Planning gap year travel for sports fans

| February 10, 2014 | 0 Comments

travel

Each year, hundreds of students travel during their gap year. This has become a tradition of sorts for most students before joining college. The choice of activities to engage in is largely dependent on personal choice and preference.

There are those who prefer to volunteer their time and skills in different countries for good causes while others would rather travel and explore the world. Travelling offers plenty of benefits and allows people to encounter different places and cultures than those they are used to. Furthermore, young adults who travel during their gap year get a chance to practice being independent and self-reliant.

Individuals who love sports can also enjoy their gap year as there are plenty of annual sporting activities guaranteed to keep them busy. Before setting out, it is advisable to plan key aspects of the trip and to purchase adequate travel insurance. It is also important to make the travel schedule flexible enough to accommodate random moments of fun and spontaneity.

Sports fans that wish to make the most out of their gap year should include the following events in their itinerary:

  • The X Games.

Held every January in Aspen, Colorado, the X Games offer the best opportunity to see the best athletes on snow compete, outside the Winter Olympics. Snow sports on the menu include snowboarding and skiing.

  • Tour de France.

Cycling buffs can catch all the action of the world’s most famous bike race by travelling to France in July.

  • Monaco Grand Prix.

Fans of fast cars can make their way to Monte Carlo during their gap year to witness what has been dubbed the world’s most prestigious car race. Other popular racing events include the Indy 500 and the British Grand Prix.

  • Football events.

There is no shortage of football events in the calendar, ranging from the FA Cup final held in Wembley Stadium, London to the Champions League Final that takes place in Lisbon, Portugal. Both events are scheduled for May.

  • American football.  

Sports enthusiasts who prefer American football can head to Philadelphia, on the East Coast of the United States. Here they can watch one of the NFL’s greatest teams-the Philadelphia Eagles-battling it out in the playoffs.

  • Heineken Cup Final. 

Rugby devotees will not be left behind since one of the top competitions in the sport concludes in the last week of May at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

  • Kentucky Derby.

Those who prefer to watch horses thundering around a track can head to Kentucky on the first Saturday of May. Here horseracing addicts can try their hands at betting while enjoying the glamour of the American South.

  • Wimbledon.

Tennis fans should plan a visit to the leafy suburb of Wimbledon, London, to catch a glimpse of the world’s best tennis players. Other major tennis events include the Australian, US and French Opens.

  • US Masters.

This is one of the majors that every golf pro wants to win. Fans of the sport are unlikely to be disappointed by a trip to the fairways of Augusta, Georgia during mid April.

Photo credit: nickgraywfu

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Category: Student Sport, Travel

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