Old May 3, 2019, 10:43 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: peter h
Poor @KARFA and @LondonAndy have a few gatecrashers

@LondonAndy's quiet weekend in Sofia (SOF).

LHR - SOF
Friday 28 February 2020
BA0890 12:45 - 17:50: Garimi (+3), Tomparskate
Saturday 29 February 2020
BA0890 08:10 - 13:15: alex67500, CaroFos, dycc, estrangeiro8, FlyerP, GadgetGal, jfallesen, LondonAndy, megaloman, mtikky, n4ynx, onobond, ScienceTeacher, streetmagix (+1), teledude, Tiffywren, Wbeest,
BA0892 13:40 - 18:50: Cancelled, so assuming everyone has opted for the BA0890 (please correct if wrong)
EW9912 12:55-16:30 Cymro

Optional walking tour - needs advance reservation: It is possible to have a private tour through 365association.com (https://freesofiatour.com/). They will meet us at the Hilton at c. 15.00 (to allow for slight delays) on Saturday and will give a 2.5hr tour for an all-in cost of 130/BGN260. I'd suggest that if there are 10 or more committed to splitting the cost then I'll book. Please put your name below if you are interested:
alex67500, CaroFos, FlyerP, LondonAndy, megaloman, mtikky, OxtailSoup+1, Tiffywren, TurningLeft, Tomparskate

SOF - LHR
Sunday 1 March 2020
BA0891
14:05 - 15:40: alex67500, atcer28, CaroFos, dycc, estrangeiro8, FlyerP, GadgetGal, Garimi (+3), jfallesen, LondonAndy, megaloman, mtikky, onobond, OxtailSoup+1, ScienceTeacher, teledude, Tiffywren, Wbeest, Tomparskate,
EW2499/EW2464 11:15-17:55 Cymro

SOF - LHR
Tuesday 3rd March 2020
BA0891
14:05 - 15:40: streetmagix (+1)


Hotels
Hilton Sofia - alex67500, atcer28, CaroFos, Cymro, dycc, estrangeiro8, FlyerP, GadgetGal, Garimi (+3), jfallesen, megaloman, mtikky, onobond, p78 (can share roo), ScienceTeacher, teledude, Tiffywren, Wbeest, Tomparskate (Saturday Night)
InterContinental Sofia - streetmagix (+1), Tomparskate (Friday night)


@Karfa's quiet weekend in Tirana (TIA)

LGW-AMS
Saturday 21 March 2020
BA2758 07:40 - 10:05 KARFA

AMS - LGW
Saturday 21 March 2020
BA2759 10:55 - 11:10 KARFA

LHR - LGW
Saturday 21 March 2020
Garimi-express 13:30 - 14:30: Garimi

LGW - TIA
Friday 20 March 2020
BA2648 11:10 - 15:00: Calchas, chris1979, JB7+1

VIE-TIA
Friday 20March 2020
OS847 12:45 - 14:20: ToMMM


Saturday 21 March 2020



BA2648 16:20 - 20:20:
alex67500, bisonrav, cgtechuk, Duncs, dycc, estrangeiro8, jfallesen, GadgetGal, Garimi, Karfa, Last20, onobond, p78, peter h, ScienceTeacher (+1), teledude, The Geek (+1), Tiffywren, bhbloke

TIA Minibus #1: bisonrav, estrangeiro8, jfallesen, peter h, ScienceTeacher (+1), The Geek (+1)

TIA Minibus #2 21/22 March TIR Airport<->HGI: , Onobond, Last20 (only from airport), bisonrav (only return), peter h (only return), jfallesen (only return)


TIA - LGW
Sunday 22 March 2020
BA2649 11:05 - 13:05: Calchas, chris1979, Duncs, dycc, GadgetGal, Garimi, JB7+1, jfallesen, Karfa, onobond, p78, peter h, ScienceTeacher (+1), Tiffywren, bhbloke



BA2651 18:30 - 20:40: (cancelled, I moved the remaining people on 2649 above)
TIA-BEG
Sunday 22 March 2020JU213 teledude

TIA - LGW
Monday 23 March 2020
BA2649
12:55 - 15:05: cgtechuk, The Geek (+1),
BEG-DOH
Monday 23 March 2020
QR232 teledude

TIA - LGW
Tuesday 24th March 2020
BA2649- 14:20: estrangeiro8, Last20
DOH-LHR
Tuesday 24th March 2020
QR9 teledude

TIA-FRA
Sunday 22nd March 2020
LH1425 TomMM


Hotels
HGI: Calchas, cgtechuk, chris1979, Duncs, dycc, estrangeiro8, Garimi, JB7, jfallesen, KARFA, megaloman, onobond, p78(can share room), peter h, ScienceTeacher (+1), teledude, The Geek (+1) Tiffywren, TomMM, bhbloke



Rescheduled September Tirana-do

LHRTIA
Sat 26/09 BA2648: Calchas, chris1979, jfallesen, peter h

TIALHR
Monday 28/09 BA2649: Calchas, chris1979, jfallesen, peter h

Hotels
HGI: Calchas, chris1979, jfallesen, peter h (tbc)
Print Wikipost

A couple of new "mini" DOs.....

Old May 3, 2019, 10:25 am
  #16  
p78
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Tempted by TIA I will finish work on 21 at 13.30 and can drive 6 people from PAX LHR parking to LGW if anyone interested in transfer
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Old May 3, 2019, 10:38 am
  #17  
 
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Mrs Snaxmuppet and I are up for both... I might even make it to the do this time too after my cancellation for GIB!

We would be looking to stay a couple of days at each as neither of us have been to either place.

I will post once booked.
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Old May 3, 2019, 10:55 am
  #18  
p78
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book TIA for 296GBP (-30GBP using 3750 avios)
BA2648 on 21 March 2020 3F
BA2651 on 22 March 2020 3F


I will book room at Hilton Garden Inn (I can share room) or is another official Hotel ?

also anyone who will need late transfer from LHR to LGW can contact me I will drive my 7 Seater from PAX LHR parking

sorry cannot do SOF I will do just first class trip on ANA week earlier

and after TIA I going also to SIN/SYD/DPS family vacation ....
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Old May 3, 2019, 11:20 am
  #19  
 
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Originally Posted by p78
I will book room at Hilton Garden Inn (I can share room) or is another official Hotel ?
I'm not going that weekend, but the concensus seemed to be that the HGI was a bit too far out of town? I guess those who are going can agree amongst themselves, but I wouldn't book a non-cancellable rate just yet...
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:17 pm
  #20  
 
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Sounds like fun! :-) Flights booked and wiki updated.
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:20 pm
  #21  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
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In for Sofia too - will update the wiki.

You can do Sofia with a Lux shuffle for 320 TP, 541 (or can be 522 if you come back on the Monday)

https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sd:1;t:f;tt:m

I'm not doing this so haven't gone through the fine detail.
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:27 pm
  #22  
 
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Spend a random Saturday night in Albania? I had a price match voucher sitting there doing nothing, so why not...

Wiki updated.
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:37 pm
  #23  
 
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Start in jersey for TIA and you can get 200 TPS with easy timings (B2B to Jersey). Cost me 285.76 with 20 pp to come if all goes well. I think that price has gone now but may be useful for other dates.
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Old May 3, 2019, 12:57 pm
  #24  
 
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Booked.

I couldn't book the Hilton in SOF as there is no availaibilty for my 3 nights (it looks like the Saturday night is still available for 1 night stays though). I booked a hotel 8 mins walk away so can easily meet up.

I booked the HGI at TIR.

I have never booked any trip this far in advance and already excited!!!
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:00 pm
  #25  
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Originally Posted by p78
I will book room at Hilton Garden Inn (I can share room) or is another official Hotel ?
my brief research on tirana has led me to think the HGI is a bit far out for a short trip. there are loads of cheap & decent hotels right in the centre of town which i would probably choose instead tbh.
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:05 pm
  #26  
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Originally Posted by LondonAndy
I'm not going that weekend, but the concensus seemed to be that the HGI was a bit too far out of town?
It's 2 miles from Skanderberg Square, and 10 miles / under 30 minutes from the airport. There are quite a few places within walking distance, it's inside the downtown loop, just. Taxis are cheap and easy in Tirana, from the HGI to Skanderberg it would be about 4€ and to the airport about 15€. Public transport is at near give-away prices and easy to use, 40 cents a ride. There are plenty of cheap and good-ish quality non chain hotels nearer in to the centre. The HGI is very new however.
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:09 pm
  #27  
 
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Seems quite a similar situation in Sofia from a cursory glance, with lots of inexpensive hotels in the centre of the town, and the Hilton being quite a way out.
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:09 pm
  #28  
 
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I will keep my HGI booking in TIR and Magic Castle Hotel in SOF for now and if we settle on a better option then I can cancel (booked via Booking.com so easy to cancel)

I just wanted to get a booking made for now because I had trouble booking the Hilton in SOF for my 3 nights.
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:17 pm
  #29  
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The CWS Approved hotel in Tirana is the Mondial (though it's pricey by Tirana standards, 60 plus on my rate), and the Hilton in SOF, which is a much bigger city and is one of the better Hiltons that I know, very good on Diamond upgrades.
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Old May 3, 2019, 1:25 pm
  #30  
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I will stick with HGI and Hilton..... for now
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