Ashes Tour

[archie mac]

So I have decided to travel to England for a couple of Tests. As a person with a shocking sense of direction I have decided to go on a hosted tour. This is the one I am learning towards 2013 Ashes Series - Lord's and Old Trafford Tests + Europe - Australian Sports Tours my questions are:

Has anyone on here ever been on one of these things and what was it like?

Is anyone for CW going to England for the Ashes?

Are there better ones to go on?

Should I bite the bullet and do it alone?

Help greatly appreciated

[Burgey]

I'm thinking of doing a tour next Ashes - would be epic. I haven't been on an organised tour before though.

[uvelocity]

expensive

amsterdam with skull would be something else though

[vic_orthdox]

Takes the worry of getting tickets out of it though, I'd assume.

[TNT]

I have done both, travelled in a group for the Eng v Ind tests last year and have just returned from travelling around Europe with friends on our own.

We got to see and do a lot more travelling by ourselves. Travelling in a group can be frustrating if you have people within the group who are not good travelling companions.

[Andre]

I'm also thinking of doing the trip, but I reckon it would be better not being in a set tour group so we can all have a bit more freedom between matches.

Couldn't rule out getting together a CW contingent for the trip.

[uvelocity]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Takes the worry of getting tickets out of it though, I'd assume.

good point

[howardj]

Originally Posted by archie mac

So I have decided to travel to England for a couple of Tests. As a person with a shocking sense of direction I have decided to go on a hosted tour. This is the one I am learning towards 2013 Ashes Series - Lord's and Old Trafford Tests + Europe - Australian Sports Tours my questions are:

Has anyone on here ever been on one of these things and what was it like?

Is anyone for CW going to England for the Ashes?

Are there better ones to go on?

Should I bite the bullet and do it alone?

Help greatly appreciated

You should do it. Even if none of your friends/partner want to go, it would still be great on your own, and after all you'll be in the company of other like-minded cricket lovers. I too have a shocking sense of direction, and this trip takes that out of the equation for you, and gives you guaranteed Test tickets. Bite the bullet.

[fredfertang]

Good idea to go for the second and third Tests - if you wait till the fourth when you're 3-0 down there won't be much in it for you

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by Burgey

I'm thinking of doing a tour next Ashes - would be epic. I haven't been on an organised tour before though.

Yes sounds good, there are quite a few to choose from, just hope I pick the right one

Originally Posted by uvelocity

expensive

amsterdam with skull would be something else though

Haha, true, certainly thought about that one!

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Takes the worry of getting tickets out of it though, I'd assume.

Yes a big selling point

Originally Posted by TNT

I have done both, travelled in a group for the Eng v Ind tests last year and have just returned from travelling around Europe with friends on our own.

We got to see and do a lot more travelling by ourselves. Travelling in a group can be frustrating if you have people within the group who are not good travelling companions.

Have a few mates who want to come but can't afford it, so on my own I think

Originally Posted by Andre

I'm also thinking of doing the trip, but I reckon it would be better not being in a set tour group so we can all have a bit more freedom between matches.



Couldn't rule out getting together a CW contingent for the trip.

Is an option for sure but too many thinks that worry me about organising it all, but happy to go if someone else organises it. hint, hint

Originally Posted by howardj

You should do it. Even if none of your friends/partner want to go, it would still be great on your own, and after all you'll be in the company of other like-minded cricket lovers. I too have a shocking sense of direction, and this trip takes that out of the equation for you, and gives you guaranteed Test tickets. Bite the bullet.

Great points

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Good idea to go for the second and third Tests - if you wait till the fourth when you're 3-0 down there won't be much in it for you

was going to come and visit you, but that remark has ended that idea

[fredfertang]

Originally Posted by archie mac

was going to come and visit you, but that remark has ended that idea

Already kicked my son out so you can have use his room

[Camo999]

Archie, went on a corresponding 2009 Ashes one with Big Merv.

Fairly pricey (and looks to have gone up a couple of $k since 09) but if you can get past that, is a sensational time and definitely worth doing. With the big man one of my all-time cricketing heroes was a thrill to meet him and even better got the chance to play cards with him one evening. After breakfast each morning before play started, he also arranged a special guest to speak to the group. From memory we had the likes of Gus Fraser, Derek Pringle, Bob Willis and Jim Maxwell.

The tour guides we had were excellent - plenty of free time was available but they were also happy to organise additional optional outings for anyone interested. Went to Moulin Rouge on one of the nights we were in Paris for example and also did the Wimbledon Tour.

No problems going as a single, you'll meet new friends in no time. Demographic was mainly 40+ probably due to the price but there were quite a few in their 20s and 30s too and the organisers will tend to allocate you to room / group with similar age group etc as appropriate.

Tickets etc are all organized on your behalf and everyone is taken to the ground by coach and picked up at the end of each day. Admittedly this is the only tour like this I’ve ever done so can’t comment on any other providers but personally thought AST were fantastic.

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Already kicked my son out so you can have use his room

Didn't know about that. I think I would spend a full day just gazing lovingly at your cricket book collectioN Are you going to any of the Tests?

Originally Posted by Camo999

Archie, went on a corresponding 2009 Ashes one with Big Merv.

Fairly pricey (and looks to have gone up a couple of $k since 09) but if you can get past that, is a sensational time and definitely worth doing. With the big man one of my all-time cricketing heroes was a thrill to meet him and even better got the chance to play cards with him one evening. After breakfast each morning before play started, he also arranged a special guest to speak to the group. From memory we had the likes of Gus Fraser, Derek Pringle, Bob Willis and Jim Maxwell.

The tour guides we had were excellent - plenty of free time was available but they were also happy to organise additional optional outings for anyone interested. Went to Moulin Rouge on one of the nights we were in Paris for example and also did the Wimbledon Tour.

No problems going as a single, you'll meet new friends in no time. Demographic was mainly 40+ probably due to the price but there were quite a few in their 20s and 30s too and the organisers will tend to allocate you to room / group with similar age group etc as appropriate.

Tickets etc are all organized on your behalf and everyone is taken to the ground by coach and picked up at the end of each day. Admittedly this is the only tour like this I’ve ever done so can’t comment on any other providers but personally thought AST were fantastic.

I think you have just sold me!!!!!!

I am 46 and decided against the Fanatics because they looked a bit young and the trip with Stackpole because they looked a bit old. So the age group you suggested looks about right

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by archie mac

I am 46 and decided against the Fanatics because they looked a bit young and the trip with Stackpole because they looked a bit old. So the age group you suggested looks about right

haha, just read what I had written and I sound like Goldilocks

[Camo999]

Yep, loved it so much I subsequently moved over here!

Enjoy, you'll have a ball!