Anyone Been to Monaco Grand Prix

fazmufc

Hi all,

I am going Milan the weekend the monaco grand prix is. Was thinking of just getting a train and maybe stay over in Nice.

Just wondering has anyone been, what is the rough cost? Can you still the race if you go around Monaco or will you have to get a seat? Also any experiences on prices of food etc.

Thank you

k3lvc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3397762

Search is your friend ;-)

But to add I've been 4 times in the mid 2000s staying along the coast (Cannes/Agay/St Raphael) and catching the train in - usually on Sat pm for practice then stayed up overnight before watching the race from the banking above Rascasse on Sunday.

You can do it on a budget (there's McD's and parking in Fontvielle) or plenty of on-street eating places - the difficulty comes if you want some creature comforts i.e. a sit down meal as that's when the costs start to build up significantly.

It's the experience of a lifetime but really is up to you how much you invest in it

peachyprice

I did it in 1994, the first race after Senna died, it was a very surreal experience, we left Nice in perfect sunshine but the whole bowl of Monaco was shrouded in cloud, very very eerie.

Anyway, I digress. Yes, it's possible to do it on a budget, the train from Nice is very efficient and cheap, however, they board the whole of the circuit off, there's absolutley no way to see the actual race without buying a ticket. Sectuer Rocher is the cheapest, and as long as it's dry is adequate to get a good feel for the atmosphere and hear the boom as they come out of the tunnel over the other side of the harbour.

Go, enjoy, you'll not regret it.

k3lvc

peachyprice wrote: »

owever, they board the whole of the circuit off, there's absolutley no way to see the actual race without buying a ticket

Not in recent years - assuming you can fight with the crowds there are always places you can get a glimpse of the action - worst case is you spend the day up at the Palace looking down over Secteur Rocher. Other key 'free' places are the bridges above St Devote (first corner) though there was talk of them putting Grandstands on there and large areas above Casino Square though in reality you're not going to see that much.

Other alternative is to walk round taking in the noise/atmosphere and watch the action that you want on the big TV screens that are dotted around. Ferrari used to run something just outside the Station that was a live feed and had a good atmosphere.

Fugare1_Ed

Hi fazmufc

Rocher & Z1 are the cheapest areas to watch the race from but z1 for sure is sold out. Rocher is not comfortable, especially if the weather is not nice. Google it for images of it and taken from the area so you know what to expect if that's where you decide to go.

Grandstands would be the next cheapest option and there are lots to choose from, K stand is very popular with K1 high selling out very quickly and then filling up along K1 to K8 from there. T high is also popular as you can see into the pits (not from T low). The cheapest place to buy grandstand tickets is direct from the ACM (Automobile Club de Monaco) and on their website you can choose your exact seat plus see photographs of the view you can expect from each stand/location, etc. Don't buy just grandstand tickets from a travel company/hospitality company like us unless they are adding value for you in some way (hotels, transfers, parties, hospitality, yacht viewing, balcony viewing, etc.). I don't believe a margin should be added unless value is added for the guest but there are companies out there who will simply mark up the ticket price and not add anything for the end user for that margin. The ACM website is acm dot mc, their ticketing site is formula1monaco dot com.

Then there are restaurants along the start/finish straight which offer viewing with the benefit of included food, cash bar, private toilets, cover from the weather etc. etc. Some are good, some not so good, some offer a good view, some are famous but offer a poor view, I can point you in the right direction if this is something that is of interest.

Then you have private balconies (with or without hospitality), yachts, paddock, team hospitality, etc. and as you would expect these are more expensive (apart from the balconies without hospitality, these are a great option as they keep the cost down to nearer grandstand ticket levels but offer a cash bar/bring your own refreshments and food facility, better view of the race, private loos, etc.).

You cannot really see the race from anywhere public and the police may or may not move people along if they try to catch a peak through the barriers.

Train from Nice is great, very efficient, but be careful there are LOTS of pickpockets operating during that very busy weekend.

Lots of good 3 star and above hotels in Nice to choose from.

Hope that helps, if I can answer anymore queries or help in any way don't hesitate to ask, I enjoy helping other f1 fans and I like to believe that if anyone I help ever wants to do the hospitality end of F1 at Monaco, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, USA, etc etc or they know anyone who does then if I've helped them in the past they might be kind enough to point them in the direction of my company.

Monaco is a great atmosphere - you will have a blast!
Best wishes
Ed

vivatifosi

k3lvc wrote: »

Not in recent years - assuming you can fight with the crowds there are always places you can get a glimpse of the action - worst case is you spend the day up at the Palace looking down over Secteur Rocher. Other key 'free' places are the bridges above St Devote (first corner) though there was talk of them putting Grandstands on there and large areas above Casino Square though in reality you're not going to see that much.

Other alternative is to walk round taking in the noise/atmosphere and watch the action that you want on the big TV screens that are dotted around. Ferrari used to run something just outside the Station that was a live feed and had a good atmosphere.

Re the Palace, we were there last year and they had erected massive barriers up the hill to stop people looking over. These also run up the steps on the side, so you can't watch from there either.

I don't know if this is a new thing, I don't recall it before but it could be I've forgotten. Maybe Ed will know.

Itismehonest

We usually pay the extra & stay in Monaco itself or in Beausoleil but even if you are staying in Nice you really need to make sure you have booked your bed well in advance.

Foodwise, many of the restaurants in Monaco have GP prices, too.
I think it could probably be better to eat in Nice. One way is to shop for a picnic in Carrefour in Fontvieille & then find somewhere to sit & enjoy it.
Unless sold out, tickets can be purchased from a kiosk - one is usually near the Tourism Office on Bd des Moulins, I think, not far from the Casino.

If you do get a ticket (& so get inside the fences) then it's worth visiting Casino Square or visit when the streets open in the evening. The ice creams at the Cafe de Paris are addictive (the bacio is my favourite ) & you can potter around looking at the supercars which are brought out for everyone to enjoy.

fazmufc

Wow thanks for all the help. I am looking into getting tickets early.

I am going to catch the train from Milan to Nice the night before, has anyone caught this before? Is it best to get advance tickets or to just get the tickets on the day? Also how is the journey as i understand its 5 hour trip.

Thank you

Itismehonest

You can get tickets in advance through the Trenitalia site. I definitely wouldn't leave it until the day. I base that on the famous Italian sciopero (strike) which can happen at pretty much any time.
If you're in Milan for a day or two before leaving for Monaco then I'd buy the ticket the day before. By then you should also have been able to make sure there will be no strikes or similar hold-ups. If there are you can have a quick rethink &, maybe, set out a day earlier.

I haven't done the Milan to Monaco route, sorry. I have travelled Milan to Santa Margherita Ligure via Genoa & on another journey SML round to Monaco. So I may have covered the route your train will take but not as one journey.
If you haven't travelled on Italian trains (sorry may be teaching you to suck eggs here) make sure you clip your ticket in one of the little yellow machines found on all the platforms before you board a train or you may end up with a fine.
Italian trains - other than the older Regional stock - are usually very comfortable compared to UK trains & much cheaper You will probably find that you have to book a seat as part of the ticket cost.