Going Belgian Grandprix 'cos me bird is mint innit..

[paulrockliffe]

So, yeah getting tickets for my birthday. Excited would be an understatement!

Practicalities though I need to know more about. Options are to fly to Brussels, train Liege shuttle or something(?) Hire a car in Liege or Brussels. Drive.

Pretty sure we won't drive as there are good flights from Loverpool, but would like advice from people that have been please?

Thanks!

[chevronb37]

We drove from Leeds and it was a long way but very easy all in all. Nice to have the car to get out and about once you're there. In fact the most difficult bit was finding the campsite in the dark but managed it eventually and must've parked in the noisiest piece of real estate in Belgium - right next to some Germans with a massive PA. Even so, we could see the track from our tent. We walked every inch our GA tickets would allow and decided the first apex of Pouhon was the place to be. Great atmosphere and what a magical circuit - enjoy!

[davepoth]

I'd drive to Hull and get the ferry to Zebrugge.

[RedexR]

Say hello to me good friend Les Coombs whilst you are over there !

[paulrockliffe]

Problem with Hull is that it'll mean more time off work and is more expensive. The cheapest way to get there in my car is Ramsgate to Dunkirk, but it looks like flying and hiring is going to work best. We need to know what to do when we land, can we get closer than Liege on the train? If we hire a car, we would stay in the Ardennes on Friday night, camp at circuit Sat and stay in Brissels on Sunday. Need to know if there are any obvious flaws in that plan?

Thanks.

[paulrockliffe]

• Bump*

Now, now, come on! A few more of you must have popped over to Belgium for F1?

[williamp]

If I was crossing using a ferry, I would only look at Dover-calais. The extra driving the otehr side is a lot quicker then the ferry. Travelling to Ostende or Dunkerque takes a surprieingly long time on smaller ferries.

Other option is the Eurotunnel

A great way to travel is Eurostar from London or Ashford. Its with the extra for 1st class as they ply you with loads of booze if you ask for it, and its not a bad meal. And both of these are included in the price.

Get this to Brusseles, then get a train to Liege, then the shuttle.

[paulrockliffe]

williamp said:

then the shuttle.

Keep talking? What's the details of the shuttle exactly? Is there a website where I can see when it runs, how long it takes, what it costs etc? Anyone hired a car and able to advise on costs? Need to balance the flexibility of having a car with the cost and availability of shuttles.

Cheers!

[llewop]

williamp said:

If I was crossing using a ferry, I would only look at Dover-calais. The extra driving the otehr side is a lot quicker then the ferry. Travelling to Ostende or Dunkerque takes a surprieingly long time on smaller ferries.

Other option is the Eurotunnel

discovered that some years ago when (for work) missed the Ostende ferry we were supposed to catch (accidents on motorways or something like that) so got a later Calais ferry and drove up the coast - got to Ostende before we would have done on the direct ferry

If I was driving in that direction, I'd be looking at Eurotunnel first, but I've not looked at your other options so can't help at that end of things.

[paulrockliffe]

Thanks, yeah, looked at Eurotunnel, but it's far too expensive. Can fly to Brussels from Liverpool for £65 return or Manchester £80 return and the flight times work well with the racing and my girlfriend getting back up to Durham on Monday.

So, we're definitely flying to Brussels, what we need to know is whether we should book a car in Brussels (Or Liege) or get the train to Liege and the Shuttle bus. It's probably leaning towards hiring the car as my GF doesn't really want to camp, but could do with knowing how bad the traffic is likely to be etc if anyone has any experience of driving to the track on Saturday and Sunday?

Next question; which is the official site for buying tickets?

Thanks all!

[BoRED S2upid]

We go to Spa most years first year we went we did a fly drive flying out Friday night to the circuit in a rubbish 1.0 Polo or something on the Saturday, Camped Sat and back Sunday night, never again.

Now we drive from Wales to Calsis Thursday to the circuit Friday morning camp Fri and Sat night and back to Calsis Sunday night although I wouldn't be in any rush to get out of there Sunday as leaving 10 minutes after the race or 2 hours after will make no difference.

Ive never done the train and shuttle bus that might be a very hastle free way to go.

As for tickets just stick Spa Grand prix into Google although you missed the cheap tickets you had to book before December 31st.

Have fun I personally think its a better circuit to watch a GP than Silverstone, Monaco and Germany (The others Ive been to).

[skinny]

i've always flown to brussels and hired a car from teh airport...

[5potTurbo]

...or go cheaper and fly to Charleroi (aka Brussels South in Roiyanair parlance!) and drive to Spa.

Spa's about 1.5h north of where I live.

[theboyfold]

5potTurbo said:

...or go cheaper and fly to Charleroi (aka Brussels South in Roiyanair parlance!) and drive to Spa.

Spa's about 1.5h north of where I live.

^^^ This if possible

However, I work a lot in Liege and as I live just near Heathrow will tend to fly with Brussels airlines and get a car or train to Liege. 2 trains from the airport to Liege in about 90 mins or about the same driving.

Spa is about 20/30 mins futher on from Liege.

Have driven over a couple of times, took about 8 hours to get from the office to my front door in Berks. It's a simple if very boring drive.

[Great Dane]

Have been going for the lms race for the last three years (stopped going to the gp's five years ago having been there twenty times) I take the Eurostar with an inclusive ticket from Milton Keynes where I live and there is a really smart bonus in that the Eurostar ticket is inclusive of onward travel to any station in Belgium ( not on a tgv/thalys however the new Intercity trains are fast and comfortable then I change in Vervier to a little local train up the hills to Spa) - it cost me around £90 return which I think is ok....

[williamp]

paulrockliffe said:

williamp said:

then the shuttle.

Keep talking? What's the details of the shuttle exactly? Is there a website where I can see when it runs, how long it takes, what it costs etc? Anyone hired a car and able to advise on costs? Need to balance the flexibility of having a car with the cost and availability of shuttles.

Cheers!

Have a look here:

http://www.eurotunnel1.com/

The Shuttle (le shuttle) is the train which takes vehciles, every 20 mins or so. Takes 35 mins to cross under the sea. Frequent, but worth booking in adavnce as they can be the most expensive.

Dont do what a mate did and confuse Eurotunnel (vehciles) with Eurostar (passengers). He arrived at Ashford asking where he boards the train with his car...

There are website which can compare prices for the various crossings. Check the times as well.