TT Races 2008 - NOW FULL. Taking bookings for 2009.
The plan is to run it just like 2007 and previous years – it’s a formula which works quite well. Read all the bits on my website for 2006 and 2007 – it will be just the same! Read the testimonials as well. Read here http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/view/1/441/index.cms and then all the sections here http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/subcat/6/86/index.cms
The package
The “tour” starts and finishes at the docks in Heysham, and lasts for Race week. This is how it is priced, and this suits the Brits and everyone. One price for all. Brits just want the TT package, and don’t need or want any extras. Those coming from overseas wil need extra support, will need to pick up rental bikes, and will usually need accommodation setting up before and after the TT races, on the UK mainland.
I can do this for you – but it’s a separate issue, and will be planned separately. Everyone’s needs are different. We normally have one night in the Yorkshire Dales before sailing to the IOM. Sailings for 2008 are at a different time, so the night in Dent is less necessary next year. But most who do it, love it.
Insurance
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, get travel insurance. 20% of you will cancel before the trip – and if it’s for a good and valid reason – illness, accident, or worse – then you can claim the trip price back from your insurance. EVERY YEAR, someone has a pre-trip problem. Someone falls ill, or drops a bike on their foot. This causes immense problems and expense – unless you have travel insurance, then all the pain goes away, as if by magic.
Pricing for 2008
This TT place is sold as a package, with ferry ticket, accommodation and in a limited number of cases, a rental bike as well. Therefore the minimum price of a ticket now is £395 GBP – this is the camping package, and includes the support and camp fees. If you choose to buy a place, then NOT camp that’s up to you. Find your own hotel room if you want to, but my minimum price remains the same. Camping equipment can be provided if needed - included in the price. And, OF COURSE, your campsite fees are included in the package as well. You get the whole deal.
This "package" covers return ferry tickets and B&B or Homestay accommodation, or camping.
Motorcycle rental will be extra if required, and you'll probably need to budget for extra accommodation on the UK mainland before & after the TT races if you are coming in from overseas.
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the time it takes to land, move across Britain, pick up rental bikes and get to the ferry ports. Then do it all in reverse AFTER the TT Races.
It's a 3 hour check-in period at the port, with a 3.5 hour sailing, plus perhaps a 5 hour ride to the ports . So don't land in Britain just half a day before your ferry crossing. It won't work. I'll discuss individual needs as bookings are confirmed. I'd suggest 2 or 3 nights before the IOM part and at least one night afterwards prior to flying out again.
Bike & Rider, in Guesthouse accommodation (8 nights) £799 GBP
Pillion passenger on guesthouse deal £649 GBP
Camping Package Price (bike & rider, 8 nights) £395 GBP.
Pillion on camping package £265 GBP
Just TWO camping slots remaining..
This "all-in" camping package is just £395 GBP or 503 Euros at current exchange rates. It's getting cheaper and cheaper for my French, Swiss and German guests!
There are two extra spaces in the support vehicle - price on application.
A non-refundable deposit of £200 GBP per head secures your place on this trip.
It has to be absolutely non refundable – and this sum roughly equates to the price of a ferry ticket. Why?
Because from past experience over the last 7 years, approx 20% of you will cancel in January or February 2008. By then, I will have made specific room arrangements for you, specific bikes will be allocated in many cases, ferry tickets will have been paid for, in full, and at least 50% of the accommodation costs will have been paid for, up front.
When someone cancels, it upsets the whole plan, and it’s not always easy to re-sell a place – especially with specific room arrangements (say a mix of twins, or doubles). If a couple cancel for example – two guys never want to share the double bed which becomes free. Well, British guys don't want to anyway :)
Ferry bookings for Isle of Man TT Races 2008
Note – I booked & paid deposits on these tickets on Wednesday 6th June, 2007. At this point, just half way through Race Week 2007, I thought I would have my pick of 2008 sailings. WRONG! My preferred sailings for our support van (same boat as the bikes) were already sold out (for vans), and I bought the very last three bike tickets on my usual 14:15 sailing from Heysham. The rest are on a slightly later boat now. Still great crossings by-the-way, but secondary to what I would have preferred.
The van will be going out one day before the bikes, and returning 1 day after the bikes. When booking 1 year in advance, I have no idea how many pillion places will be required. So I make and guess, and book a few. Extra pillion places can be booked later, according to demand – if space remains on the boat.
Weekend sailings do sell out, and short of picking up any cancellations (sometimes found on eBay), it can become impossible to book any extra tickets on these same sailings.
The tickets are for the full RACE WEEK. These are optimised sailings, going out the day before race 1, and returning the day after the last TT Race (The Senior). Note however – the TT race programme does not always run exactly to plan – any delays or changes to the programme are normally due to the weather.
There are THREE groups, under 3 separate booking reference numbers. The van, the last 3 bike / rider / pillion places on the Ben-my-Chree, and the main batch of bike riders.
The main group of bikes – Ref G738xxx / 000
27 motorcycles and 29 adults. (meaning 25 bike / rider tickets, and 2 bike / rider / pillion tickets)
Heysham to Douglas, Fri 30th May 2008, 16:45 on Super Seacat 2, arrive 19:45
(check-in closes @14:45 on outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sat 7th June, 09:45, Super Seacat 2, arrive 12:45
(check in on return sailing closes at 07:45)
The small group of bike & pillions – Ref G738xxx / 000
3 motorcycles and 6 adults. (meaning 3 bike / rider / pillion tickets)
Heysham to Douglas, Fri 30th May 2008, 14:15 on Ben-my-Chree, arrive 17:45
(check-in closes @12:15 on the outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sat 7th June, 09:45, Super Seacat 2, arrive 12:45
(check in on return sailing closes at 07:45)
Note – these 3 bikes / riders & pillions are coming back on the SAME boat as the main group.
The support van – Ref G738xxx / 000
This is booked as a “camper”, as we normally use Stuart’s large motorhome.
It’s booked as 1 camper & 3 adults. Booking some people carrying space has always proved to be useful.
Heysham to Douglas, Thur 29th May 2008, 14:15 on Ben-my-Chree, arrive 17:45
(check-in closes @13:15 on outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sun 8th June, 19:45, Ben-my-Chree, arrive 23:15
(check in on return sailing closes at 18:45)
Places starting to fill up now. 2007 prices held for 2008.
1 bike / rider pillion ticket left.
1 bike & rider ticket left.
1 triple room in central douglas left.
Can you imagine what Mad Sunday is really like?
No? Watch this (just spotted on www.iomtt.com)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNcW46nhm6o The very famous, & much missed, rider featured is a touch better than you or I will ever be, but it's excellent footage, and demonstrates the slow lane / fast lane syndrome over the mountain circuit on Mad Sunday. Note Police car parked on RHS. Just watching. Note how he creams those 2 Honda MAC riders as well (their road positioning is good though, and they saw him coming and moved over).
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