Sports - Travel Deals

The first order of business with just about any trip is finding a good price on airfare – and if you’re planning a trip for a big event, that task can be even harder. Add the complication of said event being during the high season and you’ve really got to do your homework to find cheap flights.

This is the perfect storm we find ourselves in for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. It may not be as big on the world stage as the Men’s World Cup, but it’s still a very big deal – made even more special because it only takes place every four years. It’s in Germany this year, and in the summer – which is Europe’s high season already. In other words, if you’re planning to go to any of the games and you don’t already have your plane tickets, you should probably get on that to-do item ASAP.

Here are some tips to help you find cheap airfare to Germany for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

>> The Women’s World Cup runs from June 26-July 17, 2011.

If you think only hardcore sports fans travel across the planet to see their team play in a big tournament or a favorite player take the court or even teams they don’t follow participate in a big game – then you’re mistaken. Sporting events can be a great excuse to travel somewhere new, and it’s a great way to get involved in something that isn’t generally thought of as a mainstream tourist event.

There are sporting events that take place throughout the year and all over the world – here are a few, with links to more travel information for each. We’ll keep updating this page with more sporting events and tournaments, so be sure to check back.

Let us know what events and tournaments to add next by leaving a comment below!

Although some might think Mark Twain wasn’t far off when he described golf as “a good walk spoiled,” for others watching a major golf tournament can be the ideal excuse to plan a trip. In particular, the U.S. Open is one that many people go to every year – and because its location changes each year, it’s a way to turn a sports vacation into a more extended holiday and explore a new destination every time.

Of course, since the U.S. Open takes place in June, which is the high summer travel season in the United States, it’s not always easy to make a trip to see the tournament a budget-friendly adventure. Here are some things to consider when you’re planning a trip to see the U.S. Open to help you avoid spending a fortune on the trip.

>> In 2012, the U.S. Open is in San Francisco, California at The Olympic Club and it runs from June 11-17.

No matter how many times you might hear that you should try to avoid visiting a popular tourist city like London during its high season – summer – it’s not always easy to do so. In fact, London gives us lots of great reasons to visit during the summer, regardless of what the crowds are like. Besides the typically nicer weather, there are also big events that take place in London in summer that can be an excellent addition to any travel plans – including the famous Wimbledon Championships.

Whether or not you’re a serious tennis fan is beside the point. Wimbledon is legendary, partly of course for the world-class play you’ll see on the courts, but that’s not all. There are often famous spectators in the stands, so attending Wimbledon is a good chance to do some star-gazing. The traditions at Wimbledon are fun to participate in, too, especially the one about eating strawberries and cream.

If you’ll already be in London during the Wimbledon Championships, it’s worth checking to see whether there are any tickets available during your trip – and if you’re trying to plan a trip to London around the tennis tournament, here are a few things to keep in mind.

>> In 2012, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships run from June 25-July 8.

You don’t have to be a huge fan of college basketball to know it’s March Madness time – from the constant barrage of advertising to the office pools, it’s kind of hard to miss. But you have to be a certain kind of dedicated fan to actually go the games live – right?

Not necessarily.

Some sports are easier to watch on TV, but basketball is one that is enhanced by being in the arena during the games. And when the stakes are as high as the NCAA Championship, the atmosphere just can’t permeate a television screen. So whether or not your team is a Cinderella team that just feels lucky to have made the playoffs, one of the Final Four, or somewhere in between, seeing the NCAA March Madness games in person is a great experience.

The trouble is that if you’re waiting to see where your team is playing (or if your team advances) before you make travel plans, you could get caught out. Last-minute travel is notoriously expensive, so obviously you’re better off booking as soon as you possibly can. We’re here to help, too, with some links to help you find the best deals on trips to the various cities hosting the NCAA tournament games this year.

>> The NCAA Championship Tournament in 2012 runs from March 13-April 2

For some of those so-called Cinderella teams, just making it to the NCAA playoffs is a dream come true. But for four teams, the dream doesn’t end when the playoffs begin. Four teams will make it through to a coveted place in the NCAA Final Four – and if your team is one of them, you’ll want to be there.

Even if you weren’t able to make the trip to see them play earlier in the tournament, if your team is one of the four to make it that far, you can’t miss out on the chance to see them go all the way. These opportunities don’t come around every year, even for teams that have good records in the NCAA March Madness tournament – one thing goes slightly wrong and before you know it your season is over.

In other words, when it’s your team filling one of those last four bracket slots, you’ve got to be there to cheer them on in person. And if you’ve already used up all your vacation days with trips to the First Four, Second Round, or Third Round and then to the regional semis and finals, then start using sick days. This is serious, after all.

Here are some tips to finding 2012 NCAA Final Four travel deals.

>> Tickets for the NCAA Final Four are more likely to sell out before the teams are even set, so if you think there’s a chance you’ll go to the games you should scoop up some tickets as soon as possible.

When you’re watching the games leading up to the NCAA March Madness tournament and you’re hoping your team makes the playoffs, it seems like you have to wait forever for those games to actually happen. But if you’re lucky enough to have your team make it through the first and second rounds to the regional games, there are only a few short days between the second round and the regionals – so you’ve really got to be on your toes if you’re planning to go to the games.

Let’s say you opted to cheer your team on in person during the NCAA tournament’s first, second, and third rounds. And let’s say they did well enough to advance. You’re not going to let them down now, are you? What if you’re the good luck charm that helped them seal the deal and move on? Keep the momentum going in the right direction. Put in for a few more days off and make some last-minute travel plans to see your team through the regionals. Who knows, maybe their good luck charm (i.e. YOU) will help them on to the Final Four.

Here are the cities and arenas where the 2012 regional semi-finals and finals will be played, along with links to help you find last-minute flight deals and hotel rooms for your trip.

>> And don’t forget to grab tickets to the NCAA games as soon as you can – type “NCAA” into the “Keyword” box and you’ll get a list of games to choose from.