Football Fans Can Avoid Expensive Champions League Travel

Press release February 6, 2008 Sport

MATCHhotels.com research into Champions League away game travel reveals that football fans are paying over the odds for hotel and flight packages.

London, England February 6th, 2007 – Football fans trust their football club to provide football travel packages at affordable prices. In most cases fan loyalty is not being rewarded with fans being charged exorbitant fees on top of the hotel and flight costs. MATCHhotels research found these prices for upcoming Champions League games:

AC Milan vs Arsenal - 2 night hotel stay and flight is £315 through Arsenal / Thomas Cook. However, fans can book a 4 star hotel and fly with British Airways for only £172.

Barcelona vs Celtic – 2 night hotel stay and flight is £459 through Celtic / Thomas Cook. Fans can save £160 by booking a 4 star hotel and flight with easyJet independently for only £299.

Football clubs and travel companies re-assure fans that should the game be called off or postponed they will get their money back. However, fans should note that with many companies this only applies when the game is called off or postponed due to terrorism. Events more likely to occur such as fog, waterlogged pitch, crowd trouble and floodlight failure are not covered.

Football fans can save money and book independent football travel at MATCHhotels.com. The site searches several hotel web sites for hotels near stadiums and displays available accommodation on a map of selected the football stadium. Accommodation is listed with precise distance information to the football stadium and prices from several web sites allowing fans to compare prices and book the cheapest rooms online in minutes.

MATCHhotels.com Director Ben Jackson commented, "Football fans need to know that there are alternatives to the travel packages offered by their clubs. Choosing a cheap flight and quality hotel near the stadium is cheaper and offers more flexibility than club travel packages. Our door is open to all football clubs that want to work with us to provide their fans with cost effective travel options."

Notes for editors:
- Flight prices quoted from London and Newcastle.
- Hotel prices based on 2 people sharing a room.
- Prices correct on 5th February 2008.
- See http://www.MATCHhotels.com/blog for complete comparisons.

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