49 replies to this topic

[ClubSport]

I have many questions but I'll keep 'em short.

1)where to stay
2)best place/seats to watch.
3)best place to go before/afterward
4) best/safest place to buy tickets.

Menton/Ventigmilia have been suggested. Any thoughts?
This is part of a Spain/Italy trek.

Email LTW911cs@netscape.net with ideas.

Thanks

B

[Big Ed]

I've gone a couple of times
Where to stay or where to hang out are really up to your personal tastes and budget. I stayed in Nice and that worked out fine.
For grandstands I like M or K for the race and T for qual. You can see the views on visualseat.com
Tix went on sale early in Nov last year

[krasnavian]

Here's my suggestion:

Stay at the Hotel de Paris and watch the race from your balcony as the cars finish their climb up the hill and turn into the Casino square. You'll be looking right down into the cockpits and room service is second-to-none. Request a corner suite/room with a view of the Casino and the sea.

[Tomo]

I went last year...stayed in the Boscolo Hotel in Nice and watched the qualifying and race from a harboured yacht trackside on the straight before the grandstands...it was immense! I could see the faces of the drivers...we were moored next to the official Ferrari boat...and I won the whole thing - montysmillions.com

I'm to win again...it runs every year!

[Indian Chief]

Originally posted by Big Ed
Tix went on sale early in Nov last year

I'm planning to attend atleast a couple of European races in 2007. When do the tickets generally go on sale?

I'm moving to Germany in February 2007 and planning to book tickets for Monaco, Spa and 1 or 2 other European races then. Will that be too late to get the good seats (like stands at Eau Rouge or Casino Square)??

[Big Ed]

Not too late for Monaco. The best seats sell fast up front and then it's slow sales through the winter, and then picks up again in the spring. Casino Sq is actually not a high demand spot because you can't see the harbor or the pit

[Chicago]

I think this is the year. Staying in Nice seems like the best bet. now I'm making the tough decision on where to sit for the 3-days...

I'm thinking M for the race...

[Otto-Mate]

Hi All

I'm delighted to be heading to Monaco this year, been dreaming of going for a long time. We'll be"slumming it" a bit, with general admission only on the Saturday (and Stand B - Casino Sq on the Sunday).

Any advice would be really appreciate, especially for the Saturday - where can we stand, what time do we need to get there to have any chance of a view etc.

Thanks

M.

[Chicago]

top row in tribune E for the race.
top row in tribune M for qually.
tribune B for Thursday.

now I just need to figure out how I'm going to pay for this

[Big Ed]

top row in tribune E for the race.
top row in tribune M for qually.
tribune B for Thursday.

Excellent... three different perspectives. I'm particularly jealous of you for getting into that tiny M grandstand!

I was thinking it'd be nice if they had a little grandstand at Epingle (hairpin) like there used to be... that was a popular one before they built the Loews monstrosity and put the hotel entrance there. I think if they rebuilt the hotel entrance so that the big carport roof was replaced with a removable awning, they could fit a nice little grandstand in there again

[wilsonf1]

Hey there

if any of you are still looking for tickets check availability here: www.enterf1.co.uk/f1-tickets.asp

if any of you are up for the britush GP all tickets have £20 knocked off of the price untul 31st of Jan in case you didnt know

happy grand prixing!

[ClubSport]

I have picked up K-1 for the race but I'm below the fence line. I haven't bought Saturday, yet. Thinking A3. Gonna be an interesting Year in F1.

[wilsonf1]

Cool! A3 still available on the Saturday for £161 i think:

Monaco Tickets

have a good time!!!

[Jodum5]

In my opinion the only time it's worth going to something like the Monaco GP is if you have "insider access" (ie a paddock pass or maybe one of those luxury tour things or a friend/relative/supervisor's yacht) and aren't paying for it. ITs way to expensive and dull of a race to pay a normal seat for.

[Dr JonboyG]

Originally posted by Jodum5
In my opinion the only time it's worth going to something like the Monaco GP is if you have "insider access" (ie a paddock pass or maybe one of those luxury tour things or a friend/relative/supervisor's yacht) and aren't paying for it. ITs way to expensive and dull of a race to pay a normal seat for.

I don't know how you can say that. For one, you're closer to the cars on track than any other circuit I can think of. Watching the race from a yacht actually wouldn't be a lot of fun - there's almost no sightline at all to the track. Plus the atmosphere during the weekend is excellent. Quite unlike the atmosphere you might find in Oxfordshire around the British GP.

I've watched the race there from the hill up from Ste Devote and also from the new grandstand before Rascasse, and it's always a lot of fun.

If people are looking for a place to stay, anywhere east of Nice would work just fine - as long as you have a car you can drive to the nearest train station on the coast and park. The trains run frequently and are very cheap. Just don't try driving into Monaco on race day.

[rye&ginger]

I just got mine for Rocher (yeah I know, but Im just outta university )

http://www.acm.mc was the cheapest place and loads of people said they got tickets from there in the past. Its the Monaco automobile club so they are legit.

I will stay in Nice someplace to be determined eg. on the beach if I can swing it

[dinky]

Originally posted by Jodum5
In my opinion the only time it's worth going to something like the Monaco GP is if you have "insider access" (ie a paddock pass or maybe one of those luxury tour things or a friend/relative/supervisor's yacht) and aren't paying for it. ITs way to expensive and dull of a race to pay a normal seat for.

My tests for GP attendence are as follows:

1) Hassle free journey from Hotel to Track
2) Reasonable travel time from UK
3) Atmosphere

I went to the Monaco GP from 2003-2005. Due to a scheduling oversight I got married on the Saturday of last year's weekend and couldn't go. However, as confidently predicted, I'll be spending my first wedding anniversary in Stand O. My wife will also be there.

I haven't been to another GP. This is because I haven't found another one which passes the three tests.

Silverstone would be good for test 2) and as far as I understand test 3) as well. It doesn't sound good for test 1) though. Traffic problems and hassle do not sound like holiday events to me. Neither does camping. For those that go, does the cameraderie of 3) outweigh the deprivation?

Most other European venues tend to be outside cities in the countryside somewhere. I get the impression (from the heli-cam's view of very full car parks) that you need a car to get there. With Monaco I stay in Nice and get the train. It takes about 30mins and you can buy a book of tickets for the whole GP weekend in advance. It's about a 10 minute walk from the train station in Monaco to the start finish straight.

I think that Montreal has similarly good track access from the city, but of course it fails test 2). Same goes for Melbourne. Have been to Albert Park while on holiday but not for the GP weekend. It's simple enough to get to from Melbourne, but I'd have to get to Oz first.

Number 3) is important as well, and it's very hard to quantify. Some examples may assist. Firstly, I met an Ozzie in the Friday afternoon pitlane walkabout in 2005. He was stunned he could get into the pitlane while the F1 teams were working on the cars - for free! (You do need a Sat/Sun ticket though). He said that at the Oz GP that access would costs thousands. I like that access.

Secondly, in Monaco I've met (as in shaken hands with and had a brief conversation with) Button, DC, Prof Watkins, David Richards, Button's Dad, Wesley Snipes, Christian Horner, Ted Kravitz and Jim Rosenthal - in no particular order. I'm not an autograph hunter, so I'm not hanging around the paddock waiting for these guys, you just tend to bump into them. Sir Jackie Stewart and JPM have both nearly run me over on mopeds. I found myself walking aloing the street beside Lauda before he jumped on a passing Ferrari moped.

Now I haven't been to another GP weekend so number 3) may apply equally to any track, but somehow I doubt it. I may find out next year though. The wife isn't as keen as I am on returning to Monaco year on year. She is happy to go to GP's though, but I need more variety. Any suggestions meeting 1), 2) and 3)? Thinking of Barcelona for 2008.

Monaco tickets are expensive though, can be double that of other events. It may well be that the accomodation and travel savings of Monaco are offset by the higher ticket prices. Guess I'll find out next year.

As for this year, based on 3 year's worth experience it's Casino Square for Thursday, Pitlane walkabout Friday afternoon, Z1 for Saturday and back of Stand O for Sunday. Every F1 fan should get to see the cars going through Casino Square at least once. It's dirt cheap on Thursdays and well worth it. To get good seats though, you really need to be there 2 hours before the session starts because it's a free for all.

I haven't found qualifying all that scintilating. Z1 is a good compromise between view and price for Saturday. Despite the official info, I've found that you can see the giant screen fine from parts of Z1 - so you can keep up to speed with the timing. The only cheap alternative is Rocher. Unless you are staying overnight or arrive a week in advance and chain down your seat you will be perched on a slippery muddy slope with a tree branch or root either interrupting your view or digging into your spine. Or both. But, it's cheap. The other cheap options for Sat (A1/A3/X1-2) don't have screens. Without screens you can't really tell what's going on during Qualifying.

O for Sunday is for a change. I've previously been in K and E for Sunday. You'll be fine in K, but some views are better than others - although there will always be an element of greener grass. I can also recomend the restaurant in Z1 which erects a podium over itself. On that you get a good view of the first corner, the big screen and depending where you stand, the chicane - tabac - swiming pool entry section. You also get lunch. It tends to be empty Thurs/Sat and packed on Sun. There isn't any seating though. The Botticelli (sp?) I think it's called.

Hope the above is of some use to Monaco travellers, if anybody's got any tips for other european tracks meeting my criteria the wife would like to hear them.

I would also recommend a beer and a steak in the Ship and Castle while everyone else queues at the station after the race.

I haven't got a sig.

[Big Ed]

I would suggest trying the ligne 100 bus to go from Nice to Monaco, instead of the train. It leaves from the main Routiere station in Nice and gives you much better views of the beautiful Riviera than the train; I think it's cheaper as well and without the insane crowds and lines

[ClubSport]

So, with no big screen on Saturday, no chance to get results? No radio Broadcasts or possible wifi? How do you get paddock passes for Friday?? What restaurants are good AND where are they?? I'm coming from the Italian side (Just over the border), is it better to drive or take the train in?

Thanks

Brian

[Big Ed]

I don't have good answers to any of those questions. The screens are working on Sat but a couple of the smaller gstands don't have them. For a casual inexpensive restaurant I like the middle of the area up on the palace hill ("Monaco-Ville"). There's a dense cafe scene around Rue Psse Caroline which is perpendicular to the track at teh starting line. In my opinion that's only good for people-watching

This is more in response to Jodum5: forget about a 'paddock pass' and the VIP treatment. Anyone who feels bad because the red carpet isn't being rolled out for them will have a bad time. But if you can just enjoy the setting (it's hard not to) and the whole ambient experience, you'll have a remarkable trip; easily as much fun as the people who are paying through the nose to get that red carpet treatment. And just by being friendly and presentable some doors might be opened. I was given a paddock pass by BMW last year and never even went in, except to shortcut from Stars&Bars to the harbor. I did accept an invite onto the Energy Station barge but didn't stay long. For the record, the pit and paddock are separate in Monaco... the paddock is the fenced-in area on the quay which connects to the pit via the two footbridges that meet at Rascasse. I was told my pass was good for the paddock but not the pit

For a good souvenier T-shirt, skip the booth vendors and find the official ACM store on Rue Grimaldi. There are booth vendors with offical ones, however last year they were crappy thin undershirt-type material with a transfer on the front... the store has some better-quality ones available. I like the one that has all the circuit corner names on the back

If you're on the east side of Monaco, check the Toyota dealer there because they sometimes have a F1 car in the showroom and might even let you get in it (we tipped the salesman)

The FNAC bookstore in the Metropole shopping mall has had drivers doing free meet-and-greets on Friday. Not my thing but there it is

[ClubSport]

Big Ed, You are a wealth of information.

Merci

[sweetguy]

well what you can do if you afford it is rent out for the whole week the yacht that we are offering for $200,000, it is located in the best ever location at e tribune e , it would act as a hotel , party like place in the night space for 36 guests what more would you ask for the only thing with that charge food is not included, if someon pisses you off you can cruise around in the sea pretty good deal I would say

[MONTOYASPEED]

Yeah a week for $ 200,000 seems like a freaking steal!

[matchfacts]

I've stayed in Nice for the Grand Prix twice. Watched the race from Cafe de Paris on Casino corner, they supply a three course meal with wine and there's a big screen.

You are fairly low in relation to the barriers so the screen is vital, but the atmosphere's fantastic!

Dinky I would suggest you and the wife try the Spanish GP at Catalunya. Answering your questions:

1. Choose a Hotel south of Barcelona. You're on the train before it's full and even from Sitges (about as far south as the relevant train line goes) it's only 60min to Montmelo (the stop for the circuit) before a 20 min wander to the circuit. Spanish train tickets were for a 75min journey, when I was there, so it's ideal.

2. About 2.5 hours flight from Manchester.

3. Could be frustrating if you don't like Alonso, but a great experience.

[tlrlz82]

everyone is such a wealth of information thank you guys

im poor and going to the richest race in monaco this year . i have my roucher tickets already . im wondering how would i get to do the pit walk . or a pit pass . can u buy them . i have tryed to get the melbourne one for 5 years and just cant get in there .


any help

thanks guys
tlrlz82@gmail.com

[MONTOYASPEED]

You sure can buy a PADDOCK PASS (which is not a pit pass) and that is the closest you can get. For Monaco they should be above US $ 4500

[Otto-Mate]

You guys seen these little hand held TVs you can rent at the race? Looks like $95 for the weekend, or $60 for just the race.

Looks interesting.

Otto-Mate

[Otto-Mate]

Oooops, the link would have been useful

www.kangaroo.tv

Otto-Mate

[Big Ed]

Originally posted by MONTOYASPEED
You sure can buy a PADDOCK PASS (which is not a pit pass) and that is the closest you can get. For Monaco they should be above US $ 4500

Each day after the racing is over, it only takes the track workers about an hour to open up the circuit to traffic and pedestrians. It's fun and of course free to walk the circuit. There are particularly great harbor views from the sidewalk along Beau Rivage. Without a pass, you can still get close to the pit and see what's going in there: nothing. In the harbor, you can walk out on the piers right up to the boats without a pass.
On Friday afternoon they trot celebs through the pit for photo-ops, and I suspect the shmoes who paid that $4500 may also get to join in then. Last year at that time, I happened to be walking through the Fontvielle neighborhood as the Porsche Supercup ended, and the police suddenly held up traffic and here come all the Supercup cars down the street, right next to me! Very absurd. The support race teams have to garage their cars away from the track and the Porsche ones use the little park in Fontvielle. An experience like that is more fun than getting in the way of the F1 crews in the paddock, in my opinion, and it's free

[tlrlz82]

thank u guys for ur help


im of to cannes on the friday so bummer but im staying in monaco the saturday so after qualifing i might check it out . my biggest problem has been that they close the shutters or garage doors after the cars go in .


I love f1 but im not paying 4500 to get up close . i have already the autographs from most famous drivers i was just wanted pics of f1 cars . there not the easiest to take pics of when there doing 300 plus .


thank you guys for all ur help .

im sure it will be awesome to be in monaco i cant wait .

thank you

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by Otto-Mate
Oooops, the link would have been useful

www.kangaroo.tv

Otto-Mate

looks good . but if ur infront of a big screen do u think it will be the same footage or from a different angle ?

can u get them at the track . rather than the online .... has anyone used one before


thanks thomas

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by MONTOYASPEED
You sure can buy a PADDOCK PASS (which is not a pit pass) and that is the closest you can get. For Monaco they should be above US $ 4500

thank you for ur response . do u know where to get them . just to have a look . ive seen f1 packages that incude them . i was in the moto gp in phillip island and just managed to get a pit pass for the pits for race day . but it was through a friend of a friend

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by matchfacts
I've stayed in Nice for the Grand Prix twice. Watched the race from Cafe de Paris on Casino corner, they supply a three course meal with wine and there's a big screen.

You are fairly low in relation to the barriers so the screen is vital, but the atmosphere's fantastic!

Dinky I would suggest you and the wife try the Spanish GP at Catalunya. Answering your questions:

1. Choose a Hotel south of Barcelona. You're on the train before it's full and even from Sitges (about as far south as the relevant train line goes) it's only 60min to Montmelo (the stop for the circuit) before a 20 min wander to the circuit. Spanish train tickets were for a 75min journey, when I was there, so it's ideal.

2. About 2.5 hours flight from Manchester.

3. Could be frustrating if you don't like Alonso, but a great experience.

just wondering what did they charge u for lunch and the view . alkso was it busy up there?

[matchfacts]

I think it was about 90, but I can't remember British Pounds or Euros!

They start selling in February every year, but you could get them on the weekend while I was there. I got information from www.montecarloresort.com.

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by matchfacts
I think it was about 90, but I can't remember British Pounds or Euros!

They start selling in February every year, but you could get them on the weekend while I was there. I got information from www.montecarloresort.com.

hmmm sounds good thank you

[MONTOYASPEED]

Originally posted by tlrlz82
thank you for ur response . do u know where to get them . just to have a look . ive seen f1 packages that incude them . i was in the moto gp in phillip island and just managed to get a pit pass for the pits for race day . but it was through a friend of a friend

f1tickets.com

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by MONTOYASPEED


f1tickets.com

thank u sold out though i spoke to travel@f1corporate.com they quoted me 1300 with food and drink . on the f1 tix website its 3000 euros

thomas

[Otto-Mate]

Originally posted by tlrlz82
looks good . but if ur infront of a big screen do u think it will be the same footage or from a different angle ?

Just found this...

http://www.justticke.../kangarootv.htm

See everything!
You can choose to view the race from the driver's in-car camera or watch all the action around the circuit, just like you would at home. Nothing can replace the thrill of seeing the cars roar past you, but what if there is an incident another part of the track? With Kangaroo TV you can watch it all from the on-board cameras and not miss a single piece of the action.

Hear everything!
Listen to the team-to-driver radio conversations and get the inside line on what the teams' strategies are for the race. You can also listen to the local PA commentary to make sure that you don't miss any of the action, no matter where it happens.

Follow everything!
Thanks to the latest technology the Kangaroo TV delivers real-time data and driver stats as used by the race engineers, as it happens! You can compare your favourite drivers' lap time, gap to the car behind, average speed, sector times, pit stop time and fuel strategy, previous lap times and so much more!

Know everything!
Before and after the race, you can see where your driver and your team are ranked in the FIA Formula One World Championship. You can even view the weather information, including track temperature, air temperature, wind speed and more. The Kangaroo TV also features information covering flags, qualifying rules, points allocation, circuit maps and a race schedule - all at the touch of a button, in the palm of your hand.

Otto-Mate

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by Otto-Mate


Just found this...

http://www.justticke.../kangarootv.htm

See everything!
You can choose to view the race from the driver's in-car camera or watch all the action around the circuit, just like you would at home. Nothing can replace the thrill of seeing the cars roar past you, but what if there is an incident another part of the track? With Kangaroo TV you can watch it all from the on-board cameras and not miss a single piece of the action.

Hear everything!
Listen to the team-to-driver radio conversations and get the inside line on what the teams' strategies are for the race. You can also listen to the local PA commentary to make sure that you don't miss any of the action, no matter where it happens.

Follow everything!
Thanks to the latest technology the Kangaroo TV delivers real-time data and driver stats as used by the race engineers, as it happens! You can compare your favourite drivers' lap time, gap to the car behind, average speed, sector times, pit stop time and fuel strategy, previous lap times and so much more!

Know everything!
Before and after the race, you can see where your driver and your team are ranked in the FIA Formula One World Championship. You can even view the weather information, including track temperature, air temperature, wind speed and more. The Kangaroo TV also features information covering flags, qualifying rules, points allocation, circuit maps and a race schedule - all at the touch of a button, in the palm of your hand.

Otto-Mate

im off to monaco i might try it out and post how i go

thank you

[Arwen]

Hey guys,

Do you know if hotel rooms and GP tickets are still available? Thanks.

[tlrlz82]

ull propbably just have to go and see at the gate

i think u left it too late as nice and monaco r fully booked unless u have serious cash

[captainwevs]

is anyone flynig into nice early on sunday morning? i am, totally last minute i know but bought some tix off ebay (bargain rocher) and have just booked flights. prices were crazy, best i could get were to fly in early sunday. so, is anyone doing the same? i land at 10am, what would you say is the best way to get to the circuit?

[Big Ed]

Depends on your budget and how much time you have to get there. The heli service from Nice airport to Monaco also jacks up their fares big time, but that'd be the fastest. Do it if you have the budget for it or are in a hurry, but don't do it for the view, because it hustles you in so fast you don't see much. A few seconds after you can discern Monaco, you're on the ground!

On the opposite end of the cost spectrum: for 4 Euro you can get the 98 bus to it's terminus the Gare Routiere. The ticket is then good all-day on the bus system. At Routiere you switch to ligne 100 to Monaco, sorta, because Monaco is actually just outside the boundary of the bus system and it isn't allowed to use the 4Euro pass that far. But if the driver asks where you're going when you get on, just say Cap D'Ail which is legit and just before the border: it's really just the part of Monaco that's in France, and just a short walk of a couple blocks extra if you have to actually get off there. Not exactly sure but I'd allow a total of about 90 mins. You get the best views this way too

The Nice train station is not close to the airport

[Otto-Mate]

Well, everyone have fun ?

My ears are still bleeding!



M.

[Otto-Mate]

For anyone interested in the Kangaroo TV system - I've just posted my experience with the unit, including photos and a little video...

http://www.automated...rticle1891.html

M.

[tlrlz82]

mate what a trip ..... monaco was bloody awesome . we stayed over night in the roucher area and had awesome views .


kangroo tv is great i got it for the race its awesome . i dont work for the company but would recommened it .

[Big Ed]

Based on your recommendation I think I'm gonna try the tv device at Montreal
Glad you had a good trip! I'll try to get back to Monaco next year. Not sure but I may actually go just for the GP Historique this time; should be half the cost of the following weekend

[tlrlz82]

ur ok mate


hey im thinking of doing the canda and usa one next year . can u camp there or do u mind keeping an eye out . i know i should ask the website ill check later


the screens are small and u get any view that u wish and driver radios and stuff pretty cool . not the cheapest but cool


thanks thomas

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by Otto-Mate
For anyone interested in the Kangaroo TV system - I've just posted my experience with the unit, including photos and a little video...

http://www.automated...rticle1891.html

M.

really sorry not to insult u or anything . i was walking to the roucher and found them oppsite the tickets .

i wasnt looking for them i guess but i agree with ur review there awesome little toys for information .


awesome wasnt it being at monaco i had the best trip 7 days it was awesome

[tlrlz82]

Originally posted by Big Ed
Based on your recommendation I think I'm gonna try the tv device at Montreal
Glad you had a good trip! I'll try to get back to Monaco next year. Not sure but I may actually go just for the GP Historique this time; should be half the cost of the following weekend

how did u go ? awesome race to watch except hamilton winning . so many crashes lucky for the polish guy . huge crash