The plan for 2009, as always, is to offer a package, with a choice of guesthouse (Homestay) acccommodation (all gone) or a more adventurous camping option.
The Package
This is a deal which includes;
- Return Ferries from Heysham to Douglas
- 8 nights accommodation (camping or house)
- a support vehicle, with driver to carry luggage where needed.
- Supply of tents to those who need them
- Supply of camping equipment, cooking gear, BBQ tables and chairs
- Full Tool kit for those little breakdowns
- Bill and / or Stuart to provide support, help and back up if needed.
- Assistance in sourcing a rental bike where required
- Assistance with pre-trip logistics and accommodation where required.
- Option to join the pre-TT “mini-tour” into the Yorkshire Dales.
I don’t just supply ferry ticket, or accommodation, unless clearing surplus places due to last minute cancellations.
Why book with Bike Tours UK?
You get all parts of the jigsaw organised for you. There is some back up there if you have any problems (people DO breakdown from time to time). There are other people around to “show you the ropes” if you’ve not been before. The best thing? Normally the camaraderie & fun of being part of the group. Warning though – if you’re camping with us, you may be subjected to a very cruel British sense of humour. Something which can be misunderstood by those from faraway lands J
The “full TT experience” camping package (ferry tickets, camp fees and support vehicle)
£449 for bike & rider.
£299 for pillion passengers.
The campsite is between Union Mills and Glen Vine – 3 miles out of Douglas)
How to secure your places on the 2009 TT Races trip
FOR THE CAMPERS, a non-refundable deposit of £200 GBP per head secures your place on this trip. (this more or less covers the price of the boat ticket)
FOR THE HOUSE occupants, a non-refundable deposit of £300 GBP per head secures your place on this trip. This is because I have to pre-pay the ferry tickets AND the house, long before your actual trip. A sudden cancellation can cause considerable trouble if I’ve pre-paid everything, then can’t get anyone else to fill the places exactly as booked.
I normally ask for full balances to be paid approximately 6 weeks before departure (i.e. mid-late April 2009)
For people in the UK, or with a UK based Sterling bank account, payment by cheque is the preferred option. Alternatively I can accept direct transfers into my business account. I can also accept cheques made out in US Dollars, but any bank charges will be charged back to the customer.
The £449 includes...
Return ferry tickets for bike & rider 5th to 13th June 2009
8 nights accommodation - CAMPING - 5th to 13th June 2009. (I pay the camp fees)
Provision of tent & camping equipment if this is required.
A back-up van, with driver, which carries provisions & tools & tents etc.
Me, as Guide & helper, where needed. I also stay on the campground.
Asisstance in finding a suitable rental motorcycle. although the actual transaction is between the guest and the dealer supplying the bike.
Not included..
Motorcycle rental
Food & beer
Any extra accommodation outside the dates of 5th to 13th June
Transfers from arrival airport to London, Nottingham or Heysham or wherever.
Petrol.
optional extras
Some guests like to meet up with me in Nottingham first, a day or two before the sailing to the TT races. Then they can ride up to the port with me, via the Yorkshire Dales. This is in effect an extra little "mini-tour" which enables guests to see a bit more of England, and it makes the journey easier. As an example, I've added this extra part with 2 nights' hotel accommodation pre-TT (3rd & 4th June) and 1 night hotel accommodation on 13th June, with an escorted ride up the port of Heysham (1 night in quaint country village on the way) for approximately £170 GBP, per head.
Some people sort out these extra days themselves - it's up to you.
I'll add these points onto the end of the attached document.
Any guest flying in from overseas, is going to need 3 or 4 nights accommoadtion before and after the core TT dates. (you have to get from airport, to wherever you're hiring a bike from, then to Nottingham or Dent or Heysham before 5th June, then after the TT we get back to Heysham on Saturday 13th June at noon. It's a 180 mile ride back to Nottingham, or about 250 miles back to London. Bike hire dealerships are unlikely to be open on Sundays, unless by prior arrangement. Hotel rooms cost at least £40 per night, rising to £100+ in London.
Unless shipping a bike over, at least 10 days bike rental will be needed, which is likey to cost £500+ See here for examples http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/view/62/380/index.cms
A bike of around 500cc upwards would be needed. A 125cc machine isn't really caapble of keeping up with UK traffic, especially on motorways.
Any more questions? Happy to chat on phone. I have Skype.
Background
I started running group trips to the IOM TT races in 2000, although I'd already flown over there some years before in a microlight to see the races. I was asked by a couple of American guests to set up a trip for them and agreed to do so. I found it was quite hard work sorting out the ferry tickets and accommodation with only a few months to go, and realised that if I was going to go to the effort for 2 people, I may as well go all the way and set up a trip for around a dozen people.
I’ve taken a group out there for the last eight years now.
Mark & Mark, pictured above, are not entering their sidecar team in 2008 unfortunately. Sadly, they retired from racing in Summer 2008. The outfit was sold to a French team, and may re-appear on the island in due course.
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