Info please - buying tickets independently and Restaurant
Discussion
Having been to Le Mans 3 times I realise I no longer need tour companies / agencies for my trips, especially as I have made my own arrangements for accommodation.
Next year is going to be a bit different, I'm actually taking the missus for a one-off experience before doing a proper long trip with the lads and for the first time my step-son and nephew the year after.
I'm going to make next year a long weekend with all the glam she will enjoy - couple of swanky hotels, seeing all the corporate cr@p at the Grandstand, and dinner in the Panoramic restaurant. I will survive this knowing that while she faffs about in the hotel room, I can watch the race on local tv whilst listening to Radio Le Mans in my earpiece...all the while knowing that for once I'll get laid at Le Mans and will wake up in a comfortable bed...totally novel.
Because of leaving the kids and not making it too onerous I've planned this as a sprint down on the Friday morning, returning midnight on the Sunday - this will be right on the edge of acceptable for everyone concerned.
This is going to mean arriving at Le Mans Saturday morning (staying in a lovely hotel in Rouen the night before), so probably reaching circuit by tram at about 12.30pm from Le Mans town (staying at a hotel there for the Saturday night).
So here come the questions:
1. is there a way I can order my tickets online directly? Or should I just buy them on the gate? Can I do that at the MM Arena end where the tram terminates? Would prefer online because its one less thing to think about.
2. I want to eat in that Panoramic restaurant. I can't find anywhere how to book? Do you just turn up? And before anyone tells me I know its expensive, but this is a one-off, just like the hotels, all to add to the experience for the wife.
Tents, beers, burgers and chips for me normally and to follow the year after with the lads.
Thanks
Next year is going to be a bit different, I'm actually taking the missus for a one-off experience before doing a proper long trip with the lads and for the first time my step-son and nephew the year after.
I'm going to make next year a long weekend with all the glam she will enjoy - couple of swanky hotels, seeing all the corporate cr@p at the Grandstand, and dinner in the Panoramic restaurant. I will survive this knowing that while she faffs about in the hotel room, I can watch the race on local tv whilst listening to Radio Le Mans in my earpiece...all the while knowing that for once I'll get laid at Le Mans and will wake up in a comfortable bed...totally novel.
Because of leaving the kids and not making it too onerous I've planned this as a sprint down on the Friday morning, returning midnight on the Sunday - this will be right on the edge of acceptable for everyone concerned.
This is going to mean arriving at Le Mans Saturday morning (staying in a lovely hotel in Rouen the night before), so probably reaching circuit by tram at about 12.30pm from Le Mans town (staying at a hotel there for the Saturday night).
So here come the questions:
1. is there a way I can order my tickets online directly? Or should I just buy them on the gate? Can I do that at the MM Arena end where the tram terminates? Would prefer online because its one less thing to think about.
2. I want to eat in that Panoramic restaurant. I can't find anywhere how to book? Do you just turn up? And before anyone tells me I know its expensive, but this is a one-off, just like the hotels, all to add to the experience for the wife.
Tents, beers, burgers and chips for me normally and to follow the year after with the lads.
Thanks
Edited by wsn03 on Friday 30th June 11:22
E36GUY said:
I think you'll want to buy any grandstand tickets in advance as they sell out but GE tickets can be bought anywhere, not just from MM Arena. There are ticket booths at every pedestrian entrance including that opposite the Tram station on the Antares roundabout.
Thanks. I'm thinking GE as we will be mostly walking around. I will bring something to sit on so we can watch the start from the banking just down from the Dunlop Bridge (you capture the vast crowds and the atmosphere pretty well there), then will wonder around all the village stuff at the grandstand - all the glitz will be right up her street, beats shopping I suppose.
So that just leaves the restaurant question.
Tickets can be bought direct from ACO. Usually go on sale sept/oct time.
If you get a membership you can buy earlier than general sale.... but this is only really useful for grandstands and camping.
If it is general entry you are only after then just wait for general sale or buy on the gate.
However, if you're after making it a bit more comfortable for the wife then i'd consider a grandstand (Shelter from sun (pick the right stand) or rain). Dunlop is good for the view and big screen and the pit straight adds pit action on top of big screen.
I wouldn't expect too much from the panoramic. I don't know about bookings, but I did it a couple of years back and the food wasn't great too be honest. But this may have changed since.
We take in our own food now.... saving cash, queues and nicer quality. How about taking in a 'luxury' French picnic for snacking and then eat well in Le mans later on if you're not staying at the circuit too late?
If you get a membership you can buy earlier than general sale.... but this is only really useful for grandstands and camping.
If it is general entry you are only after then just wait for general sale or buy on the gate.
However, if you're after making it a bit more comfortable for the wife then i'd consider a grandstand (Shelter from sun (pick the right stand) or rain). Dunlop is good for the view and big screen and the pit straight adds pit action on top of big screen.
I wouldn't expect too much from the panoramic. I don't know about bookings, but I did it a couple of years back and the food wasn't great too be honest. But this may have changed since.
We take in our own food now.... saving cash, queues and nicer quality. How about taking in a 'luxury' French picnic for snacking and then eat well in Le mans later on if you're not staying at the circuit too late?
DS240 said:
Tickets can be bought direct from ACO. Usually go on sale sept/oct time.
If you get a membership you can buy earlier than general sale.... but this is only really useful for grandstands and camping.
If it is general entry you are only after then just wait for general sale or buy on the gate.
However, if you're after making it a bit more comfortable for the wife then i'd consider a grandstand (Shelter from sun (pick the right stand) or rain). Dunlop is good for the view and big screen and the pit straight adds pit action on top of big screen.
I wouldn't expect too much from the panoramic. I don't know about bookings, but I did it a couple of years back and the food wasn't great too be honest. But this may have changed since.
We take in our own food now.... saving cash, queues and nicer quality. How about taking in a 'luxury' French picnic for snacking and then eat well in Le mans later on if you're not staying at the circuit too late?
This is very useful info thank you.If you get a membership you can buy earlier than general sale.... but this is only really useful for grandstands and camping.
If it is general entry you are only after then just wait for general sale or buy on the gate.
However, if you're after making it a bit more comfortable for the wife then i'd consider a grandstand (Shelter from sun (pick the right stand) or rain). Dunlop is good for the view and big screen and the pit straight adds pit action on top of big screen.
I wouldn't expect too much from the panoramic. I don't know about bookings, but I did it a couple of years back and the food wasn't great too be honest. But this may have changed since.
We take in our own food now.... saving cash, queues and nicer quality. How about taking in a 'luxury' French picnic for snacking and then eat well in Le mans later on if you're not staying at the circuit too late?
I'm starting to think Grandstand overlooking the pits - she really enjoyed the same at the Isle of Man TT the first time I took her. I'm not finding much great about the panoramic on the web, and I think you're right. As we're staying in Le Mans town be far better to get a proper nice French dinner in the town later, we have no reason to be staying at the track for too long, I expect we'd be done around 7pm.
Think I'll join the ACO now.
Banking just down fopm Dunlop was packed for the Porsche Carrera Cup at 10.15 am - at least 10 rows deep with French in chairs and back two rows on decorator steps - elsewhere up there fully packed at least 6 rows deep with barely space to walk along in front of stands and can only assume then all stay for start of race and its worse as day goes on.
If its nice and hot or wet you'll want Grandstand seats - probably opposite pits area where lots going on and ear defenders for race.
Not sure if easy to get at all but grandstands above pit area are on the right side for restaurants and village and less crowds around start of race etc
ACO direct tickets have a euro 25 safe delivery charge so makes sense to get everything in one go
Sunday night meal and stay and relaxed drive Monday am as Sunday departure may make it a very long Sunday
If its nice and hot or wet you'll want Grandstand seats - probably opposite pits area where lots going on and ear defenders for race.
Not sure if easy to get at all but grandstands above pit area are on the right side for restaurants and village and less crowds around start of race etc
ACO direct tickets have a euro 25 safe delivery charge so makes sense to get everything in one go
Sunday night meal and stay and relaxed drive Monday am as Sunday departure may make it a very long Sunday
The ACO (as a club member you have free access) has a decent viewing spot in their members area inside the circuit just after the Dunlop Bridge.... no stress of getting a spot thre. 'Cheapest' beer in town... 5.50€ and apparently the food is not too bad either... spent the last three hours with cold beers in the shade there.... and by the way free internet and phone charging
BUT BUT... the organisation for buying food and drink is appalling....
BUT BUT... the organisation for buying food and drink is appalling....
RL17 said:
Banking just down fopm Dunlop was packed for the Porsche Carrera Cup at 10.15 am - at least 10 rows deep with French in chairs and back two rows on decorator steps - elsewhere up there fully packed at least 6 rows deep with barely space to walk along in front of stands and can only assume then all stay for start of race and its worse as day goes on.
If its nice and hot or wet you'll want Grandstand seats - probably opposite pits area where lots going on and ear defenders for race.
Not sure if easy to get at all but grandstands above pit area are on the right side for restaurants and village and less crowds around start of race etc
ACO direct tickets have a euro 25 safe delivery charge so makes sense to get everything in one go
Sunday night meal and stay and relaxed drive Monday am as Sunday departure may make it a very long Sunday
Just print e-tickets for free! If its nice and hot or wet you'll want Grandstand seats - probably opposite pits area where lots going on and ear defenders for race.
Not sure if easy to get at all but grandstands above pit area are on the right side for restaurants and village and less crowds around start of race etc
ACO direct tickets have a euro 25 safe delivery charge so makes sense to get everything in one go
Sunday night meal and stay and relaxed drive Monday am as Sunday departure may make it a very long Sunday
Don't know why anyone bothers getting them posted now.
Stupid idea imho, if you want a relaxing luxury weekend away with the missus then go somewhere else.
In almost 20 years of going only once did we secure a hotel in Le Mans, that was only as they didn't realise the significance of the date when we booked it - plus they repeatedly then tried to cancel it when they did.
You might get a hotel 25-30 mins away from the circuit, further than Allencon, or might get airbnb.
Been going since 1996, never been able to book a hotel anywhere close to Le Mans when trying to do so direct. Have stayed in a hotel in Le Mans but only when I used the services of a travel agency specialising in motoring events for the whole package. Now, son and I stay in a hotel some way out of town on Friday and Sunday nights and sleep in the car in the circuit on Saturday night. We don't like camping!
Difference between total DIY cost for the whole trip and an agency package was about 100%, say £800 for the two of us, last time I did a direct comparison.
R.
Difference between total DIY cost for the whole trip and an agency package was about 100%, say £800 for the two of us, last time I did a direct comparison.
R.
Thanks for all the replies.
Love the ACO idea and facilities.
Didn't realise Saturday night hotel was such an issue, i will either use the small campsite i have lined up, or more likely stay 30+ minutes away.
The missus has been to the TT and NW200, she likes to see a taster of the things im into, i just do it differently when she's involved with much less emphasis on the race, and more on the atmosphere and certain comforts.
If i drive to circuit for say 11am will it be possible to park up without too much grief? I presume that is what non-campers do?
Love the ACO idea and facilities.
Didn't realise Saturday night hotel was such an issue, i will either use the small campsite i have lined up, or more likely stay 30+ minutes away.
The missus has been to the TT and NW200, she likes to see a taster of the things im into, i just do it differently when she's involved with much less emphasis on the race, and more on the atmosphere and certain comforts.
If i drive to circuit for say 11am will it be possible to park up without too much grief? I presume that is what non-campers do?
Most unlikely you will be able to find anywhere to park up. Get an official cark park ticket instead from the ACO, recommend Parking Blanc. Charge is about €45 and covers all the days of the event. You get a specifically allocated car space so you can come and go as you please knowing that you can always get back to your spot.
Only issue about Parking Blanc is that it is not ideal for a quick getaway on Sunday immediately after the race, so we always plan to have a BBQ or something and leave maybe 2 hours later, while listening to the end of RLM.
R.
Only issue about Parking Blanc is that it is not ideal for a quick getaway on Sunday immediately after the race, so we always plan to have a BBQ or something and leave maybe 2 hours later, while listening to the end of RLM.
R.
The Leaper said:
Most unlikely you will be able to find anywhere to park up. Get an official cark park ticket instead from the ACO, recommend Parking Blanc. Charge is about €45 and covers all the days of the event. You get a specifically allocated car space so you can come and go as you please knowing that you can always get back to your spot.
Only issue about Parking Blanc is that it is not ideal for a quick getaway on Sunday immediately after the race, so we always plan to have a BBQ or something and leave maybe 2 hours later, while listening to the end of RLM.
R.
More excellent advice, thank you, i will order a parking ticket. Only issue about Parking Blanc is that it is not ideal for a quick getaway on Sunday immediately after the race, so we always plan to have a BBQ or something and leave maybe 2 hours later, while listening to the end of RLM.
R.
Meanwhile Novotel Le Mans have already said NON.
I have booked a superior room in a stunning looking hotel in Chartres...i guess about 40 miles away, perfect.
We will be at the hotel on Mulsanne straight on Sunday afternoon so no escape traffic issues - i know the back roads to avoid problems.
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