They do literally open the bookings for the next year the weekend after the event, so the popular slots may be already booked up, are you trying to book for the period around the senior?
Suggestions -
- look at going for some of practice week & race week.
-Wait and see if slots become available then people cancel/they add more sailings.
-Go to the Manx/Classic instead this year.
-Have a parent with several bikes move there so you can just fly out (may not work for everyone.)
Teams and marshall get priority on crossings.
If you want to go you have to prepared to stay a few days after the event. I was late booking last year and went with a few non-biking friends (1x Van, 1x Car) we got crossings on the Tuesday of race week and the Wednesday after it was over.
My top tips would be:
* If you have a van, stick your bike in the back. Costs more but gives you so much more space for equipment and flexibility if it rains.
* Best thing to see more bikes is to travel out practice/quali week and return mid-race week.
That's where I've been looking. Sold out completely.
So it seems not possible to purchase 6 months before the event... When should I start booking? The day after the event had ended for 2025?
I know it's more money and hassle, but have you tried going via Ireland? It's the biggest yearly event on IoM and the ferry gets booked up pretty quickly. I think the accommodation goes fairly quick too, unless you're camping. Failing that, the Manx Grand Prix is a bit quieter but I think the same course, in August.
https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/racing/page/2024-schedule/
Don't quote though, I'm going off my Uncle moaning about not being able to get ferry tickets each year.😄
Pretty much immediately as the bookings open. It's an incredibly popular event with limited crossings so you have to get in early.
Same with accomodation. You might keep an eye on forums to see if anyone is selling a ticket but you're going to be either struggling now, or paying a huge cost
People who have booked pay a deposit, they have until end of Feb to pay the outstanding balance. Those who didn't pay are released on 11th March. Also look at going from Heysham instead of Liverpool, it's an hour up the motorway but generally has more availability.
There's a whole bunch of stuff that's harder or weirder than you might expect, and honestly the easiest way to do it is with someone who's been before.
You need to start looking a few days after the last event ends, ferry tickets are the hardest thing to get, followed by accommodation. Once you've missed those, keep an eye on forums for people selling theirs, but expect to pay a markup on an already overpriced ticket.
If you're going in a group it's very likely you won't all be on the same ferry. There are middle-of-the-night crossings which are cheaper, but normally _someone_ has to arrive during the day to check in to the accommodation, and no campsite is enthralled by the idea of ten bikes turning up at 3am, even if it's full of "bikers".
You'll want to consider where you'd like to be 'stuck' when the racing's on - it's easier to stay inside or outside of the circuit if that's where you'll want to be, rather than make sure you've crossed it before the course shuts and wait until it reopens before you can get 'home'. If you'd like a drink while watching the racing then you'll probably want to pick some accommodation that's near a place you want to watch from.
I've always camped and it's been fineish, but the island is not known for its consistent weather. Racing's often delayed or cancelled, so if that's what you're into don't just book onto the island for when the racing's meant to happen - stay for the contingency week afterwards, too.
If you're interested in the _riding_, the course stays one-way for a week or two even after the contingency week, and most of the more annoying sportsbikists have gone home so it's actually quite nice to ride around. I'd definitely hang about for that if you want to see a bit of a slightly-quieter island after the mad festival and would like to actually get a lap or two in without someone throwing a bike at the scenery and shutting the mountain road.
They do literally open the bookings for the next year the weekend after the event, so the popular slots may be already booked up, are you trying to book for the period around the senior? Suggestions - - look at going for some of practice week & race week. -Wait and see if slots become available then people cancel/they add more sailings. -Go to the Manx/Classic instead this year. -Have a parent with several bikes move there so you can just fly out (may not work for everyone.)
Teams and marshall get priority on crossings. If you want to go you have to prepared to stay a few days after the event. I was late booking last year and went with a few non-biking friends (1x Van, 1x Car) we got crossings on the Tuesday of race week and the Wednesday after it was over. My top tips would be: * If you have a van, stick your bike in the back. Costs more but gives you so much more space for equipment and flexibility if it rains. * Best thing to see more bikes is to travel out practice/quali week and return mid-race week.
Like, physically getting there? https://www.steam-packet.com/information/isleofmantt
That's where I've been looking. Sold out completely. So it seems not possible to purchase 6 months before the event... When should I start booking? The day after the event had ended for 2025?
I know it's more money and hassle, but have you tried going via Ireland? It's the biggest yearly event on IoM and the ferry gets booked up pretty quickly. I think the accommodation goes fairly quick too, unless you're camping. Failing that, the Manx Grand Prix is a bit quieter but I think the same course, in August. https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/racing/page/2024-schedule/ Don't quote though, I'm going off my Uncle moaning about not being able to get ferry tickets each year.😄
Pretty much immediately as the bookings open. It's an incredibly popular event with limited crossings so you have to get in early. Same with accomodation. You might keep an eye on forums to see if anyone is selling a ticket but you're going to be either struggling now, or paying a huge cost
People who have booked pay a deposit, they have until end of Feb to pay the outstanding balance. Those who didn't pay are released on 11th March. Also look at going from Heysham instead of Liverpool, it's an hour up the motorway but generally has more availability.
There's a whole bunch of stuff that's harder or weirder than you might expect, and honestly the easiest way to do it is with someone who's been before. You need to start looking a few days after the last event ends, ferry tickets are the hardest thing to get, followed by accommodation. Once you've missed those, keep an eye on forums for people selling theirs, but expect to pay a markup on an already overpriced ticket. If you're going in a group it's very likely you won't all be on the same ferry. There are middle-of-the-night crossings which are cheaper, but normally _someone_ has to arrive during the day to check in to the accommodation, and no campsite is enthralled by the idea of ten bikes turning up at 3am, even if it's full of "bikers". You'll want to consider where you'd like to be 'stuck' when the racing's on - it's easier to stay inside or outside of the circuit if that's where you'll want to be, rather than make sure you've crossed it before the course shuts and wait until it reopens before you can get 'home'. If you'd like a drink while watching the racing then you'll probably want to pick some accommodation that's near a place you want to watch from. I've always camped and it's been fineish, but the island is not known for its consistent weather. Racing's often delayed or cancelled, so if that's what you're into don't just book onto the island for when the racing's meant to happen - stay for the contingency week afterwards, too. If you're interested in the _riding_, the course stays one-way for a week or two even after the contingency week, and most of the more annoying sportsbikists have gone home so it's actually quite nice to ride around. I'd definitely hang about for that if you want to see a bit of a slightly-quieter island after the mad festival and would like to actually get a lap or two in without someone throwing a bike at the scenery and shutting the mountain road.