The sports season is full swing around the globe right now. Whether you are a football fan, a rugby obsessive, or you can’t get enough of American sports such as American football, basketball, baseball, or ice hockey, you are spoiled for choice at the moment. Well, maybe not baseball, as the season finished in early October, but otherwise, there is no shortage of games to watch and teams to follow. Most sports fans will have their preferred place to watch their favourite teams, whether it’s at home in the living room or at your local bar with your friends. When you hit the road, it can be a little harder to make sure that you are getting the same experience.
Unless, of course, you are hitting the road in support of your favourite team. Away days are a crucial part of any dedicated fan’s experience. For some fans, it’s all about riding on the coach with the dedicated fanbase, spending hours at a time on the road and keeping your spirits up with the classic chants. For others, comfort is a little more important, as you drive or take public transport with a night away in a hotel included in the deal. Whichever way you prefer to follow your team when they play away from home, here are a few essentials that you will need to remember.
Check Transport Before You Go
Here in the UK, public transport has been a bit of a gamble every time you book a ticket over the past few months. The ongoing rail strikes have made it extremely difficult to plan for how you are going to get from A to B at the moment, especially if you are going to be going long distances with a change or two in the bargain. What’s more, there have also been bus driver strikes which have made things even more complicated. So, if you are going to be taking public transport to the next away game, make sure you check online to find out if there is going to be any travel chaos. You may be better off asking a friend for a lift!
Check The Weather Too
Any sports fan knows that there is always going to be the chance that it is not exactly going to be perfect weather for a game every time you hit the stands. Sitting in the pouring rain with a howling gale in the blistering cold is part and parcel of being a dedicated supporter during the winter months. But the weather has not exactly been too predictable recently, and sudden storms come out of nowhere. Extreme weather events are becoming part and parcel of our daily lives, and it’s not just about the storms. Unseasonable warmth is something you need to prepare for too. Before you start packing your overnight bag, check the weather report and find out what you should be expecting. It’s probably a good idea to take a raincoat, even if they predict glorious sunshine.
Prepare For Some Downtime
When you are travelling on the road, there are always going to be a few hours to kill. We already talked about the inevitability of delays on public transport, but that is not even the half of it. What happens when the coach hits a wall of traffic that you can’t even see the end of? Or what happens if you end up giving yourself so much time that you arrive half a day early? And, of course, if you are staying the night, there are always going to be some extra hours as you wait in your hotel room, or indeed wait for the room to be ready. It helps to have something to pass the time ready to go, and if playing a few games at an online casino is one of the best ways to disconnect from the stresses of the outside world and chill out for a bit. But it can be difficult to know which one to choose, especially if you just have an hour or two and don’t want to spend too much time picking and choosing. Look at experts such as Online Casinos UK while you are on the road, as they are a review site that you can trust. Whether you are looking for sports betting or online poker, it always pays to use a site that has genuine feedback.
Don’t Forget Your Charger And Headphones
The last thing you want when you are on the road away from home is for your electronic devices to run out of juice. There is always the temptation to start scrolling as soon as you are bored on public transport, but the more you do that, the quicker you will run down your battery. Your phone and laptop chargers should always be at the top of your packing list, but you should also think about adding an extra bit of peace of mind with a power pack. This way, you can charge while you’re on the road instead of waiting to get to somewhere with a charging point. It is also important to remember to take good quality headphones unless you want to be listening to everyone else’s hot takes the whole time you are on the road!
Think About Travel Insurance
Everyone is trying to think of ways to save money right now, and the rising prices have made all sports fans a little anxious when it comes to spending. But if you are splashing out on train tickets (which are only getting more expensive) and a hotel room, it may well be worth looking at whether travel insurance is a good option. This is particularly important if you are following your team overseas, as there are so many different ways that your trip could hit a speedbump. No one wants to think about a worst-case scenario, but you don’t want to end up out of pocket if you need medical attention or if you miss your flight.
