Le Mans 2020 Newbie

[Jim on the hill]

A few general questions as looking to book up for 2020

1. What's the difference between PH Blue Nord and normal Blue Nord?

2. What are the chances of me being able to buy a Blue Nord campsite pitch when they are launched in October?

3. If I have bought a pitch is it for the duration? So I could arrive Wednesday night or Thursday lunch for the same cost?

Finally

4. There seems to be a massive price difference between the packages from 1st Tickets and TD then doing it yourself. Are you getting anything extra that I have missed?

Thanks in advance and see some of you there!

Edited by Jim on the hill on Monday 22 July 21:54

[FredericRobinson]

3. Yes, you can arrive anytime from the Sunday before at the same cost.
4. Buying for yourself is much cheaper, the difficulty can come in availability of tickets when buying direct from the ACO, some sites are more or less impossible to buy direct. Can't guarantee anything obviously, but if it was me I'd try direct first, then try the agencies or PH if needed.
Any particular reason for going for Blue Nord?

[Jim on the hill]

FredericRobinson said:

3. Yes, you can arrive anytime from the Sunday before at the same cost.
4. Buying for yourself is much cheaper, the difficulty can come in availability of tickets when buying direct from the ACO, some sites are more or less impossible to buy direct. Can't guarantee anything obviously, but if it was me I'd try direct first, then try the agencies or PH if needed.
Any particular reason for going for Blue Nord?

Thanks for the reply, a friend goes most years and he likes Blue Nord. I think he's tried most of them but keeps going back to that one. Any others I should consider? All tips appreciated!

I see Tertre Rouge being mentioned alot but out of our price range I think.

Edited by Jim on the hill on Monday 22 July 21:55

[FredericRobinson]

I've only ever stayed on Tertre Rouge it's very expensive though and pretty much impossible to get hold of other than through an agency.
All the sites will get people recommending them, if you've got a personal recommendation that's as good a reason as any to go for a site, you can always have a look around other sites when there and see if you fancy anywhere else for the year after.

[StevieBee]

Jim on the hill said:

1. What's the difference between PH Blue Nord and normal Blue Nord?

Same campsite but the PH bit is sectioned off for the PH gang. Not done the PH bit of the site (yet) but seems to host a slightly better class of drinker behind a nice picket fence,.

Jim on the hill said:

2. What are the chances of me being able to buy a Blue Nord campsite pitch when they are launched in October?

Can't think of a time when the place sold out. The first year I went I purchased a pitch about two weeks before.

Jim on the hill said:

3. If I have bought a pitch is it for the duration? So I could arrive Wednesday night or Thursday lunch for the same cost?

Yep. The pitch fee is valid from when the campsites open - for BluNord I think this is the Monday before the race,

Jim on the hill said:

4. There seems to be a massive price difference between the packages from 1st Tickets and TD then doing it yourself. Are you getting anything extra that I have missed?

It's the same if buying a holiday. You can buy the flights, transfers, hotel, etc separately and save some dosh or buy everything as a package via a Tour Operator but pay a bit more. A Tour Operator offers protection if one of the components of the trip goes wrong that effects the other - up to and including getting all your money back. That's not available if you buy all of the bits yourself. Plus (and I can only speak of TD), they are very helpful, particularly if you're a newbie - takes a lot of the worry out of the equation. Less to think about and more time to sort stickers, route, beer menus, etc...

Enjoy!

[Jim on the hill]

StevieBee said:

Jim on the hill said:

1. What's the difference between PH Blue Nord and normal Blue Nord?

Same campsite but the PH bit is sectioned off for the PH gang. Not done the PH bit of the site (yet) but seems to host a slightly better class of drinker behind a nice picket fence,.

Jim on the hill said:

2. What are the chances of me being able to buy a Blue Nord campsite pitch when they are launched in October?

Can't think of a time when the place sold out. The first year I went I purchased a pitch about two weeks before.

Jim on the hill said:

3. If I have bought a pitch is it for the duration? So I could arrive Wednesday night or Thursday lunch for the same cost?

Yep. The pitch fee is valid from when the campsites open - for BluNord I think this is the Monday before the race,

Jim on the hill said:

4. There seems to be a massive price difference between the packages from 1st Tickets and TD then doing it yourself. Are you getting anything extra that I have missed?

It's the same if buying a holiday. You can buy the flights, transfers, hotel, etc separately and save some dosh or buy everything as a package via a Tour Operator but pay a bit more. A Tour Operator offers protection if one of the components of the trip goes wrong that effects the other - up to and including getting all your money back. That's not available if you buy all of the bits yourself. Plus (and I can only speak of TD), they are very helpful, particularly if you're a newbie - takes a lot of the worry out of the equation. Less to think about and more time to sort stickers, route, beer menus, etc...

Enjoy!

Thanks Stevie! Very helpful

[Evolved]

Interested in this too.

[MrC986]

StevieBee said:

Jim on the hill said:

1. What's the difference between PH Blue Nord and normal Blue Nord?

Same campsite but the PH bit is sectioned off for the PH gang. Not done the PH bit of the site (yet) but seems to host a slightly better class of drinker behind a nice picket fence,.

Jim on the hill said:

2. What are the chances of me being able to buy a Blue Nord campsite pitch when they are launched in October?

Can't think of a time when the place sold out. The first year I went I purchased a pitch about two weeks before.

Jim on the hill said:

3. If I have bought a pitch is it for the duration? So I could arrive Wednesday night or Thursday lunch for the same cost?

Yep. The pitch fee is valid from when the campsites open - for BluNord I think this is the Monday before the race,

Jim on the hill said:

4. There seems to be a massive price difference between the packages from 1st Tickets and TD then doing it yourself. Are you getting anything extra that I have missed?

I can only speak of my experience with PH/1st Tickets at BN over the 7yrs I’ve been going to LM. It is a secure camp site with clean toilets/showers (cleaned 3-4 times a day), a marquee where you can buy drinks and also have, if you wish, cooked breakfast and evening meals for part/all of the event. The marquee has wi-fi and also phone charging points. IMO you get what you pay for and I’d guess TDs site would be similar to 1st Tickets in that it’s well run and shenanigans are not tolerated. You can just have a pitch on the campsite and benefit from the security/clean showers etc and self cater btw. For me the security aspect and good facilities are worth the extra £s as you’re not continually worried about whether your stuff will still be there when you return from watching the race!

[StevieBee]

Jim on the hill said:

Thanks Stevie! Very helpful

You're welcome.

One other benefit of booking via an agent that I forgot to mention is that they tend to get allocated blocks of pitches so if you book via them, then you'll have fellow Brits as camping neighbours. Booking directly you may not. Not that this is a problem but worth knowing.

[Joe5y]

Jim on the hill said:

A few general questions as looking to book up for 2020

1. What's the difference between PH Blue Nord and normal Blue Nord?

2. What are the chances of me being able to buy a Blue Nord campsite pitch when they are launched in October?

3. If I have bought a pitch is it for the duration? So I could arrive Wednesday night or Thursday lunch for the same cost?

Finally

4. There seems to be a massive price difference between the packages from 1st Tickets and TD then doing it yourself. Are you getting anything extra that I have missed?

Thanks in advance and see some of you there!

Edited by Jim on the hill on Monday 22 July 21:54

Fairly new to it myself having only been going for 5 years.

I always do Bleu Nord.

1. Bleu Nord and Bleu Nord PH is in the same place but PH's is behind some extra herras fencing. IMO whilst the security might possibly be better and you'll have slightly more respect as "part of a group" I prefer GA Bleu Nord.

2. No need to rush. I never book before April and have never had an issue.

3. We turn up on Wednesday and leave on the Monday. Be advised though, nothing is open after the race and the toilets start to be removed Monday AM.

4. Yes. Book direct and you'll save money. I don't I book through SpeedChills having always had a great service and everything arriving with plenty of time and help.

[//j17]

1. The PH campsite is one of the private campsites operated inside the general ACO sites. For PH and most other operators this involves:
a. Additional security fencing.
b. Private security at the area entry gate.
c. Wristband access control, so only people who should be in the private area can get in to the private area. (The general campsite also has 'security' but there job is just to make sure only VEHICLES with passes can enter the campsite. They do NOT check people, so anyone can wander in/around the public areas of the campsite).
d. Additional toilet and shower blocks inside the private area and at a lower toilet/shower to camper ratio than the public site, so less queueing.
e. A communal marquee, usually with beer, food, satallite TV and entertainment.

2. Bleu Nord is a big site and less 'dead man's shoes' than some so you should be able to buy direct.

3. Think most have covered the vasics of this so just to add BN is all marked pitches, so you could even arrive race Saturday morning and know your 7x5 pitch will still be there waiting for you.

4. Basically you're paying for convienience. You don't have to worry about getting tickets/trying to chase the ACO in French/etc. Packages will usually include both camping and general access tickets too, so factor that in to the price when comparing.

[gt6]

If you are going to book direct then you can book with either the ACO or the le mans tourist office, if you join the ACO you can book 1 week earlier than non ACO members but that does not guarantee you certain sites as they are often allocated long before the ACO site opens.
Joining the ACO gets you discount on 6 race tickets two camping tickets and certain grandstands, the discounts on 5 tickets are about the same as the ACO membership so if there are 4 or 5 of you it is worth joining.
Beermountain has pretty good campsite info on each site

[Jim on the hill]

Thanks everyone! Looks like waiting is the best option

[chrisring]

if you are thinking about PH on Blue Nord, you can register your interest via the 1st tickets website. They then contact when it goes live, there is no commitment to book by registering.