Ask Stan - local info for the play Off Final

By Rich B
May 15 2006

 

Cardiff is not a huge city like most capitals but its charm and history make it a great place to visit, on cup day though it is a nightmare, the city starts to come alive with fans arriving appearing from  9am and by 11am you can't move for people!!

Top Tip 1 - The city Centre Roads close for these events and you’ll be lucky to get a taxi after into the City after 11am - Get to where you need to be early!!
There is near enough 250 pubs within ½ mile from the stadium (beat that Wembley) but they get so busy, by the time you want your 3rd beer you've got to face a big queue’

There are beer tents and plenty of food outlets though, and the police are well experienced and drilled to handle anything, as police go, on a cup day they seem to be on a charm offensive!! my first and most important tip

 Top Tip 2 -Get to cardiff at 8.30am at the latest, ring your hotel and tell them you just want to book in and leave your stuff in a locked room or your car at that time(it should be ok to do that), fill in the appropriate paper work and get into the centre!
Getting through Newport and into Cardiff can take hours, nothing like being in a traffic jam when all you want is breakfast and a beer!!  The day before Leeds get there the rugby are in town, lots of rugby fans just travel for the crack if they can't get tickets and this can mean 100,000 extra people in the city’

Top Tip 3 - Cash points are a plenty but they are very likely to be empty, so bring your cash with you, then you are not chasing around looking for it!!!
Moving from your hotel to the pub via taxi wise should be fine in the earlier part of the morning, later than that and you'll have to walk or just stay where you are. The feeling that you've dumped the car, sorted your hotel and are on the way to meet pals for breakfast is well worth the early start I promise, especially when your mates are ringing you to say they are stuck in a horrendous traffic jam! 

Top Tip 4 - Treat the natives with respect
Not everyone who lives in Cardiff is in the Soul Crewe!! Cardiff people are as friendly as northern people, our history and hardships have been almost identical over the years, I've never heard a bad word about our hospitality and that’s the truth. We've recently had 30,000 of our most hated rivals in the city and that passed off with NO problems so please don't be fearful that the natives are like brave heart marauding around with face painted and an angry look on their faces - come and have a good time and good luck in the day!

Top Tip 5 - Watch your Speed!
Strange people on strange roads - seems like a good opportunity for the local authorities to make a few quick bucks! Speed Camera’s will be out in force around Monmouth and along the M4 - happens all the time so take care when driving!