AFC Bournemouth in Europe: The Do's and Dont's When Travelling Abroad

AFC Bournemouth’s first European campaign promises to be an unforgettable experience for supporters - but following the Cherries around the continent will require considerably more planning than a typical Premier League away day.

With Bournemouth supporters preparing to discover the realities of European travel for themselves, Max Stokes of Villa On Tour offered some invaluable advice based on his experience of following Aston Villa through the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League.

Stokes has attended every Villa game across their three consecutive European campaigns and says the travel element has become an integral part of his experience.

"I can’t quite imagine following Villa now without going to these European trips".

For Bournemouth supporters doing it for the first time, however, his biggest piece of advice is simple: be prepared.

The period immediately after the Europa League draw is likely to be frantic.

While supporters will discover their opponents on Friday, the exact fixture dates and kick-off times may not be confirmed immediately. That creates a difficult balancing act for fans, who want to secure cheap travel before prices rise but may not yet know precisely when they need to travel.

Stokes described it as a "military operation", explaining that he gets straight onto flight comparison websites as soon as Villa’s fixtures are confirmed.

"As soon as it’s announced, I’m on Skyscanner looking at various options.".

His advice is to prioritise flights, while being prepared to consider unconventional routes. Flying directly from the nearest airport may not always be the cheapest option, particularly for the more glamorous destinations.

"Just be prepared to think outside the box and go on Google Maps and think, ‘Oh, actually, that airport’s not far.’"

That could mean flying into a neighbouring city and completing the final leg by train or other public transport.

Hotels, Stokes believes, can generally wait slightly longer - particularly when visiting larger cities with plenty of accommodation options.

One of the biggest questions for Bournemouth supporters will be whether to commit to flights and hotels before knowing if they have secured a match ticket.

Stokes is fortunate enough to sit in Villa’s highest loyalty bracket, meaning he can normally be confident of getting a ticket. For other supporters, however, there is more uncertainty.

He pointed out that European away allocations can be relatively small, with around five per cent of a stadium’s capacity generally available to visiting supporters.

Using a hypothetical trip to Croatian side Rijeka as an example, he explained that a 10,000-capacity stadium could mean an away allocation of only around 500 tickets.

His advice to Bournemouth fans is therefore to consider their own away-game record and likely position in the club’s ticketing criteria before committing significant sums to travel.

There is another factor to consider, too: demand can change throughout a European campaign.

Stokes has seen Villa supporters become less interested in repeat destinations, while glamorous opponents continue to generate huge demand. For Bournemouth, the novelty of European football could make the first few trips particularly popular before the cost and commitment of travelling around Europe potentially begins to take its toll.

For those travelling from England, a couple of nights away is likely to be the most common approach.

Stokes generally tries to arrive the day before a European fixture and return the day afterwards, although that is not always financially possible.

One of his earlier European trips to Legia Warsaw demonstrated just how demanding things can become. He arrived in the early hours of the morning of the match and was back at the airport around 3am afterwards, before returning to work on the Friday.

"It depends on your personal situation".

He also warned Bournemouth supporters to be prepared for difficult domestic fixtures immediately after European away games.

Villa faced Fenerbahce in Istanbul on a Thursday before travelling to Newcastle on the Sunday - a combination Stokes described as "rough".

Some supporters will even choose to travel directly from the European destination to the next Premier League away game.

"It is tiring. So prepare yourselves for that".

But there is an upside to the exhaustion. European trips aren't simply about getting to the stadium and getting home. Stokes deliberately tries to experience the city, nightlife, food and atmosphere before matchday.

Flights, accommodation and transport are the obvious expenses, but supporters should also think carefully about the cost of staying in particular countries for several days.

Stokes generally travels in groups of four or five, helping to keep accommodation costs under control, and recommends finding a sensible middle ground rather than automatically choosing either the cheapest possible hotel or an expensive option.

Food and drink can also become expensive in popular city-centre locations.

His biggest warning came from Switzerland.

Villa supporters flew into Basel before travelling by train to Bern, and Stokes recalled being shocked by the prices.

"Trains are ridiculously expensive over there.".

He estimated that a pint could cost around £10, while a standard meal could be around £30. His advice is therefore to research the destination before deciding how long to stay.

"Just bear in mind where you’re going and whether you’d be able to spend four days there".

Ticket collection and entry procedures can vary significantly from country to country and even from club to club.

Stokes recalled Villa supporters having to collect tickets from a multi-storey car park in Nice before their Monaco fixture, with supporters required to show their passports before receiving their tickets. On other occasions, digital tickets have been used.

There is therefore no universal formula for European away games, and supporters should pay close attention to the instructions provided by Bournemouth.

Stokes recommends carrying a driving licence where possible rather than routinely taking a passport out into busy city centres. Italy was one exception for Villa, with passports required for their trip to Bologna.

"Having your passport on you isn’t ideal".

Entry procedures can also be considerably more thorough than at some Premier League grounds, with Stokes recalling additional checks by UEFA officials and police at Paris Saint-Germain.

For supporters travelling with cameras, there is an additional consideration. Stokes said Turkey presented his biggest concern and he chose to film the Fenerbahce trip primarily on his phone. In Monaco, meanwhile, security staff closely examined his camera.

The message is clear: check the rules before travelling and be prepared for security procedures to vary.

Perhaps the most important advice concerns safety.

Stokes says his experience with Villa has generally been extremely positive. He has encountered friendly locals, made friends with opposition supporters and experienced very little trouble.

However, he stressed that supporters should use common sense and follow police instructions.

"Just do what they say".

European authorities can sometimes adopt a much stricter approach to away supporters, and Stokes recalled Villa fans being held in uncomfortable locations or subjected to lengthy transport arrangements.

At Legia Warsaw, around 3,000 Villa supporters were left waiting for several hours in darkness near a river before shuttle buses eventually arrived.

"Some places make it difficult for you. They purposely make it a bad time for you.".

His advice is not to fight the system.

"Do exactly what the club tell you to do, do it when they tell you to do it, and just do exactly as they say."

For Bournemouth fans, particularly those unfamiliar with European away travel, following the club's official instructions could be one of the most important ways to avoid unnecessary problems.

European away days can also involve a very different experience once the final whistle has gone.

According to Stokes, away supporters are frequently held inside the stadium while the home crowd is allowed to leave.

The length of the holdback can vary from around 30 minutes to several hours.

Fenerbahce was the extreme example, with Villa fans kept inside for approximately three hours.

"Holdbacks are something that you’re going to have to get used to and they’re not pleasant".

Once supporters are finally released, there can be another logistical challenge as thousands of fans attempt to board shuttle buses or reach public transport simultaneously.

At Lille, Villa supporters had to walk to a train station after the match and needed a valid ticket to pass through the barriers, creating further congestion.

The lesson is to avoid making tight travel plans immediately after the final whistle.

This may be one of the biggest differences between European away days and Premier League travel.

In England, supporters can generally arrive at the stadium however and whenever they choose. European fixtures can be very different.

Stokes says supporters are often given specific instructions about where to meet, when to arrive and how to travel to the ground. Trying to ignore those arrangements and simply getting a taxi could create problems.

"You essentially get told, ‘This is how you need to get to the stadium. Don’t try and make your own way there.’"

For Bournemouth supporters, following those instructions may mean sacrificing some independence - but Stokes believes it is the safest and easiest approach.

Most supporters should be able to rely on contactless payments in European cities and inside many modern stadiums.

However, Stokes recommends carrying some local currency when travelling to less familiar destinations.

His trip to Bosnia involved flying into Sarajevo, hiring a car and travelling to Mostar. Because of the more unusual destination and currency, he made sure to obtain cash before travelling.

"If you go into a more obscure place and if it’s an obscure currency, just cash is probably safest".

For all the warnings about flights, buses, queues, ticket checks and holdbacks, Stokes' overriding message is overwhelmingly positive.

The joy of European football, he says, comes from being taken to places you might never otherwise visit. Athens remains one of his favourite destinations, while Salzburg offered spectacular surroundings despite being expensive.

He is particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of travelling to less familiar parts of Europe.

"You go to these places, you’re never going to go there on holiday."

And that, perhaps, is the essence of Bournemouth's European adventure. The Cherries could take their supporters to destinations they have never considered visiting, creating memories that go far beyond the 90 minutes of football.

Stokes' final advice is therefore not to worry too much about the inevitable logistical headaches.

"Just embrace everything that comes to you because you’re in for a ride. It’s going to be great".

While travel and accommodation could prove expensive, Bournemouth supporters may receive some welcome news when it comes to match tickets.

Stokes says European away tickets have often been surprisingly affordable during Villa's campaigns.

He recalls paying just €13 for an away game at Leipzig, while €20–€25 has been a more typical price.

"I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the ticket prices".

He says it is relatively rare for the tickets he has encountered to cost more than €30, although prices will naturally depend on the opponent and competition.

For Bournemouth supporters, the European adventure is therefore likely to require plenty of planning - but, if Stokes' experiences are anything to go by, the occasional airport scramble, expensive train journey, lengthy queue or post-match holdback will ultimately become part of the story.

And perhaps that's the point.

European football isn't simply about following Bournemouth to a stadium. It's about following the Cherries into a completely new world of football, travel, culture and adventure.

As Stokes puts it, the football itself can sometimes account for only the final 10 per cent of the experience."Before that it’s just the trip and the drinks and the food and just the atmosphere and the people.”

For Bournemouth supporters about to experience European football for the first time, that could be the most exciting part of all.