West Indies Tour 2018
Click HERE to apply by 31 March 2017
The tour sub committee is delighted to provide you with further details of the 2 week SOA tour to the West Indies which will take place over Easter 2018.
After the success of the Sri Lanka tour, we have opted to use the same tour operator this time: Living With The Lions, and their brochure can be viewed here :
At this stage, we are not asking for deposits but we are looking for firm applications in order to ensure we have sufficient cricketing resources to make the tour viable.
The West Indies is a more expensive destination in 2018 than Sri Lanka was in 2016 so we have pitched our offering at a level that will hopefully enable as many players and supporters as possible to come. In particular, we are hoping to attract a younger contingent of players this time with a view to winning a game or two!
The SOA Youth Cricket Sports Charity (SOAYCSC) has limited funds available to support younger players (under 25) who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to come on tour with the maximum value of any bursary limited to 25% of the cost of the tour. Applications for a bursary will be treated in confidence, will not be subject to means testing and will be awarded at the discretion of the SOAYCSC with applicants being advised on the success of their application in advance of the final date for payment of the tour deposit. Note that any bursary awarded will be deducted from the value of the final balance due (i.e. the bursary cannot be used toward the tour deposit). If you would like to apply for a bursary please indicate this on your application.
The provisional itinerary is:
- 12 nights in Barbados
- Day flight departing Gatwick Monday 2 April 2018
- Overnight flight arriving Gatwick Sunday 15 April 2018
- Week 1: Rostrevor Hotel 6 nights
- Week 2: All Seasons Resort 6 nights
- All accommodation will be “room only” in order to give tourists the flexibility to prioritise their spending
- 7 matches (minimum of 3 per player)
- Optional excursions and a cruise are available at additional cost.
Cost:
- Cost £1,750 pp (3 sharing a room), £1,950 pp (Double/Twin Rooms)
- Deposit £300 per person. This will be payable in Spring 2017 and will only be refunded if the SOA committee decides not to proceed with the tour i.e. before the SOA pays deposits to the tour operator
- 6 months prior to travel – 50% of balance due
- 10 weeks prior to travel – remaining balance due.
NB. Cost is based on a minimum number of 40 tourists and is subject to change (although we will do everything we can to avoid any increases)
This cost to include:
- Accommodation (room only - breakfast is available at both hotels at £13 pp, A/C at the All Seasons is £12.50 per room per day extra)
- Return flights
- All transfers, including to/from games
- Match day lunch at the ground for all
- Ground hire fees, umpires, balls etc.
- A choice of tour clothing
- End of tour celebration.
Playing Strength of Touring Party – Playing members on the tour will be guaranteed a minimum of 3 matches (subject to all 7 fixtures taking place). To ensure this, there will need to be a limit on the total number of players in the squad (there should be no need to limit the number of non-players). Should the tour be oversubscribed, selection will be made on the basis of team balance, although playing applications will only be rejected as a last resort.
Non SOA Members – Priority will be given to SOA members, but we will be happy to consider applications from non SOA members. If you think someone is a suitable candidate, please share the tour information with them.
Travel Advice – Information on Barbados, including vaccinations, is available on Gov.uk .
Travel Insurance - It is expected tourists will be responsible for arranging their own travel insurance, with players ensuring that injury whilst playing or umpiring is covered. Tourists will lose their deposits and balance payments if they pull out of the tour. Tourists should ensure their travel insurance protects them if they have to pull out because of illness etc. or if the tour operator defaults. Our tour operator is ATOL protected.
I really hope you can make it. Please apply by 31 March 2017.
Best wishes
Andrew Smith
On behalf of the tour sub committee
Click HERE to apply by 31 March 2017