Issue Date: April 13, 2008
TravelSmart
How you can go to the Summer Olympics
By Everett Potter
If you want to go, your best bet is a package that includes tickets and hotel.
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The 29th Summer Olympics in in Beijing, which runs Aug. 8-24, promises to be a lavish spectacle. There will be 302 medal events and 35 sports, including new sports like marathon swimming and BMX cycling. But if you intend to go, flexibility and deep pockets will be needed.
The fact is that the U.S. allotment of individual event tickets is long gone, says Jean-Paul Modde, the president of CoSport, a tour operator and the official 2008 ticket agent in the United States. "We were sold out within days because the demand is so high," Modde says.
Not surprisingly, professional ticket brokers snapped up tickets and are reselling them at a premium at sites like TicketLiquidator.com. Potential buyers also can expect a flurry of resales on auction sites such as eBay once individual buyers receive their tickets in July. But even if you score a ticket, it may be just as hard to find a place to sleep because accommodations in Beijing are nearly as scarce.
If you want to go, a package that includes hotel and tickets is your best bet. CoSport has a wide range starting at $4,172 per person. For more information, see cosport.com.
Travel writer Everett Potter's website is everettpotter.com.
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