One of the things that I love about our MLB tours is that we include some features that aren't on any other baseball travel tours available. One of those features is what we call our Big League Player Experience. It's where we bring in MLB players to meet the fans traveling with us, share stories about their playing careers, answer questions, and sign autographs and get pictures with the fans on our small group tours. It's an opportunity to get an inside look into baseball and meet some of the players that we've grown up watching.
Our upcoming trip to New York City is no exception. On this baseball trip, we're going to be joined by Art Shamsky, a member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. Here's an excerpt from his biography:
In 1965, Shamsky made the Cincinnati Reds and hit .260 as a backup
outfielder. He batted .289 as a pinch-hitter that year. In 1966,
despite getting only 272 plate appearances for the, Art was second on
the team with 21 homers, trailing Deron Johnson by 3. He homered four
times in four at-bats from August 12 through August 14, tying a Major
League record. On August 12, Shamsky became the first player in Reds
history to hit two extra-inning home runs in one game and the only
player in Major League history to hit 3 home runs in a game and not be
in the starting lineup. The bat that he used to hit the four home runs
in a row is on display in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
During the winter of 1967 Art was traded to the New York Mets
and was part of the Miracle Mets that won the 1969 World Series. Art
hit .300 that season and batted .537 with 7 hits in 13 at-bats against
Atlanta in the National League Playoffs. The 1969 Mets are still
recognized as one of the most remarkable stories ever in professional
sports. After 13 years in pro baseball and with a World Series ring Art
retired from baseball in 1973.
In his post baseball career, Art has been involved in numerous business
endeavors and was a radio and television broadcaster that included the
New York Mets in 1979, 1980 and 1981. In 2004 Art's popular book, "The
Magnificent Seasons', was published.
To read more about Art Shamsky, click hereto be taken to his website. Or, if you would like more information about other Big League Player Experiences offered on our baseball vacation packages, visit our websiteor give us a call!
There
have recently been a number of airlines that have filed bankruptcy or
have been forced to stop flying leaving travelers stranded or unable to
leave. Learning that your flights have been canceled and that your
airline is no longer in business can not only be a nuisance but it can
also be costly as well. So as we swing into the height of the sports
vacation season, travelers should question whether or not travel
insurance is right for them. There are a couple of things to keep in
mind as you plan your summer baseball road trips.
Paying By Credit Card Consumer
protection laws allow you to dispute charges on your credit card for up
to 60 days. This is a useful tool if you've been charged expenses
within two months of your trip. It won't, however, provide you any
relief from expenses incurred 61 days or longer from your trip. In
addition, it won't assist you with additional expenses that you will
incur as a result of a delay, such as extra nights at a hotel, meals,
etc.
Travel Insurance Most
travelers planning a trip with sports travel packages, purchase the
trips much farther in advance than 60 days. Consumer protection laws
won't be helpful in those instances. Travel insurance, on the other
hand, can assist you by covering all aspects of your trip. If your
flights are canceled or your airline files bankruptcy, trip insurance
can cover the cost to replace the flight and additional expenses that you incur.
Travel insurance can also protect you from unforeseen events in your
life that could prevent you from traveling. Consider an illness that
affects you or a member of your family tour or small group tour. If
travel insurance is in place, each member of the family or group could
be reimbursed for their costs if they can't make the tour.
The price for travel insurance varies based on the cost of your package
tour and the age of the travelers. For example, a traveler between the
ages of 35-59 who purchases a trip for $1,500, would likely pay $70 -
75 for travel insurance. Not an expensive premium for the coverage it
provides.
What About Rain Outs? Since
our tours revolve around baseball vacations, we're often asked if
travel insurance covers rain outs. Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Travel insurance can't guarantee that everything will happen as planned
but can only guarantee that you'll get there and back.
The last event of our tour was on Saturday night when we took in the Diamondbacks and Rockies game at 6PM. We had incredible seats that were located three rows behind the Diamondbacks dugout. (This picture was taken from our seats as Todd Helton belted a home run into the right field seats.) The game was really close for a few innings but the Diamondbacks ultimately poured on the runs and put the game out of reach.
This was a fantastic baseball road trip. If anyone is planning a sports vacation or is specifically looking for a sports package that is a great fit for a family tour, Denver is a fantastic place to go. The city is crazy about its teams, has many things to offer the non-sports fans, offers a moderate climate all year round, and is filled with friendly folks everywhere you go. Transportation is easy to manage, whether you are driving or relying on public transportation. And the city is the micro-brew capital of the world! This is one trip that we'll definitely offer every year. We can't wait to go back!
While we were taking the escorted tour of Coors Field, we had an unexpected thing happen. As we passed by the doors that led to the Rockies' clubhouse, we ran into Manny Corpas. Manny is the closer who had a phenomenal run at the end of last year.
Manny motioned for my son, Hiatt, to follow him into the clubhouse area and then gave him a personal tour of the clubhouse, the weight room, training room and cafeteria. The tour guides told us that this never happens which made it all the more special for Hiatt. Can you imagine being 10 years old and getting a personal tour from an MLB player?I would have been as excited at 40!
We've taken many baseball stadium tours but this one will stand out in our memories for a long time...Our thanks to Manny for going out of his way to make that stadium tour special for a young baseball fan. You instantly made him a Rockies fan and a personal fan for life. Thanks so much!!!
Yesterday we took the stadium tour of Coors Field. It's a great ballpark with a lot of interesting features. Since it was a game day, we started the tour on the field which is usually the last stop. Here's our group and guide just outside the Rockies dugout.
We then went up to the top of the stadium to work our way down. In the upper deck, the stadium has a row of purple seats that are located exactly at 5,280 feet. I like the that the seats are one color. The days of marking sections with different colored seats were awful. One row of purple seats seems appropriate.
Another interesting stop was in the press box. These guys not only have one of the best jobs in the world, but they also get the best seats in the house. Our guide pointed out that a fresh hole in the wall had been made from a Garrett Atkins foul ball during the Friday season home opener.It was marked with the date and his name so that they could remember all of them by the end of the season.
The guides were great and allowed us to take our time for many pictures and questions. We've been on many tours where they herd you through the park at break-neck speeds without your chance to really enjoy the moment.
When we got up Friday morning, you could sense the excitement building throughout the city. We wanted to get in the mix of things as early as we could so we headed down to 16th street to grab an early lunch amidst all of the restaurants and shops. You could hear live music all over town. News trucks were setup capturing footage of fans in the city. It seemed as though everyone was heading to the game.
There's a section of Denver near Coors Field that is called the Lower Downtown (or LoDo). This part of town used to be warehouses and factories. But with the development around the stadium, it's now restaurants, bars, condos, and office space. Needless to say, this section of town was hopping.
I fully expected this Opening Day to be high energy, higher than most since the team is celebrating its National League Championship. The ceremonies contained the typical player introductions, flag presentation, balloon release and military flyover. The NL Championship trophy was unveiled on the first base line but the pennant wasn't raised. That element seemed unceremonious to me. Then again, maybe I had built it up to be something that it wasn't supposed to be.
Coors Field did live up to its expectations, however. We sat behind the Rockies dugout and really enjoyed the view of the game. One thing that we noticed is how friendly the Rockies fans are. Everyone around us was very talkative and much to share about the city and their team.
Unfortunately, the Rockies' home opener was spoiled by the Diamondbacks. Micah Owings had a great outing. It seemed like he kept the Rockies off-balance for most of the game. The only real mistake he made was the home run that he gave up to Todd Helton. The game ended 8-1 in favor of the Diamondbacks.
Today we're off for a baseball stadium tour to see all the behind the scenes elements of the ballpark. Tonight's game is set to feature Jeff Francis for the Rockies and Brandon Webb for the Diamondbacks. Should be exciting. Then again...a day at the ballpark is always better than sorting out an inbox...
We arrived in Denver on Thursday for a small group tour. It's the first package trip that we're offering through Big League Tours this year. The weather was a bit chilly and was spitting a light rain and snow mix as we walked around downtown. It warmed up in the evening and, although over cast, it was still pretty nice.
One of the first things we noticed was that fans in this town were ready for baseball. And why shouldn't they be? The Rox played so well the end of 2007 and made a fantastic playoff run. Expectations are pretty high for this season. Everywhere we went there were signs up welcoming Rockies fans for the 2008 Home Opener.
While some people were clinging to the last days of the winter by heading into the mountains for one last ski session, many were embracing the beginning of spring by donning their baseball jerseys and caps and heading to the ballpark. (I tend to relate to the latter group...)
After dinner at Wynkoop's by Coors Field (buffalo, anyone?), we settled in for the evening getting ready for tomorrow's excitement.
Many times, we talk with individuals in an organization or group who are put in charge with organizing a group travel tour who doesn't normally handle travel - i.e. customers are coming into town, the "team mom" is planning a trip, an incentive package is offered to employees, or a group of friends wants to meet in a new city.
If you've never planned a large or small group tour, the task can be daunting, especially if the tour is in a city with which you are unfamiliar. Sports tours, particularly sports travel packages, can be a great way to minimize your effort and stress and allow you to relax while you successfully host the group tour.
Whether it's a baseball road trip you seek or some other sports tour, consider working with a tour operator who can offer you a package tour customized to your group, many times obtaining discounts because of their travel network, and providing you a service that will save you valuable time.
Fans of all sports are interested in traveling to see their sports played out, taking sports vacations at ever increasing rates. Part of the mobilization of fans is that the Internet has made it possible for fans to buy and sell tickets at every major venue, even up to "near last minute" travel planning. Also many travel sites have made the planning easier than ever.
However, many fans are looking for assistance when putting together their sports travel packages. Even with all the information available online, there can still be some guess work about where to stay in a particular city. I've had clients tell me their night mares about choosing hotels based on limited or no knowledge of the areas and feeling like they've put themselves in great danger.
One other key element is the location of the tickets to your sports event. If you've never been to a particular stadium or venue, you can make choices that you might regret once you're in the park.
Whether it's a small group tour, family tour, or something you plan to do on your own, you might consider seeking out some assistance to plan your next sports vacation by purchasing a sports package from a tour operator.
Recently the Washington Post posted an inside look into the new Nationals Park that's set to open this evening with the (U.S.) opening game. Click hereto get a virtual baseball stadium tour. You can see the dugout, clubhouse and many other places within the park. Also, follow the video links and you'll get virtual escorted tours through many of the different sections of the ball park.
If you are planning a baseball road trip this summer, this would be a ballpark to include on one of your MLB Tours. Have questions about putting your baseball vacation package together? Check out our website for some suggestions or drop us a note. We would be glad to help you with information to plan your trip!
This photo appeared in the New York Times. You can see the complete story atthis link.
Okay. With a couple of games that counted under our belts now, it's time to think seriously about MLB tours for the summer. A visit to Yankee Stadium is top of mind for most fans. If you've never been, this is your last shot.
I'm most excited about our 7 day, 6 night baseball trip that we're offering this year. We're starting in Baltimore and going to see games at Orioles Park, the New Nationals Park, Citizens Bank Park, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium and Fenway Park. We're also taking stadium tours at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.
Tell us where you are headed this year. We would love to hear about any baseball road trips that you have planned!
Doesn't this seem to be the toughest time of year? Spring hasn't exactly sprung yet, DST throws off your sleep rhythms, and baseball has been just out of reach for what seems to be an eternity. And this year is riddled with its own oddities.
Teams have picked up from their normal Spring Training sites to play across the country or across the globe. This was also the last year for Dodgertown in Vero Beach, where the Dodgers have been for 61 years. To top it off, this year's "Opening Day" is in Japan.
Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time getting excited about that last point. I understand why MLB is trying to encourage the globalization baseball. Why not? When you are riding high on the greatest number of visitors to games and baseball stadiums ever, why not try to capitalize on the popularity? I would prefer that it would be through exhibition games in the off season with the regular season played at home.
But maybe that's just me. Maybe it's just my attitude this time of year. I'm sure that I'll forget all about it in 9 days when the first pitch is thrown at home and my TV and XM radio have baseball games on them everyday. I'm sure that as soon as I'm on one of my baseball trips that I won't even be thinking of the off season.
If you are trying to choose a baseball vacation package for your family vacation, you might want to consider some of the differences between a package tour and a custom tour.
Custom tours offer you the most flexibility when choosing everything about your trip from the dates, to the location, to the accommodations and transportation. You can also choose how many baseball games you'll see, where your seats will be located, and if you'll include any extras like stadium tours.
There can be some downsides to a custom trip. First of all, the cost can be much more expensive than package trips since you won't be getting the benefit of group purchasing. Second, if you are traveling in unknown cities, you typically won't have the benefit of a host since most custom tours are not escorted tours. And finally, the travel between cities will likely mean that you are doing the driving yourself.
Package tours, on the other hand, offer a lesser amount of flexibility. The dates are set, the location and itineraries are set, and the prices are typically set.
The benefits are that you can typically find a tour that will contain all or most of what you are looking for and you'll get the benefit of group purchasing. In addition, most packages will be escorted tours, eliminating the worry of being in a city that you are unfamiliar with.
Many baseball vacation packages will also include features that you wouldn't likely be able to do or afford on your own. Taking private baseball stadium tours is one example of something very affordable on a group tour. Another feature could be special chances to meet with MLB players.
So if you're planning a baseball vacation this summer, consider whether a package tour or a custom tour is right for your family.
This is the last year to see a game at the current Yankee Stadium. Fans from all across the world are making their first or final trek to The House That Ruth Built. One of the best ways to see this and other baseball stadiums is to take the stadium tours that are offered by the teams.
The teams typically offer these tours on an individual basis, where you'll get grouped with other individuals, or you can typically book a private group tour.
Take a look at this video that was shot on a tour of Yankee Stadium. Fans gain access to the press box, Monument Park, the field, and Yankees dugout. Some tours are allowed access to the Yankees clubhouse, too.
We are hosting a few tours in New York City this summer and will be touring Yankee Stadium two times. I can't wait to get back out there again!
I'm excited to offer up the first blog from Big League Tours, a blog that's related to all things baseball and baseball travel. You can expect to see posts about baseball road trips - what's new, things to consider, etc.
We'll offer up journals from the baseball trips that we host all across the big leagues. You'll be able to see photos of and quotes from our clients at the games, on the stadium tours, and on their family tours.
We'll also cover interesting information about the big league teams, the players, and the stadiums that we all want to see. After all, you know we love baseball to do what we do!!!
Posted Thursday, February 28, 2008 by
Glenn Dunlap
I hate group travel. This admission will seem odd coming from a guy who owns a baseball travel / tour operator business - but it's true. I don't like being told that I only have one hour to see this or an hour to do that. I like flexibility in my schedule to do what I want.
Some baseball vacation packages will give you that flexibility and give you an opportunity to do things that you might not be able to do on your own. For instance, traveling by motor coach can get you to places more easily than trying to drive there on your own. (Have you been to Cooperstown? It's really close to...nothing!)
Groups can also arrange for private baseball stadium tours, on-field time at the stadiums, or meet & greets with baseball players. The cost of these events on your own might be difficult to do.
Most group tours are escorted tours. This gives you someone with local knowledge to guide you throughout your trip. Where should we eat dinner? How long will it take us to get to a certain site? Etc. All things that should make your trip more enjoyable.
And finally, package tours should provide you with the convenience of getting a unique trip with one phone call. You won't have to track down hotel reservations in a city you don't know, tickets in a stadium you don't know, transportation, and on and on.
There can be many advantages for taking the trips that will even make them enjoyable for a guy like me, who hates group tours - except ours...
Our upcoming trip to New York City is no exception. On this baseball trip, we're going to be joined by Art Shamsky, a member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. Here's an excerpt from his biography:
