AFTER WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S astounding result, Irish fans are faced with the happy task of travelling to Lyon to watch Ireland compete against the host nation France this Sunday 2pm Irish time (3pm in France).
For fans who are already in Lille, the journey will take them almost 700 km through the heart of France, and although there are a few ways to make it down to the Rhone-side city, none of them are particularly cheap.
Added to this is the cost of tickets for the match, which went on sale this afternoon, and are now sold out according to the UEFA site. Viagogo are selling the remaining tickets, but at almost five times their original price, and with less than a hundred tickets left as of this afternoon. The FAI are currently in negotiations with UEFA to try and secure additional tickets.
A spokesperson for the Irish League of Credit Unions told TheJournal.ie that credit unions across the country were already reporting a spike in people enquiring about loans this morning, and although this doesn’t differ from previous sports tournaments, it will involve bigger sums.
Euros 2012 saw an average credit union loan of approximately €3,000, but this was without qualifying for the Round of 16, so credit unions are expecting to see requests for larger loans, as well as an increase in the number applying, as fans hope they will witness Ireland advance to the quarter finals in Sunday’s game.
So to try to make the journey that bit easier for you, here’s a guide to get started on the long path to Lyon.
By Air
For fans who are already in Lille, recent strikes by air traffic staff might have you concerned about your flight options, but with the journey taking just over an hour, a quick flight down to Lyon might be the best option. Flights from Lille to Lyon are marginally cheaper on Saturday, working out at around €298 with Air France, but as demand increases, the sooner you book the better.
For fans looking to travel from Ireland to Lyon this Saturday, finding the right flight is going to be tricky, as there are no direct flights until Tuesday 28th June. Ryanair and Iberia are offering one-way, one-stop flights for around €250, but this does involve the additional cost of flying out of Lyon on Monday. Iberia are offering the cheapest flights out of Lyon at €235 (with one stop-off) while Aer Lingus’ cheapest offering is €295, (with one stop-off); none direct and some taking up to 24 hours before landing on Irish soil.
Alternatives to these quite pricey and exhausting options include taking a direct flight to neighbouring cities such as Nice or Geneva, and renting a car the rest of the way. But with direct flights from Dublin to places like Marseille already sold out, time is of the essence.
By Train or Bus
For fans still in Lille, trains departing from Lille on Friday morning will take between 3-3.5 hours, and will cost you €81-€116. Although bus companies such as Megabus, Flixbus and Isilines offer fares from €20-36.50 from Lille to Lyon, the journey is not for the squeamish, as they can take up to 15 hours.
By Car
For the one in ten fans who are driving their way through the Euros in campervans, the journey will take the best part of six and a half hours from Lille, but the best three routes either involve a string of road works, or driving through the city of Paris. Not to mention all lines being increased tenfold by the tsunami of soccer fans travelling through France at the moment.
Car rental company Europcar’s offerings range from €50 for a mini to €100 for a mid-sized car, excluding add-ons; petrol will cost you approximately €80 in petrol each way, and tolls could cost up to €50, so avoid if possible.
Accommodation
Thanks to the city’s thriving tourism industry, Lyon is not short of accommodation, with most three-star hotels offering rooms at €165 for a double bed stay on Saturday. There are many Ibis Budget Hotels around the city offering luxury rooms as well as cheaper options.
If you have any recommendations on the best way you’ve found to get to Lyon, be sure to let us know in the comment section below.
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