Sports travel trends for 2018

At Sports Tours International we are about quality and value for money. We’re known for the best selection of events across running and cycling events and active leisure holidays. Virtually all hotels that we offer on our events are 4 star now, our customer feedback scores are consistently over 90% and we have a very high customer return rate. We find that once someone has been on one of our tours, they will book again and again. A big part of our success is that we keep a very close eye on everything that is going on in our market so we keep on offering what our customers want. So what does 2018 have in store for the sports participation travel market? Below is what we think.

The world gets smaller in March 2018

In 2018 a non-stop flight to Australia will become reality thanks to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 17-hour flight from London to Perth will start services in March 2018. These new aircraft are a great choice for traveling athletes as they ensure that you arrive in better shape so you can better deal with the affects of jet lag. These aircraft have more natural light because they have larger windows and they also have LED mood lighting and more space inside with wider aisles and higher ceilings. They are also a lot quieter and fly higher and faster. Another great benefit is that there is a lower cabin pressure and moister air inside the cabin. This means that you can absorb more oxygen which in turns stops dehydration and headaches.

A Norwegian plane recently broke the speed record for the return from new York back to the UK for a non-supersonic aircraft. Flight DY7014 from John F Kennedy International to Gatwick completed the 3,470-mile journey in just five hours and 13 minutes, shaving 30 minutes off the average duration and stealing three minutes off the previous record set by British Airways in January 2015. Read the article here

British Airways operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on most of their long haul flight destinations from the UK as do Virgin Atlantic. On our running events you may fly on Virgin Atlantic Dreamliners on a number of London routes including to Boston and New York JFK. Virgin have stated that these routes are not 100% operated by 787s as there can be aircraft swaps.

>>READ OUR TIPS TO ARRIVING FIT AND HEALTHY AT YOUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON DESTINATION<<

Live, race and train like a pro

Mainly in cycling and triathlon the trend has been to try and emulate the pro cyclist or triathlete lifestyle for a weekend or a week and live, train and race like a pro cyclist. These days anybody has access to the bikes, the technology and the training methods of Elite athletes.. Keen amateur cyclists will have bikes that are lighter than what is allowed on the pro tour and power metres have come down considerably in price allowing us all to review our performance and get better.

In cycling and triathlon travel we have seen the same trend and below are some attainable ways that you also can get a  taste of what it’s like to live and ride like a Pro Cyclist or Elite Triathlete.

• Cycling Training

The main areas for spending the winter are still in Europe for most cycling teams. The Costa Blanca is one of those areas and for over 20 years we’ve been taking cyclists to the resort of Albir next to Benidorm. Train where the pros train – BOOK OUR SPRING Cycling TRAINING WEEK IN MARCH 2018 NOW]

• Triathlon Training

Club La Santa in Lanzarote – www.clublasanta.co.uk is the ultimate triathlon training destination. With year round sunshine and a fantastic array of facilities and activities, you can truly train where the pros train.

Club La Santa was created with the dream of being the world’s best playground for active people. Most sports are included in the accommodation prices so everybody can enjoy the facilities, group classes and entertainment free of charge. All equipment is provided for you, so why not join our Green Team and take part in some of the many sports and activities offered in our extensive weekly programme.

Come to Lanzarote and enjoy the Club La Santa Lifestyle! It’s the perfect sports holiday and active holiday destination where you can do as much as you want, whenever you want, and with expert help on hand if you need it.

Don’t just take our word for it, >>have a look what leading bike transport experts SciCon had to say here<< 

• Watch the pros, ride the route yourself

Ride and Watch the UCI Pro Tour – The best 2018 cycling Ride and Watch events – Have a look at our 2018 Ride and Watch weekends here

Not a cyclist?. Not a problem: Have a look at our comprehensive collection of VIP days and hospitality experiences during all the best cycling races in 2018

• THE 2018 ETAPE DU TOUR is a one day Cyclo-Sportive where you ride the exact route of a Tour de France stage on closed roads under race conditions
• Live the Dream and cross a finish-line of a Grand Tour stage – Available on the 3 Grand Tours – More information here
• The Haute Route – the highest and toughest Cyclosportives and race like a pro for a week –

Branded the world’s most prestigious multi-day cycling events for amateur riders, the Haute Route cycling series take place over seven or three-day formats. The timed and ranked events take place on the world’s most iconic cycling terrain. The aim of the Haute Route is to deliver an unparalleled professional experience both on and off the bike for amateur riders. In partnership with a number of companies who are experts in their field the event organisers ensure that you enjoy an unparalleled level of safety, security, comfort and premium services over seven or three timed and ranked stages.

Hundreds of riders from all over the world take part every year in Haute Route events and ride the mythical cols in the world’s most iconic cycling terrain. Not only do they share an unforgettable sporting journey, they also live an incredible human adventure. The Haute Route events give all riders a life-changing experience that gives you an unrivaled sense of achievement. Whether you’re a Rookie or seasoned cyclist, with the right level of training, these events are perfectly achievable by ordinary athletes.

We have been involved with the Haute Route ever since the very first event and we’ve built a great reputation with the service that we provide. Our 2018 Haute Route Pyrenees and 2018 Haute Route Alps hotel and rider support packages have seen unprecedented demand and we are already sold out but we have a few places remaining on our 2018 Haute Route Dolomites trip.

>>CLICK HERE FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE TOP 10 BEST GRAN FONDO AND CYCLOSPORTIVES <<

Competitive into old age – the rise of the age group athlete

The age group phenomenon has been a well-established fixture in Triathlon. In the world of long distance Triathlon, at a global series of events, you need to place within the top of your age group and this feat allows you to represent your country, club or yourself in the world championships which take place in nice places like Hawaii and South Africa.

In cycling there is the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships which will take place in Varese, Italy in 2018. You need to take part in an event which is part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series and if you place within the top 25% of the event, you have the opportunity to represent your country at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships which in 2018 will take place in Varese, Italy.

In the New York City Marathon the 80 – 89 age group had 13 finishers and it’s just a matter of time before the World Marathon Majors (the Marathons of Tokyo, London, Boston, Chicago, New York and Berlin) will announce a similar age group world championship event.

You can currently earn yourself a 6 star World Marathon Majors medal by running all 6 events. Read here how one of our customers managed this feat

>>THE SPORTS TOURS INTERNATIONAL GUIDE TO THE 6 WORLD MARATHON MAJORS<<

The single travelling athlete

There are many cyclists and runners out there who practice their sport alone. These are not necessarily people who are single but they could well be of course. At the end of the day, cycling and running are individual pursuits but it’s nice to join a group of like-minded people to share and enjoy. One of the biggest attractions for solo travelers who want to travel to take part in a Marathon or Cycling event is that they can be 100% certain that the people that they will be joining with have a shared interest.

We encourage single travelers to join our tours. Rooms for single occupancy are available on all our tours but we also offer the opportunity to book a ‘Twin to Share’ option which means that we pair you up with another athlete of the same sex so you can enjoy the event without having to pay the single occupancy supplement. We welcome all nationalities across our running and cycling events. Our aim is to take care of all the event related logistics so you can focus on realising your goals from setting a PB to just having a great time with some like-minded people. You can be as independent as you want to be. To ensure that you get the most out of the event our staff provide welcome meetings and/ or race briefings on many of our tours. These meetings also let you meet the other people in our group so our tours are ideal for anybody from single travelers to groups.

Run the world

Who does not like Adventure, sightseeing and having fun? Adventure Marathons and Fun Runs are an exciting, new way to see a place without the competitive element. The roads are closed so you can take your time to enjoy your surroundings without the worry about traffic.

Fun Runs include the RunDisney series and the Medco Wine Marathon and adventure Marathons include the Mont Blanc Marathon, the Petra Desert Marathon and the Great Wall Marathon.

>>HAVE A LOOK AT ALL OUR ADVENTURE MARATHONS HERE<<

Multi – Sports Holidays

Charlotte McCutcheon at WhereAbouts Adventure Holidays – www.whereabouts.com says: ‘We have seen the popularity of multi-sports holidays rise with people wanting to do more than one activity on holiday. Ideal for families with active teenagers or people who simply can’t sit still and enjoy trying out new sports.’

For a whole host of water-based activities Croatia is an ideal destination to enjoy a range of activities including stand up paddling, sailing, kayaking and rafting with also some walking and cycling. More information on Croatia based multi-sports holidays can be found here

Not sure that this is for you but want to give it a try? Then Slovenia offers a holidays which includes 4 days of walking and cycling included with 2 days of water sports, all set in the stunning location of the Julian Alps. More information on  based multi-sports holidays can be found here

Ready for anything? With a host of activities on offer, from coasteering and cave tours to rock climbing, horse riding and canyoning, there is something for everyone to try, whatever your age and fitness level on our Mallorca Multi-Activity holiday. More information our Mallorca Multi-Activity Holiday here

Bike and Barge holidays

Steven Rittey at at Freewheel Holiday www.freewheelholidays.co.uk says that Bike and Barge holidays have always been a top pick for those looking to explore new places in a unique way. Not only do you cover a large distance that gives you the chance to see and explore new things, these trips are ideal for those who like to cycle during the day and explore beautiful areas, without giving up a comfortable way of travelling. During our tours you don’t have to pack and un-pack your suitcases every day to travel from one beautiful place to the next! Meet new people, taste new foods and wines of different regions, all while cycling and staying in your ‘boat hotel’ along some of the most famous waterways of Europe!

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