This blog has been created for the members of the official team that will represent Canada at the WYCC (2007). Please feel free to, post, exchange ideas, ask questions, provide information, and keep up to date.
A couple of Q&A: Q) Are the plans for us to pay the Turkish VISA at Antalya airport, or to try to purchase them in advance? It appears that simply paying $60 US cash at the airport would be simpler all around.
A) I will have more information about the Visa’s soon. I believe that as the last year’s team traveled through Turkey to get to Georgia, they did just that, bought their Visa’s at the border. The organizers will also likely help out with this.
Q) We may want to do some sightseeing for a few days before and/or after the tournament dates, so I would appreciate it if you could please keep this in mind when discussing reduced fares with airline personnel.
A) If you are either staying later or going earlier (Or both) it is likely that you will not be able to take advantage of the group rate (IF we even get one that is.) But I will certainly TRY.
Another Q&A: Q - One question that we have is, esp. as we will need to book and pay quite a bit in advance: What are the cancellation policy should, for example, someone falls ill, etc.?
A - I hope that we don't really have to find out, but ... As for flights, the only way out of them when we book is through cancellation insurance. As for rooms and registrations, I can only speak just now as for previous WYCC's. Previous organizers, for the most part, have been flexible as to making changes to bookings. One previous WYCC, though, we did have problems getting money back after the organizer made changes to our booking. I will try to get answers from the organizer as to their policy.
This is great having a place to post these, I hope everyone is getting a chance to read these:
Q - Will we be provided with information on how to arrange for tours in the surrounding areas? For example, the tournament schedule lists Friday, Nov 23rd as a "free day". So that would be a good day to take the family to see the more interesting parts of Turkey.
A - I expect that the organizers will have information, and likely some pre-organized tours. I do know that they are very proud of their area for tourism.
Question: I don't know if 5/4 star hotels where Canadian team will stay are close to tournament place as in Greece. We don't like the way organized in WYCC2005, Belfort, France: Canadian team was split into 2 groups staying 2 different hotels (really bad hotel) and it took about 2 hours for shutle bus to the tournament place. Hope Patrick goes with the team this year :)
I agree with the previous comment. I think it is imperative that we all confirm with Patrick ASAP; we can also avail of a 5% discount (if we confirm before August 1), which will ammount to substantial savings for all. Also we would get to stay at The Limra Hotel, which is where the tournament will be held, and save on the commute, as on previous occassions.
I have been in touch with the organizers and had them put aside 25 rooms for us. They are agreeing to hold these rooms at the Limra (tournament site) for us for a limited time. (till the end of August)
I, too, want to avoid any problems like what happened in France.
A) This depends on what class you are in: Official Section player (First place finisher from the CYCC) Extra Player (2nd or 3rd place finisher from the CYCC) Additional Person (Parent, sibling or other accompanying person)
For an Official Section Player, the costs are covered except for incidentals or other spending money that may be needed. Flight and Entry fees are covered up to our official cost (group rate that may be negotiated or other cost found, whatever is less) - covered by the CFC out of funds raised by the CYCC. The accommodations and meals are covered by the organizers of the WYCC for these people.
For Extra players, the costs are basically the flight (current estimate is around $1500 - based on flight from Toronto), the Entry Fee of 140 Euros (approx. $210 CAD), the "oranization fee" of 100 Euros (approx. $150 CAD), and accommodations. We are currently trying to keep the whole team together at the same hotel where the tournament is being held and these cost 59 Euros (approx. $88.50 CAD) per person, per night, based on Double occupancy and 53 Euros (approx. $79.50 CAD) per person, per night, based on Triple occupancy. These accommodation costs also include meals.
For Additional persons, the costs are the same as for the extra players with the exception of the entry fees. (Still have to pay the organization fee)
So, to total that up for you, based on arriving at the tournament on November 17 and departing on November 29 and using the estimated flight cost:
Official player - Incidentals only
Extra player - $2922 (based on double room) - $2814 (based on triple room)
Additional person - $2712 (double) - $2604 (triple)
REMEMBER: these are estimated in order to give you an approximate budget to see if you can afford to go. These do not cover any incidentals or any lay-over costs. (historically, one way of the travel has involved a one-night stay at a city where flight changes are required - Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul etc.)
7 comments:
A couple of Q&A:
Q) Are the plans for us to pay the Turkish VISA at Antalya airport, or to try to purchase them in advance? It appears that simply paying $60 US cash at the airport would be simpler all around.
A) I will have more information about the Visa’s soon. I believe that as the last year’s team traveled through Turkey to get to Georgia, they did just that, bought their Visa’s at the border. The organizers will also likely help out with this.
Q) We may want to do some sightseeing for a few days before and/or after the tournament dates, so I would appreciate it if you could please keep this in mind when discussing reduced fares with airline personnel.
A) If you are either staying later or going earlier (Or both) it is likely that you will not be able to take advantage of the group rate (IF we even get one that is.) But I will certainly TRY.
Another Q&A:
Q - One question that we have is, esp. as we will need to
book and pay quite a bit in advance:
What are the cancellation policy should, for example,
someone falls ill, etc.?
A - I hope that we don't really have to find out, but ...
As for flights, the only way out of them when we book is through cancellation insurance.
As for rooms and registrations, I can only speak just now as for previous WYCC's. Previous organizers, for the most part, have been flexible as to making changes to bookings. One previous WYCC, though, we did have problems getting money back after the organizer made changes to our booking.
I will try to get answers from the organizer as to their policy.
And, another Q&A:
This is great having a place to post these, I hope everyone is getting a chance to read these:
Q - Will we be provided with information on how to arrange for tours in the surrounding areas? For example, the tournament schedule lists Friday, Nov 23rd as a "free day". So that would be a good day to take the family to see the more interesting parts of Turkey.
A - I expect that the organizers will have information, and likely some pre-organized tours. I do know that they are very proud of their area for tourism.
Question:
I don't know if 5/4 star hotels where Canadian team will stay are close to tournament place as in Greece. We don't like the way organized in WYCC2005, Belfort, France: Canadian team was split into 2 groups staying 2 different hotels (really bad hotel) and it took about 2 hours for shutle bus to the tournament place. Hope Patrick goes with the team this year
:)
I agree with the previous comment. I think it is imperative that we all confirm with Patrick ASAP; we can also avail of a 5% discount (if we confirm before August 1), which will ammount to substantial savings for all. Also we would get to stay at The Limra Hotel, which is where the tournament will be held, and save on the commute, as on previous occassions.
I have been in touch with the organizers and had them put aside 25 rooms for us. They are agreeing to hold these rooms at the Limra (tournament site) for us for a limited time. (till the end of August)
I, too, want to avoid any problems like what happened in France.
Q) What are the estimated costs?
A) This depends on what class you are in:
Official Section player (First place finisher from the CYCC)
Extra Player (2nd or 3rd place finisher from the CYCC)
Additional Person (Parent, sibling or other accompanying person)
For an Official Section Player, the costs are covered except for incidentals or other spending money that may be needed. Flight and Entry fees are covered up to our official cost (group rate that may be negotiated or other cost found, whatever is less) - covered by the CFC out of funds raised by the CYCC. The accommodations and meals are covered by the organizers of the WYCC for these people.
For Extra players, the costs are basically the flight (current estimate is around $1500 - based on flight from Toronto), the Entry Fee of 140 Euros (approx. $210 CAD), the "oranization fee" of 100 Euros (approx. $150 CAD), and accommodations. We are currently trying to keep the whole team together at the same hotel where the tournament is being held and these cost 59 Euros (approx. $88.50 CAD) per person, per night, based on Double occupancy and 53 Euros (approx. $79.50 CAD) per person, per night, based on Triple occupancy. These accommodation costs also include meals.
For Additional persons, the costs are the same as for the extra players with the exception of the entry fees. (Still have to pay the organization fee)
So, to total that up for you, based on arriving at the tournament on November 17 and departing on November 29 and using the estimated flight cost:
Official player - Incidentals only
Extra player - $2922 (based on double room) - $2814 (based on triple room)
Additional person - $2712 (double) - $2604 (triple)
REMEMBER: these are estimated in order to give you an approximate budget to see if you can afford to go. These do not cover any incidentals or any lay-over costs. (historically, one way of the travel has involved a one-night stay at a city where flight changes are required - Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul etc.)
I hope this helps with your decisions.
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