And with the cost of NHL games in Canada combined with the scarcity of tickets, some people have found it not only easier but more cost-effective to fly to a game in a non-hockey market in the U.S. and watch their favourite team play there, instead.

There are numerous companies to be found both online and in the newspaper that will book a complete sports package for you - tickets, transport and lodging. This is a fantastic option and all you need to do is relax and prepare to cheer your heart - and lungs - out!

For those feeling a bit more industrious, here are some tips for the DIY sports traveller:

1. Tickets

Tickets are almost always available through Ticketmaster, or a specific team's, league's or event's website. But what if the game is sold out or you can't find the tickets that you want?

Ticket re-selling has become increasingly legalized and there are now major websites available for what was considered scalping only a couple of years ago. While you still might end up paying inflated scalpers' prices for the games, you may actually find tickets for less than face value at undersold events. Friends and I went to a Kings game in Los Angeles with re-sold tickets that we bought for only $10 each (less than the price of a stadium beer!).

Two top options for re-sold tickets are:

• - Stubhub
• - Ticketmaster's ticketexchange

These tickets can be picked up in person from the seller or, on occasion, printed up online.

For large-scale events, such as the World Cup or Olympics, it may be required to enter a ticket lottery significantly in advance of the event itself, and even then it's no guarantee you'll get the tickets you want. Keep your eyes out for when tickets go on sale or use the re-seller services if you missed the deadline.

2. Accommodations

Besides hotels, apartments can be a fun and affordable way for a group of friends to travel anywhere. It can also be an easier way of finding accommodations when going to large-scale events like the Superbowl or World Cup, both of which often have all hotel rooms booked up months in advance.

As well, buying tickets to a tournament using the lottery system mentioned above means that you may not find out if you have tickets until after all the hotel rooms are already sold out. Finding an apartment is a great way to get around problems like these. Plus, it's a better location for you to paint your faces in anticipation of the big game!

A couple of the best sites to find good place to stay while on your trip are:

• - Craigslist - click "cl worldwide" on the right side of the page to select your destination, then choose "vacation rentals" under the "housing" section
• - VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner)

3. The Big Game

Last, but definitely not least, you need a sports event to go to! Hopefully your team has made it deep into the playoffs and your sly cousin Lenny found you tickets, or maybe you've wrangled a trip to the World Cup. This makes choosing a destination pretty easy.

But another option is simply finding a location to go travelling and using sports as the excuse. A couple of years ago, when I was living in England, two friends who were coming to visit mentioned they had seen that Canada was playing Estonia in a friendly soccer match around the same time. While none of us cared at all about a non-competitive game between two teams that aren't exactly considered global soccer powers, it gave us an excuse to go to Estonia, somewhere none of us had ever been. We even opted to get there by overnight ferry from Stockholm, which allowed us to see two great new places on the same trip. Plus, being a tiny (yet visible) minority group of fans at a large sporting event is a surefire way to make new friends in a foreign country.

Pick your desired location, then look online for any sporting events coming up around the time you'd intended on being there. Always wanted to see New Zealand? Check out when the All Blacks play next to see a world-class rugby match at the same time. Dreaming of catching some rays in Antigua? Why not do it with a cup of tea while watching the Windies play an exhibition cricket match? And if you really want to head off the beaten path, why not visit North Korea at the time of their Arirang Mass Games? (yes, there really are tours that will take you there!)