A trip to France might be just the ticket for fans of cycling.  The Tour De France is the world’s most famous cycling race, taking riders and spectators alike on an adrenaline-fuelled ride through glorious countryside and stunning cities.  Tour operators offer a range of packages, one example being a four day jaunt to France, which includes a three night stay in Paris, a River Seine cruise and access to the race’s exciting finale.  This particular example highlights why sports travel trips are so popular – everything seems to be included.  Transport, accommodation and entertainment are booked and paid for in advance in one handy transaction, so there’s no need to painstakingly plan each aspect of your trip.
   
For those seeking something a little further afield, there is of course the Ashes cricket tournament, held between England and Australia.  It is possible to already reserve places on the tour for the 2013-2014 series, such is the high demand for tickets.

As with all high profile events, tour operators scramble to out-do each other, in terms of the packages they can offer travellers.  Some will promise ‘exclusive’ seats, a chance to meet the stars, or excursions to local attractions.   In the case of the Ashes, if you’re not tempted by the promise of outstanding weather, great food and the renowned Aussie hospitality, then perhaps the trips to the Great Barrier Reef or Ayres Rock might.  There are also the offers of celebrity tour hosts and Sydney harbour cruises.  Even the stop-overs seem more glamorous, with stops at Singapore and Hong Kong being promoted by some tour operators.  That’s not to mention the actual match tickets, which of course come as part of your sports travel package!

Something a little closer to home is horse racing, which is immensely popular and a thrilling way to spend a day.  Ladies’ Day at Ascot (also known as the Gold Cup Meeting) is a highly regarded and eagerly anticipated appointment in the racing calendar, which sees the racing take second place to the various fashions on display – particularly the famed hats.  A typical three day break would include coach travel to London, a two-night hotel stay including breakfast and dinner, entry to the racing event and a day-trip to Windsor for general sight-seeing and shopping.

Other popular sports that have been picked up by tour operators include rugby, tennis, golf, sailing, boxing and even dog agility!  In fact, fans of almost any sport can now book a dream holiday that lets them combine their love of a sport, with a trip of a lifetime, both at home and abroad, with packages tailored to suit a range of budgets.  And with so many operators offering extra excursions and perks, there is sure to be something to keep every member of the family happy – even the less sporty ones!

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, as our televisions get larger and clearer and the commenters are paid thousands to try to project that all important atmosphere into our living rooms, we still crave the buzz that can only be found by watching a sporting event in the flesh.  There’s something intrinsically appealing about hearing the roar of the football crowd in person, rather than through speakers… cheering on ‘your’ horse and it gallops towards the finishing line… sensing the mounting  tension ripple silently through the room as the snooker player lines up their all-important shot.  There have been many attempts to recreate the intense, passionate atmosphere of a ‘big game’ for those people who can’t attend in person.  Big cities such as Leeds and Manchester, for example, put up gigantic municipal screens and hold free showings for the general public, as demonstrated with 2010’s World Cup, held in South Africa, where thousands of locals came together to cheer on England without having to fork out £100s for a trip abroad.  Similarly, cinemas are sometimes given over to showings of important matches and schools often host their own viewing events too.  But nothing can beat the buzz of being there first-hand.

It makes sense, therefore, that a huge industry has grown around the business of sports event travel, with many companies now vying for business and each promising to make your journey simpler and cheaper.  So what kinds of trips are available for those who like the idea of sports travel?

Well, one of those most popular types of sports event travel is, obviously, football.  But it doesn’t have to be a bank breaking world cup tour…  There are also more competitive options closer to home.  In fact, most top clubs now offer ‘tourist packages’, which make the ideal gift for avid football fans who perhaps can’t afford the season ticket fees, or live too far away from their beloved club to make an annual pass viable.

These so-called ‘match breaks’ usually offer a match ticket, stadium tour, visit to the club museum, match day programme and overnight accommodation, but the packages vary from club to club.  Other ‘extras’ might include signed memorabilia, or perhaps a meal in the club restaurant. 
 
Some tour operators will also arrange trips a little further afield, so football fans who’ve always wanted to see top flight European football at its best, might be tempted by a trip to Madrid, or Barcelona.
And of course, it’s not just football.  Tour operators now offer a range of travel packages for followers of a huge range of different sports.  Fans of motor racing, for example, might fancy a trip to the Grand Prix and have a range of stunning locations to choose from: Spain; Monaco; Belgium or Italy.  It could be the perfect way of combining a relaxing break, with a favourite pastime.