Sweden

The Scandinavian nation of Sweden has thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. Over two thirds of the country is covered in forest and there are nearly 100,000 lakes. Sweden is so long that its northern reaches are still covered in snow when its southern reaches are in full bloom. Its principal cities, including its capital Stockholm, are all coastal. Stockholm, built on 14 islands, has more than 50 bridges, as well as the Gamla Stan medieval old town, royal palaces and multiple museums including the open air Skansen museum.

  A constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, Sweden’s political power lies with the parliament and government while the monarch has ceremonial functions. The monarchy is led by King Carl XVI Gustaf with Crown Princess Victoria the heir to the throne.  Sweden is also a member of the European Union though it chooses to use the Swedish Krona as its currency instead of the Euro. Known for its Northern Lights, ice hotels and snow, they also play baseball in and around Stockholm. And we will be doing just that this June!

Sound interesting? Then here's your chance! Plans have been finalized for our baseball road trip to Sweden, so now is the time to gear up if you wish to join us. Offering extensive sightseeing and baseball camaraderie, we are now signing up players for this exciting trip, so don't miss out.

   Interested in joining us? Well the requirements are simple.  First, the ability and desire to play baseball in a unique international setting.  Second, an interest in international goodwill and sportsmanship (e.g. if you swing the bat at the ump after a called strike three, please try fantasy baseball).  Third, an adventurous spirit willing to venture forth into the historic and picturesque land of the midnight sun.

What’s involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity? First, you will depart America on May 31st and arrive in Stockholm the next day where you'll transfer by cab to our downtown riverfront lodgings at the Radisson Blu Hotel. It offers rooms with en suite bathrooms, a restaurant/bar with evening entertainment, and free Wi-Fi. After a night of rest, we will begin our baseball exploits playing four games against local Swedish baseball teams.   

By now you are probably asking yourself how you could be so lucky to have the opportunity of a lifetime and play baseball in Sweden? Well, it’s time to come back to earth as every dream has its price, but this one’s reasonable. Though Sweden is a high cost Scandinavian country, we have been able to organize a reasonably priced baseball road trip. The cost for each player in a double room is $2895 and the cost for a tourist in a double room is $2795.  Single rooms are $3965 for a player and $3865 for a tourist.   Final payment is due March 15th after which time no refunds will be given.

Please note that if you sign up for a double room and are not bringing or sharing a room with a roommate who is also signing up for the trip, being assigned a double room will depend on whether another person also signs up without a roommate request. If not, you will have to pay the single room cost.

What's included in this price? A whole lot on this trip including:

• Hotels with breakfast,

• All baseball games, umpires and fields,

• Bus transportation to and from the fields,

• Commemorative Polo Shirt,

• Old town tour of Gamla Stan,

• Slottet Royal Palace,

• City hall (Stadshuset),

• Drottningholm Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site),

• Gripsholms Castle,

• Broby Bro Runestones,

• Jarlabanke Bridge,

• Arkils Tingstad Viking Age Village,

• Vallentuna Church,

• Gamla Uppsala,

• Uppsala Cathedral,

• Wasa Museum, and

• Archipelago Farewell Dinner Cruise.

What isn’t included in this wonderful invitation? First, you are free to choose your own airline to travel roundtrip to Stockholm as no international airfare is included in the above prices. Second, you must get your own passport if you do not already have one or if yours has expired. Note that your passport must be valid for 6 months after our trip and have at least two blank pages. Third, each player must bring 6 new leather game baseballs and 1 used practice ball. Finally, each player will be responsible for bringing their own Foreign Devils uniform, gray uniform pants, metal or wooden bat, batting helmet, and glove. Finally, you don't own a Foreign Devils uniform (a jersey and cap), they are available for purchase thru the website. So now is the time to sign up if you don't wish to be left out.
Please note that travel insurance is not included in our trip, but it is recommended that you consider purchasing travel insurance in case you have a last minute medical or personal problem arise as there are no refunds. Most will cover international travel insurance, emergency medical care, medical evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage/personal item loss and delay, and 24/7 worldwide assistance. Travel insurance companies used by our players in the past include Insure My Trip, Medex Protects, Quote Wright, and Square Mouth. If you decide to purchase travel insurance rather than self-insure, please make sure it covers international travel as not all will.

Our Tentative Schedule

May 31st Saturday - Leave the USA on the airline of your choosing.

June 1st Sunday - Arrive in Stockholm and check into the Radisson Blu Hotel. Enjoy a free day to explore the city!

June 2nd Monday - A walking tour of Stockholm’s Old Town area known as Gamla Stan and a panoramic Stockholm sightseeing tour by bus. Game #1 against the Stockholm Syndromes.

June 3rd Tuesday -  A full day Viking sightseeing tour to see Broby Bro, Jarlabanke Bridge, Arkils Tingstad, Vallentuna church, Gamla Uppsala, and Uppsala Cathedral.

June 4th Wednesday – A visit to Kungliga Slottet (the Royal Palace), a massive structure with more than 600 rooms on 11 levels that’s been the official residence of the Swedish monarchy for over 400 years. Afterwards a visit to the Wasa Museum with the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship that has ever been salvaged, the Wasa, a 64-gun warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. Game #2 versus the Swedish Meatballers.

June 5th Thursday – A visit to Stadshuset, Stockholm’s City Hall. Afterwards a tour of Drottningholm Palace, the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Game #3 versus the Swedish Bikini Team.

June 6th Friday – A visit to the picturesque town of Mariefred, located on Lake Mälaren, to visit Gripsholm Castle. This renaissance castle offers romantic grounds, a fallow deer nature, 65 rooms of historic reserve and collections of furniture, handicrafts, and interiors from four centuries. Its also home to Swedish National Portrait collection. Afterwards we will have lunch in Mariefred and tour the town.

June 7th Saturday - A tour of the Stockholm Archipelago followed by an afternoon Game #4 versus the Stockholm Trolls. We end the tour with an Archipelago farewell dinner cruise.

June 8th Sunday - Leave for the USA as international baseball stars!