Robert Thomas offers lodging at French indoor worlds
Today is the last day for Americans to enter indoor worlds without a late fee. And if you’re going to Clermont-Ferrand, and haven’t arranged lodging, world sprint champ Robert Thomas offers help. He writes: “I have two three-bedroom apartments reserved for 140 euros a night and four two-bedroom apartments for 95 euros a night. You have to get a car for the apartments as they are not on the public transportation lines. I also have 11 double rooms at the suite hotel for 95 euros a night and and 3 triple rooms at 103 a night and they are on the tram line to the stadium. I have also listed a British website that has housing that everyone can look at and see if they have something that they like. (Here is) the Website of hotel that I have 14 rooms book for 95 to 103 euros a night. Check this website for the (British group’s) hotel rooms.” You can reach Robert at rjttrack@hotmail.com.
Robert also writes:
Also if anyone is interested I am bringing a massage therepist and a chiroprator to the competition. The cost (per person) is $130.00 that basically covers the cost of bringing them to the meet. If I can get at least ten people to buy in. For that price you will get two one-hour massages and two adjustments if needed. They are really providing the service for free.
When I got his note, I sent him a reply asking about his travel-agent experience and whether he was profiting from the arrangements. To this, Robert replied:
I am not working with the British tour operator. I found their information on the web last year before Italy. . . . My travel agent experience is only my personal experience for myself. I have however made arrangements for groups of as many as twenty athletes for the last three world championships, haven’t had a disappointed athlete yet. Cross my fingers.
I have several rules. No picture (of lodging), no booking. Limited pictures, no booking. I usually start looking for places about a year to a year and half in advance. Asking other athletes that I may know from these countries about good places to stay. Researching on travel websites and travel channels.
I was able to book the rooms before the LOC was able to lock up all the hotels and apartments. I always over book since people have a tendency to look for housing late. they usually worry about the cost of the flight more. If I don’t get rid of them by the first of February then I will cancel want I don’t need.
I am doing this for free. There is not one cent markup for any of the accommodations. My only reason for doing this is to keep the cost down so that more American athletes can enjoy the experience and be around other Americans when we travel out of the country. I would like to see someday when we have a thousand American athletes travel to Europe for one of these outdoor World Championships.
The British agency is made up of athletes as well. I hope to have a block of rooms at two of the nicer hotels in Lahti, Finland, for the next Outdoor World Championships. At a reasonable rate.
Great work then, Robert. Best of luck to you in Clermont-Ferrand!
Here are lists of Americans signed up for France, BTW.
2 Responses
According to the USATF website there are few Americans signed up for France. My rough count this evening is 62 men from the M 35-80 age groups and 27 women from W 35-70 age groups. There may be a few late entries as some of the usual suspects names do not appear – and the final deadline is January 21st, but this is pretty thin folks and I doubt that there are many looking for hotel rooms.
Most probably have had their hotel arrangements made weeks ago. As for flights – well that is another issue – personally I am hoping for a miracle and prices go down- but a fat chance of that.
Given the exchange rate for the dollar vs the Euro it looks like most tracksters are holding on to their dollars and staying home.
..I would like to add that I have been one of the athletes who have always trusted Robert with housing at our Masters National & WMA meets. He really does his research…and enjoys it,too. He found a hotel for our group right across the street from the track when we were in San Sebastian!…AND that hotel wasn’t even on the main track info list!
Our hotel in Linz was terrific as well as Riccione..he is aware that we athletes need to wash our uniforms,check internet, be close to markets,etc..so he is in constant correspondence with the Hotel Managers to make sure the accommodations have those amenities in the hotels/apartments or have them close by.
Plus, being close to fellow teammates is fun,too.
And it is true, he has been looking at Lahti for lodging since it was first awarded the bid!
So I definitely recommend him for our Masters Housing Finder! He does a great job:-)
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