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MONACO GRAND PRIX
Speed is Formula One on the Boulevards of Monte-Carlo

Monaco that magic name – a magic place – the little principality on the azure coast - James Bond betting Chermin de Fer at the Casino, Princess Grace, the Monaco Grand Prix. The FI Grand Prix of Monaco holds a special place in the hearts those who love auto racing. For those of a certain age, the crash scene at the chicane in the 1966 motion picture “Grand Prix” with James Garner’s car crashing into the harbor is imbedded in the synapses of the brain. That scene was based on the real crash in 1955, when Alberto Ascari went into the harbor in his (Alfa), a week before the Italian great was killed in a test at Monza.

The first Grand Prix in Monaco was held in 1929. The route hasn’t changed much since the first race. The safety barriers, the cars and the crowds have. When the Grand Prix comes to town, Monaco is transformed into one of the largest temporary stadiums in the world. The tunnel along the mediterrarian has lengthened since early days, two chicane turns have been added. And the last turn at Rassgass before the cars head back toward the finish line has changed shape, making a turn around the small bar where you can get a drink and after the race and now infamous for Michael Schumacher’s stall on the last lap of the 2006 race.

RACE VIEWING

The Monace Grand Prix is organized by the Automobile Club of Monaco the ACM. Seating for viewing the race over a 4 day weekend in May is in a massive array of stands, from the balconies of condos and hotels around the track, more expensive and hard to get (unless you get yourself invited to someone’s GP party). The private balconies rent out for the weekend from around 8,000 to 140,000 Euro! The owners advertise in the International Herald Tribune and the Nice Monaco Matin newspapers if you have a lot of loose change in your pocket.

TICKETS

If ten grand is a little to rich for you, ordinary race tickets can be ordered directly from the ACM starting as early as November. Tickets are also available at ticket booths around the track during the race event. Prices are from 90 Euro to more than 500 Euro for the better seats. The best seating sections are A1, A4, V, Z1, Z2 and O. Scalpers will also be selling tickets on the street, but buyer beware. Restaurants and hotels around the race course offer special lunch menus that include watching from their terraces, so you can eat while snapping your neck at the cars screaming by. But get an early reservation and prepare for a very expensive lunch. You might have better luck during practice sessions than the race itself getting a reservation. Some of the restaurants are almost exclusively booked for hotel guests.

HOTELS

Hotel rooms for the Monaco Grand Prix are usually booked out, often every year by regulars. You should try to reserve at least six months or more ahead if you want to stay in Monte Carlo and prepare to pay. Otherwise stay in Nice or Menton or other nearby Cote d'Azure riviera towns and take the train. The fare is about 6 Euro from Nice and you can get a day or weekly pass from the SNCF at the rail station. Don’t try to drive to the race, you might as well try to park on the moon. Busses run along the coast towns and there is a ferry boat from St. Jean Cap Ferrat. (See also Nice Bargain Hotels and Monte Carlo Casino)

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GP Tickets and Info Monaco Grand Prix

TOURS

There are a number of tour operators providing FI race event packages.

U.S. based Racing Tour operators
GP Tours is based in Newport Beach California and offers packages to not only Formula One but other racing events around the world, which include party events with race personalities. ToursF1 is based in Florida.

Race Tour operators in Monaco
First Class Organisation , Miti EVOLUTION 21 , Incentive Concept , and Sprint Monaco hospitality companies are all officed on Boulevard Albert 1er (the street where the start finish line is located) near the Automobile Club of Monaco headquarters. Monaco Auction also offers exclusive F1 packages to premiere properties on an auction basis and not only for the race but year round. © Bargain Travel Europe

Monaco Grand Prix Dates
2008 May 22 to 25
2009 May 21 to 24
2010 May 27 to 30

Find deals and travel packages in Monaco on Tripadvisor

Find Nice and Menton Hotels on Travelocity

For more Monaco info go to Your Monaco

These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.

SEE ALSO:

FORBIDDEN MONTE-CARLO
Monaco Grimadi Palace Secrets

WARM NIGHTS ON THE BAY OF THE SUN
Laigueglia - Romantic Hideway on the Italian Riviera

MAGNY-COURS RACE TRACK
Racing, Karting and Formula One memories in the Loire

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