Lancaster Royal Grammar School

ricket Tour ubai & the UAE Going Further ebruary 2020 Depart Wednesday 12th February in the evening, arriving on the morning of the 13th February for 8 nights; check out on Friday 21st February, departing on a morning or afternoon flight arriving back in to Manchester later the same day - prices offered for 14 players/2 staff:

Inclusions: • Return flights from the UK to UAE • 8 nights in the UAE in 4*/5* accommodation on a twin/triple sharing, half-board basis (breakfast and evening meals in hotels) split across Dubai & with 4 nights in the Oasis Beach Tower Hotel, Dubai and 4 nights in the Marriott Al Forsan Hotel, Abu Dhabi (or similar) • All UAE ground transportation including airport ‘meet and greet’ • 5 x cricket fixtures (3 x 40-overs and 2 x T20 per squad) against local teams (one x T20 fixture in an international stadium and the other a day/night T20) • 9 breakfasts (hotels), 8 lunches (matches/out & about), 8 evening meals (hotels/desert BBQ) • Water at matches and training • 2 staff places (based on 14 paying players) • 2 x training sessions - 1 in Dubai and 1 in Abu Dhabi • Excursions to include - SMCCU Cultural Lunch, Desert Safari with BBQ meal, La Mer Beach Park, Dubai Mall, Dubai Creek, Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Marina GP Circuit - subject to itinerary • Full Sporta Tours team liaison throughout your stay including the use of local mobile phone • Security of our ATOL bonding

Not included: • Meals (other than stipulated above i.e. lunch on day of departure) • UK airport transfers • Sport equipment/officials - balls/umpires etc with the exception of the U19 ARCH tournament entry • Travel/Medical insurance • Visas (if required) • Optional excursions such as: IMG World of Adventure, Ferrari World and Burj Khalifa

The tour prices are subject to confirmation at the time of booking - a 20% pp deposit is required to secure this price. Sporta Tours protect you against exchange rate fluctuations once booked. To discuss this quote please contact Roger Myall, Director at Sporta Tours on 0845 835 8535 or [email protected] Your Itinerary

Going Further This itinerary is provisional and is subject to change

Wednesday 12th February 2019 - Travel Day Meet at Manchester International Airport to check in for an overnight flight to the UAE Depart Manchester 13th February - Day 1 Going Further On arrival in the UAE your team will be met by a member of the Sporta Tours team. Transfer to the Oasis Beach Tower Hotel for check in. Breakfast on arrival with time by the pool until rooms are available. In the afternoon transfer for a training session at the ICC Academy with lunch provided beforehand. Return to the hotel for dinner

14th February - Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel Match 1 v local side (40 over match) Lunch provided Dinner at the hotel 15th February - Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel Enjoy a morning relaxing at La Mer Beach Park with lunch provided. Afternoon transfer to matches Match 2 v local side (D/N T20) Dinner at the hotel 16th February - Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel Visit Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (including lunch) In the afternoon transfer back to the hotel and freshen up Picked up for the Desert Safari 4x4 BBQ dinner included on Safari Going Further 17th February - Day 5

Breakfast at the hotel Match 3 v local side (40 over match) Lunch provided Transfer to Marriott Al Forsan Hotel, Abu Dhabi with lunch en route Dinner at the hotel 18th February - Day 6

Breakfast at the hotel Morning at leisure – optional visit to beach Afternoon training session. Dinner at the hotel

19th February - Day 7

Breakfast at hotel Match 4 v local side (40 over match) Lunch provided Dinner at the hotel Going Further 20th February - Day 8

Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, transfer to Zayed Grand Mosque Afternoon transfer to match with lunch en route Match 5 at Zayed Stadium (day/night T20 - subject to availability) End of tour meal at hotel with awards 21st February - Day 9

Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, check out of Abu Dhabi hotel and transfer to Dubai or Abu Dhabi International Airport for return flight home Going Further Accommodation - Oasis Beach Tower Hotel, Dubai

• Centrally located with excellent transport links by road to relevant sporting venues • Lifeguarded pool and gymnasium included • Spacious 4* living with twin/triple rooms • Convenient locations for beach, malls and restaurants • Safe & secure location allowing exploration of the local area in comfort day & night • Free WiFi • 24 hour security with CCTV • Experienced & ‘group-friendly’ hotel staff Going Further

Accommodation - Marriott Al Forsan Hotel, Abu Dhabi

• Centrally located with excellent transport links by road to relevant sporting venues • Lifeguarded pool and gymnasium included • Spacious 5* living with twin/triple rooms • Convenient locations for malls and restaurants • Safe & secure location allowing exploration of the local area in comfort day & night • Free WiFi • 24 hour security with CCTV • Experienced & ‘group-friendly’ hotel staff Going Further Downtime Options

• Desert Safari – head into the desert in 4x4’s for some ‘dune-bashing’ before stopping over at a Bedouin Camp for an authentic BBQ meal and Cultural show

• Cultural Meal – experience a traditional Emirati breakfast or lunch in the ambience of a Bastakiya house, a typical wind tower house in one of the oldest Emirati neighbourhoods in Dubai. Enjoy a meal with local flair while chatting with an Emirati host about UAE culture, customs and religion

• Water-Parks – take a break from your training schedule and spend a day at one of the UAE’s three, high adrenalin, Water-Parks

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – spend a day in Abu Dhabi and visit one of the largest and most impressive Mosque’s in the world

• Ferrari World – visit Ferrari’s themed amusement park, the largest indoor amusement park in the world

• Burj Khalifa – take a trip up the world’s tallest building to admire the view and understand what influenced it’s iconic design

• Jumeirah Beach Park – located only a short run or taxi ride from the hotel, this ’guarded’ Beach Park is a great place to spend time

• Revision time - time can also be structured within your itinerary to allow for study time with availability of dedicated quiet spaces for students’ use

Going Further

Why the UAE

• Mid-haul offering excellent value for money when compared with some other sports tours

• World-class sporting facilities across multiple sports

• Incredibly safe destination – very low crime rate and no alcohol available to anyone under 21

• Steeped in history and culturally enlightening the UAE is the perfect destination to go to learn more about Islamic culture

• High quality accommodation

• Perfect sporting weather during the winter months

• Revision time can be built in Going Further

Cricket in the UAE

Cricket in the UAE is played at a combination of school, club and international venues offering our clients the opportunity to play on sand, astro-turf and/or world class turf under floodlights, depending on budget

• Zayed Cricket Stadium & Nursery Grounds – home to the MCC in the UAE, this state of the art venue has already hosted many international fixtures

• Emirates Palace – an exquisite setting that is quintessentially English with the exception of the weather!

• 7he Sevens – home of the Emirates Airline T20, this traditional rugby venue now has 2 world class turf ovals, one of which has floodlights

• Fairs Ground – The Fairs Ground has an excellent grass wicket and floodlights

• ICCGCA, – The home of the ICC and host venue for many ICC associate fixtures

• Cricket Stadium – hosted more than 200 ODI’s and is a stadium with a true cricketing heritage

• Al Dhaid – set in a ‘Date Grove’ and surrounded by Palm trees, Al Dhaid offers an alternative cricketing experience in the UAE Going Further

On tour in the UAE

Safety - The UAE is a very safe destination to take a group of young people. A 'moderate' Muslim country with its own beliefs and cultures it is generally very accepting of many of the 'western' ways of life. Sport Arabia has taken over 150 tours to the region without issue. The crime rate is extremely low and consequently it’s a safe place to walk around in relatively small groups, even after dark although a common-sense policy should be adopted in this regard as it would in the UK

Alcohol/Drinking - the drinking age in the UAE is 21 and alcohol is not available to purchase without adequate proof of identity/age. Consequently it’s a great place to take young sports-people as it is virtually impossible for them to acquire alcohol given that it is not available to purchase in shops/supermarkets either;

Dress - Girls will be free to wear their sports clothes when participating in sporting activities but we recommend that when in public areas (streets/Malls etc) that they cover up where possible i.e. Short-sleeved Polo shirt or scarf/pashmina to cover top of arms/shoulders with tracksuit trousers to cover legs. Around the pool at the hotel and when on the beach, normal swimwear is fine;

Medical - the UAE has some of the finest hospitals in the world, all of which are available on a private basis. Schools should take out group travel insurance, which includes medical cover thereby ensuring full cover should medical treatment be required. The hotel has a doctor 'on call' 24 hours a day should the need arise;

Transportation - public transport (Metro and Taxi's) are safe, clean and reliable with 'Women-only' carriages on the new Metro system and 'Women-only' Taxi's (look out for the pink roofs). For peace of mind we suggest that groups of young ladies follow the above when exploring the city;

Cost of living - general cost of living expenses in the UAE are comparable to the UK (with the exception of alcohol which is more expensive). We recommend a budget of £12 per person for an evening meal and £6 for lunch. It is obviously possible to spend more than this but certainly not a necessity. Specialists in sports tours to Dubai and the UAE . . .

Sporta has been running successful sports tours to Dubai and the UAE since 2006, formerly as Sport Arabia Worldwide.

Unlike many operators, we have a dedicated team based full-time in the UAE enabling us to accompany touring groups every day for your ease and peace of mind. It also means we’re on hand to change plans or arrangements, if needed, should the unexpected happen.

More than 300 groups and teams have toured with Sporta, including schools, clubs and international teams such as the England cricket team.

We’re the preferred partner of the MCC for all their touring, event management and logistical requirements in the region, including the MCC v Champion County Cricket match played every March. Sporta is also the official tour supplier to the MCCC.

Our service is completely tailored to your requirements. We are able to devise 7 – 10 day tours which will limit impact on school exams and allow for study time, with dedicated space arranged in our selected hotels for this. We are also able to help with risk assessments, health & safety recommendations and wide-ranging information to ensure every aspect of your booking is well considered and planned.

Naturally, Sporta is fully ATOL-bonded. “Thank you very much for a wonderful Netball tour. The Sporta team on the ground are so helpful, weather perfect, hotel excellent and theGoing Further variety of fixtures that organised for us was great. I hadn't realised just how much Netball is played in the UAE!"

Charlotte Mitchell, Head of Netball, Millfield School

“Fantastic experience for the boys to play day/night cricket in the stadium. Great pre-season. Great tournament all round!”

Alan Wells, Head of Cricket, Bedes School

Clients say…

“Fantastic time on our trip. Sporta team were outstanding and got the balance of cricket and downtime spot on. We wouldn’t hesitate to book again and recommend Sporta to any school or club. Thank you for an outstanding experience that the boys and staff will never forget.”

Gareth James, Head of Cricket, New Hall School Going Further

This was another excellent tour and I am so grateful to you all for making it such a pleasure. Sam, Emily, Matt and Roger were all so easy to communicate with both before and during the trip and I don’t think you could have done anything more to make the trip a success.

Paul Gillam, Eton College

The tour was superbly organised and run from start to finish of the tour, having an on ground rep was very reassuring. The level of Match play was well matched but challenging for the girls in both /netball and Hockey. The apartments we excellently located near the Metro and the organised excursions were fun and exciting. We all had an amazing time! We will be back to explore one of your other tours soon!

Jo Howard, Wycliffe College Information Going Further

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