Le Mans - last minute with a 9 year-old....

[nogginthenog]

Hi all, I have never been to Le Mans, and couldn't even place it on a map. My son-to-be 9 year-old has become very interested in the race, probably my fault for taking him to Joe Macari's showroom where there is a nice Porsche LM car.

Just wondering if there are any 'package' trips - coach or train ( I'm not driving there ) cheap hotel ( am I being wildly optimistic here? ) tickets etc?

Could be one for 2016 if it's too late this year.

Any tips for a LM novice traveling with a child appreciated!

TIA.

[Roverload]

Google tickets2u. And have a look on travel destinations. There's tickets on both.

[Troubleatmill]

Download the Le Mans guide from www.Clubarnage.com
Everything you need to know is in there.

The 2015 guide should be released soon.




And the WEC Spa race is on today http://www.fiawec.com

You can watch on the WEC live feed ( it'll cost you probably )
But if he doesn't like it ..... then you have saved yourself a trip to Le Mans.

Edit.. And it is on MOTORSTV if you have sky

Or... http://www.motorstv.com

Edited by Troubleatmill on Saturday 2nd May 11:46

[Troubleatmill]

Download the Le Mans guide from www.Clubarnage.com
Everything you need to know is in there.

The 2015 guide should be released soon.




And the WEC Spa race is on today http://www.fiawec.com

You can watch on the WEC live feed ( it'll cost you probably )
But if he doesn't like it ..... then you have saved yourself a trip to Le Mans.

Edit.. And it is on MOTORSTV if you have sky

Or... http://www.motorstv.com

Edited by Troubleatmill on Saturday 2nd May 11:46

[surveyor]

1/2 the fun is the exotic cars on the way there.

Drive.. and camp....

[Output Flange]

You're too late for anything cheap I'm afraid.

If you want to take the train it's Eurostar to Paris and TGV to Le Mans, then a team to the circuit.

Can't see you getting a hotel room now, so it'll be camping (cheap), glamping (much less cheap) or Flexotel (really not cheap).

Try Travel Destinations and Speedchills to see what they've got left.

[Printertosh]

If you get the train it's much easier to change at Lille from Eurostar to TGV as it's the same station. Saves 45-50 minute struggle across Paris to change station.

Trains there are usually cheap but the return leg usually costs a fortune!

Very easy to get tram to circuit from Le Mans station

[MrC986]

On my first trip to LM in 2013 when we went with PH and their "glamping" package, an American guy was there with his son who must have been about the age of your son and they had a great time.The fact that we had catering, no real queues for showers etc must have made the difference. Seeya is a PHer who has taken his son a few times now and it might be worth looking at his posts as he's a seasoned visitor. It might also be worth finding a group of others to go with as the opportunity to travel in convoy and use walkie talkies on the way down/back and the toll booth antics plus even maybe putting a few stickers on your car plus driver/passenger names etc would add to the trip.

[gt6]

Sit him in front of the telly now and let him watch Spa (freeview on motors TV) then when that is over get on the internet and book Le mans, you will not regret it

[The Badger]

surveyor said:

1/2 the fun is the exotic cars on the way there.

Drive.. and camp....

That.

[eastsider]

+1 drive and camp.

Coach and hotel (which will be a LONG way from the circuit) is about the worst possible way to go, even without a 9 year old with you.

He's old enough to camp surely. The drive down is a large part of the fun - if you go Thurs/Fri you'll see loads of nice cars heading south.

[gt6]

If you go Tuesday/Wednesday you will also see loads of cars going down and you will also get to see the cars on wednesday and thursday, make a real holiday of it

[Nobby Diesel]

Noggin,

PM sent.

[collieek]

The first time I took my son he was 5 you just have to be careful where you take them. He has been most years since then to the classic or the modern race. We have stayed in different sites and have always had a great time with no hassle.

He is 18 now and we went to the bike 24 hour race which was interesting ! not as good as the car race though.

[cailean]

Could take him to the Nurburgring for the WEC race on 30/8 as a taster. That's what I'm thinking of doing with my little ones.

[davidd]

I've been taking my boys since he was 5 (he's now 12). Utterly loves it but I would recommend.

Secure camping with decent facilities (PH or the like).

Ear defenders if he has never been racing before.

The whole point of le mans is that it is not just the race. It is the journey, the camping, the town, a little friday madness....oh and the race.

[nogginthenog]

thanks for all your replies - and Nobby for your PM.

I'm thinking this might be a project for next year, but still haven't ruled-out this year. Just out of interest - can you sleep in your car at LM? And how far is it likely to be from the circuit?

Cheers, Noggin.

[FrankAbagnale]

You could do Spa 24h?

Last weekend in July so may be more cost effective. Not sure if it is as cool?

[OvalOwl]

Yes, you can sleep in your car. Rouge, Blanc, Vert or Bleu are mostly a short stroll from the circuit. Ranieres and Heronniere are a little bit further.

http://beermountain.com/uploads/images/maps/circui...

[The Surveyor]

Yes, you can sleep in the car, but have a think about that. Is that really sensible with a 9 year-old. If you're not on a camp site, you won't have easy access to toilets and showers which is fine if your comfortable to rough-it, but it may not be fun when the little one is tired, hungry and freezing cold/soaking wet/sun burnt....