Nottingham Mavericks in Finland

Saturday 13th - Wednesday 17th December

£250 (approx) Inclusive of:
Full Board 4* accommodation Vierumaki - Int. Ice Hockey Centre of Excellence;
9.5 hours ice time (including scrimmage time, pro coaching and game);
Visit to discount hockey store;
Floor Ball;
Airport transfers (in Finland);

Other costs:

1 night in Dublin (accommodation TBC)
Purchase your own flights (details available from Simon);

Further Options:
Swimming (€5 per person, per swim);
Snowmobile / ATV Safari or Ice Karting (weather permitting);

Contact simon.hopkins@nottingham.ac.uk if you would like to join us.

The news you have all been waiting for (perhaps??)… Stand by for mega info - read carefully!!

I have tried and tested a new route to Vierumaki. Basically, we fly from the UK (East Mids or Stansted) to Dublin (Sat 13th Dec 08), stay 1 night in a Dublin hotel (approx £30 per person), take in the sights during the evening and then fly out early morning on Sun (14th Dec 08) to Tampere. There are pros and cons re this route. However, you will see from the schedule (attached), that we arrive in Vierumaki mid-afternoon on 14th. We go to the hockey shop (for discount kit etc) en route to Vierumaki, so that you can make full use of what you have just bought. We can also stock-up in the CityMarket. No trip to the Ski Jumps or Pelicans Arena, though. We also get an hour scrimmage too, followed by a hearty meal in the Country Club and an actual first evening! The obvious negative is forking out for 1 nights accommodation in Dublin. However, I am working on discount in a Dublin hotel for us all.

It will make life MUCH easier for me if you book your own flights this year. I have just booked mine for £111. Notably, I have already paid for the sticks. Personally, I have not opted to board the plane first (cost option), or purchase Ryanair travel insurance (another cost option) - the Post Office is much better for this. You will need to pay for Check-In and 1 piece of Luggage (ie your hockey kit). However, some of you (goalies) might also wish to pay for 1 item of Bulk Sports Equipment (approx £25 per sector). You are all responsible for your own weight limit or any excess payments!! A good tip is to buddy-up with 2 or 3 mates to pay for 1 piece of Bulk Sports Equipment. You will obviously need to take a spare kit bag, but it could save you a pot of cash. Ryanair now charge £12 per kilo over 15kg!!

Personally, I am flying East Mids to Dublin, simply because it’s easier for me. I would suggest that it’s easier for those living in the South to fly from Stansted. We will aim to meet at Dublin Airport at 3pm, on Sat 13th Dec 08. Please note, we are all flying back to Stansted, so take this into account when deciding how you will be getting home in the wee hours of Thurs 18th Dec 08… There may well be transport for approx 8 people travelling from Stansted to Nottingham. However, there will NOT be any transport arranged to the airport on Sat 13th.

Basically, the cost of the trip includes: full board accommodation in Vierumaki for 3 nights; 9.5 hours ice time (see schedule); airport transfers in Finland, all sports hall / gym sessions and stick carriage on all 3 flights. This equates to approx £250 each (based on 20 people).

Other points to note… To save money, we won’t be making use of the Lakeside Sauna / Restaurant this year. In addition, swimming is an optional extra (€5 per person per swim). As mentioned above, the Lahti trip is incorporated into the bus ride from Tampere airport to Vierumaki, on Sun 14th. The Snowmobile / ATV Safari or Ice Karting (weather permitting) is also an additional cost option (approx €75 per person). We will also be taking the bold move away from the lakeside cabins to newer, more centrally located (no massive hill) apartments, in-between the Country Club and the Swimming Pools.

Flight I have booked from East Midlands to Dublin (info only):

East Midlands (EMA) to Dublin (DUB)
Sat, 13Dec08 Flight FR 539
Depart EMA at 13:05 and arrive DUB at 14:05

Flights you MUST book:

From Dublin (DUB) to Tampere (TMP)
Sun, 14Dec08 Flight FR 852
Depart DUB at 07:30 and arrive TMP at 12:45

AND

From Tampere (TMP) to London Stansted (STN) Wed, 17Dec08 Flight FR2195 Depart TMP at 22:55 and arrive STN at 23:45

If you would like to come along I will need £50 (non-refundable deposit) from you ASAP. Please make cheques payable to: Simon Hopkins. Post them to me at the address below. I will also need an email with your flight confirmation codes for my records.

Closing date for the trip is 1st November 08. However, I recommend you book your flights ASAP, as Ryanair currently have a sale on. Don’t wait around assuming the price will come down in a month or two, as they tend not to anymore.

Think that’s all for now. Please email if you have any queries and questions etc.

Open to all, so ask your buddies.

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Si.