Redskins.com posted its preview of the Week 8 Redskins vs. Bengals game. This contest happens in Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, Sunday, October 30, 2016.
That’s an expensive trip for most Redskins fans. It’s not as simple as hopping a flight.
If you haven’t booked your trip yet, you’d best get moving. Here are some links to help.
Flights
Kayak.com served up flights from DC area airports to London Heathrow International Airport departing Friday, October 28, and returning Monday October 31. Virgin Atlantic and Delta offer flights from Dulles International for $789.00. They depart 6:55 PM and arrives Heathrow Saturday morning at 7:20 AM local time. You cross several time zones. That’s actually a seven and a-half hour flight.
The return is 12 Noon from Heathrow, Monday, October 31, arriving Dulles at 4:40 PM. This is an eight and a-half hour flight.
British Airways offers a flight departing from BWI that Friday at 9:50 PM and arriving at Heathrow Saturday at 9:55 AM local time. Round trip fare is $835.00.
The return flight departs Heathrow Monday, October 31, at 1:40 PM, arriving at BWI at 5:55 PM. (Again, it’s an 8.5-hour flight.)
Defeat jet lag
Develop a personal jet lag plan to shift your body clock at JetLagRooster.com.
Hotels
Kayak.com served up four and five-star London hotels from $110.00 per night at the four-star Britannia International Hotel to $358 per night for the five-star Langham, London Hotel.
Booking.com allows searches for hotels near Wembley Stadium. All are high rent compared to general listings in London. The “very good” Cricklewood Lodge, 3 miles from Wembley, is available for $194.00 per night. The “wonderful” St. George Hotel – Wembley charged $736 per night, but only one room was available when I made this search. The St. George is 0.3 miles from the stadium.
I don’t know London, but I figure you get what you pay for. Opt for lodging near the Stadium. If you are more price-conscious, search general London locations.
These prices were in effect when this story published. Prices change. Check often. And don’t wait.
Transportation
Wemblystadium.com has a “Getting Here” link describing public and private transportation to the Stadium.
Group deals
The Redskins have an official travel partner offering packages on redskinslondon.com. They list packages from $1,909 to $3,055 per person (double occupancy). These deals offer game tickets, hotel, ground transportation and some entertainment, but the group flight is sold out. Make your own flight arrangements.
If you don’t mind sitting in enemy territory, check the Sportstraveler.net offer to Bengals fans. Their three-night package includes hotel, an upper end zone game ticket, passes for local public transportation and round trip shuttle to and from the airport. The package price is $1,159.00 per person, double-occupancy. Add $255.00 to upgrade your game ticket to the lower end zone.
Airfare is extra and booked separately.
U.S. Passport
Every U.S. citizen should have a passport whether they travel internationally or not. It normally takes six weeks to process this document. You may apply online at the U.S. Department of State passport site.
Be prepared to provide proof of citizenship if you are applying for your first passport. That certificate the hospital gave your mom when you were born is a souvenir of the great event. But it is not accepted anywhere as proof of citizenship. (Don’t be fooled by the Obama birther crowd. They had issues.)
The only legal proof of U.S. citizenship is a birth certificate issued by the State of your birth, signed, sealed and certified by the registrar.
- D.C. Department of Health.
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
- Virginia Department of Health.
- Other U.S. States and Territories.
Allow time to get your original, certified birth certificate if you don’t have one.
Know before you go.
The State Department suggests that you tell your bank and credit card company of your travel plans and check exchange rates. (Brexit may work to your advantage.) Charges made in foreign countries could be flagged a fraud until they verify it’s really you. Clear this up in advance.
Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, don’t cover overseas travel. Don’t go without buying supplemental health insurance.
Shortcut the airport security line with the Global Entry Program. You may apply online with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But that only begins the process. You will undergo a background check, with fingerprinting, and a personal interview before joining.
Fees apply for passports and for the Global Entry Program.
Games are not played on paper. They are played on television.
Be advised that FOX will televise this game at 9:30 AM ET in the DMV because … London.
Hog Heaven will watch from home, thank you. HTTR!
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