sports packages

FATHER’S DAY FAVOURITES

Television coverage of great sporting events is extensive nowadays but nothing beats watching it from a ringside seat. Show dad – or hubby – how much he means to you by treating him (and yourself) to one of these special packages…

HORSE RACING

How about a day in Paris to see the world-famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe horse race? ITC Classics and Horse Racing Abroad offers a day trip on Sunday 6 October, from £265 per person, including return Eurostar tickets to Paris Gare du Nord from London St Pancras, return coach transfers to Longchamp, racing paper, admission to Longchamp and Reserved Grandstand Seat in the Horse Racing Abroad Pavilion Grandstand, with assistance from representatives. Upgraded train seats cost from £125 per person. 01244-355527, www.itcclassics.co.uk

RUGBY UNION

It’s not too late to whizz off down under to see the British & Irish Lions thrash Australia. An Explorer Second And Third Test Flight And Ticket package, 25 June to 8 July, with Lions Rugby Travel costs from £2,399 per person, depending on flights, and includes the matches against the Wallabies in Melbourne on 29 June and in Sydney on 6 July. This package allows the fl exibility to stay with family or friends while providing the security of offi cial match tickets and international fl ights. The price includes return fl ights from Heathrow, an offi cial Lions shirt, exclusive access to Lions Supporter Villages and match tickets. Accommodation can be arranged at extra cost. For other official ticket, travel and accommodation options from Lions Rugby Travel: 0844-788 4070, www.lionstour.com

FORMULA ONE

Expect plenty of passion and excitement on this four-night trip to see the Italian Grand Prix, 5 to 9 September. Race viewing is from the Prima Variante Grandstand at Monza racetrack, which offers an excellent view of all the action. Stay at the Park Hyatt, Milan, from £3,095 per person, based on two sharing, or at The Four Seasons Milan, from £3,550 per person. Both packages include return scheduled fl ights in economy, four nights’ accommodation, private transfers and Saturday/Sunday Prima Variante Reserved Grandstand tickets. 01244-355608, www.itcclassics.co.uk
Park Hyatt, Milan

CRICKET

Meanwhile, Austravel is offering a variety of Ashes 2013/14 packages in association with Gullivers Sports Travel, to combine the famous cricket series with a memorable holiday down under. England heads to Brisbane in November for the fi rst of fi ve tests against Australia over Christmas and New Year. For example, a nine-day trip, departing 29 December, from £2,589 per person, includes scheduled fl ights from Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines, eight nights’ accommodation at the four-star Citigate Central Hotel and a fi ve-day Bronze ticket for the Sydney Test, starting 3 January. 0800-988 4834, www.austravel.com

Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAIN SPOTTER’S DELIGHT Orient-Express offers three Great Gatsby-themed trips aboard the British Pullman. Departing from London Victoria, they include a night at the Savoy, from £685 per person. Take ‘The Dinner’ on 5 September; ‘The 1920s Dinner’ on 24 October or ‘The Laurent- Perrier Dinner’ on 14 November. 0845-077 2222, www.orient-express.com/uktrains

RACY DAYS Stay at Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Arosa, and view the Swiss Mountains in a Porsche Carrera 4S Cabrio, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster or Ferrari 458 Italia Spider. A two-night B&B package costs from £1,055 per person, and is available 5 July to 20 October. www.tschuggen.ch

CIGAR TASTINGS Aficionados can enjoy the fi nest cigars on the Cigar Terrace at London’s Montague On The Gardens Hotel. There is a nonresident minimum charge of £25 per person and 24 types of cigar to savour. Tutored tasting evenings are also held, with the next taking place on 23 July. 020-7637 1001, www.montaguehotel.com