel agents are warning the cost could triple on April 30 when the final line-up is decided. Expedia currently has flights for around £400 return from Manchester with Lufthansa going out on May 20 and returning May 22.
Czech Airlines offer £420 returns for the same date, and Air France £550.
BMI from Leeds Bradford on the May 20, returning May 23 currently has flights for £373.20.
Compared with a six-hour flight time, a train ticket from London across Europe currently comes in at £336, taking just under 73 hours.
Add either the cost of an average £60 return Liverpool to London train ticket or take National Express with fares from £8 each way.
This option takes the Eurostar to Brussels, high speed train to Cologne, sleeper train to Moscow, spending two nights aboard crossing Poland and Belerus.
The adventurous and hardcore fan with a reliable vehicle might also consider driving the 2,038 miles to Moscow.
Based on calculations of a 10-year-old Vauxhall Corsa, with a 1.4 engine, this would cost £266 in petrol.
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