F1 Monaco
Some info, just in case you fancy going!
The official tourist information site for Monaco.
Autographs
The best place to get autographs of drivers etc is outside the Red Bull hospitality in the paddock area. Another good spot is the exit from the paddock area onto the track when its open to the public.
For 2008 we had tickets in the T1 stand (330 Euro), very good with views of the pits and race track, although they are very expensive!
For 2009 we had tickets for the Rocher standing area (70 euro). We got an area to sit and watch the race, but you dont get anywhere near the big screen if arriving late (2 hours before the race is considered really late!)
For 2010 we went to the T1 stand again (330 Euro), its the best view, with track and pitstop action. You also get more intersting stuff happening before the race as you can see everyone arriving in the pit area.
Tickets normally go on sale at the end of November.
View from stand T1.
Jet2 fly to Nice. Looks like it doubles in price each day from Wednesday to race day, and drops by the same amount after.
Trains are the only quick way to get into Monaco on the race weekend, unless you have a hotel room in Monaco, or a boat, or a helicopter! You will always get on at every stop, but its packed.
Best thing to do after the race is to get a drink/meal (pints 5 euro), and stay in Monaco for a few hours longer, then go for the train. This saves you waiting with the crowds for 30-60 minutes for a train. The race track opens to the public, with bars and parties set up till late.
Always check if the trains are on strike, for the first 2 years they were with us. They run a limited service for Monaco, and enough run to get everyone home, but the timetable changes. Look for photocopied timetables on the walls of train stations for info.
Remember you must validate your ticket before every journey, even if you have just bought the ticket from the ticket office. Machine pictured below stamps a time/date. I have seen many tourists removed from the trains and fined due to not validating their tickets.
Campsite at BiotRent a static caravan at BiotBiot area is the only place where campsites are a 5 minute walk from a train station. We have stayed at this site 3 years running and find it fine, and always has spaces.
Biot is 50 minutes away from Monaco by train, and costs 12 Euro return.
Camping du Pylone.
Tree covered, and hedges to seperate pitches.
Kangaroo TV, now called Fanvision
A must for any F1 race. Full video, and more importantly, you get the Radio 5 live radio feed. Always much better than the track commentary. We rent one unit, and have 2 sets of in ear headphones and a splitter jack. Works great.
Normally costs about £55 for a weekend rental.
You have to book online in advance, as they were sold out in Abu Dhabi and Singapore this year.
Cannes Film FestivalThe film festival is normally on at the same time as the race weekend. 20 minutes the other way from Biot. Well worth a visit.
It costs 85 Euro each way by car, and 145 Euro each way by motorhome (under 3.5 ton) from Calais to Biot. (June09)
It takes us 12 hours to drive from Calais to Biot, averaging 70mph (exluding breaks and traffic jams). Probably another 40 minutes to continue to Monaco.
A few of my F1 2010 Monaco pictures - Slide show
A few of my F1 09 Monaco pictures - Slide show
A few of my F1 08 Monaco pictures - Slide show