Finding accommodations in this day and age can be one of the biggest undertakings for a coach or team parent, especially with the rise in vacation homes like Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. Between practice and fueling up, traveling sports teams also need a space where parents and their athletes can relax and enjoy their time away. But how do you choose which one is best for your event? How do you present the options to teams in such a way that parents will understand exactly what each has to offer?
Knowing how to explain means understanding exactly what the choices are. Here is a quick rundown.
Hotel Lodging
Teams can go the traditional route and stay in a hotel within driving distance of the competition location. You can find many hotels that offer a group rate or block rate for booking multiple hotel rooms at the same time. Many organizers prefer to designate some properties as the tournament’s “preferred hotels.” These hotel partnerships allow organizers to keep costs down and create great relationships with the host cities or town, which makes the overall experience better for travelling teams.
For a simpler check-in, booking hotels through the coach or a team parent allows for ease through the check-in process. You can send that individual in to collect entire teams’ keys, so each guest does not have to go through the check-in process. The main goal is to get athletes checked in and to their rooms as quickly as possible. Athletes may not even come through the main entrance to maintain a level of privacy.
Hotels often offer continental breakfasts, which can be an easy and affordable option for teams wanting to spend less money on meals. Traditional hotels also tend to have a meeting or conference type room available for those pre- and post-game team meetings.
Having a fitness area and pool onsite gives several options for the rest of the family to relax and have fun between games.
Travel team preference: More economical teams, younger teams, large teams, shorter stays for one to three day tournaments
Resort Accommodations
Resort lodging is a step above your traditional hotel stay, where the location has additional features or more luxury amenities. A resort is a self-contained destination that can provide all of your travel needs in one location. High-end resorts offer a plethora of activities to take your mind off the game pressures, like spas, mini waterparks, gyms and personal masseurs.
For team reservations, the pros and cons come close to the traditional hotel in utilizing room blocks and being within close driving distance of the tournament fields. In some cases, though, convention center resorts may be the perfect option due to their generous amount of meeting space or open floor style.
Resort hotels typically have restaurants on site, which can be an advantage for less travel stress or better time management. Some restaurants offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options for whenever the team has some down time. Meals can also be delivered to rooms, and of course, there might be a rooftop terrace or lobby bar area for the adults to embrace the “spirit” of sportsmanship, as well.
In addition to pools and fitness areas, resorts might also offer golfing or shopping on property, and there are some properties that take even that a step further. As an example, the Omni Resort at ChampionsGate in Kissimmee, Florida actually offers onsite fields. The Omni has eight fields on the property that can be utilized for a majority of outdoor sports like football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. Therefore, you can stay and play all without having to get in the car.
Travel team preference: Teams looking for more activities, younger and older teams, large teams, varying length of stays from short stays to a week-long visit.
Villas and Vacation homes
The newest trend on the rise, especially after the pandemic, has been the vacation home stays. Here teams can rent a multi-bedroom house to stay in during their tournament. Vacation homes can be more economically friendly to have everyone in one place.
For example, teams can rent a 18-20 bedroom house which looks like an intimidating price tag, but the cost can be divided among the multiple families participating. Many homes feature kids’ rooms/bunk rooms, two or three bunk beds and two trundles, which offer the extra convenience of allowing many kids to share the same bedroom.
Coaches can also keep an eye on nutrition by having meals catered in or team dinners. Vacation homes have large kitchens and dining rooms available for home-cooked team dinner, which can also cut down the cost of the overall trip significantly. Some homes even have grills in the back yard, allowing for a cookout for hamburgers or a good old barbeque.
Many vacation homes are designed to keep kids, teens and their chaperones entertained, something they need after a day of physically and mentally challenging competition. These homes typically have smart TVs, action-packed gaming systems like X-Box, DVD players, Foosball, Netflix, and Wi-Fi access for smartphones, tablets and laptops. Such connectivity options also help keep everyone easily up to date on local tournament activities and weather forecasts.
Another advantage: Laundry facilities are free in a vacation home (meaning no coins needed here). Most rental homes are equipped with washers and dryers, making it easier to wash all those uniforms for the next game.
In addition, with a vacation rental, families will likely stay in a more residential part of town, instead of on a tourist strip. Best of all, teams can contact the homeowners for local tips only residents would know. Such neighbors can be an invaluable source of insider tips on the best restaurants and activities in the area.
Travel team preference: Teams looking to stay together, the most cost-efficient option for teams, younger and older teams, large teams, typically the longer stays of one week to two weeks.
Encourage teams and families to spend some time evaluating the various lodging options prior to their next tournament or competition in the area. There might be more options out there than they realize. If you are working with your local sports commission, expect the job to be that much easier, since such organizations have a full understanding of the options available in their area. SDM
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