Spring is prime time for sports! If you and your family are traveling for a sports tournament, you need to prepare ahead of time. Here’s some quick travel tips to get you and your family ready for traveling for a sports tournament.
While you’re excited to go on your family trip, you’ll need to pack the essentials beforehand. If you’re taking a road trip, packing a cooler or a collapsible wagon for iced drinks and snacks (fruit, veggies, and nuts) will help hydrate and nourish you and your player. Lip balm and sunscreen are life savers from the hot sun when playing outside. Hand wipes and hand sanitizers are essential for staying clean and healthy, and cash is always good to have for parking fees or concession stands. Also, creating and bringing a travel kit that could benefit the team in case someone forgets something (someone always forgets). It can include an extra pair of socks, ribbons for hair, and a pair of scissors.
When booking your stay at Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, you will want to coordinate with the other parents and coach, as most times your son or daughter will be sharing a room with other teammates. Then, you’ll want to book a separate room for you and the rest of the family. In addition, developing a hotel code of conduct with the other parents and coach, is key to a respectful stay for your players. This may include a curfew, whether to use the pool or not, and noise control.
Getting adjusted to a new place, and sometimes a new time zone, takes a day or so. Try to arrive early to scope out the area (the arena, the soccer field, baseball field, or courts) and get comfortable in the new setting. Create a route from your Best Western® Hotels & Resorts to the arena. If you’re traveling into a different time zone, adjust to the new time zone as soon as you arrive. It’s advised not to take long naps, as this could delay the adjustment period.
You’re here to cheer on your player, and you want them to perform their best. To do so, ensure they are eating a healthy diet and pack nutritious snacks so they can have bursts of energy during the day. A couple of days before the sports event, make sure they start hydrating by drinking plenty of water.
It’s exciting your child is in a sports tournament! Whether this is their first or their tenth tournament, capitalize your time by making memories, on and off the field. There is a lot of downtime during sports tournaments, so this can be an opportunity to explore a new place or extend your stay for a family vacation. Have fun outside with your family!
