Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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West
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Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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I am considering attending this race. I want to go to Europe, but I have to do it before June (was about to go to Le Mans). I figured since this is my first time in Europe, why not start off at the finest F1 race? I would be going w/ my mom who unfortunately has no interest in racing at all. How are the amenities like? Will there be easy access to F1 cars or teams or pits?

Also, this is my first time in Europe, so let me know if there is anything else i should do or avoid doing.
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mep
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Joined: 11 Oct 2003, 15:48
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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Nice I also plan to go there :D
What I have heard it's best to stay at a camping place nearby (possible in italy) and drive into the town by train. Remember Monaco is prolly the most expensive city in Europe.
Will there be easy access to F1 cars or teams or pits?
There is no change at all especially in Monaco.
In other races you can get the change to enter the track right after the GP but I don't know how they handle it there.
Also, this is my first time in Europe, so let me know if there is anything else i should do or avoid doing.
Enjoy your life and travel around as much as you can. It’s really nice here.
8)

manchild
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Joined: 03 Jun 2005, 10:54

Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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Haven't been there, but I'd say that Monaco GP gives you least chance to get close to pits, paddock etc. Too many VIPs at one place, too many bodyguards.

However, it is definitely the GP where you can get closest to circuit.

Unless you're REALLY rich, forget hotels in Monaco. I've heard that they sell only 4-day packages which cost as much as brand new car.

So, you'll probably have to find accommodation in France and than go to Monaco for each event. Sometimes Monaco GP is held during Film festival in Cannes, which means that prices in French hotels are also higher, and that you'd have to look either for cheaper accommodation, or to seek one deeper in French mainland.

Make sure to visit car museum, and give a wink to princess Stephanie for me. :wink:

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Last edited by manchild on 16 Mar 2010, 00:40, edited 3 times in total.

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WhiteBlue
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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Use a rented small motorbike or scooter to go from your over night stay to Monaco. I did this and it helps a lot with the traffic jams, but make extra sure you park it in a safe place, preferably a garage. The train is also an option but they get really crowded.
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West
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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I was looking at some tour packages offered and the best I found so far was 1900-2300 including tickets in the T or K grandstand, rooming in Nice, and transportation. Add another 900 on top of that for airfare... looks like I may not have enough money to go around Europe afterwards... I'll probably have to rethink how I want to go to Monaco.

Did anybody ever get a pit ticket? It's 1000 dollars!
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audifan
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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haven't been since the days when I had a free pit pass , but even then my expense account didn't come up to a hotel in monaco so stayed in san remo
if your mum isn't into F1 I suggest you find her a toyboy and park her elsewhere for the duration !
accomodation wise there are a couple of hostals in nice [ including singles / dorm's ..... probably already booked though ; if you can fix that then to monaco by the train
if you are prepared to rough it , the municipal camp site plateau de st michel in menton heaves with fans , don't know if reservations are possible , but you can find cheap tents , mats in french hypermarkets , actually a great place for fans ; there is also a menton youth hostel , but a bit back of beyond whereas the campsite is ok for the train to monaco [ 10 mins ]
menton is WONDERFUL , BET YOUR MUM WOULD LOVE IT , it used to be in italy and the border is in the town

West
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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The cheapest hotel is $600 a night; definitely not going to be staying in Monaco... unless I happen to win the lottery twice before I leave.

My mom will probably just walk around Monaco... we're probably only going to be there for Sunday. My dad isn't coming because he's going to take a motorcycle road trip to Alaska in June. Most likely we're going to Paris and Nice for a week.

I have to buy my tickets today; anybody know where?
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mep
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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West wrote:I was looking at some tour packages offered and the best I found so far was 1900-2300 including tickets in the T or K grandstand, rooming in Nice, and transportation. Add another 900 on top of that for airfare... looks like I may not have enough money to go around Europe afterwards... I'll probably have to rethink how I want to go to Monaco.

Did anybody ever get a pit ticket? It's 1000 dollars!
Nononononoooooooo....

That’s way to much. It might be ok when it's with the airplane tickets but without them not. Do it on your own. It will be cheaper and more fun (something like adventure). I also don’t have my tickets now but I expect the price between 100-500 Euro. Accommodation should be below 100 Euro per person a night. Even in hotel. You just have to look for something not related to F1. So it should be a bit far away of Monaco. That's why we plan to take train to the race. Prices for Camping places will also be higher than normal. Maybe 50 Euro per person or tent. I dont know how much you have to spend for flying to Europe. It might depend where you come from. I guess when you live near to a holiday location you will be able to get cheap flights.

For travelling around europe:
Paris is a good place to go. I have been there several times. You can go there by night train. It is cheap (prolly 15-35Euro) and you don't need a hotel for that night. In Paris you will find many hotels. Among them are also cheap ones. Expect something like 75 Euro night/person. You have to plan some money for food in France but it's worth it. They are rally great in cooking. After some days in Paris you can continue to London and from there back home. You better stay away of the British food, its bad stuff unlike you are not used to it.
If you rather like to spend your holidays at the sea you should stay in the south of France or go to Italy.

Btw. how old are you? Maybe you can do your trip on your own. It will not be easy for your mom you walk around Monaco when there is the F1 GP. You know many streets will be closed, Fans all around, expensive town....
On the same time you don't have to be worried when you walk around on your own. It is not dangerous here.
Last edited by mep on 16 Mar 2010, 21:22, edited 1 time in total.

domdogger
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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I was on holiday during the race about 30 miles away from monaco, my mum said we could go and watch the race but in the end I had to settle to go the day after. This was better for me as all the teams still had all the stuff set up(if you were sneaky you could get into the motorhomes). Also all the pits were open and some teams were working on the cars.

Dommo

manchild
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Joined: 03 Jun 2005, 10:54

Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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West wrote:I have to buy my tickets today; anybody know where?
http://www.monaco-grand-prix.com/en/TICKETS/

BTW, I don't think that your mom will have a chance to see much of Monaco during GP weekend. There's no careless walking around during GP weekend, since everything is submitted to transfer city streets into circuit. It would be much better if she'd enjoy French riviera while you're at Monaco, or even better, let her go to Paris straight away, and meet her there after the race.

http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-trains/tgv.htm

I really have no clue about your age and finances, but if you're not seeking 5 star hotel, perhaps you could rent a trailer for a weekend, check hostels too. If it has shower it's fine. It can't cost more than one night at cheap hotel. Bottom line is that you need a place to sleep, take a shower and move along.

West
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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I think we're probably going to do a trip that's Nice 3 days, Paris 3 days for 2200 USD. I told my mom that we'll need to be in Nice at least Thursday night or Friday so that we can explore Monaco before the race weekend. I don't know what hotels she's looking at it but it is definitely a better deal than three days for the same price (if anybody had to know I am paying for this myself).

I want to get a ticket at the harbor chicane. But I am also considering the rocher seats since they're considerably cheaper. This is a once in a lifetime experience so although the harbor seats are expensive i am considering paying that price. So if anybody has experience with either seat let me know.

Finally, which day would offer me the better fan experience? The tickets for Saturday are cheaper and all I really do is take as many pictures as I can and/or get as close as possible.

I just hope I have enough money to eat afterwards though
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manchild
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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West wrote:I think we're probably going to do a trip that's Nice 3 days, Paris 3 days for 2200 USD. I told my mom that we'll need to be in Nice at least Thursday night or Friday so that we can explore Monaco before the race weekend.
Preparation for GP start much before, I think at least a week before Thursday. The fences, the armco's etc, stands, that takes a lot of time to assemble.
http://holiday.monacoeye.com/monaco_grand_prix.php wrote:
Preparations

At the end of April every year preparations for the race begin. First of all, the whole track is completely repaved, to provide a very smooth, clean and even surface. The authorities have this down to a fine art. The process only takes about a week, with minimum disruption to daily traffic as the work is largely done at night.

All normal road markings and signals are removed and replaced with Formula One track markings. This means that for about a month there are no lane markings, pedestrian crossings, bus lanes and no-parking signs !! The result is a complete free-for-all for the daily traffic, which seems to move much faster and more efficiently than normal !! This is a great time to test-drive the track. Speed limits still apply… In the week before the race many a Ferrari can be heard revving round the Principality in the early hours of the morning.

Then the barriers and stands start to go up. The barriers both protect spectators and conceal the spectacle from non-paying watchers.

The race

The racing starts on the Wednesday or Thursday of Grand Prix week, with preliminary rounds and testing for the Grand Prix and the other lesser races.

Professor
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Joined: 22 Feb 2009, 17:33

Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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I last went in 1998. Stay in Nice and take the train. Easy and cheap. I sat in the Harbour Chicane on Saturday and had lunch and watched the race on Sunday from the terrace at the Hotel de Paris at Casino Square. I enjoyed the Horbour seats more, I wasted my money at the hotel. No on track action on Friday, it is usually done on Thursday. Hire a local car with Monaco registration, and you can get the driver to take you for a spin on the circuit. All of the streets open up for local traffic when the on-track stuff is finished for the day. It's open all day Friday.

lsierer
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Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 04:32

Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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Went to 2007 Monaco GP. Stayed in Nice and caught the train really early sunday morning. Its a long ride, but Nice is the first stop for that particular train, and it fills up very quickly as it moves along towards Monaco. The closer you get to Monaco, the more chaos ensues. The train gets packed to the brim with standing room only, and people are running around the stations freaking out because the train is full.

But it was all good because I got on when the train was empty, and I had a comfortable window seat...and a perfect view the whole way.

Leaving Monaco is a different story. I didnt really plan which train I needed to catch, i figured I would just ask when i got to the station to leave. I ran into the same chaos I saw on the way there. I didnt get back to Nice until 1am because I got lost on a series of trains and poor direction from train conductors.

Thats my Monaco story, I got lucky on the way there, and lost on the way back.

West
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Re: Has anybody been to the Monaco GP

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Thanks for the replies, guys. I am most likely going to get a harbor ticket since this is probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Looks like lots of overtime for me the next two months.

Since my mom's not into racing, we'll probably have to explore Monaco on Friday or Monday; it's leaning towards the latter. As somebody stated earlier, some of the teams might still be there. I'll keep the local driver-thing in mind too.

I'll probably have to get an SLR camera or whatever they're called too...

BTW I found out my old roommate is in charge of the entertainment for the GP in Korea! He is very successful there. He told me he could get me in for free; maybe I'll attend two foreign GPs this year.
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