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+--- Thread: IOM TT 2013 first timer (/showthread.php?tid=13561)
IOM TT 2013 first timer - kbmwgt - 05-06-2012
First let me introduce myself.
Mike here from California. Been riding for 40 years with most of it in the American/Canadian west. My wife and I have been watching the IOM TT races when we can find them over here on TV. Well we're planning a holiday to Ireland and the 'while we're there' thought accurred to us. Why not go to the TT races?
So
I have the dates of the practice and race.
What I would like is advice if anyone has been there.
We are planning on visiting Ireland with the first stop being the race (yes I know where the island is). Consider that we get to the Isle.....
So:
Where to stay?
Best place to watch the race from?
How to get around?
Weather? Wet and cold I'm sure.
Pubs?
Restaurants?
Thanks you for any advice
Mike
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - kbmwgt - 07-06-2012
(05-06-2012, 11:25 PM)kbmwgt Wrote: First let me introduce myself.
Mike here from California. Been riding for 40 years with most of it in the American/Canadian west. My wife and I have been watching the IOM TT races when we can find them over here on TV. Well we're planning a holiday to Ireland and the 'while we're there' thought accurred to us. Why not go to the TT races?
So
I have the dates of the practice and race.
What I would like is advice if anyone has been there.
We are planning on visiting Ireland with the first stop being the race (yes I know where the island is). Consider that we get to the Isle.....
So:
Where to stay?
Best place to watch the race from?
How to get around?
Weather? Wet and cold I'm sure.
Pubs?
Restaurants?
Thanks you for any advice
Mike
Wow....really?....no help with this?...or is everyone at the race and noton their computer?
Yeah I know I have time.....I'll be patient....I'll take a ride to Death Valley this weekend and hopefully when I get back there will be a plethora of info.
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - Malcolm - 08-06-2012
There is a Visitors Information section within the site, that First Time Visitors nornally make reference to, in order to gain some basic information about the issues that you raise, and this can be accessed through the front page top left hand side menu marked Visitors Information, or, you could get there by clicking on this link - http://www.ttwebsite.com/visitor_information/index.php
That I am sure, should provide you with sufficient information to get you started. Thereafter, please by all means ask, but you are not guaranteed to get answers, as the site is built as a type of self help facility.
Malcolm
.
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - kbmwgt - 11-06-2012
(08-06-2012, 06:20 AM)Malcolm Wrote: There is a Visitors Information section within the site, that First Time Visitors nornally make reference to, in order to gain some basic information about the issues that you raise, and this can be accessed through the front page top left hand side menu marked Visitors Information, or, you could get there by clicking on this link - http://www.ttwebsite.com/visitor_information/index.php
That I am sure, should provide you with sufficient information to get you started. Thereafter, please by all means ask, but you are not guaranteed to get answers, as the site is built as a type of self help facility.
Malcolm
.
Yes thank you. I have read and will continue to read all that I can to gain knowledge of the event and trip. I was/am looking for some insight from people that have been there and know the little ins and outs of things that may be helpful. I also know about forums and how they work and appreciate any help that's offered.
I know I have time. Thanks again.
Mike
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - Big Gar - 11-06-2012
Mike,
I live here in Southern California and just got back from my first TT. We could only go for a week so we got there last Sunday (Mad Sunday) morning and had to begin our journey home on Saturday the 9th.
I'd be more than happy to share my insights with you. We learned quite a bit from members here and another TT website, all good folks to be sure.
What do you like to do? Do you like to drink a few pints and meet a lot of locals? See the sights? Ride while you're there? Rental car? Camp? Luxury hotel? Home stay? Rent a house? So many options with their own flavor.
My brother and I, despite the weather, had a fantastic experience. The people there are beyond friendly everywhere we went, and that really made our trip. The race action was great, even though we only got to see racing on Monday and Wednesday, with our most anticipated day Friday being a washout.
Feel free to reply here, shoot me a pm or e-mail and I'd be happy to go into further detail. Just compiling my pictures and video today.
Gar
biggar@cox.net
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - kbmwgt - 11-06-2012
Thanks for the offer of help.
Its more of a 'hey while we're over there' type of visit.
Our plans are to vacation in Ireland and 'hey while we're here' thought was to go to the TT. That being said we were going to plan the TT as the start meaning we would fly via what-ever route and make IOM the first stop. Arriving on Wednesday and stay until Saturday (too hurried maybe) to hopefully see the final round on Friday.
Pubs visits are a must with a definite visit to Crey-Na-Ba.
It will be the wife and I and we don't plan on roughing it too much (no camping) so maybe a private home, hotel...or....????
How did you get there? Meaning any Travel Agent help?
I thought of making all my plans through the IOM travel agent noted on their website. My thoughts would be that they would know what's need to get there and stay there.
I am interested in any details that you could share...bus routes, pubs, restaurants, banking (money changing), etc.
Thanks
Mike
RE: IOM TT 2013 first timer - Big Gar - 12-06-2012
Mike,
Check the ferry bookings on http://www.steam-packet.com for the dates you want for Dublin to Isle of Man and return. If you're sure about those dates and they're available, book them now. The sailings fill up fast. We wanted to fly into and (or) out of Dublin in order to spend a day or two there, but couldn't coordinate the whole business with our flights, the ferry times, etc. . . due to our late planning.
We ended up flying our of San Diego, through JFK, and into Manchester arriving Saturday the 2nd of June. We couldn't get on a ferry that same day, so we spent a Saturday night over in Liverpool (epic place to spend a Saturday night BTW), and sailed early Sunday morning. Coming back, no ferry was available so we opted for a FlyBe jet back to Manchester, found a place for the night, and headed home early yesterday, arriving in San Diego last night.
FlyBe out of Dublin might also be an option, but the airport is in Castleton, about 10 or so miles out of the where the main action is (paddock, downtown Douglas, start/finish line, vendors), whereas the ferry terminal is right in downtown Douglas, or within a very short walk anyway. We rented a car, and are glad we did, but if you've never A: Driven on the left side of the road or B: Driven on ridiculously skinny little roads with two way traffic, it can be quite an experience coming from the wide roads of SoCal.
Myself, I enjoyed it immensely, but my brother wanted absolutely no part of driving a manual shift right hand drive car anywhere at all. It's a challenge that could very easily end in tears if you're not up to it. Lots of buses and cabs to get you around though. Double deckers everywhere, London cabs, etc. . . I'm not sure where you could rent a bike but I do know they're available if on a pretty limited basis.
There is a RBS branch in Douglas, and a few other banks as well. They have no problem accepting Sterling anywhere you go but the Manx pounds (same value) are not as welcome back in the UK. Most anyplace on the IOM will be happy to give you your change in Sterling, or simply swap out your bills for Sterling before you leave. I have no idea where Ireland stands on that. If you're going to be buying Pounds, I suggest getting them from an ATM as your cc company will usually give you the best exchange rate. Whatever you do, don't buy or sell your currency at the airport if at all possible. I made that mistake. I bought some Pounds there, paying $1.71 (the actual rate was in the $1.60 ballpark), and trying to sell them back before we left, the currency exchange there only offered $1.31 / Pound! Quite a racket.
Due to some good luck at the casino, I had a few hundred extra, and I just brought them home with me instead of selling them back at that horrid rate. Maybe a bank or you're local branch at home would do better? I don't know. I'm selling mine to my brother for $1.50 who will use them sooner than I will most likely
FlyBe isn't a bad way to go if you book your flights early. Book late and you will pay full fare, which isn't pretty. We managed to do the whole thing with some help and advice from forum members and no travel agent assistance. Lots to see and do if you like to just soak up the local flavor and as you know, motorcycle people are generally good people. The crime rate is virtually nil. Everyone who heard our obviously American voices seemed to want to talk to us which was great fun. I was very surprised at how few Americans we ran into there as well. I think, including Randy Mamola and Kevin Schwantz, we spoke with about six fellow Yanks.
I'm certainly no expert, but considered our trip a complete success and a true highlight of my life. I'm not sure what I could do better next time actually. Wi-fi is hard to come by there. The Costa coffee shop in the Ferry Terminal has excellent, free, open wi-fi (and fantastic coffee), as does the Creg-ny-baa (you do have to ask for the password there) which we made our way to three times! We also just picked up a couple of the cheap cell phones on the ferry ride over and they worked perfectly, were easy to "top-up" and we're an economical way to stay in touch with home.
All for now!
Gar