The Barmy Army Tour to Sri Lanka
November/December 2003 Amended details
Below is the original text put on the website in relation to Sri Lanka for
November and December.
As mentioned below, in true Barmy Army tradition, if we can get it cheaper,
we will.
Well!!!!!!!.we have !
In association with Wanderers Europe , we have been able to get the prices
down considerably, and now offer more flexibility in what can be offered on
official Barmy Army Tours.
Below are the new packages for all three tests, as well as a new tour to
take in the ODIıs.
For those already booked, these cost savings will be passed on and the
Wanderers will be reducing your tour costs accordingly:
All tours include return flights ex London, accommodation on a B & B basis,
all transfers, match tickets, applicable taxes and travel insurance
Tour 1 All three tests £1399pp Twin Share
Tour 2 2nd and 3rd Tests - £1149pp twin share
Tour 3 the 3 ODIıs 8 days - £999pp twin share
Tour 4 1st and 2nd Tests - £1149pp twin share
Tour 5 1st Test Galle 7 days - £959pp twin share
Tour 6 2nd Test Colombo 7 days £949pp twin share
Tour 7 - 3rd Test Colombo 7 Days £1230pp twin share
If you are travelling alone, The Wanderers will match you up with someone to
share to avoid you paying expensive single supplements in covering the cost
of a room yourself.
Quite a number of fellow 'Army' members are already on board, so for more
info of these tours at the now cheaper prices, please contact
info@wandererseurope.com or visit their website at www.wandererseurope.com.
You can also give them a call on 01451 851 022.
Original Sri Lanka Update
England is planning a winter tour of tests and one dayers to Sri Lanka
during December 2003 after visiting Bangladesh, and of course the Barmy
Army will be there. Our last tour in 2001 was a huge event with over 2000 of
the
faithful basking in our lads come-from-behind effort in winning the last
two tests in Kandy and Colombo to take the series 2-1.
This is now updated information taking into account the itinerary signed
off by the ECB recently.
Touring
The one thing about Sri Lanka which is great for English cricket fans, is
that once you get there, Sri Lanka is relatively CHEAP. For the cost of
staying in hostels at home, you can stay in luxury hotels with air
conditioning and your own bathroom, which is always nice.
The team will be playing the ODIs first after travelling from Bangladesh.
This will be followed by three tests in Galle (first test) and Colombo
(second and third test), before heading back home just in time for
Christmas.
As with some other cricketing destinations making arrangements can be a
daunting and expensive task, and with the vast majority of accommodation in
Sri Lanka being hotels or apartments, this can become an expensive exercise
if you are travelling alone and have to fork out for a room by yourself or
a Single supplement as many of the tour companies now make you do. We
encourage all those who want to do the tour independently to do so, as the
Barmy Army is not a clique group...all who end up touring are welcome. We
are pleased to let you know that Wanderers Europe in association with
Wanderers Australia will be putting together the official Barmy Army Tour
to Sri Lanka. The idea behind this is that the Wanderers will take the hassle
out of the touring part - international and internal transfers between,
Galle and Colombo, accommodation, airport transfers, travel insurance,
airport and government taxes, breakfast and match tickets at FACE VALUE.
You then have the flexibility to do what you want to do. We are hopeful at
getting approx 200 people over to Sri Lanka on the tour. We are looking at
two tours, the first to take in all three tests, and the second to take in
the last two tests prior to Christmas. Our advice is if you want to get
value for flying 11 hours approx from England, do the tests, as you get 5
days worth of cricket (unless we beat them inside three !) compared to one
or two. So if you go out and do two tours, you get 10 days worth of cricket
instead of one or two.
If you are single, we will match you up with someone of the same sex and
roughly the same age to save you on single supplements and forking out for
a hotel room or apartment on your own. We did this for Australia and it
worked very well. You will still have the space and independence to do what
you
want, when you want.
We are looking at the possibility of creating a BARMY ARMY RESORT which
will have DJs at night, bands, in a resort on the beach with a nice setting,
not
far from the grounds.
The other important thing is that there will be emergency contacts and
people on the ground in Sri Lanka and in the UK for those on tour for
advice and for emergencies in case you get into a bother! Here you will have
direct contact with leading Barmy Army members who have experience in travelling
around the world supporting England, who can assist you on where to drink,
where our charity events will be , Barmy Army XI matches V local Sri Lankan
clubs, and important information on where to go and where not to go. As
there are a limited number of airlines that fly to Sri Lanka from the UK,
we are asking members to register at info@wandererseurope.com
as soon as
possible, as there will be limited availability in particular with the
flights.
For More information on how to get on to the tours, contact Mike or Brad at
info@wandererseurope.com or give
them a call on 01451 851 022. You can also check out the itineraries in more
detail at www.wandererseurope.com
Fixtures
These are the fixtures as per the official ECB itinerary that has been
signed off for the tour
13 Nov - Arrive
15 Nov Practice One Day Match v Sri Lanka A Colombo (PSS)
18 Nov 1st ODI v Sri Lanka day/night Colombo (RPS)
21 Nov 2nd ODI v Sri Lanka day/night Colombo (RPS)
23 Nov 3rd ODI v Sri Lanka day/night Colombo (RPS)
25 Nov - Practice - Colombo (NCC)
26-28 Nov 3 Day Practice Match v Sri Lanka A Colombo (NCC)
2-6 Dec 1st Test v Sri Lanka Galle
10-14 Dec 2nd Test v Sri Lanka Colombo (RPS)
18-22 Dec 3rd Test v Sri Lanka - Colombo (SSC)
The Barmy Army Sri Lanka Tour The Wanderers are doing two itineraries,
which take in all three tests, as well as the second and third tests that will
be back to back in Colombo. The tour which will do 2 tests will be approx 17
to 18 days, and the tour will all three tests approx 23 days. We see that as
being the best way to put the tours together, so you get your money¹s worth
by seeing 10 days of cricket and two tests in two weeks. Final costs are
now being done, with the tours now becoming slightly cheaper than before. The
cost of doing two tests will be approx between £1200 and £1500,
with all 3 tests being approx £200 extra . This will include your flights,
accommodation and breakfast, return airport transfers, return ground
transfers if not within a short walking distance, travel insurance, taxes,
match tickets in the Barmy Army section of the ground and 24 hour emergency
contacts both in Sri Lanka and at home. There may also be the opportunity
to come early to watch the ODI1s if flights are available. These costs are
almost 100% at this stage and will be finalised once the ECB and the BCCSL
sign off on the final itinerary. In sticking with the tradition of the
Barmy Army, if we can get it cheaper, we will !.
We have also asked the Wanderers to put together a package for the ODI¹s
which they are currently finalising. Their website will be updated with new
costs and itineraries by the end of the week.
To get on the tours, contact Wanderers Europe at www.wandererseurope.com or give them a call on 01451 851 022.
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