Get the ball rolling for your next sporting holiday
In my role as a Travel Counsellor, I can help put together some fantastic sporting holiday packages. First, there are some amazing sporting matches and tournaments that you can go and watch, all over the world. The sport that always springs to my mind first is cricket. I was lucky enough myself to go and watch England play in the Caribbean in 2022 and spent 10 days in Antigua, taking in a couple of days at the Test match. Admittedly, the cricket was not so good, but being able to spend an extra week exploring the beautiful island of Antigua, made the whole holiday even more enjoyable
In the winter of 2025/2026, there is the spectacle of the Ashes Series in Australia to look forward to. What could be better than taking in the splendours of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth, whilst singing along with our friends ‘down under, watching leather on willow? The matches take place in 5 different cities, between November and January, and there will be plenty of time to visit locations in this diverse country in between. Why not hire a car and drive the stunning Western Australia region? Or maybe take a motorhome from Brisbane to Sydney, allowing time to visit some awe-inspiring places as well as enjoy the sport?
The world of motorsports also offers some spectacular destinations to visit, and a long weekend would be a great way to watch an F1 race and experience an exciting new destination. I work with suppliers that can put together Packages including Accommodation, transfers and the all-important tickets for the Formula 1 – from practice through to the big race itself.
For a more leisurely watch, there is always golf or tennis, and there are some great events across the world, from the traditional major golf championships such as the Masters in Augusta and the Open Championship in the UK, Wimbledon and the US Open in New York for tennis, with some very glitzy tournaments in up-and-coming destinations like Dubai and south-east Asia adding to the mix. And the golf events are nearly always staged when the weather is at its best – I have even got sunburnt watching the Open at Carnoustie
If you fancy something a bit more ‘immersive’, there are lots of traditional events that take place around the world which allow you to take part. Why not head to Mexico for the Day of The Dead celebrations, based around the end of October and early November? There are lots of small group tours I can offer, usually travelling from Mexico City, visiting Oaxaca, and allow you to get a first-hand feel for these unique traditional local celebrations.
Closer to home, and for the more adventurous, Spain offers two unique events each year – the Bull Run in Pamplona in July, and La Tomatina in August, which takes place near Valencia. The Bull Run itself, if you want to take part, is 5 minutes of bravery, or stupidity, depending on how you view running down narrow streets with angry, heavy cattle. However, the other 23 hours 55 minutes each day are full of street parties, music, restaurants and lively bars. It’s an exciting place to be. The Tomatina is a slightly less dangerous, but very messy way to spend some time in the lovely town of Bunol. It is essentially the ‘world’s biggest food fight’ as trucks arrive full of over-ripe tomatoes, at which point, the mayhem begins as participants start throwing the tomatoes at each other. It’s great fun, but wear clothes you’re happy to bin afterwards.
Finally, you could make the whole holiday an active, sporty week or two. Over the years I have booked my clients on walking, cycling and sailing holidays in some truly breath-taking places. Leading holiday companies such as Club Med offer some amazing sports and diverse activity holidays, where you can stay in some astounding resorts all over the world, and combine your stay with a specialist sport, such as skiing or water sports, or get the chance to have a go at several different sports, whilst allowing you a chance to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Who knows, you may have the next generation’s Wimbledon champion in the family!
For me, taking part in the Lisbon Half Marathon gave a great insight in to a different running ‘culture’ and it was fantastic to see and hear the cosmopolitan mixture involved in the race, with runners from Germany, France, Spain and beyond. After the race as well, the cafes and restaurants were full of happy, tired but medalled runners, making the whole day so memorable.
Sporting events and sport activities are a great way to provide exciting experiences but take place in some truly awesome locations around the world. Taking it a step further, participating in an event is also great for the well-being, as well as your fitness levels. As a Travel Counsellor I have access to some fantastic deals and packages for you and your family, so please get in touch for your next exciting sport-based adventure.
