Six years down and only a double digit number of days left before South Africa welcomes the world to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We here at Great Atlantic Travel can’t wait until the first kick-off and our more than pleased with the amount of terric clients we have set up to go as we have surpassed that number from Germany 2006. If you haven’t gotten your ticket, airfare, hotel, or packages dont wait any longer as availability is getting down to the bare minimum. Even though the World Cup will be awesome to watch on ESPN HD, that will be nothing compared to the spectacle of being there live at the world’s best and most popular sporting event. After an amazing Olympics where the US hockey team had all of the country’s support and attention, its only fitting that the US Soccer team does the same on a much larger scale. It is setting up to be such an amazing time with numerous storylines taking shape such as the US being put in same group as England. The Americans have released their World Cup jerseys and they are going old school with the same threads they wore in the 1950 World Cup - the same World Cup they beat England 1-0, an event the Brits have still not gotten over. Then you have the host country South Africa in same group as France and Mexico as they are trying not to become the first host nation to fail advance to the second round. If you need anymore reasons or pushing I would look over this article from Goal.com. We look forward to setting up a lifetime experience for you!

With less than 188 days left until the 2010 FIFA World Cup gets kicked off, all 32 teams and their devoted fans found out today who their teams are grouped with and when/where they play. Soem teasm such as Mexico and Netherlands have to like their chances of moving past the First Round while other teams like top seeds Brazil and Germany may have been dealt very difficlut groups.

Group A                       Group B                   Group C              Group D
South Africa                 Argentina                 England              Germany  
Mexico                          Nigeria                     USA                      Australia
Uruguay                       South Korea            Algeria                 Serbia
France                          Greece                     Slovenia              Ghana

Group E                       Group F                    Group G                Group H
Netherlands                Italy                            Brazil                     Spain
Denmark                      Paraguay                 North Korea         Switzerland
Japan                           New Zealand           Ivory Coast           Honduras
Cameroon                   Slovakia                    Portugal               Chile

A few observations that should jump out and get attention:
Group A offers South Africa who is as host country is slated as a top seed. No host country has ever failed making it out of the first round. Uruguay will offer stiff competition as well as favorite Mexico and 2006 runner up France who neaded a handball against Ireland to make this World Cup.

Group B features Argentina who had a tough time qualifying behind their player turned coach Maradona as well as the 2004 Euro Cup Champions Greece, South Korea, and a speedy and possible dark horse in Nigeria.

Group C had everyone talking today as top qualifiers England were put in the group against the United States. That alone has intrigue going back as far as the 1950 World Cup when the US stunned all of the soccer world by beating England 1-0 which still has all of the England faithful upset to this day. Although paired with talented teams of Algeria and Slovenia, both the USA and England are relieved to not be in the “Group of Death” as the Us were in 2006.

Group D offers 4 very well supported countries in the likes of speedy Ghana, improving Australia, young Serbia, and 2008 Euro Cup runner up and one of the favorites - Germany. This may be one of the toughest groups to get out of.

Group E is rather interesting as they have the Netherlands who compete well every tournament but have a tough time in the final rounds with 3 teams who have been on a steady course of improving in soccer over the past 8 years in Cameroon, Denmark, and Japan.

Group F puts the reigning 2006 World Cup Champions Italy in a group with evenly matched Paraguay and Slovakia as well as New Zeland who makes their first World Cup in 28 years.

Group G is widely considered the toughest group as it features the consistent powerhouse Brazil along with Cristiando Renaldo’s Portugal. North Korea and Ivory Coastrounds out the group. The Ivory Coast is a very talented team who many believe will make it deep in this tournament and may be the kryptonite to Brazil based on their speed and defense.

The final Group H has FIFA ranked #1 and 2008 Euro Cup Champions Spain against the likes of an improving Switzerland and very well supported Honduras who is makingg their first trip to the World Cup in 28 years. Chile rounds out this group as this is their first World Cup since 1998.

Well the groups are set and now the only thing left to do is reserve your package through Great Atlantic Travel if you havent done so already. There is nothing like being at the worlds biggest sporting event where all politics and differences are put aside for a month in the name of the beautiful game. Great Atlantic Travel is the most expierenced and customer driven sports tour operators in the world and we are looking forward to providing packages to our 5th World Cup, the only operator to be credited as official by FIFA on 4 different occasions. Whether you are looking for Follow Team Packages, Team USA Specials, Semi-finals and Final Packages, Custom Packages,or Exclusive Emirates World Cup Packages we have your ticket to the biggest event in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

As the hoiday season is in full swing, Great Atlantic Travel would like to wish all of our friends and clients Seasons Greetings. it has been a great year for us and we look forward to another succesful one. 2009 will bring us another year of amazing sports action such as the Masters in Augusta, the Kentucky Derby, NASCAR action at Richmond, and of course the NFL.

What sets Great Atlantic apart from other agencies is that our clients are the number one priority. We strive to make sure expectations and services are not only met, but exceeded. Great Atlantic is the ONLY sports travel agency to have the prestine International reputation it has. We have been appointed official for more Rugby World Cups, Cricket World Cups, and Olympics than any other ticket broker or sports tour operator in the country. So in these touch economic times, make sure that your hard earned money towards a once in a lifetime experience goes to a reputable company like ours where you feel comfortable and excited instead of a company or shady broker that can leave you burned and without any service or experience you payed for.

Some companies sell other tickets as speculatory tickets and leave you hanging until the day or 2 before the event. Great Atlantic Travel sells only our own tickets included in packages. If we do not have what you are looking for, then we are able to get them from other reliable sources. This process would be done without leaving you the client in the dark as we make sure the correct tickets are delivered in a timely manner.

We take pride in what we do and look forward to the opportunity to assit you. Happy Holidays!!

Save Your Gas Money - Ride with Great Atlantic Travel to the Game!

Local company offers Motorcoach transportation to Redskins Games and NASCAR.

VIRGINIA BEACH (August 7th, 2008) - Do you want to attend the upcoming Richmond NASCAR Sprint Cup race, but gas prices got you down?  Great Atlantic Travel offers Roundtrip Same Day transportation from Norfolk and Newport News to the race in Richmond with the purchase of their very reasonable travel package which includes a race ticket and Motor-coach transportation.   Every year, hundreds of local NASCAR fans, make the 90 mile trip with Great Atlantic Travel, via their Day Trip Packages as well as the Overnight Motor-coach travel packages.  From local Church organizations, to Die-Hard NASCAR fanatics, the Richmond NASCAR packages offered by Great Atlantic Travel have been a hit since the early 80’s. 

“We’ve seen a noticeable increase in bookings for our Motor-coach package sales both online and via our travel office” says Michelle Yeager, President of Great Atlantic Travel.  “In the past couple of years, most fans purchased only the tickets from us and drove themselves to the race…but now with gas prices soaring, everyone is ready to ride along in our Motor-coaches booking the Day Trip Package.  Last year, we sent 7 Motor Coaches up to Richmond…this year we’re on track to send 10 or more.”

For the first time in many years, Richmond Motor Speedway is not sold out of tickets yet…you can still purchase tickets to the Sprint Cup race for $80-$95.  But Great Atlantic Travel still has tickets left as well, and in order to get out of inventory, the company is taking a hit on the ticket cost, and selling them for only $75, cheaper than the $90 face value printed on the ticket.

Great Atlantic Travel and Tour is now also offering Tickets and Travel Packages to all 2008 Washington Redskins Games including the Defending Super Bowl Champs, New York Giants, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. 

Great Atlantic Travel and Tour is a Virginia Beach, VA based travel and tour agency that sells tickets and packages to all sporting events worldwide.  Great Atlantic Travel and Tour was founded by John Martin in 1981, and has since grown into one of the world’s largest sports tour operators.  Their resume includes appointments as an official tour and hospitality provider for two different FIFA World Cup Tournaments as well as two Rugby World Cup Tournaments, the Cricket World Cup, and multiple countries to the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. 

Just finished publishing the new home page layout at www.Greatatlantictravel.com. 

The new layout allows us to advertise more upcoming featured events that we offer to our international clientel including Kentucky Derby Tickets and Kentucky Derby and Oaks Packages, as well as The Masters Golf Tournament, Euro 2008 tickets and packages, and of course the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

We have also pushed up new domestic travel packages to the fore-front including Crown Royal 400 Packages and Tickets, as well as Washington Redskins Travel Packages for the upcoming 2008-2009 NFL Season.  As of yesterday, visitors to GreatAtlanticTravel.com, can now book their Travel Packages for the Crown Royal 400 NASCAR race in Richmond as well.  We will have the same feature, online travel package booking, for our Washington Redskins Packages as soon as the schedule is released in early April.  For the moment, we’re thinking that will be April 2nd or 3rd.

 Check back soon for new Sports Travel Packages offered by GAT.

Well it has definitly been a new beginning here at Great Atlantic Travel.   We have launched a new website and now everyone will know that we specialize in Sports Travel.  For all the fans out there looking for a great time at a football game, “Redskins anyone”, call us for a great time and let us do the driving.  Join a bunch of other fans just like you and travel to the game whiel celebrating on the bus on the way up and on the return.  If you are into racing we have plenty of access to all racing events, NASCAR and Horse Racing.  The Kentucky Derby will be here before you know it ,don’t want to miss out on a chance of a lifetime.  For Rugby fans or Soccer fans we have packages to the world cups so you don’t have to set up travel and tickets on your own.  Our job is to simplify your life and we are here to please.  Call Great Atlantic Travel for a great sporting experience or visit our website to view our packages. Call 757-422-9001.

GREAT ATLANTIC TRAVEL UNVEILS NEW WEB SITE & ADDITIONAL SPORTS TOURS

New website has Sports Tours for The Masters, Kentucky Derby, Olympics and more.

VIRGINIA BEACH (January 28, 2008) – Great Atlantic Travel and Tours, a Virginia Beach based Sports Tour Operator, launched their new web site, www.greatatlantictravel.com, on January 28th. This redesigned website offers a new look and international feel to a local company. Customers can now order tickets for not only NFL Tours such as the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, but now are introduced to new offerings such as the Kentucky Derby, The Masters, and Olympics to be held this summer in Beijing. Local and national; tennis tickets and tours, NCAA football tickets, NASCAR tickets and Tours, and coming soon, expanded travel packages for the Vancouver Winter Olympics and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The new web site, coupled with the new hire of Aaron Bulkley as Managing Director, highlights Great Atlantic Travel’s efforts to offer a new array of popular sports tours and personal service to it’s customers. Aaron Bulkley, formerly Vice President of Business Development at Ticketcity.com, brings 10 years of experience in the sports entertainment industry. “His knowledge of SEO in a highly competitive industry, the ticketing secondary market, and first hand experience in buying, selling, and organizing large scale events (the Super Bowl, Masters, Kentucky Derby, Final Four, Two Soccer World Cups, Two Rugby World Cups, and much more), brings a much needed shot of adrenaline to our company” said John Martin, Owner of Great Atlantic Travel.

The web site, designed and created by Bulkley, currently has tickets available for a variety of events, from Richmond NASCAR race packages to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The website is a culmination of what Great Atlantic Travel has offered to local cliental since 1981, innovative SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to achieve higher natural search engine rankings, a few more major International sporting events, and a unique focus of where the company is heading in the coming years.

Great Atlantic Travel and Tour plans on increasing the size of its operation with a few targeted hires over the next year. These new positions will include a Kentucky Derby specialist, multiple corporate sales positions, as well as establishing an intern program with a local university.

Great Atlantic Travel and Tour is a Virginia Beach, VA based travel and tour agency that sells tickets and packages to all sporting events worldwide. Great Atlantic Travel and Tour was founded by John Martin in 1981, and has since grown into one of the world’s largest sports tour operators. Their resume includes appointments as an official tour and hospitality provider for two different FIFA World Cup Tournaments as well as two Rugby World Cup Tournaments, the Cricket World Cup, and multiple countries to the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.