Advice please - World Cup 2017

[Intake Don]

Hi. Im looking at going Australia next year for world cup just looking for a bit of advice from people who have done it before. Thinking of going for a couple of weeks but going to different citys to watch the rugby. When should i book it/ should i book it seperately or as a package/ how much roughly will it cost/ how much spending money will i need???

Cheers

Michael

[bobbruce]

We went for 17 days for the last WC I think it cost just under 10 grand. I think the flights are a bit cheaper now but we got a much better exchange rate back then around 2.50 to the £. Everyone's different but you may never get to go to Aus again so I'd see of much of it as you can and fit the rugby around it not the other way. You need the fixtures out so you can work out the best way to get around with the fewest internal flights. Plus you can also find out what else is on in the areas while games are on. When we went the England Aus game in Melborne coincided with the Melborne Cup. With it being same sort of time they may pair these up again for you.

[Farmduck]

Melbourne paid over $1 million each for 2 Origin games and they paid for that WC game to tie in with the Melbourne Cup. There's a big chance they will repeat this, as the Cup is always run on Tuesdays so it ties in well with packages. They get crowds of 100,000 at the Cup and 90,000 at the Saturday races so it drags in zillions for Melbourne.

[Exiled Wiganer]

We went up the coast - Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane (Noosa mostly), over 17 days(ish). The key moment will be when they release the fixtures which I think may be as late as next September. I assume the earlier you book the cheaper the flights, but doubt that you can book more than a year in advance. As for budget, we stayed in a good and cheap air b n b place in Coogee when we went over as a family in March. Air b n b was not an option last time, but would be worth checking out this time... Internal flights are relatively cheap, by the way.

[Dave T]

I would start looking at booking as soon as the fixtures are announced - take some time looking at where you want to go, what you want to see and how many games you want etc.

 

The one downside to going for the finals stages is that if you go for just over 2 weeks (covering three weekends) - they the maximum number of games you can see is 7 (4 quarters, 2 semis and 1 final) - which may be enough, but personally I enjoy the 'lesser' games in the World Cup, in some of the smaller grounds, so if you could stretch to three weeks (covering four weekends) you may get a better World Cup experience.

 

I booked everything separately last time, got some good deals so make sure you shop around.

 

Another thing to consider, whilst the official tours can be expensive, you can get some exclusive experiences and you will get to meet more Rugby League fans etc. 

 

If you are not bothered about that, just go for it and book everything yourself. I got some great bargains on internal flights.

 

My itinerary was

 

Week 1 - visiting family in Perth (wish I had given this a miss )

Week 2 - flew to Sydney then travelled to Newcastle for Eng v NZ

The next day drove down to Penrith and watched France v Samoa

The next day we flew to the Gold Coast and watched Fiji v Ireland

Week 3 - We had a few days on the GC and Brisbane and watched the first Semi Eng v NZ

The next day flew to Sydney to watch the 2nd Semi Aus v Fiji

A few days later we flew into Brisbane for the Final - NZ v OZ

We flew home the next day (hungover).

 

I loved it, I would have changed a few things, but go for it - I'm considering it again, however we have a baby on the way soon.

[MaverickX111]

I would start looking at booking as soon as the fixtures are announced - take some time looking at where you want to go, what you want to see and how many games you want etc.

The one downside to going for the finals stages is that if you go for just over 2 weeks (covering three weekends) - they the maximum number of games you can see is 7 (4 quarters, 2 semis and 1 final) - which may be enough, but personally I enjoy the 'lesser' games in the World Cup, in some of the smaller grounds, so if you could stretch to three weeks (covering four weekends) you may get a better World Cup experience.

I booked everything separately last time, got some good deals so make sure you shop around.

Another thing to consider, whilst the official tours can be expensive, you can get some exclusive experiences and you will get to meet more Rugby League fans etc.

If you are not bothered about that, just go for it and book everything yourself. I got some great bargains on internal flights.

My itinerary was

Week 1 - visiting family in Perth (wish I had given this a miss )

Week 2 - flew to Sydney then travelled to Newcastle for Eng v NZ

The next day drove down to Penrith and watched France v Samoa

The next day we flew to the Gold Coast and watched Fiji v Ireland

Week 3 - We had a few days on the GC and Brisbane and watched the first Semi Eng v NZ

The next day flew to Sydney to watch the 2nd Semi Aus v Fiji

A few days later we flew into Brisbane for the Final - NZ v OZ

We flew home the next day (hungover).

I loved it, I would have changed a few things, but go for it - I'm considering it again, however we have a baby on the way soon.

I'm going to budget about 12 grand for three weeks but doubt I will be able to go to PNG or Fiji although specialist tour groups will be the best option

That cost is for two by the way and includes everything

[Wolford6]

I wouldn't bother.  I don't think Wales have got much chance.

 

[Dave T]

I'm going to budget about 12 grand for three weeks but doubt I will be able to go to PNG or Fiji although specialist tour groups will be the best option

That cost is for two by the way and includes everything

I would expect a breakdown of something like (for 2 people):

 

Flights - £1800

21 nights hotel @ £70 per night - £1500

Internal Flights x 4 = £800

Other travel = £400

Match Tickets = £500

Total = £5k for 2 people

 

You then come onto spends - average of £200 per day gives you an extra £4k - so £12k should be a decent amount for some money to spend on New Zealand parts of the tour.

 

I do think that £5k could be trimmed down somewhat too.

[Martyn Sadler]

League Publications will soon be announcing that we are to enter into a partnership with a prominent travel company to run packages to the World Cup.

 

It would be rather nice to see as many members of the forum coming along perhaps in a specially branded Totalrl.com trip.

[MaverickX111]

I would expect a breakdown of something like (for 2 people):

Flights - £1800

21 nights hotel @ £70 per night - £1500

Internal Flights x 4 = £800

Other travel = £400

Match Tickets = £500

Total = £5k for 2 people

You then come onto spends - average of £200 per day gives you an extra £4k - so £12k should be a decent amount for some money to spend on New Zealand parts of the tour.

I do think that £5k could be trimmed down somewhat too.

Thanks that is useful

[Dave T]

Thanks that is useful

We found the match tickets dirt cheap last time - most expensive about £30 and cheapest around a fiver - so savings to be had there.

 

We really got some good internal flight deals as well.

 

This has got me really thinking now!!!!

[JohnM]

We went for 17 days for the last WC I think it cost just under 10 grand. I think the flights are a bit cheaper now but we got a much better exchange rate back then around 2.50 to the £. Everyone's different but you may never get to go to Aus again so I'd see of much of it as you can and fit the rugby around it not the other way. You need the fixtures out so you can work out the best way to get around with the fewest internal flights. Plus you can also find out what else is on in the areas while games are on. When we went the England Aus game in Melborne coincided with the Melborne Cup. With it being same sort of time they may pair these up again for you.

 Ten grand/?  Have you thought? You could get a decent holiday for that!

[Barnaby Reddin]

Couple of Things I would recommend (as someone who's travelled the NH/SH/NH many times:

 

1.Use a travel Agent. This isn't 2 weeks in the costa, but a pretty comprehensive travel schedule that you're going to spend a fair chunk of cash on. I'd see what Mr Sadler and the Paper have to offer before checking, as this will no doubt involve the services of a tour-guide on the ground. Travel Insurance is all well and good, but an agent/tour guide is on call 24/7 and will get things sorted there and then.

 

2. Try and arrange a stop over on the way back in one of the Far Eastern Countries. Chances are this will be the sole trip to this side of the planet for many and places Like Thailand and Vietnam are really spectacular....and you can unwind rather than feel rushed back to blighty and back to work

 

3. If Fiji host games go. The friendliest place I've ever visited.

 

4. Consider a camper van arrangement. ..check sites like this one here. I did Brisbane-sydney for $10 + fuel....leisurely 3 day drive taking in the views....stunning!

 

5. Avoid Craft beer.....basically many breweries stick the word craft in front of anything and charge double. Beer isn't cheap at the best of times, so pick and choose what is most important to your trip and prioritise accordingly.

 

....who knows? Maybe I'll see some of you in the coolest little capital in the world in 20 months time!

[Dave T]

We did use flight centre to book all our hotels for that reason. I simply priced them all up myself, took the printouts to them and they booked everything. I find them good, and they have offices in oz.

We recently used them again for our honeymoon because we were so pleased with them.

[Barnaby Reddin]

We did use flight centre to book all our hotels for that reason. I simply priced them all up myself, took the printouts to them and they booked everything. I find them good, and they have offices in oz.

We recently used them again for our honeymoon because we were so pleased with them.

Flight Centre are pretty hard to beat for value if you do what you advise. Research and print out what you've found.....sometimes it'll cost you a couple of quid more, but it's my experience that a travel agent is well worth the extras!

[shaun mc]

Went in 2014 and found it difficult to get a decent relatively central Sydney hotel for less than £100, and that was usually excluding breakfast. That was in March but the exchange rate is a little better now

Brisbane was a little cheaper and we found some places off the beaten track when driving, a bit cheaper again

Eating out in Sydney can be expensive and so can the beer, however I managed to find places about the same or 10% higher for a beer than N England

Beware of distances if thinking about doing a lot of driving. Think we paid about £75 one-way flight Sydney to Cairns. We also decided to skip a full days driving north of Brisbane by getting a cheap flight about £35 out of the Whitsundays. There were a few flights per day to League towns north of Brisbane such as Mackay - existed at the time if you want to see a local game (if the season is still on). Sydney harbour bridge climb is expensive but worth it

We spent about £6k over 3 weeks and a couple of days. Flights were just over £1000 each Manchester to Sydney - can be done cheaper but we decided to pay more for the least stops, shortest duration, to maximise time there and get to Sydney late at night rather than the early hours of the following morning with jet lag. Flew with Etihad, though Abu Dhabi airport isn't up to much.

Kayak is good if you want to price and look at times for a multi-leg itinerary

[Dunbar]

A useful thread. Really hoping to get over for the 2017 tournament... just need a few bits of timing to come off work wise!

[henage]

We booked camper van from the uk , great way to travel and good value if a little cramped . Used youth hostels in Sydney again pre booked and payed from the uk . Also did an internal flight saved a days travel and price was ok . Dont fly with China airways , cheap but not cheerful .

[Adelaide Tiger]

Well if by the Grace of God Adelaide get a weekend game that anyone is interested in attending then there may be a bedroom with a double bed available at our house with bbq thrown in - all for free.

Also because the wife would have to do the cooking for you, as a thank you, you will be forced to accompany her on a full day trip - i will drive - to do free wine tasting in either the Adelaide Hills or Barossa Valley that are both about half an hour away.

[Jim from Oz]

Eating out in Sydney can be expensive 

Not if you go into the western suburbs, which is very multicultural and has an AMAZING variety of cheap 'n' cheerful 'n' YUMMY eating places! In fact the further west of the CBD you go, the cheaper eating out becomes … and I say this as someone who lives right on the (eastern suburbs) beach and happily travels by train and bike to try these great food places out west !

[MattSantos]

Oh my lord i'm moist with excitement.

 

Living in Asia now so plan to nip in and out rather than the whole hog - deffo New Zealand as well.

 

With the Ashes later that year, the games should be announced as soon as possible.. 

 

 

[MattSantos]

Book stuff yourself and dont be afraid to be a bit rural... camping etc or just hire a campervan.

 

It can get very expensive.. especially if you rock upto Melbourne for a week and like a pint..

[Dave T]

A quick search for November nowshows you can get Sydney for 70 to 100 quid per night now, apartments near a beachcan be decent value.

[thebull13]

I will be staying at the brother in-laws near Brisbane, if the wife lets me go!!

[marklaspalmas]

Im thinking about doing only New Zealand (we've been to Oz) and seeing what I can see in 4 weeks. Could be great.