Discussion
Trexthedinosaur said:
Gents, girlfriend and I are looking to book our first Le Mans next year, I was looking on the main ale Mans site but no dates yet.
I was hoping to take our old Spitfire across from Germany so would like to book a hotel or on the site it does have an example of th 'Glamping' available.
Anybody help out with the best place to book?
Travel Destinations offer glamping with their Event Tents - recommend itI was hoping to take our old Spitfire across from Germany so would like to book a hotel or on the site it does have an example of th 'Glamping' available.
Anybody help out with the best place to book?
//j17 said:
Yea, but boy do you have to pay over the odds for that!
You certainly do..It's peoples own choice what they want to spend and find to be a good package which suits them, but I can't believe more people don't look at staying in the surrounding area rather than seeking 'luxury' track side at silly money.
I guess it is handy for the casual fan or first timers to get a ready made package at the circuit, but there are so many options to stay really comfortably and pay less. There is often debate about the pros and cons of staying on or off circuit, but I personally find more pros staying off than having added 'atmosphere' staying track side.
I think I previously worked out that I get my race tickets including grandstand, ferry, accommodation (B&B) and all associated costs (food, wine/beer, fuel etc) for the entire trip, cheaper than even one of the basic tent options on the private sites before then factoring in all other costs of the trip.
I have done both,on site and off site.
Those are your two options to consider.
On track camping,better access to the race.
Off the track, you miss more of the
race and entertainment of lemans.
As I have experience of both, in the end I missed track side camping. A short walk, to the action looks best for me.
Those are your two options to consider.
On track camping,better access to the race.
Off the track, you miss more of the
race and entertainment of lemans.
As I have experience of both, in the end I missed track side camping. A short walk, to the action looks best for me.
at this time you should still be able to get camping on the regular sites if you either join the aco (discount on tickets will cover most of the cost) and apply on 3rd november or apply with the normal people 1 week later. You do not need the expensive options but if you want them they are there. i have camped every year (31 visits) and love it but understand others see camping as something they could never do,
Trexthedinosaur said:
Gents, girlfriend and I are looking to book our first Le Mans next year, I was looking on the main ale Mans site but no dates yet.
I was hoping to take our old Spitfire across from Germany so would like to book a hotel or on the site it does have an example of th 'Glamping' available.
Anybody help out with the best place to book?
A Sptifre will hold quite a lot according to one of our mates. Apparently this includes water in the cabin....I was hoping to take our old Spitfire across from Germany so would like to book a hotel or on the site it does have an example of th 'Glamping' available.
Anybody help out with the best place to book?
Edited by surveyor on Monday 3rd October 11:30
I've done about 10 Le Mans in my Spitfire and provided it's in good running order and gets regular use you can get quite a lot of space. I say the capacity is based on running condition because it's the Sunday drivers who seem to pack everything from a spare fan belt through 2 starter motors, a spare diff and a full engine gasket set with them to the Le Mans Classic and find they don't have much boot space.
Get Euro breakdown/recovery and only take a couple of spark plugs, a few pieces of coolant hose and a fan belt (which all shove between fuel tank and cover board).
Ditch the spare tyre and replace with a can of emergency foam (which will fit in to the gap between the inner and outer rear wings).
Take a can of engine oil and pre-mixed coolant.
Anything more major and just make the call of shame.
With this I've had:
- Clothes bags for 2.
- Sleeping bags for 2.
- A 4-man tent.
- A gazebo (though you need to shop around for the shorted packed one and it needs to go in first).
- A glitter ball.
Yes, you end up with stuf behind the seats but I can usually still get the roof down if there's a chance.
Get Euro breakdown/recovery and only take a couple of spark plugs, a few pieces of coolant hose and a fan belt (which all shove between fuel tank and cover board).
Ditch the spare tyre and replace with a can of emergency foam (which will fit in to the gap between the inner and outer rear wings).
Take a can of engine oil and pre-mixed coolant.
Anything more major and just make the call of shame.
With this I've had:
- Clothes bags for 2.
- Sleeping bags for 2.
- A 4-man tent.
- A gazebo (though you need to shop around for the shorted packed one and it needs to go in first).
- A glitter ball.
Yes, you end up with stuf behind the seats but I can usually still get the roof down if there's a chance.
SEE YA said:
I have done both,on site and off site.
Those are your two options to consider.
On track camping,better access to the race.
Off the track, you miss more of the
race and entertainment of lemans.
As I have experience of both, in the end I missed track side camping. A short walk, to the action looks best for me.
I always stay in a hotel in Le Mans – get a last minute cancellation at one of the team hotels. Expect to pay about £250 a night for a hotel. Then I just drive down and buy a GA on the door. Never bothered with grandstands but I might one year.Those are your two options to consider.
On track camping,better access to the race.
Off the track, you miss more of the
race and entertainment of lemans.
As I have experience of both, in the end I missed track side camping. A short walk, to the action looks best for me.
Been going for 13 years now. I camped for the first 4. Hated it and swore never again after my 360 got stuck in a field in 2007 and had to be dragged out by an X5.
If that’s too expensive or you don’t like to leave things last minute you could stay in Chatre, Tours or Anger for about £80 per night and drive in. Bit of a hassle if you want a drink though. I book this as a backup and cancel it week before when I get a room in Le Mans – just in case one year there are no cancellations – hasn’t happened yet.
If you are staying outside Le Mans and driving in, a good tip is to use the park and ride at the university. There’s a direct tram to the circuit from there. It’s 2 EUR to park all day and that includes unlimited use of the tram. The best bits are you get a seat on the tram as it doesn’t fill up until it gets to the city centre and you avoid all the traffic jams round the circuit.
t1grm said:
I always stay in a hotel in Le Mans – get a last minute cancellation at one of the team hotels. Expect to pay about £250 a night for a hotel. Then I just drive down and buy a GA on the door. Never bothered with grandstands but I might one year.
Been going for 13 years now. I camped for the first 4. Hated it and swore never again after my 360 got stuck in a field in 2007 and had to be dragged out by an X5.
Have you never tried staying in a family home in Le Mans? Many people let rooms in their home offering bed and breakfast for less than £250 per night and you get more of a 'French' feel to the trip.Been going for 13 years now. I camped for the first 4. Hated it and swore never again after my 360 got stuck in a field in 2007 and had to be dragged out by an X5.
Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
Storer said:
Have you never tried staying in a family home in Le Mans? Many people let rooms in their home offering bed and breakfast for less than £250 per night and you get more of a 'French' feel to the trip.
Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
I have been made offers but TBH I prefer my own space so hotel works better for me. I'm sure it's an option for others though.Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
Agree on your point about restaurants. On Saturday I watch the start of the race then go back to the hotel by tram about 18:00, freshen up, have a nice three courses and wine in the city centre before catching the tram back to the circuit for the night racing around 23:00. Then taxi it back to the hotel in the small hours when I've had enough
Storer said:
Have you never tried staying in a family home in Le Mans? Many people let rooms in their home offering bed and breakfast for less than £250 per night and you get more of a 'French' feel to the trip.
Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
£250/night is a LOT of money!Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
If I wasn't staying on a campsite with mates, I would rent an apartment via Air BnB or some such. There are places available right next to the MM Arena by Antares tram stop.
RC1807 said:
£250/night is a LOT of money!
If I wasn't staying on a campsite with mates, I would rent an apartment via Air BnB or some such. There are places available right next to the MM Arena by Antares tram stop.
You pays your money and takes your choices. I go to the Monaco GP each year and spend about the same. At Monaco you pay a fortune for tickets and travel but hotels are cheap (in Nice not Monaco). For Le Mans hotels are expensive but tickets and travel are cheap. Over the weekend it's about the same. I've never seen anything on booking.com for less than that - on the rare occasions anything is available. Plus by the time you've paid for your camping pitch and all the camping paraphernalia I doubt the difference is as much as it first appears. Definitely worth the extra for a full service hotel IMHO. Can't stand camping and don't want to be cooped up in someone's spare room. If I wasn't staying on a campsite with mates, I would rent an apartment via Air BnB or some such. There are places available right next to the MM Arena by Antares tram stop.
£250 a night is far less palatable if there's three of you and you're going from Wednesday to Monday
Each to their own regarding the quality of the accommodation though. I also dislike camping, but I'm more than happy to put up with it in return for 1) a significant cost saving and 2) being right next to the track (I can be viewing the race within 30 seconds of unzipping the tent door)
Personally, I think that camping adds to the atmosphere, especially trying to get to sleep on Saturday night, ready for a 3:00am rise to walk from Porsche Curves up to Tertre Rouge for some night photos.
Each to their own regarding the quality of the accommodation though. I also dislike camping, but I'm more than happy to put up with it in return for 1) a significant cost saving and 2) being right next to the track (I can be viewing the race within 30 seconds of unzipping the tent door)
Personally, I think that camping adds to the atmosphere, especially trying to get to sleep on Saturday night, ready for a 3:00am rise to walk from Porsche Curves up to Tertre Rouge for some night photos.
I've just realised it's 5 months today we should be starting our travels south for the annual trip to all things "petrol" at LM. Given there's the likelihood I'm not doing the Goodwood FOS for a change, it should heighten the trip and we'll hopefully bring another newbie or two to enlighten them and see if we can get them 'addicted' 
I think it's time to start planning again!!
I think it's time to start planning again!!
Storer said:
t1grm said:
I always stay in a hotel in Le Mans – get a last minute cancellation at one of the team hotels. Expect to pay about £250 a night for a hotel. Then I just drive down and buy a GA on the door. Never bothered with grandstands but I might one year.
Been going for 13 years now. I camped for the first 4. Hated it and swore never again after my 360 got stuck in a field in 2007 and had to be dragged out by an X5.
Have you never tried staying in a family home in Le Mans? Many people let rooms in their home offering bed and breakfast for less than £250 per night and you get more of a 'French' feel to the trip.Been going for 13 years now. I camped for the first 4. Hated it and swore never again after my 360 got stuck in a field in 2007 and had to be dragged out by an X5.
Tram in and out of circuit and good restaurants for evening meal.
The house I stay in, 15mins from the circuit charges €65 a night, including a lovely breakfast. Hotel in same village was just over €100 a night. There are comfortable affordable options out there with a bit of planning and searching. Paying a fortune for a tent or hut at the circuit hold no appeal.
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