Staying in hotel off site - car parking at circuit info requ
Discussion
Hi all
If I stay in a hotel a distance from the circuit and purchase a general entry ticket.
on arrival at the circuit from the west side of Le Mans , where is the best place to park the car and what is the cost ?
How early do you have to get to the car park on Saturday/sunday race days to get a space ?
or do they only sell enough tickets to fill the car park ?
Is the parking free for wednesday to friday practices ?
Is it a 1 price parking ticket for the saturday / sunday race days ?
any good tips ?
If I stay in a hotel a distance from the circuit and purchase a general entry ticket.
on arrival at the circuit from the west side of Le Mans , where is the best place to park the car and what is the cost ?
How early do you have to get to the car park on Saturday/sunday race days to get a space ?
or do they only sell enough tickets to fill the car park ?
Is the parking free for wednesday to friday practices ?
Is it a 1 price parking ticket for the saturday / sunday race days ?
any good tips ?
The parking ticket covers the entire race period, including practice, but only for the area your ticket covers, so if you buy a red parking ticket then that is where you can park, they will charge extra for parking at arnarge and mulsanne if you go there. car parking tickets do not sell out like the camping tickets but it is best to get them early, all car parks are sign posted, but as you will hear from others the directions are not always the most direct as the ACO and police try to reduce congestion.
As far as I'm aware there is no turn up and pay car parking: it all has to be pre purchased. Also, I think for nearly all the car parks the ticket gets you an allocated space for your sole use, so you can come and go as you please using the same numbered car space. That's how it works in all the car parks I've used since 1996. Anyway, I'd always want to purchase parking in advance to get what I want and have the certainty of a space.
I also arrive on Saturday. Usually I aim to get parked up by around 10:00 latest. Allows time to settle in, walk the pits and village areas, have few 1664s etc, catch the supporting racing too.
You say your hotel (where is it incidentally?)is west of the circuit which is good because you get access to the circuit area almost direct from the autoroute.
Getting out of the car parks after the race is a slow process unless you leave say 30 minutes before the race finishes and listen to RLM for the finish. However, we usually wait about 2 hours before leaving for our overnight hotel.
R.
I also arrive on Saturday. Usually I aim to get parked up by around 10:00 latest. Allows time to settle in, walk the pits and village areas, have few 1664s etc, catch the supporting racing too.
You say your hotel (where is it incidentally?)is west of the circuit which is good because you get access to the circuit area almost direct from the autoroute.
Getting out of the car parks after the race is a slow process unless you leave say 30 minutes before the race finishes and listen to RLM for the finish. However, we usually wait about 2 hours before leaving for our overnight hotel.
R.
Parking Blanc is the answer. It's just west of and beside the south end of the pits tribunes, it's individually numbered so you have your own reserved space, it's less than a 5 minute walk to the circuit entrance, and it's a very short journey from the autoroute you'll be using.
Three minor issues:
1. It's a bummer to leave soon after the race as the exits are rubbish
2. We always sleep in the car on Saturday night in Parking Blanc and it can be a bit noisy. Some of the other car parks are worse!
3. Beware the entrance to Parking Blanc! Once you get outside the circuit main entrance you'll be directed right to go alongside the circuit. Then be careful and watch out for the car park entrance on your right. It's usually 100/200 metres down the road and not a large entrance. Take the entrance and then you run parallel to the road you've just left. Flash your parking permit and find your spot!
And don't think of setting up a tent in Parking Blanc: there's no room and you'll annoy others if you do this in someone's parking slot.
R.
Three minor issues:
1. It's a bummer to leave soon after the race as the exits are rubbish
2. We always sleep in the car on Saturday night in Parking Blanc and it can be a bit noisy. Some of the other car parks are worse!
3. Beware the entrance to Parking Blanc! Once you get outside the circuit main entrance you'll be directed right to go alongside the circuit. Then be careful and watch out for the car park entrance on your right. It's usually 100/200 metres down the road and not a large entrance. Take the entrance and then you run parallel to the road you've just left. Flash your parking permit and find your spot!
And don't think of setting up a tent in Parking Blanc: there's no room and you'll annoy others if you do this in someone's parking slot.
R.
You can get these via the usual several LM ticket agencies or you can wait until around 20 November (not sure of the date but the ACO website will have details soon I think) when the ACO website goes live to non ACO members, and hope that there's still tickets available to meet your wishes after ACO members have ordered. You could play both ways: see what you can get direct from ACO from around 20 November and if they have sold out of what you want you should get them from an agency. Obviously, via ACO gets the tickets at their face value, unlike via an agency which will be considerably more expensive (I know, I've used both!).
If you get tickets from the ACO you'll pay at the time of ordering the tickets and they usually arrive late May. With an agency the same will usually apply.
As ACO members can get a limited number of tickets (not sure if it's 4 or 6)at a discount, it could be worthwhile considering joining ACO depending on how many tickets you want.
You will not have any trouble getting the GE tickets: indeed, you can buy them at the gate on the day you arrive. You may need to think about alternative tribunes and parking if you cannot get what you want from either ACO or an agency.
R.
If you get tickets from the ACO you'll pay at the time of ordering the tickets and they usually arrive late May. With an agency the same will usually apply.
As ACO members can get a limited number of tickets (not sure if it's 4 or 6)at a discount, it could be worthwhile considering joining ACO depending on how many tickets you want.
You will not have any trouble getting the GE tickets: indeed, you can buy them at the gate on the day you arrive. You may need to think about alternative tribunes and parking if you cannot get what you want from either ACO or an agency.
R.
As a Le Mans regular since 1980 - I cannot remember ever having a numbered parking spot that you retain - they just park you up as you arrive next to the person you are following and the person behind you so you take pot luck as to how far you are from any of the entrances. Do not expect to be able to leave the car park and come back to the same spot again as people will fill any spaces available after you leave.
struttob,
Your comment means that you've never used Parking Blanc! I have for many years, and the ticket has a letter indicating the row and number indicating the space in that row, which is your assigned space to be used every time you park up.
I'm sure you're comment is right regarding some of the other many car parks.
As I mentioned earlier, PB suits us because it guarantees a space, it's near a couple of circuit entrances, and we always have seats in a nearby tribune. I don't mind the extra cost, given the total cost of the weekend.
R.
Your comment means that you've never used Parking Blanc! I have for many years, and the ticket has a letter indicating the row and number indicating the space in that row, which is your assigned space to be used every time you park up.
I'm sure you're comment is right regarding some of the other many car parks.
As I mentioned earlier, PB suits us because it guarantees a space, it's near a couple of circuit entrances, and we always have seats in a nearby tribune. I don't mind the extra cost, given the total cost of the weekend.
R.
Hi leaper
I need 2 x general entry, 2 x Tavano stand and a parking blanc pass. I am not an ACO member. Will there be any Tavano seats left after the ACO members have had their priority ? Should I try the ACO ticket office direct or one of the authorised UK ticket agencies. Do the ticket agencies add much onto the price ?
Thanks for your help so far
I need 2 x general entry, 2 x Tavano stand and a parking blanc pass. I am not an ACO member. Will there be any Tavano seats left after the ACO members have had their priority ? Should I try the ACO ticket office direct or one of the authorised UK ticket agencies. Do the ticket agencies add much onto the price ?
Thanks for your help so far
pem,
Getting the tickets from an agency is not likely to be a problem, but expensive compared to their face value. You can decide to pay for certainty of course (see final paragraph below).
Getting the tickets you want from ACO direct is a tad more difficult to predict. The GE tickets is not problem, they can even be bought for face value on the day you arrive. I suspect getting a prepaid PB ticket from ACO will be OK. The problem may be Tavano because it's a popular tribune, so it all depends on whether or not ACO members take them all before members of the public can get tickets...it's a difficult one to predict. I reckon that if you are not too concerned about which tribune you have you'll be able to get tickets. However, you'll need to book via ACO direct reasonably soon after the tickets go on sale, not wait to 2013.
Regarding cost comparisons, I last did this for 2011. My summary for two people for that year is as follows:
Package for 2 people, DIY and as a ACO member: Eurotunnel, two hotel rooms for 2 days, and tickets 2x GE, 2x tribune, 1x Parking Blanc, ACO membership fee: £650 approx
Agency deal for 2 people: Eurotunnel, two hotel rooms for 3 days, tickets 2x GE, 2x tribune, 1x Parking Blanc: £1320 approx
So, the "hard costs" are about double via an agency. Analysing the consituent parts of the package versus DIY it's clear that it's the accomodation costs that are the main reason for this. There are of course "soft costs" to add in to both; this includes travel insurance, petrol, food, drinks etc. Another reason is that the DIY hotel was some distance from Le Mans whereas the Package hotel was in Le Mans, quite an advantage.
If you do decide to use an agency then there are several and there may be differences in their ticketing prices, of course.
So, how important is it to you to get the exact tickets you want? Certainty costs money, either via the ACO membership fee or an agency mark up.
R
Getting the tickets from an agency is not likely to be a problem, but expensive compared to their face value. You can decide to pay for certainty of course (see final paragraph below).
Getting the tickets you want from ACO direct is a tad more difficult to predict. The GE tickets is not problem, they can even be bought for face value on the day you arrive. I suspect getting a prepaid PB ticket from ACO will be OK. The problem may be Tavano because it's a popular tribune, so it all depends on whether or not ACO members take them all before members of the public can get tickets...it's a difficult one to predict. I reckon that if you are not too concerned about which tribune you have you'll be able to get tickets. However, you'll need to book via ACO direct reasonably soon after the tickets go on sale, not wait to 2013.
Regarding cost comparisons, I last did this for 2011. My summary for two people for that year is as follows:
Package for 2 people, DIY and as a ACO member: Eurotunnel, two hotel rooms for 2 days, and tickets 2x GE, 2x tribune, 1x Parking Blanc, ACO membership fee: £650 approx
Agency deal for 2 people: Eurotunnel, two hotel rooms for 3 days, tickets 2x GE, 2x tribune, 1x Parking Blanc: £1320 approx
So, the "hard costs" are about double via an agency. Analysing the consituent parts of the package versus DIY it's clear that it's the accomodation costs that are the main reason for this. There are of course "soft costs" to add in to both; this includes travel insurance, petrol, food, drinks etc. Another reason is that the DIY hotel was some distance from Le Mans whereas the Package hotel was in Le Mans, quite an advantage.
If you do decide to use an agency then there are several and there may be differences in their ticketing prices, of course.
So, how important is it to you to get the exact tickets you want? Certainty costs money, either via the ACO membership fee or an agency mark up.
R
Does anyone have any idea what mark up the Uk ticket agencies add to the official prices of the grandstand, general entry and car park tickets.
Is it worth paying their cost including mark up or waiting until the tickets are on general sale in mid December ?
As previously stated I would prefer 2xTavano 2x general entry and 1 x parking blanc
Is it worth paying their cost including mark up or waiting until the tickets are on general sale in mid December ?
As previously stated I would prefer 2xTavano 2x general entry and 1 x parking blanc
Hi
I have not purchased tickets from ACO before, so would like heads up for when tickets go on sale to non members on Wednesday 21st November,
From previous experience does anyone know what time do the tickets become available ? After midnight ? After 09.00am ?
On line do you add items to a basket and check out like any other website
I have not purchased tickets from ACO before, so would like heads up for when tickets go on sale to non members on Wednesday 21st November,
From previous experience does anyone know what time do the tickets become available ? After midnight ? After 09.00am ?
On line do you add items to a basket and check out like any other website
pem said:
Hi
I have not purchased tickets from ACO before, so would like heads up for when tickets go on sale to non members on Wednesday 21st November,
From previous experience does anyone know what time do the tickets become available ? After midnight ? After 09.00am ?
On line do you add items to a basket and check out like any other website
Its not that big a bunfight tbh. It wont all sell out in hours like a festival or gig.I have not purchased tickets from ACO before, so would like heads up for when tickets go on sale to non members on Wednesday 21st November,
From previous experience does anyone know what time do the tickets become available ? After midnight ? After 09.00am ?
On line do you add items to a basket and check out like any other website
Certainly not worth paying any UK agency a premium rather than buying direct. They are qite au fait with UK punters (Of course!)
when you order from the ACO online are the ticket sales dynamic, like with Ticketmaster where they only sell available tickets ?
ie if you can select the grandstand and car park you want, does checking out and paying mean that you are guaranteed them ?
or do the ACO process the orders later and if there are 50 orders and only 45 tickets left, then 5 people do not receive them.
Are there any order processing and postage fees ?
And lastly when do the ACO post out the tickets ?
ie if you can select the grandstand and car park you want, does checking out and paying mean that you are guaranteed them ?
or do the ACO process the orders later and if there are 50 orders and only 45 tickets left, then 5 people do not receive them.
Are there any order processing and postage fees ?
And lastly when do the ACO post out the tickets ?
ACO and dynamic are interesting terms to use together! In the past couple of years the website has always been a bit creaky to say the least. However, it does seem to work....eventually.
If you order tickets from the ACO website you're guaranteed them: they do not oversell and then leave some people disappointed.
I don't think there is a specific delivery charge: it is built into the ticket price.
Tickets delivery orders are spread out. ACO seem to start about three weeks before the event and take a week or so to complete all order deliveries. They all arrive together sent by special delivery and have to be signed for. This can be a bit of a bind as you don't know when they are being delivered so how do you know when to be at home?
R.
If you order tickets from the ACO website you're guaranteed them: they do not oversell and then leave some people disappointed.
I don't think there is a specific delivery charge: it is built into the ticket price.
Tickets delivery orders are spread out. ACO seem to start about three weeks before the event and take a week or so to complete all order deliveries. They all arrive together sent by special delivery and have to be signed for. This can be a bit of a bind as you don't know when they are being delivered so how do you know when to be at home?
R.
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