Parents often ask us if they are allowed to come along on a SAWUSA tour. Not only are the allowed, but our tours are designed for parents and guests!
On a SAWUSA tour, it’s all about group travel. Parents aren’t just spectators watching their kids play sports, they are PART of the tour. Usually what happens is by day two the kids are finally all comfortable with each other, so the group turns into two packs pretty quickly – the athletes and the fans! We travel in private buses, so typically a lot of the bonding occurs when we are traveling between our games and excursions. The athletes migrate to the back of the bus and the parents and coaches to the front. Many friendships are made, not just between the kids, but parents as well.
The ‘secret sauce’ of a SAWUSA tour is all the in between times. Of course the athletic events and the planned sightseeing activities are amazing… but it’s the informal times that make it a truly special experience. Meeting for early morning breakfast in the hotel before a busy day, having a late night drink in the hotel bar after a long day – and everything in between.
Watching your son or daughter play in a USA jersey on an International stage is a memory you don’t want to miss. One of my favorite parts is seeing the parents get misty eyed during the playing of the National anthem with their kid out their competing in the sport they love. It’s an awesome reward for all the sacrifices the parents have made to make this trip possible!
We make special plans for parents as well. In 2019 we had a large group in Italy on one of our tours. We split the group up and had the coaches take the kids to a water park for an afternoon, the day after the tournament. The parents we took to an Italian Vineyard for lunch and wine tasting. We also plan some late night adventures out for parents as well. Of course all the regular sightseeing adventures are just as thrilling for parents as the athletes.
If you are a parent, or grandparent, or guest of an athlete – you don’t want to miss this experience. This type of travel experience is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests. You aren’t a spectator – you are part of the tour. Come join us on a trip you will remember forever – you will probably enjoy it even more than the athletes do :).
