Do you speak Polish?: Euro 2012 Survival Guide Poland Ukraine

Heading to Poland or Ukraine for Euro 2012? Then you’re going to want a bloody good guide aren’t you? Then look no further because here it is: Euro 2012 Survival Guide Poland Ukraine!

Created by two beer swilling, globetrotting expats – yours truly and the top bloke writer of PzU. We like to think we have enough experience of football, beer, Poland and Ukraine combined to write something of actual use to football fans coming over to these beautiful countries next summer.

But, we’re well aware we are far from experts at doing this kind of stuff so I’m putting it out to all the readers of DYSP for some ‘constructive’ criticism. There’s a long way to go before the competition and before people will actually start needing the guide but if we get some feedback now, we’ve got plenty of time to create a shit hot second addition prior to the competition.

Those of you, who use Smashwords, can download a free copy here:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108505

Using this coupon code: MN64D

Kindle users:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006EJFQYG

or if you prefer – a plain old PDF file here
http://bit.ly/Euro2012guide

So, download it for free, take a look at it and give us some advice how we can make it better and maybe even write something nice about us on Smashwords or Amazon...

Both authors can be jointly emailed here (for more brutal criticism or enquiries)
pluk2012guide@gmail.com

Cheers!

Dzięki!

Будь ласка!
FB Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/Euro2012survivalguide

8 comments:

TeflSecretagent7 December 2011 at 09:08
Interestingly, someone actually PURCHASED a copy of the guide. So thanks to whoever that was! And I'd like to point out that by accessing the guide through Smashwords or by PDF (not sure about Amazon) - even if you've paid for a copy, you'll always be able to access the newest version. So if you buy a copy now (for free with the coupon) you'll be able to download the improved versions - for free - when they are released =)

Happy days!
Matty7 December 2011 at 23:07
Good job! This is th first I've seen of such guides and I can say it appears to be well researched. My only comments would be

1. More about food - maybe I'm ignorant but I have no idea what the food is like over there! What about bar snacks too?

2. Link list - I like that you have put links in the text but what about compiling a link list at the end or start of th ebook - so for ease I can find reputable websites, when I need them?

Keep up the good work!
DC9 December 2011 at 01:57
After looking around at official websites, there seems to be a real need for practical information that fans will need. For instance, I looked at the websites for 3 of the stadia. Warsaw's has no information at all about getting there. Gdansk's barfs out a list of trams and busses that supposedly will get you there, but no information about where to alight. Looking at a city map (from a separate search I did), most of the trams listed don't even come close to the stadium. When you click for a map of the stadium's location, it opens a google map that shows the location of Gdansk in Poland. Not even a pin to identify the stadium that you can zoom in on. Thoughtless, sloppy web building. Only Wroclaw's website allows you to get driving directions, but no information about public transport.

If you were prepared to do the research, you could have a popular product. But it's not yet a guide if in the city transportation section for Poland, you mention one ticket option (weekly pass) for only one of the four cities. The train section has no information about how to buy tickets - if you could decode the Intercity vs slower trains puzzle and talk about how not all vendors sell all types of tickets, that would be a guide that I would buy. What about bus options for the budget minded?

It's fun to read now anecdotally, but identical paragraphs about ticket availability for both Poland and Ukraine suggest that the authors just don't know - at least for now.

Some info is just wrong: people will have fun trying to find Warsaw Glowny. And LOT has a hub and spoke network so all flights go through Warsaw. So flying is no faster between Wroclaw and Poznan than the train. Plac Solny is not in the rynek, but adjacent - their corners touch.

Unless they somehow have inside information that hasn't found it's way onto the web yet, it seems like traditional publishers will not have the time to publish the nitty gritty information that travelers really need. Maybe there's an opportunity here if you wanted to take things further.
TeflSecretagent11 December 2011 at 10:20
@Matty - Yeah good points mate, fully agree. We will get some more info added about grub and bar snacks. Food is definitely not something to be missed when you're in Poland or Ukraine, forget any preconceptions; you'll be amazed at some of the tastyness on offer!
TeflSecretagent11 December 2011 at 10:23
@DC - Thanks for the info and I'm glad that you agree there is definintely a need for something like what we have on offer. And, yes, I agree with your points.

One problem we have connected with writing about transport is that no one really knows what it will look like at the moment. I live in Wrocław and could give you pretty good travelling advice today but that advice probably wouldn't be relevant at the end of the week, let alone in the next few months before the comp. It's because there are so many changes, added routes, cancelled routes etc... etc... due to renovations and roadworks. The same goes for the other two cities I know well, L'viv and Kiev.

But rest assured, we'll get the transport section in better shape before the comp starts!
Siegfried22 December 2011 at 13:22
thats a very good idea about travel tips and tricks! I may try that guide
tegel outlet9 March 2012 at 11:58
Great post Thanks for sharing :)

Everyone is welcome to make a comment. It's a free world after all :) the only thing I ask is that if you're going to write something nasty please have big enough balls to include your name and email address.

Euro 2012 Survival Guide Poland Ukraine - A Guide by Paddy and Lee

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