Monaco Grand Prix 2012- cost saving tips needed

Jinx

Well I have taken the non-MSE step of booking tickets for hubby and I for the Monaco Grand Prix 2012.:j

Does anyone have any moneysaving suggestions for where to stay or cheap ferries, eating cheaply on the days at the track?

The grand prix dates are Thurs 24th May and the race is the Sunday 26th May so can travel 2-3 days either side.

Thank you!
Jinx

wdw2003

My daughter did this last year and surprisingly found flats in Nice to be very cheap for the week, about £300 I think. She got the train into Monaco which was again cheap. I wouldn't get the bus, even if if is 1€, as the roads will be packed and it's quite slow at the best of times. Anywhere closer to stay is going to be relatively expensive, so it depends on your budget.

As for eating, it'll be so packed in Monaco, not to mention fairly pricey, that you might be better off with a picnic. There's a Carrefour or Casino across the road from the harbour and main stands in Monaco where you can get cheap stuff. We've been to Monaco quite a few times and to be fair the touristy restaurants on the rock aren't too outrageous, but I can't vouch for the Grand Prix.

I hope you have a stand ticket, as my daughter was perched on a grassy hillside and the only reason she didn't slide down was because it was so packed with people. Also, moving around the town is much more difficult than normal due to the barriers and blocked off areas..

Forgot to say, if you walk the very few hundred metres north east to Beausoleil (up to the right behind the Casino), you'll get proper French shops and restaurants at lower prices, but you won't be the only people to think of that, so again it'll be very busy and slightly awkward to reach because of the barriers.

Jinx

Thanks WDW2003 We've got seats so wont need to slide down the hill! Will def look into flats in Nice as the B&Bs that I was looking at were more than 300 quid so that could be a goer.

Have you been to the exotic gardens and the car museum? Think I saw them both on the Frommers map.... It will be our first time in Monaco and my first time at a Grand Prix... very excited!!:)

wdw2003

Haven't been to either place, I'm afraid. Monaco's interesting just to view the ostentatious displays of wealth, such as the yachts in the harbour, fancy cars and the odd obviously well-off person, but I much prefer Menton just along the coast towards Italy. That has a really lovely and colourful old town next to the sea and lots of relatively cheap restaurants. It's very different to Nice, much more like real France, and is where I'd be inclined to look for your trip. It's also on the train route to Monaco, only about 15/20 minutes away.

luci

Monte Carlo is horrendously expensive even when it's not the Grand Prix. We were £9 a few years ago for a half pint of lager and a small coffee in a cafe which was set well back from the marina.

The train from Nice is excellent and cheap.

We have been there for the Grand Prix practise days and it was a great atmosphere with loads of stalls selling F1 merchandise.

If you decide to go to the casino remember that no shorts are allowed and it was €10 to get into the Grand Salon.

knightstyle

Agree about Menton, we went camping there four years ago, very very steep hill to campsite and it was full when we arrived! So we camped rough in the hills above, the villages there are worth exploring, Sospel, Castelar etc. we ended up staying an extra 10 days and then had to rush back to the port, long drive and holdups all the way, end of August.

Jue_xx

Not got much to add advice-wise, other than that a Facebook friend of mine recently spent a day in Monaco and reported that he wouldn't be going into the casino at Monte Carlo because he had just been chatting with someone who had been charged 50euro for a coke in there!!!

All I did want to say though, is that I'm EXTREMELY jealous, I'm a big F1 nut and if your hubby decides he doesn't want to go after all, I'll go with you!! My dream girly weekend!!

Have a great time!! (grr....):T

Jinx

Thanks to all of you I don't think we will be going in the casino by the sounds of it..... Menton sounds like a good location for staying, just not camping though... thinking b&b or cheapy hotel.

The cost of drinks etc sound horrendous - think it will be picnics all the way- especially as we wont be driving on the days on the days at the circuit, maybe a wee sneaky bottle of vino would be in order. Does anyone know if there is security in terms of what can be taken to the circuit ie the wine?

wdw2003

If you don't already know it, try http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/search/france/nice/region:615/keywords:nice+Area%2C+France/arrival:2012-05-26/departure:2012-06-02/maxPrice/750 this for apartment rentals. We used it last month in Menton.

Having had a quick look, hotels and b&bs might be pretty expensive for the GP, although you don't need to stay a week. An apartment would seem to be the better bet, expecially if they don't insist on a sat-sat let. An early booking would seem sensible, as the prices will only go up.

Giddytimes

Jinx wrote: »

Well I have taken the non-MSE step of booking tickets for hubby and I for the Monaco Grand Prix 2012.:j

I'd echo others suggestions of staying in France. We managed to book a lovely apartment in Cannes for less than hotels in the summer 2 years ago and caught the train over to see Monaco.

Could I ask which website you used to purchase them? There seem to be loads. Also when did they come on sale, my boyfriend would love to go for his 40th, I'm thinking of buying him tickets for 2013.

Jinx

WDW2003 - thanks for that link will have a look

Giddytimes - this is the website http://www.formula1monaco.com/TicketingSystem.aspx Its the official website I believe and I had to register. I dont know when the tickets officially went on sale, I just happened to login on Monday and they were for sale! The plastic took a hammering.... We booked seats right at the end for the Thursday, opposite the pits for Saturday and seats for the Sunday where we are at the top seats looking at the circuit, but if we turn round (we have top corner seats) we will see the pits behind us...

Hopefully it will be fantastic. Hubbys mates are very jealous his wife will go to a grand prix lol