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Top Sporting Events to Travel To in 2022

crowd at a sporting event
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After two years of canceled events and spectator restrictions, the world’s pre-eminent sporting events are coming back with a vengeance. Does your travel bucket list include seeing a Formula One race,  a Wimbledon match, or the World Cup? This could be your year to make that dream come true.

Did you know travel insurance can protect not only airfare and accommodation costs, but also nonrefundable event-ticket costs? This means if you must cancel your trip for a covered reason, your trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for the cost of your hard-earned tickets to your chosen sporting event. Find the perfect travel insurance plan.

Traveling to See the Monaco Grand Prix

“It’s lights out, and away we go!” Few races are as thrilling as the Monaco Grand Prix, in which Formula One drivers navigate the famously twisty circuit in Monte Carlo. Spectators cheer from grandstands and balconies.

The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix takes place May 26-29. You can buy tickets on the race’s official site. Just choose your location carefully: Do you want to catch the crucial turn at St. Dévote Square? Or do you want a view of the pits, where many a race is won or lost by the speed of the pit crews?

Grandstand tickets range from 30 euros for the qualifying races on Thursday, May 26 up to 650 euros for choice seats on May 29, the day of the Grand Prix. VIP packages with private seating, catering and pit access can cost thousands of euros.

If you love classic racecars, consider traveling to Monaco May 13-15 to see the Historic Grand Prix. This event consists of several races, each dedicated to a particular racecar era: pre-1960, 1952-57 sportscars, Grand Prix cars from 1966-1972, etc.  

Traveling to See Wimbledon 2022

The oldest tennis tournament in the world, and the only Grand Slam tournament to be played on grass, Wimbledon is an unforgettable experience. Wimbledon takes place in London from June 27 to July 10.

Tickets are highly coveted and hard to come by. In 2022, there’s no public ballot, but Wimbledon is bringing back the tradition of the Queue: waiting in line, sometimes overnight, to purchase same-day match tickets. Get the latest Wimbledon 2022 ticket information here. Don’t want to wait? Official hospitality provider Keith Prowse offers luxury packages with VIP tickets.

Traveling to See the 2022 Tour de France

Held July 1-July 24, the 109th Tour de France traces a route of 2,068 miles from Copenhagen to Paris. The tour will traverse four countries (Denmark, Belgium, Switzrland and France) and climb four mountain ranges.

How do you decide where to catch a piece of this epic sporting event? Frequent spectator Ben Davies advises studying the route map and choosing a central location from which to access multiple race stages. A weeklong trip allows you to see racers on a variety of terrain, from arduous mountain ascents to picturesque village roads.

Finding accommodations for the Tour de France is the hard part. Hotels and vacation rentals began to fill as soon as the route was announced in October. You could rent a motorhome and camp along the way, or book a special Tour de France travel package. A tour company can arrange your hotel stay, transportation to great viewing spots, and photos on the podium. You can even cycle along the Tour de France route and experience the thrill of crossing the finish line.1

Traveling to See the 2022 Rip Curl World Surf League Finals

Spectating a big surf championship requires some flexibility: You’ve just got to show up and hope the waves do, too. The 2022 Rip Curl WSL Finals waiting period will run from September 8 - 16, when big swells arrive at Onofre State Beach in San Clemente, Calif.

The top five men and top five women on the Championship Tour ranking are invited to this one-day showdown at Lower Trestles, a world-famous surfing area. “If you had to take a wave peak to heaven, this would be it,” Surfer Today says.

The good news about attending the WSL finals: The event is free, and tickets aren’t required. The bad news: Parking is limited and there’s no vehicle access to Lower Trestles. Expect to walk a distance, and come prepared with water, food and sunscreen.

Traveling to see the 2021 or 2022 Ironman World Championships

If you love watching the world’s toughest athletes compete, then you’re in luck: 2022 is a rare opportunity to see two IRONMAN World Championships in one year. Spectating the championship involves moments of pure adrenaline and hours of killing time, so come prepared with water, food, caffeine and sunscreen.

Postponed due to COVID-19, the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship is now taking place May 7, 2022 in St. George, Utah. Just 90 minutes from Las Vegas, St. George adjoins Zion National Park. Competitors will swim 2.4 miles in a chilly reservoir, cycle 112 miles on hilly terrain, and run 26.2 miles. Prepare to get up early if you want to catch the start of the event (6:15 a.m. for pro men, 6:20 a.m. for pro women).2

The 2022 IRONMAN World Championship will return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`I on October 6 (pro women) and October 8 (pro men), with age groupers distributed between the two days. Again, you’ll want to wake long before dawn to catch the start of the swim, as thousands of athletes plunge into the waves.

Traveling to See the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Attending the World Cup — the epic competition held every four years — is every soccer fan’s fondest dream. Typically taking place in the summer, the 2022 World Cup is scheduled for November 21 - December 18 in Qatar.

Snagging tickets to the World Cup is no easy feat. FIFA offers a ticket lottery system (for which people must have applied early in 2022), followed by a multi-phase ticket sales schedule. Sign up here to get notifications about World Cup ticket sales.

Flying to Qatar is simple, however, as Doha is a major international hub. Keep in mind that matches take place in multiple cities, not only in Doha, but it’s easy to travel from site to site by bus. Qatar Airways offers 2022 World Cup travel packages that include flights, accommodation and tickets for matches. Choose your favorite team, and you’re guaranteed a ticket to see them compete.

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Mar 02, 2022