Deciding to Go
I randomly saw Isle of Man TT highlights online last winter. Those bikes flying through tiny village roads blew my mind. Immediately called my buddy Steve – “Dude we gotta see this death-defying race in person!” Started brainstorming dates right then.
Nailing Down Race Dates
First thing? Hit the race’s official calendar page. Took forever to find it – kept getting hotel ads instead. Finally found the gold: late May to early June 2025. Marked it red on my kitchen calendar with a Sharpie. Pro tip: races run Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday for two weeks, practice days too. Didn’t know that before!
Transportation Chaos
Booking travel was messy. Ferries? Sold out. Flights? Nightmare. Here’s my screwup log:
- Searched flights to Isle of Man from London – prices looked okay
- Waited THREE days to book – huge mistake. Prices doubled
- Panic-called airlines direct – still crazy expensive
- Found Liverpool ferry route last minute. Only economy seats left – booked instantly
Learned: book transport immediately after race dates drop. No dawdling!
Accommodation Hunger Games
Hotels near the track were gone six months out. Ended up:
- Scouring local B&Bs at 3AM
- Found one in Ramsey – owner said “deposit now or lose it”
- Sent PayPal payment while half-asleep
- Got confirmation email with typo – nearly gave me heart attack
Seriously felt like winning lottery scoring that room.
Track Recon Mission
Watched twenty YouTube vlogs about viewing spots. Made notes:
- Sulby Straight = insane speeds (no barriers though)
- Bray Hill = iconic but crowded at dawn
- Kirk Michael = stone walls nearby (safety first!)
Printed map and highlighted spots with green marker. Packing rain gear too – island weather jokes wrote themselves.
Final Countdown
Checked ferry tickets daily like crazy person. Phoned B&B lady last week – “Still got us right? Bring your own towels”. Steve bought motorcycle earplugs after reading my decibel research notes. Currently stuffing camera batteries into ziplock bags. Excitement level? Through the roof! If you go – start planning a year early. This trip’s harder to organize than my cousin’s wedding!
