Crafting a personalized luxury sports travel experience truly is an art. There is no magic formula to follow; no secret combination of inclusions. A great sports travel experience starts with custom travel planning, blending personalization, vetted luxury suppliers, flexibility, high-touch support, and an advanced understanding of the event to get the most out of your experience.
Personalized Travel Itineraries
For those looking to fulfill a long-standing sports travel dream, personalization is a key element. The first thing to think about when planning a sports travel experience is what elements would make it a 10 out of 10.
Do you have specific dates? Certain rounds or matches you want to see? What do your ideal accommodations look like (maybe they’re not the typical hotel room)? What additional events or tours would make the trip even more memorable? Are there local dining experiences you’re eager to include? What do you picture when it comes to transportation? What other things should you consider that you might not be aware of? There is a lot to think about; an experienced travel provider can ensure you are aware of all the possibilities, so you can live your sports travel dream.
Flexibility
To have a truly extraordinary travel experience, your vacation needs to be catered around your preferences. You shouldn’t have to settle for a standard tour package, one with fixed inclusions that only partly match what you’re looking for. Tailored travel allows you to fully maximize your itinerary by including exactly what you want.
A good first step is to outline your criteria and budget. Start with the basics like destination, dates, and budget. Think about which aspects of the trip are non-negotiables and where you can be flexible.
Luxury Sports Travel Providers
Once you have an idea of what your ultimate sports travel experience looks like, enlist the help of an expert to take it to the next level. Research travel providers who are experts in Sports Travel. Look for a reputable company that will use a collaborative approach to create your personalized travel itinerary.
Once you decide on a travel provider, go to them with your initial wish list and have them help you prioritize the important elements. They can go into detail about the logistics including accommodations and event viewing, and also discuss transportation options, event hospitality, relevant tours, exclusive parties and events, and any other possibilities that might enhance your vacation.
Arrive in Style
It’s not just about what you do on your sports travel experience, it’s also about how you do it. We recommend beginning with a stress-free arrival. For most of our big events we include a personalized meet-and-greet at the airport, along with a private transfer to ensure a smooth start to your holiday.
For you, your ideal arrival might look different. Perhaps you’d prefer to have your own vehicle, or something more extravagant like a heli-transfer (a popular option for those flying into Nice for the Monaco Grand Prix). Whatever your ideal arrival looks like, having a plan in place for arriving makes for a more relaxed first day.
Securing the Perfect Accommodations
The difficulty of securing accommodations is synonymous with big events. Many hotel rooms never become directly available to the public, having been allocated to teams, media, VIPs and tour operators well ahead of time. In fact, for our major events, we work years in advance to negotiate room blocks at coveted hotels to provide our guests. This also allows us to provide early access to accommodations (typically hotel reservations are rarely available more than a year in advance.)
Hotel rooms are often the most convenient, though they are not the only option. If you’re planning a corporate group or a multigenerational family trip, there may be other alternatives better suited to you. Luxury suites, apartment-style accommodations, small boutique properties, and private homes are also popular options. At some events like the Masters in Augusta, the acquiring of luxurious executive homes is a tradition that goes way back (and is our favorite way to do the event).
The Event Experience
These days, there are a multitude of luxe and exclusive viewing options at the world’s top sporting events. In addition to prime sightlines, upscale hospitality venues at events can include all-inclusive gourmet food and drink, lounge-style seating, athlete appearances, private entrances, attentive service, and more.
Each event offers their own unique viewing options. Custom travel planning provides you with options to:
- Be the guest of a team at a Formula 1 race
- Enjoy debenture seats at Wimbledon’s Centre Court
- Watch the Monaco Grand Prix from a circuit-berthed yacht
- Mingle with celebrities and VIPs on Millionaires Row at the Kentucky Derby
- Experience the Super Bowl from a private luxury box
Think about what is important to you in regard to experiencing the event. For example, if you’re interested in the Monaco Grand Prix for the social aspect and the glamourous atmosphere, yacht viewing may be the ideal option for you. If you’ve been waiting your whole life to see the cars up close, it probably isn’t. Or if you want to attend the Masters to see as much as you can of Augusta National golf course, it probably isn’t good value for you to spend extra on a hospitality venue. Explore your options (there are likely more than you think) and find the one that best suits your tastes and budget.
How to Select Optional Extras to Elevate Your Experience
Having a dedicated team to support you throughout your experience takes a lot of the worry out of traveling and helps you elevate your experience. One of the benefits of working with a good Sports Travel Specialist is that their assistance continues throughout the process, including the planning stage. Once you’ve provided your vision for your experience, your Sports Travel Specialist can let you know what extras are available that fit into your schedule and align with your preferences.
Make sure your sports travel experience includes assistance throughout to maximize the value of your vacation and alleviate travel anxiety. Take full advantage of having someone available who knows the event and the destination. Have them provide you with their firsthand recommendations for dining, places to see, and things to do, based on your tastes and preferences. For any snags that come up while traveling, having an onsite host you can rely on to provide guidance is an inclusion that is worth its weight in gold.
Unique Aspects of Major Sporting Events
Savvy travelers often know what they want in terms of accommodations and travel dates, but they don’t always consider the unique aspects of each sporting event. Below are some top tips and suggestions from our expert Sports Travel Specialists to help you genuinely enjoy your event and its host destination to its fullest. In addition, doing your research on the event, including speaking to others who have attended the event in the past, can help you gain a better understanding of how to navigate things and ensure you don’t miss out on anything.
Some specific examples of insider tips that an experienced Sports Travel Specialist can provide to elevate your tailored travel experience include:
Indy 500 – A police escort for your transportation to Indy 500 can mean the difference between enjoying the pre-race festivities and a frustrating late arrival. With upwards of 300,000 people trying to get to the same venue on the same day, a police escort saves priceless time and aggravation.
Masters – This is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience with patrons determined to make the most of their time in Augusta. A Sports Travel Specialist can provide guidance on how to get pictures on the “camera-free” course, when to purchase your merch, best viewing points, and much more.
Summer Games – Contrary to popular belief, the Summer Games host city is often less busy during the event than it is normally. While it’s true that the Summer Games attracts travelers from around the world, any other tourism to the city is virtually nonexistent during the Games. In addition, locals are often encouraged to work from home to avoid traffic congestion. It can actually be a great time to explore a city and its most popular attractions, as other travelers are primarily there for the Olympic events.
Each event has its own unique aspects and learning about them can provide you with an exclusive and privileged event experience.
Consider Enlisting the Help of Professionals
As you can see, a lot goes into planning a custom sports travel experience. If you truly want the best experience possible and want to take the stress out of the planning experience, consider working with a sports travel specialist. They can:
- Use their expertise and experience at past events to create a tailored trip that matches your passions and preferences.
- Suggest how to personalize and make attending your sporting event a luxury experience.
- Provide tips on what will provide the best luxury experiences for your money.
- Secure hard-to-find and even “sold out” accommodations in the host city.
- Offer insider tips and recommendations for your chosen event.
- Discuss viewing options and offer suggestions for the best experience.
- Provide pre-travel and onsite assistance to manage your inclusions.
Realizing your sports travel dream is exciting, maybe even a chance of a lifetime. Take the time and work with an expert that will ensure everything is as perfect as can be. After all, you are creating your forever memories.
If you’d like some help planning your own personalized luxury sports travel experience, we’d love to help you out. With over 30 years of experience planning tailored travel itineraries, our knowledgeable team is ready to collaborate with you to design the trip of a lifetime. Contact us to start planning your ultimate sports travel experience.
Alison Baker is the lead writer in Roadtrips’ marketing department. An avid traveller and passionate sports fan, she’s found her ideal fit at Roadtrips, one of the leaders in sports travel. Alison’s enjoyed working in the travel industry for the last 20 years and had the opportunity to experience it from all sides, from sales and marketing to quality assurance and hosting.