Q: Are hotels or bars getting any kind of reward for being suggested or recommended?
A: Nothing, nada, zip-dee-doo. All are subject to our independent if idiosyncratic scrutiny. We took a look around the destination in question and its stadium/s, slept in or at least paid a visit to its hotels and had a gander – and, in far too many cases, a drink – in its bars. We’ve put ourselves in your trainers. What kind of places would add that little extra to your city-break weekend or midweek Euro-night experience?
Q: What if things have changed during and after the pandemic?
A: There’s nothing we can do about this, unfortunately. So many businesses are and will be struggling for a while to come. In as many cases as possible, we’ve provided a click-through link to each hotel, bar and club so you can see for yourself, right now. As concerns fans in stadiums, this situation will be changing, and hopefully improving, week by week from late spring onwards. We’ve kept the pre-pandemic details concerning ticket prices, tours etc as, again crossing fingers and tapping wood, by 2021-22, travel and football should become more accessible to more of us.
Q: Some of the photos seem a bit iffy… weren’t any professionals up for the job?
A: No, that’s the whole point. We’ve taken all the photos ourselves, gone to the stadium, and snapped away – they’re the kind of photos anyone would take.
Q: But surely you could have just found most of them on the internet?
A: Precisely. Any fool in his bedroom can download a photo of the Nou Camp, wax lyrical about penyas and Catalans, and, hey presto, they’ve produced a football guide to Barcelona. We’re dedicated to first-hand research. We have been to that pub or bar next door ourselves and the proof is in the photo.
Q: We’re planning a football trip to Albania next year. Will you pay us if we send you some photos?
A: That depends – there are already way over 500 cities already nailed. But do contact us and let us know. Updates are always very welcome.
Q: Four wheels bad?
A: Libero has been compiled mainly for those travelling by plane and train but not automobile. There’s a GPS for that, or the wonderful Via Michelin (viamichelin.com). Budget airlines have shrunk the map of Europe and made it eminently affordable for all, from all points of the UK, Ireland and the continent. Airport distances and transfers are given throughout, even for rainy towns in Cumbria – you’d be surprised how many German groundhoppers hanker after a visit to Barrow. For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, Europe’s train network is rapidly being improved and expanded. Where relevant, we give basic details of rail journey times and rough prices. Deutsche Bahn (bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml) has comprehensive schedules for Europe, trainline (thetrainline.com) for the UK. Details of Eurostar (eurostar.com/rw-en), and main bus and boat services, are also given.
Q: Surely generic booking sites will give me better rates for my hotel room?
Not any more. In many cases, hotels are keen to challenge the hegemony of the dot.coms by offering favourable rates for direct booking, or other offers, such as throwing in free breakfast or a session at the spa. Listing venues individually should allow you to click through and assess the establishment for itself. This is not a hotel guide, it’s a football guide – tips on accommodation seemed a logical extra to bring to the table.
