Le Mans 24 hr. Where to stay?

[Little Donkey]

No doubt a few of you chaps on here have done this trip. Any suggestions where to stay? Don't fancy having a poo in a field, so looking for a half decent hotel. Hoping to do the whole hospitality package with AM Racing, but just need somewhere to stay. Thanks in advance.

[V8LM]

I went with Club Terte Rouge (A Nick Mee enterprise) a few years back. Excellent fun. - http://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/news/view/151

[MaverickV12]

I'm also interested in a road trip to Le Mans, also don't want to poo in a field, so i'm interested in any hotels. I have a feeling that I'll be staying on the outskirts, I am guessing that the hotels will be 400% more expensive than normally. can't be that hard to drive in every day, or park the Aston in the field and get a lif to and from the hotel etc, I'm listening to any ideas ........

[Little Donkey]

OK, this is what I'm looking at doing https://astonmartin.blob.core.windows.net/sitefini...

It's more money than most organised packages but to take part in the AM centenary parade lap is definitely a box ticker. Bookings need to be in by next Friday so want to get accommodation sorted before I commit.

[bogie]

usually Aston or Audi have a good hospitality package on, stay onsite in their accomodation, all food n drink in etc....cheaper and more convenient than external hotels and travelling in each day

[sadlerj]

Apparently the campsites have loos now, but tradition is tradition! My Dad does not like to poo in the great outdoors and stays in at University Halls, he says it is ok. Personally I camp, I have always camped for the last 17 years, it's the 'rules'! I never and have ever camped anywhere else. I was hooked back in 1995 when I was parked up in Bleu in my MR2 cooking sausages on the bar-b and a guy pulled up to camp next to us in a 512tb! A very wealthy man, still camping at Le Mans, 'for the atmosphere'. Back then you really had to poo in a field!

[v8woollie]

There is only one way to do Le Mans and that is to camp. Anything else is being a wimp

Over the years I've met some really wonderful people camping at Le Mans and the atmosphere is fantastic.

[Little Donkey]

Trouble is there's two of (lardy middle aged men) us going down in a vantage so room for a tent and all the parfinalia that goes with it could be an issue.

[MaverickV12]

v8woollie said:

There is only one way to do Le Mans and that is to camp

I am thinking the same, I have a feeling that hotels will be a fortune and as for AM themselves, I'm not sure that I can remortgage my house for enough money to pay them. Any idea of how much money AM are charging?

[Little Donkey]

MaverickV12 said:

I am thinking the same, I have a feeling that hotels will be a fortune and as for AM themselves, I'm not sure that I can remortgage my house for enough money to pay them. Any idea of how much money AM are charging?

The cost of this package is £3,950 per car, driver and guest and includes the following:-

• Exclusive Friday night party in the paddock
• Participation in the Aston Martin centenary parade lap • Access to Aston Martin’s track side hospitality suite
• Access to a private pit suite overlooking the track
• Secure parking area within the circuit
• Driver appearances
• Hosted garage tours
• Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Sunday breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea
• Refreshments throughout the weekend
• End of race champagne reception
• Professional photographs to capture the event

[sadlerj]

Little Donkey said:

Trouble is there's two of (lardy middle aged men) us going down in a vantage so room for a tent and all the parfinalia that goes with it could be an issue.

Yes there is! If you pack well you can fit all you need in, and some room for a few bottles of red on the way home!

[MaverickV12]

sadlerj said:

Yes there is! If you pack well you can fit all you need in

You are right, just been on a trip myself and with really careful packing, you can get a stack of stuff in the most smallest of places. More than you think.

[yeti]

Little Donkey said:

The cost of this package is £3,950 per car, driver and guest and includes the following:-

Hmm, I went to the pre-race party last year... I ended up eating my body weight in oysters but otherwise it was shockingly posey and pretentious... And that's by my standards! A ticket with the Nick Mee Club atertre rouge package will get you all of that for a quarter of the price... Except for the parade lap. Which you can do, full speed, at Classic Le Mans for Eu120.

Seems expensive

Camping is fine, go with something like Team Labgoustine and the loos and showers are plentiful and clean. About 500 smackers.

Or go to a normal camp site like me and 20 pals for my stag do this year

You have left it waaaay too late to get a hotel close by I would think...

What are AMOC doing?

And as above, tons of camping space in a Vantage Fill up bin bags, wet clothes and dry clothes, tent, airbed, sleeping bag You buy and dump a BBQ and cooler. Seriously, you will miss the whole point of the event otherwise, I have done it a dozen times in every way, no substitute for camping... Especially when Pommehogster is cooking

[Gdc]

I agree with Yeti, that's why I've booked with Nick Mee again. Their gite is 2 miles from the circuit with secure parking. they have food, beer,entertainment on site, decent rooms and shared bathrooms and a shuttle bus for around £1000. It includes circuit entrance tickets but tribune stand tickets are extra so I' ve bought those for 90 euro from the ACO website.

I also did the LM Classic parade lap with Le Mob last year which was awesome even in the wet, about 30 cars per batch. It was almost a race until a TVR rear ended the pit wall...will do the parade lap at the next LMC for sure.

Although I bet the AM experience will be great it seems very expensive given there is no accommodation included.

The main thing though is to be there so just sign up to something!
Gdc

[George29]

yeti said:

Camping is fine

No it isn't! Pay extra and get the hotel

[v8woollie]

George29 said:

No it isn't! Pay extra and get the hotel

My dear George. Surely even you wouldn't miss the opportunity to get the lovely Sophie under canvas

[George29]

v8woollie said:

My dear George. Surely even you wouldn't miss the opportunity to get the lovely Sophie under canvas

True, but I'd much rather be in a hotel room with the lovely Sophie

[yeti]

George29 said:

No it isn't! Pay extra and get the hotel

All a good idea in principle... But Le Mans is a 24hr race, how do you propose you get from the midnight AMOC meet at the champagne tent to your hotel when you've been drinking since midday? You lose the atmosphere, and that's what the whole event is about

I've tried the sober route... It was a little less fun, although a 40mile drive home 3 nights in a row at 12am or later was fabulous in the DB9, roof down... But tiring.

[yeti]

I remember one year, there was a world soccer cup thing going on or maybe just a euro soccer thing...

3 German removal vans turned up on our site and started erecting what could only de described as a tent-palace with furniture, beds, big screen TVs, everything. Later 3 German guys in 3 Bentley Arnages arrived and moved in and split their time between the 'sport' on TV and the race. Very friendly, shared a few beers with them... EVERYBODY who is anybody. camps at Le Mans

[George29]

yeti said:

All a good idea in principle... But Le Mans is a 24hr race, how do you propose you get from the midnight AMOC meet at the champagne tent to your hotel when you've been drinking since midday? You lose the atmosphere, and that's what the whole event is about

Just try and last the 24 hours. Easy. If not get a taxi.