By KevinTheB
July 8 2003

DrunkenWasps Tours operates on the policy that we arrange flights, accomodation etc. well in advance to get the best prices. Our flights normally cater for the game being played on a Friday evening or any time Saturday. It is not normal away from home to play these games on a Sunday.

Firstly, a disclaimer.

THERE IS THE CHANCE that by mutual agreement of the two clubs involved, or more probably at the insistence of the television company involved, a game may be rescheduled to a time when we are in the air either to or from the country involved.

THIS IS YOUR OWN RISK. We clearly attempt to get guidance from the Club that this is not the case when booking flights, but we cannot be held responsible if it happens. MAKE SURE YOUR INSURANCE COVERS YOU FOR THIS.

Now then.

Latest News.

Calvisano arrangements are firming up. Based on the probability of a Saturday evening kickoff, which has always been the case so far in Italy, our schedule looks something like this:

Ryan Air fly out of Stanstead to Milan Bergamo roughly 1205 on a Friday (arr 1505), and fly back from the same place at roughly 1545 (arr 1650) on the Sunday (as their winter timetables have yet to be published, but that's what the summer ones do). This is the largest variable, so allow £150 in your estimates. Could be significantly lower, depending upon demand and timing of booking.

A coach collects us to the airport and takes us to the hotel. I am aiming to get the Hotel Master in Brescia ( Hotel Link ) and you should allow £34 each to share, or £51 for single use of a double room. I am considering getting them to lay on a meal for the first night in, served up about 7pm to get us ready for a night out, which I think I can get for about £10 a head, drinks excluded.

Saturday is collected by coach (Wolfie, I'll give you the addresses for the cab driver) and off to a vinyard. Christian, our agent in Parma who is arranging this, has made it a bit cultural. I've asked him to cut out some of the history and lay in some more wine. Look at Vinyard Link for an idea of the place.

After wine, into the bus (Note: 50 max. I don't really want to cater for 100, so it's going to be one bus only) and off to a restaurant by the Lakes (checkout Restaurant Link ) for a decent lunch with some wine included. This year, it will be "pay-as-you-go" for extras! One pasta, one main, one dessert.

Wine trip and lunch will be somewhere in the region of £40.

Off to the game. Crush Calvisano. An hour or so for a couple of beers, then back on the bus to Brescia. Out on the town. Back to the hotel Sunday morning, as usual.

Collected from the hotel around midday to get off back to the airport.

The cost per person for all the bus work should run out at about £20 a head.

So, excluding air fares, if you're in for it, it should run to about £140 sharing, £170 single. Flights, pessimistically £150, so you're looking at £290 plus beer.

I have been pessimistic about the Euro rate and the cost of the flight - could be a lot less.

The crunch for me is the coach costs. I need to fill the bus on the Saturday jaunt and back and forth to the airport to keep the cost down to £20.

So I'm looking for 50 souls who want to be Calvisano Trippers. Quite a few of you have put your name down on the message boards, but I'd appreciate an indication only, with no commitment, if you're in for the Full Flavio. If you haven’t already, send me a mail with numbers of interested parties to k.broadbent@btinternet.com and it is these people who will get first offer of a place before it gets thrown open to all.

Deb is looking to see if there are flights into Bergamo from Heathrow or Gatwick which are sympathetic with the times out of Stanstead for those souls on the wrong side of London. At worst, you other-siders will have to arrange your own ground transport.

Women and children cordially invited. PhilTheB's up for it (of course), JamesTheB and MrsB don't like planes so they're staying at home again. So those of you with youngsters might want to think about it. They're a great help in getting you back to the hotel after a trip round the town.

Cordially yours

KevinTheB

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Hotel Link

Vinyard Link

Restaurant Link