How to be a Rugby Jetsetter without Breaking the Bank

Each year Sale Sharks travel to play teams both in the league and in cup competitions, and they could end up playing in France, Italy or Ireland as well as around the UK. So it‘s like this. You’re reading the paper or maybe looking at the newly released fixtures on www.salerugby.co.uk and you see the opposition and think ‘I wonder what it would be like to go to…’ well, wonder no longer! You can, and it needn’t cost a fortune.

There are options, including going on an official organised trip, but with a little searching and help if you need it from the friendly people on the message board on the above website, you can do it yourself. Since I began following Sale around I have travelled to most league grounds as well as to Twickenham and the Kassam at Oxford, but there is nothing like a trip overseas - even if it is the Irish Sea you’re crossing!

The first thing to consider before you book anything is the timing of the game itself. If it’s a league match at say Newcastle on a Saturday afternoon you may choose to drive up in the morning in time for the kick off and drive back or maybe stay overnight. This gives you the chance to socialise with both our fans and theirs and enjoy a day away. All you need to do is get your ticket, book a room and get in the car. Pretty easy really, although when it comes to an away cup tie against a European team that’s where it can be a bit more complicated.

Sometimes the competition’s organising bodies won’t confirm the date of a fixture until the previous round has been played so they can decide who they want on show on tv. This makes it difficult for the clubs as well as the fans to know when to book for. Because of this you might think, if I hang on, I might miss the cheap flights. Oh, and what about booking accommodation, not to mention the time you might have to take off work. It does sound complicated doesn’t it? Yet it needn’t be.

As Maria said in the Sound of Music, let’s start at the very beginning. The day of the game has been announced and it’s on Saturday afternoon. Right then, what do you need to consider? You’ll need to decide how long you’re going for, whether you’ll need a flight or perhaps the ferry, where you’re going to stay, and of course a match ticket. I really can’t suggest strongly enough that you take a look at the Sale Sharks message board for tips. If there’s a trip being planned there will usually be a thread titled along the lines of ‘Who’s going to’ which will list who is going and any flight and hotel details they have booked. There will also be ticket information somewhere on the board, so it’s worthwhile visiting regularly as well as contacting the ticket office. Get your ticket with the SSSC mob and you’ll be in the centre of the action.

I and my other half like to make a long weekend of a ‘foreign away trip’ by spending a few nights there so we can see some of the place where we’re staying, and if the game is in Ireland we’ll hire a car. Sometimes we’ll even build the trip into a proper holiday, such as when we went to San Sebastian in the Basque region of Spain for the game against Biarritz… for a week! You may prefer to go away and spend three days in a bar in the style of a traditional rugby trip but if I get the opportunity to visit somewhere I’ve never been before I like to see some of the culture and history of the place. Well now you’ve got your ticket so what about a flight. Checking the thread and seeing where everyone else is flying from and where to is a good start. For most trips you can use budget airlines like Ryanair or Easyjet which help keep the cost down, but they tend to only have one flight per day so you may end up having to stay another night, depending on the kick off time. Sometimes the airport isn’t very close to the ground or hometown of the team, like Connacht who play in Galway city. Their nearest budget airport is Knock so you may choose to hire a car. Check out the main car hire companies but don’t forget to also get a quote from your airline’s car hire partners as you can get it a good deal cheaper just by quoting your flight code.

Budget airlines tend to sell the cheapest seats first then gradually increase the price so here’s a tip. To see how many seats are left at the lowest price first select ‘one passenger’ for the flight you’re looking at and make a note of the price. Then select ‘five passengers’ and make a note of the price then divide it by five. If it’s the same as for one passenger then they’ve probably still got a few cheapies left but if it isn’t then maybe you should book before the price goes up. Another tactic is to sign up for each airlines newsletter as occasionally they have 24 hour flight sales and you may pick up a 1p bargain, but don’t forget the added taxes.

That’s the ticket and flight sorted so what about accommodation. This is where it comes down to your own personal preference and pocket. For a one night stopover you may prefer somewhere basic you can just flop into at the end of the night like a Travelodge or an Ibis, but for a few days perhaps somewhere a bit more expensive with more comforts. From budget chains to five star the decision is yours but I’d suggest having a couple of options to choose from in case of unavailability. Oh, and try going direct through the hotel’s own website as some sites that search for accommodation will add a bit of commission, or charge extra for breakfast.

So that’s the ticket sorted, the flights and accommodation booked and oh! You’ve sorted your away trip! Just remember to leave a little extra time whilst travelling in case there are any delays, and don’t forget your ticket!

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS