With more than 30 years of experience planning international soccer, ice hockey and cultural tours, Travel and Play provides the expertise, options, quality and worldwide support needed to create an amazing experience for your sports team or community group.
Specializing in European soccer, ice hockey and cultural tours, our team has built an extensive network of international partners that allows us to offer an extensive array of tour options.
We had an amazing experience with Travel and Play :) Great schedule, wonderful sites to visits, enough down time to do our own thing, delicious food, and awesome communication from the crew every night so we knew the plan for the next day :)
I would definitely do this again
Tour guide was great (we had two and both were awesome), the time at Swansea and the clubs was also great.
The accommodations were mediocre but sufficed.
The included food options were not good - we stopped at a gas station market for lunch one time and some mall restaurants another time and then the food at the hotels was really poor except for one night at the last hotel. That and the excessive time on the bus the first few days (about 6 hours each day) made for a tough start.
Otherwise the people, the clubs we saw and played against, and the matches we went to were all great.
This was a fantastic trip! We loved seeing the different levels of football in the UK. The kids had a great time playing and learning as well. Highlights of our trip included touring Old Trafford and Craven Cottage; sightseeing in central London, Windsor Castle and Chester; and going to different levels of pro games. Martyn, Barry and Nick were great tour guides. Only recommendation I would have is less time on the bus, but sometimes traffic happens.
We enjoyed our time in England and Wales. We saw so much of the countries and sights in addition to the busy soccer schedule. Overall, I feel like we definitely got our money's worth. Loved the West Ham/Manchester City and Swansea City games! Becca, the "fast-walker" was my favorite, but Craig, the "candy-pusher" was a great guide as well. Our son benefitted tremendously from the professional training opportunities and friendly matchplay.
I was disappointed that our appointed room at the first hotel was so far away from our two teenage daughters' room. We had requested adjoining or nearby at the least. At the second hotel, we made a point to have them change the accommodations so that we were closer to them. We were spoiled during the trip to Barcelona last year - the food at the hotels in England and Wales did not measure up. I am a healthy eater and not once were we offered salad or vegetables. There was fruit a couple of times, but mostly french fries, french fries and more french fries. It was as if the food was tailored to the athletes, forgetting that many parents were also on the tour. We had pasta and fries, chili and fries, pizza and fries, curry (no rice) and fries. You get the picture. I will say, though that I took full advantage of the gym at both locations. It was really fantastic!
We've taken three of these trips with Lonestar & Travel and Play so far, and would consider taking another in the future.