Has anyone been to the Monaco GP?

[Neil B]

We're taking a trip this May and plan to attend the Monaco F1 race. Has anyone gone and do you have any tips? We'll likely be staying in Nice and then come over to Monte Carlo for the race weekend. Are the grandstand seats any good or is it better to go with a package deal that includes a suite for the race?

[vanzuuk1]

Bring a yacht and watch from the harbor..sriously I have never been but thats so cool that your going.

[65chevelle''ss'']

We're taking a trip this May and plan to attend the Monaco F1 race. Has anyone gone and do you have any tips? We'll likely be staying in Nice and then come over to Monte Carlo for the race weekend. Are the grandstand seats any good or is it better to go with a package deal that includes a suite for the race?

I was there the weekend before the race two years ago... They were in the process of setting up the track while we were there so I never got to see the race however we did get to walk it ;) It is simply AMAZING how they close the streets down like they do and make it a racetrack. They have it down to a science at this point..

It is EXPENSIVE in Monaco!!! It's simply beautiful though. If you don't have at least a 80+foot yacht you don't park it in the bay. In front of the Monaco Casino if it wasn't a Bentley, Ferrari, Mercedes, etc you don't park there.. My advice would be just stay in Nice and travel......unless you like spending money!!!

But you WILL love it!!! I'm jealous!!!
T

[Neil B]

It is EXPENSIVE in Monaco!!! It's simply beautiful though. If you don't have at least a 80+foot yacht you don't park it in the bay. In front of the Monaco Casino if it wasn't a Bentley, Ferrari, Mercedes, etc you don't park there.. My advice would be just stay in Nice and travel......unless you like spending money!!!

But you WILL love it!!! I'm jealous!!!
T

Unfortunately, the yacht is a little out of my range. : ) I was a little shocked when my wife said the race tickets were going to be about $1,100 EACH for grandstand seating. But it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing so we want to do it right. We're thinking of going with a package deal where you stay in Nice and they motor coach you over for the races. We're just not sure if we want to spend the extra dough for the suite, but we do want a good view of the race.

[Patrick]

My dad went a couple of years ago. He said the cars are so extreme on acceleration and braking that it doesn't seem real... kind of messes with the ol' brain a bit.

[vintageracer]

Ya, back in the 1980's when I was dating Princess Caroline. Great time to be had by all at at the palace!

[65chevelle''ss'']

Unfortunately, the yacht is a little out of my range. : ) I was a little shocked when my wife said the race tickets were going to be about $1,100 EACH for grandstand seating. But it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing so we want to do it right. We're thinking of going with a package deal where you stay in Nice and they motor coach you over for the races. We're just not sure if we want to spend the extra dough for the suite, but we do want a good view of the race.

As another option to consider... The EuroRail wasn't a bad way of traveling. Lots cheaper I'm sure... During the races it's probably pretty packed though.
T

[Neil B]

Ya, back in the 1980's when I was dating Princess Caroline. Great time to be had by all at at the palace!

lol. Did she not like Tennessee?

[Neil B]

As another option to consider... The EuroRail wasn't a bad way of traveling. Lots cheaper I'm sure... During the races it's probably pretty packed though.
T

Yep, that's a good thought. We'd probably need to purchase rail tickets well in advance.

[buickfunnycar.com]

One race I have always said I'd do once in my lifetime...

[1FstChevy]

Man!!! you must have one kick-ass wife to go in on that kind of deal. I agree with the cost factor, deffinitly go for the race but seriously weigh bunking up in Monaco. Family has stayed essentially everywhere in Europe minus Monaco because of the ritzy price tag that accompanies those luxuries.

I'm sure I'll make it over there eventually, I was initially a little P-Oed that they ceased the USGP which I attended the last 2 years @ indy but now that gives me a good excuse to travel to canada and elsewhere!

My buddy and I were actually thinking of a month long F1 focused trip going from France, to Silverstone, to Hockenheim! for 3 races in a row and stopping @ the Nurburgring and such but chances are SLIM once we calculated the cost of housing even on the cheap for a month... :( But hey if anyone has some free sky miles, this college student is listening!

I also hope to see an F1 race in Japan and some of the more remote areas races like Malaysia and Bahrain.

I'm just glad you PT folks acknowledge F1 racing... on another site (which shall remain unamed, although still obvious) a few people seemed rather unexcited since Rusty Water wasn't driving but eh o well, everyone can't handle the twisties!

[Rybar]

I have been to the F1 race in Canada a few times, and have also been to Maranello Italy (Ferrari's home town) and have been to Monaco. Your plan sounds pretty good cause Monaco is expensive and Nice isnt too far away. It is cool to see the nightlife in the City if you can and the comment about the exotics parked in front of the Casino is true. That's on a regular weekend.

I'd probably get the grandstand seats since the suite is probably huge dollars.

[StRacerDuke]

Try and find a package deal somewhere for a hotel, transportation & tickets. I've been all over that area a few times but never to the race. Monaco is an awesome place but make sure you are booked well in advance. Nice will be very booked up too and it will be a major traffic jam getting into Monaco the day of the race. Be prepared to spend some $$$ while you are there because it isn't cheap. Are you flying into Nice, Paris, or Milan?

[Neil B]

Try and find a package deal somewhere for a hotel, transportation & tickets. I've been all over that area a few times but never to the race. Monaco is an awesome place but make sure you are booked well in advance. Nice will be very booked up too and it will be a major traffic jam getting into Monaco the day of the race. Be prepared to spend some $$$ while you are there because it isn't cheap. Are you flying into Nice, Paris, or Milan?

We're flying into Milan and out of Paris. We're spending two weeks in Europe and seeing several different areas. For the race weekend, we already have hotel reservations in Nice that we can cancel if we end up going with a package deal. We'll definitely need to arrange transportation into and out of the city for the race. The package deals provide a tour bus from Nice but I need to look into rail schedules if we go it on our own.

[Neil B]

Man!!! you must have one kick-ass wife to go in on that kind of deal. I agree with the cost factor, deffinitly go for the race but seriously weigh bunking up in Monaco. Family has stayed essentially everywhere in Europe minus Monaco because of the ritzy price tag that accompanies those luxuries.


She's definitely my better half. : ) It was pretty neat how it worked out. My best friend (also a car nut) and his wife brought up the idea and my wife jumped all over it. So the 4 of us are going on a European vacation with an F1 race thrown in there for the boys. Doesn't get much better than that.

[65chevelle''ss'']

We're flying into Milan and out of Paris. We're spending two weeks in Europe and seeing several different areas. For the race weekend, we already have hotel reservations in Nice that we can cancel if we end up going with a package deal. We'll definitely need to arrange transportation into and out of the city for the race. The package deals provide a tour bus from Nice but I need to look into rail schedules if we go it on our own.

I really don't think you will have a problem with the rail schedules.... There are trains coming and going every few minutes so it "shouldn't" be a problem.

To me, the problem would arise trying to book a train ticket into Nice from Monaco before you even leave for Europe. I bet the trains are pretty packed the weekend of the race and you might have to book them WELL in advance......but how do you know when your gonna want to leave? You might decide you want to stay for awhile after the race or otherwise want to leave early.... But if you book your train schedule then your kinda stuck with doing that. You see what I'm saying?

Either way you will love it. Trip of a lifetime!!!!
T

[Tiger]

Hi Neil,

I've been to F1 at Imola several times and to Monza last year.
F1 is totally useless if you dont have a grandstand ticket, its crowded!!!!
Remember to pack some food and some beers or a nice bottle of wine in a bag or a backpack. as you dont want to leave your spot to get food.
Good shoes might be a good idea as well :o)

When I was in Nice a couple years back we had a very nice meal in the harbour, the place is called "l'oreé du port" tel 04 93 26 92 77 and wasnt super expensive.

[gordonquixote]

I just got back from 9 days in Paris and Rome. Monaco was more than double the package price and you have to consider that a decent meal will cost possibly 50-100 euros per person in Monaco (it ain't for the poor folks). Don't forget the exchange rate for the euro - I felt like I was starring in Deliverance when I exchanged Dollars for Euros.

Some people buy mega yatchs and keep them in the harbor year 'round just to have a spot for the races once a year....must be nice.

You may enjoy a week or two sightseeing in Europe for the same price as race tickets (I paid $2,196 total for my girlfriend and myself including three star hotels in Paris and Rome with Airfare to, between Paris and Rome, and back to the US).

I'd rather do my vacation and save enough to to a LS1 swap by skipping the race.....BUT........I really do want to go to Monaco!

[buickfunnycar.com]

I just got back from 9 days in Paris and Rome. Monaco was more than double the package price and you have to consider that a decent meal will cost possibly 50-100 euros per person in Monaco (it ain't for the poor folks). Don't forget the exchange rate for the euro - I felt like I was starring in Deliverance when I exchanged Dollars for Euros.

Some people buy mega yatchs and keep them in the harbor year 'round just to have a spot for the races once a year....must be nice.

You may enjoy a week or two sightseeing in Europe for the same price as race tickets (I paid $2,196 total for my girlfriend and myself including three star hotels in Paris and Rome with Airfare to, between Paris and Rome, and back to the US).

I'd rather do my vacation and save enough to to a LS1 swap by skipping the race.....BUT........I really do want to go to Monaco!

If anyone can afford it,it's you Gordo!

Have you checked out www.gptours.com ?They seem like they take care of you in their "package"...but I'm sure you pay for that service.:eek:
Still,takes all the worries out of traveling which I'm sure the ladies would appreciate...I know my wife would.

[1FstChevy]

Sheesh so much interest in this... perhaps we should utilize the GPSuperStore, if enough are interested we could just group purchase all of Monaco and then pick our own seats! I'm in! :)

[Neil B]

To me, the problem would arise trying to book a train ticket into Nice from Monaco before you even leave for Europe. I bet the trains are pretty packed the weekend of the race and you might have to book them WELL in advance......
T

Yep, that's what I'm worried about. I don't want to wait till we get to Europe to buy the rail tickets. It would really not be good if we had race tickets and no way to get there.

[Rybar]

Your wife and her friend were probably all over it since they can shop like crazy over there. :hah:

I'd definately plan how to get there well ahead of your arrival. I'm sure there are lots of people planning the same idea as you from around the world.

If it were me, I would probably book the shuttle bus. Last time I was there, there were some problems with the train from Nice to Monaco which caused delays.

[Neil B]

Your wife and her friend were probably all over it since they can shop like crazy over there. :hah:

I'd definately plan how to get there well ahead of your arrival. I'm sure there are lots of people planning the same idea as you from around the world.



Yep, I'm sure it's give and take with the racing and shopping budget over there. Last time we were over in Europe, there was a Euro rail 'strike'. They cancelled our train but then the the next train left on schedule. Strange, but we were told it's common.