Can anybody help me?

[Bennyboyspurs]

I'm currently an incredibly deflated 17 year old Spurs fan...
In the past fellow fans have recommended "Sports Options" to me if I ever wanted to travel to an away game in Europe. As soon as we drew Madrid I thought I decided to give it a go as I've never been to a Spurs away game before, let alone a Champions League game. Yesterday when the details were posted on the website I was very excited, so I rushed into my local town by push bike to get some cash onto my debit card. I rang my mum from the bank and she purchased the deal for me on the computer. I came home on top of the world.
However I received the shock of a life time last night when I read the small words at the bottom "Match ticket not included", and I thought wait a minute, this is a day trip to Real Madrid v Tottenham, not a day trip to Madrid, so how can it be? I'm incredibly stressed at the moment, and having saved up £250 for this paired with the fact that I don't have a job my family and I were very excited. I can't tell them I don't actually have a ticket now. Yesterday I was over the moon, and today I just can't put on the same face and they say "What's up Ben, you're going to the Bernabeu!!"
What do you suggest I do? Go to Madrid and pretend I've been to the ground which will be hard as I won't have photos....or is there any chance of a ticket? I may have to fork out £250 for a ticket from a ticketing site.
I just don't know what to say, this is a nightmare at the moment and I'd appreciate it if you could help me in any way.
Thank you for your time,
Ben Watts

[Derry-Yid]

Sorry to hear that mate...your best bet would be to go and try and get a ticket when your over there off a ticket tout...thats what i would sugest...you never know..theres always tickets being sold outside but it might cost you!

[taimedowne]

I looked into this. God what a rip off.All it is is a flight and a coach and they want £250 you can get a flight to Madrid for about £60 and get yourself to the ground on a local bus. To be honest I cannot see where the Sport part of this companies name comes from as they only offer travel not sport. However even a brief look at the website showed me there was no ticket included and the " small print " is the same size as all the other writing, albeit at the bottom of the page. You might be able to appeal to there better nature and get your money back, Tell them you are 17 and like most 17 yr olds a bit to keen to rush into things without looking. You never know it might work. Other than that you are screwed as it does say what you are getting for your money. However you will learn from this. Most of us do something daft when we are younger nobody gets killed and we emerge a better person. This is probably your moment. Learn from it and read the Fu*kin small print in future.   
   

[Persemillion]

A couple of things - you can't get a flight to Madrid for £60 on the day we - or any English - club is drawn to face Real Madrid. EasyJet put the price up from £44.99 to £403.99 as soon as the draw was made.
Second, a lot of guys around me in the Paxton went to Milan via Sports Options. Some didn't have tickets but there were people on the coach selling them, albeit for £100 instead of the £55 asking price (I believe Madrid tickets cost either £55 or £72 for this game).
The final option is to find a season ticket holder with 250 loyalty points who isn't going to the game. Get them to buy the ticket and then give them the money (and perhaps a bit extra to make it worth their while).

[baldbloke]

A couple of things - you can't get a flight to Madrid for £60 on the day we - or any English - club is drawn to face Real Madrid. EasyJet put the price up from £44.99 to £403.99 as soon as the draw was made.
Second, a lot of guys around me in the Paxton went to Milan via Sports Options. Some didn't have tickets but there were people on the coach selling them, albeit for £100 instead of the £55 asking price (I believe Madrid tickets cost either £55 or £72 for this game).
The final option is to find a season ticket holder with 250 loyalty points who isn't going to the game. Get them to buy the ticket and then give them the money (and perhaps a bit extra to make it worth their while).

Because you have to have 250 pts to apply that doesn't mean you will get one. The likelihood is that it will be around the 600 pt mark.  I have done this for someone before as I have lots of points, however I wouldn't do it again as I nearly lost my right to apply for away games all together. You have to complete a form detailing flight accommodation details and all sorts of things. You are right though that getting a ticket out there will be easy

[Bennyboyspurs]

Thanks for your replies guys, I really appreciate it.
I'm gonna go, and who knows I might get lucky and find someone with a ticket....I suppose I should look on the bright side, you never know. Are the chances of finding someone with a genuine ticket reasonable do you reckon?
Also is there any chance of someone selling a ticket in the Spurs end, or no hope of that?
Just gonna try and have a great day, and fingers crossed a ticket will end up in my hands!

[aspursfan]

Good luck!

[baldbloke]

Thanks for your replies guys, I really appreciate it.
I'm gonna go, and who knows I might get lucky and find someone with a ticket....I suppose I should look on the bright side, you never know. Are the chances of finding someone with a genuine ticket reasonable do you reckon?
Also is there any chance of someone selling a ticket in the Spurs end, or no hope of that?
Just gonna try and have a great day, and fingers crossed a ticket will end up in my hands!

Read my above post mate, I know what I am talking about. Getting a ticket in the away end at face value 20%. Getting a genuine ticket at an affordable price 100%

[Shameus]

Benny. Do yourself a big favour and tell your folks what's happened. AND get used to disappointment - it goes with the SPURS (wouldn't/couldn't change allegiance for the world!) Good luck. Why not let us know how you get on?

[millers-tach]

Good luck. Trust me you will love the trip and sometimes these things are just meant to be and you will get lucky, there are always people cant go at the last minute due to their own mis-fortune.
 
If no ticket shows then find some other Spurs fans in the same boat and enjoy in a pub somewhere (hopefully you look 18). You can end up meeting friends for life in these type of situations.
 
Last and by no means least please remember Madrid is shocking for pick-pockets and i mean terrible. Went a couple years back with Aberdeen and i would say 20% of fans got done on trains or in the square prior to the game. Be careful, wallet always in front pocket only, emergency cash in the sock......only way to travel!!

[lilywhitemeg]

Hi, I think you stand more chance of getting a ticket in Madrid than you do in London. Coach Innovations are using an Irish bar as a base so atleast if you don't get a ticket you can still go down and be there and watch in on a big screen with the atmosphere. www.coachinnovations.co.uk/tottenham_spurs.htm here's the link to the website



We've been with them before and it's really good value
 
Hope this helps??

[Bennyboyspurs]

I never thought I'd get this many helpful replies, I'm really grateful!

I've been offered a full refund by the company, but now I really want to go anyway in search of a ticket.......However I'd rather save £250 and watch it at home than in a pub in Madrid whatever the atmosphere ......If I'm going to go I'd like to know that a ticket is more than likely. Who sells them? How can I tell they won't be fake? This is going to end up being such a gamble if I do go :/

[Derry-Yid]

Last and by no means least please remember Madrid is shocking for pick-pockets and i mean terrible.

Think Mr Redknapp can vouch for that!

[millers-tach]

lol, Derry i think you will find that HR met the 'Give us your cash or we will smash your face in and knife you' people of Madrid rather than the more subtle 'wow how did your wallet end up in my hand' citizens!
 
 

[Chelmsford_yid]

Just go in the home end, easy. They all speak English anyways. ;-)