Considering a trip to the Super Bowl? You will want to start planning ahead and explore all your options early. Ticket and travel agencies offering super bowl packages to the recent Super Bowl XLIII held in Miami, had price ranges from as low as $900 to a high of nearly $5000. Proper planning now will prepare you for the best deal and the best accommodations.
Do not wait until late December to make your reservations, as the booking of hotels near the Super Bowl is near capacity well in advance. Even though most Hotels reserve space for Super Bowl packages, the best rooms are usually taken by the end of the regular season. You may want to design your own super bowl package, or use the services of a travel agency.
In planning your own super bowl package, check the internet for available accommodations, nearby restaurants, and transportation facilities. Make sure to request super bowl discounts at many of these retailers, who usually have special rates for super bowl attendees. Along with the Hotel and car rental companies, many other establishments offer super bowl package deals for visitors to the host city.
When looking for a company that offers super bowl packages, make sure you choose a reputable firm that is licensed, bonded, certified or a BBB member. Make sure you pay special attention to any fine print in regards to the super bowl package they offer, as well as their terms for cancellations and refunds.
Although many super bowl packages include transportation to and from the game, you should insist on this if it is not spelled out in your deal. There is usually shuttle service or taxi service from hotels to the stadium, however, you should make sure you will have suitable means of transportation. If you are setting up your own super bowl package, you may want to consider renting a car for the weekend.
A few good tips to make sure you do not get caught up in any potential super bowl package scams:
Ensure your tickets are authentic, check the date, the location and the official NFL logo printed on the ticket, as well as the terms of sale.
Use your credit card (preferably VISA or Mastercard), in case you are scammed, you will have purchase protection from your bank, and the company will make a chargeback
Make confirmation calls at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure your accommodations are what they were sold to you as, this includes the airline and car rental companies. If you find that your reservation is non-existent, you have time to correct it before the game. If you wait till the day of your travel, you may find yourself missing the kickoff
Do not give into high-pressure sales people, if the deal sounds too good to be true, call the hotel, airline, and car rental company to confirm the price. Your package price should be less, however if you are being offered an unbelievably low rate, this should send up a red flag
Planning ahead and sorting through the best deals will help you make the most of your chance to watch a live super bowl. Calls to a few agencies that specialize in super bowl packages will likely help you avoid frustration and give you an opportunity to get the best price for your super bowl weekend.