Planning Your Soccer Tour

SELECTING A TOUR COMPANY

• When planning your Soccer Tour, your key decision is which Tour Operator to choose to arrange the tour. Cost is a factor, but not the critical one. Tour Value is more important than Tour Cost.
• Verify that the Company is not just a competent Tour Operator, but can guarantee the very specialist content for a Soccer Tour. Many people can take you to Rome, but can they organise Friendly Games for a very strong Under 14 Girls team, for example?
• Action Youth have over 30 years in this specialist sector of Soccer Travel, our home is in Europe, and we have excellent contacts in each country who will ensure perfect arrangements and a great experience.
• Verify that the Company you travel with are properly bonded, and ask to see the evidence of this. You are dealing with a great deal of money, and you must have protection for your group members.
• Contacting Group Leaders who have already travelled with a Company is a good way of checking their competence and reliability. Action Youth will provide a bona-fide list of recent group contacts.
• Although soccer is probably the original reason to travel, education is important too – for both the young people and the adults. Action Youth tours offer much more quality with creative educational and cultural content, and top-class Tour Directors.

GETTING YOUR GROUP TOGETHER

• Regular meetings of parents & players are important, but also time-consuming. So, establish a small and dynamic Trip Committee to do most of the planning – with specific functions like Secretary, Treasurer, Fund-Raising, Coach and Contact Person who liaises with the Tour Company.
• Establish some key decisions at an early date within the full Group Meeting situation – Best Travel Dates, maximum Tour Budget, Tour Preferences and ensure that everyone is happy with these decisions – especially the Tour Costs. You are then able to proceed with detailed Tour Planning.
• Publicise the key Payment Dates and collect early Tour Deposits – this will establish exactly who intends to go and who does not.
• Fund-Raising is an important subject, so establish your policy early, to maximize income. Ensure everyone knows about the Action Youth Grand Draw tickets, which can raise up to $3,000 each.
• Establish a Tour Bank Account, to receive the group members' payments & transfer funds.
• Obtain all your parents' e-mail numbers, so that you can communicate quickly, and in writing, and also send attachments concerning the Tour Itinerary, Useful Websites, Insurance and Tour Up-Dates.

DECIDE WHICH TOUR IS FOR YOU

DATES

• Decide which dates suit your own commitments and availability. For example, check on the dates of School Vacations , Regionals and other local factors. PLAN WELL AHEAD
• Allow enough lead-in time to plan your tour and raise funds: we suggest you plan one year ahead of the tour departure date, certainly for international tours. TYPE OF TOUR
• Do you want a Tournament Tour or a Friendship Tour? Remember, the major International Tournaments are in summer, with a few at Easter. Winter, Spring Break and Easter Tours are less expensive, and Pro Games are in full swing across Europe, but the weather is poor. Take into account the standard of your team – Select, Club or Recreational – and the level of the Competition that would be suitable for you. We can guide you on this important subject. TOUR COSTS
• Decide with your group your maximum Tour Budget. This factor alone may well decide which tours are possible. Be realistic and ensure you all agree. Be ambitious also – all Action Youth groups benefit from our Free Fund-Raiser, and can raise up to $3,000 per player!

CUSTOMISE A TOUR

• Remember, we can always tailor any tour to suit your own criteria concerning, for example, Tour Dates, Budget, Inclusions or Destinations. DESTINATIONS : Choose between the main options – Europe or Hawaii. Europe is the home of soccer and provides a fabulous choice of destinations for sightseeing & cultural attractions as well as world-class soccer experiences. If you prefer a shorter journey, or a Soccer Vacation in the sun, with a tournament, then look at Hawaii.

MAKING A TOUR ENQUIRY

• Elect a Tour Contact person, who is a good e-mailer, to communicate on behalf of the group.
• Once you have decided your main criteria – Dates, Duration, Type of Tour and Tour Budget – go to "Contact Us" (see top right of page), and complete the E-Enquiry Form. Try to be as detailed as possible with regard to your Team, the Group Size, Tour Dates and Choices.
• Action Youth will then forward specific details on your Tour Choices for you to present to your group members and parents, leading eventually to a firm Tour Proposal & Costs.
• Once you are happy with the information and costs, it is decision-time – have a Group Meeting to discuss the details and reach an early conclusion on your tour. Early booking is always very helpful – this allows maximum time for fund-raising and best choice of flights and hotels.
• When you make an enquiry to us we will add your e-mail address to our database and send you newsletters from time to time.

BOOKING YOUR TOUR

BOOKING DEPOSIT ONLY $250 pp!
It is easy to book your tour, complete a Booking Form and return it to us, with a deposit of $250 per person. We supply you with a Tour Proposal in advance of Booking which outlines your complete payment schedule. ** See Booking Information for more details.