Sporting Holidays
Whether you're a football fan, mad about motor racing or keen on cricket, we've got a sporting holiday to prise you out of your armchair. If you think this could be expensive, think again, because actually it doesn't necessarily cost a fortune to follow your favourite team abroad. Okay, we admit it, some of these trips are a little pricey, but think of them as trips of a lifetime and we promise you they'll be worth it.
Motor racing in Monaco
May 22-25
The Monaco F1Grand Prix is one of the most glamorous events on the
annual sporting calendar, so if you make it to only one motor-racing
event this year, make it this one. It isn't that expensive either
because although the race takes place in glitzy Monte Carlo, cars race
through the street so you don't have to pay to watch.
Stay in nearby Nice (way cheaper than Monaco) and get to Monte Carlo
early on race days to bag seats on the terrace of a roadside
restaurant. All it will cost you to watch the race is the price of the
meal, though expect to pay €90 plus. Easyjet has flights from London to
Nice from £167 and hotelclub.net has hotel accommodation close to Nice
from £105 per room for two nights.
Euro 2008
June 7-29
So what if the home countries didn't qualify for Euro 2008, it will
still be a great tournament, right? Games will be played in Switzerland
and Austria, with Basle hosting the opening match and Vienna hosting
the final.
Tickets are hard to come by, but Sold Out Entertainments
has seats for many of the matches, though it is charging above face
value. The cheapest tickets are for Italy v Romania on June 13 at £245
a pop; tickets for the final cost at least £1,100.
There's a good choice of low-cost airlines to Austria and Switzerland
including easyJet, Flybe, Jet2 and Ryanair. To find affordable
accommodation you might have to stay up to 100kms from the host cities,
but you should be able to get trains to matches – try online hotel
booking agency booking.com for suggestions.
Tour de France
July 5-27
Hands up who became obsessed with the Tour de France after watching
last year's time trials live in London's Hyde Park. Now imagine the
thrill of actually driving behind one of the riders in this year's time
trials in France.
Sports Tours International
has a once-in-a-lifetime Live the Dream package that allows you to
follow a rider in an official car during the trials in Cholet on July
8. The £500 fee includes access to the riders' enclosure as they warm
up for the competition.
If you just want to line the route, which starts in Brittany and
finishes in Paris, go to www.letour.fr for a route map and timings. Brittany Ferries has return crossings from Portsmouth to St Malo in July from £290 for a car and two passengers; P&O Ferries has return crossings from Dover to Calais from £60 for a car and two passengers.
England Cricket Tour to India
October-December
Follow the England team to India and you'll not only get a chance to
see some great cricket, but also some of the world's most amazing
sights including the Taj Mahal.
England will play a series of three Test matches and seven One Day
Internationals across the country, although final details have yet to
be confirmed.
Gullivers Travel, ITC Sports and Kuoni Sport Abroad
will offer tour packages, including tickets, flights and accommodation,
though prices are not yet available. To register your interest, go to
their websites.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
October 4-6
The Arc de Triomphe weekend, held at the Longchamp Racecourse in the
Bois de Boulogne in Paris, is the world championship of flat racing,
bringing together the winners of the Derby races in England, Ireland,
Italy and Germany. Best of all, access to the lawn area is free while a
seat in the stands costs a mere €2.
Stay in the centre of Paris and take one of the free shuttle buses to
the course, which operate throughout the weekend. Expedia has hotel
rooms from £70 per room, per night. Eurostar fares aren't available yet
for October, but are expected to start at just under £60 return.
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