1st timer - which campsite
Discussion
Morning all,
After years of talk surrouding going to Le Mans, me, my Dad and a mate have finally decided to just man up and book something in the next day or so.
I spent last night looking around and have narrowed down to the following, I just need a bit of advice as to which may be the better or any other recommendations.
Deal 1 is through Thomas Cook Sport and works out to be about £330 each. It is for private camping at the Airtrack site, which seems well located (bewtween Houx and Houx Annexe) and has good facilities, although the pitch seems small at 3x5m and parking is not by your tent but is on the private site. Crossing is by Eurotunnel on Thursday, return Monday and I added Pitlane Grandstand T34 as I thought this would be good for the start / finish.
Deal 2 is through SpeedChills and works out about £310 each. Again private camping but this time down at Beausejour down near the Porsche curves, so obviously further away from the Village etc. Also has good facilities - showers, toilets, bar, food. Pitch is bigger at 7x5m so you can park your car next to you and probably get two tents in. Same Eurotunnel crossing and grandstand.
On the face of it I'm quite happy with the prices as Dad is getting on and a few creature comforts will go along way for him (and me tbh!), the Airtrack site appeals a bit more, but the pitch seems small for 3 of us, are they really strict on sizing or could we expand a metre or so to get two tents on?
Guess I'm after a bit of personal insight from those that may have used either, I'm really gutted I missed out on the Pistonheads 1st tickets offer, should've taken the plunge ages ago!
After years of talk surrouding going to Le Mans, me, my Dad and a mate have finally decided to just man up and book something in the next day or so.
I spent last night looking around and have narrowed down to the following, I just need a bit of advice as to which may be the better or any other recommendations.
Deal 1 is through Thomas Cook Sport and works out to be about £330 each. It is for private camping at the Airtrack site, which seems well located (bewtween Houx and Houx Annexe) and has good facilities, although the pitch seems small at 3x5m and parking is not by your tent but is on the private site. Crossing is by Eurotunnel on Thursday, return Monday and I added Pitlane Grandstand T34 as I thought this would be good for the start / finish.
Deal 2 is through SpeedChills and works out about £310 each. Again private camping but this time down at Beausejour down near the Porsche curves, so obviously further away from the Village etc. Also has good facilities - showers, toilets, bar, food. Pitch is bigger at 7x5m so you can park your car next to you and probably get two tents in. Same Eurotunnel crossing and grandstand.
On the face of it I'm quite happy with the prices as Dad is getting on and a few creature comforts will go along way for him (and me tbh!), the Airtrack site appeals a bit more, but the pitch seems small for 3 of us, are they really strict on sizing or could we expand a metre or so to get two tents on?
Guess I'm after a bit of personal insight from those that may have used either, I'm really gutted I missed out on the Pistonheads 1st tickets offer, should've taken the plunge ages ago!
Ive never stayed at Beausejour before (always stayed at Maison blanche or blu sud) but i know its a fair trek to get to anywhere! Unless you take bikes (which are a bit of a must anyway) i have heard good things about airtrack. I have seen some wacky stuff going on when cycling past BSJ (transit van towing somebody round on a lilo in the mud o_O) but cant speak through experience
There are still plenty of camping tickets around, and you can buy a BJ ticket for 50 euro's from the ACO so why pay £310 per person, best bet is to try and get one of the good sites from an agent and then do your own thing booking crossing and buying race tickets when you get there, plenty of info on each site here and at other forums like beermountain.
I would cost things out doing it independently and then decide how much you want to pay for the convenience of a deal offered by Speedchills.
Last time I went I stayed on the TL site which was really well run but didn't suit me as I like to have more control. It was incrementally better in a number of areas but whether it was worth the extra money is open to question, IMHO no, but from the waiting lists I guess I maybe in the minority.
There are normally surplus tickets available on all the sites mentioned close to the event, just don't be tempted to buy on ebay which can be somewhat inflated.
Incidentally I quite like Beasejour as it's well located for the Porsche Curves and getting out to Arnage / Mulsanne.
Last time I went I stayed on the TL site which was really well run but didn't suit me as I like to have more control. It was incrementally better in a number of areas but whether it was worth the extra money is open to question, IMHO no, but from the waiting lists I guess I maybe in the minority.
There are normally surplus tickets available on all the sites mentioned close to the event, just don't be tempted to buy on ebay which can be somewhat inflated.
Incidentally I quite like Beasejour as it's well located for the Porsche Curves and getting out to Arnage / Mulsanne.
My old man and I have been going to Airtrack for the last two years. And will be returning again this year. We did a fair bit of research into other campsite and decided on Airtrack as it was secure, fenced off with Brit security, and the facilities are really good, loads of washing facilities which are always maned and kept spotless, with the constant hot water.
Access to the track is really quick and convenient. My dad was after a more comfortable Le Mans experience and that's what Airtrack provides. If you don't mind paying the money it's pretty chilled.
In regards to pitches try ringing them and they maybe able to accomadate an area that is slightly bigger, they are very helpful
Access to the track is really quick and convenient. My dad was after a more comfortable Le Mans experience and that's what Airtrack provides. If you don't mind paying the money it's pretty chilled.
In regards to pitches try ringing them and they maybe able to accomadate an area that is slightly bigger, they are very helpful
Agree with the above. Although its criticised we always stay on BJR. 15 mins walk to village or use the little train. 5 mins to porsche curves viewing (or less depending where you are). Arnage (corner and village)just about walkable for the committed. Showers seem to get hotter and toilets cleaner each year. No real space restrictions if you ditch the guide person on arrival, or just move when they have gone. Buy direct from ACO and save £££'s
For a first time trip though I can understand the attraction of one of the private areas, booze/food/entertainment laid on at a price. Security as well.
For a first time trip though I can understand the attraction of one of the private areas, booze/food/entertainment laid on at a price. Security as well.
I've stayed with Speed Chills on their private camping site at Beausejour for the last 3 years and will be staying there again this year. I like the fact that they have security, hot showers and no queues for toilets and a bar. The live music and entertainment has also been pretty good. I go to Le Mans to enjoy the racing, I don't want the hassle of sorting out all the travel and tickets separately before hand or the worry about looking after all my stuff when I'm there, thats why I go for private camping.
After a decade of booking via an agent my last 3 trips have been arranged independently and it is So Easy! Look at the "swaps/sales" thread on this forum or look at EBay for a camping permit and everything else is easy to sort, Race tickets at the gate, travel booking on Eurotunnel or PO Ferries. If you are in a large group then there are some benefits of using an agent to help secure pitches together but otherwise why line their pockets?
Personally I'd aim for Houx, Bleu, Tertre Rouge or Maison Blanche if any of these camping passes become available.
If you lock your valuables in your car then the "security" of a private campsite can be negated. Similarly don't be fooled by the queues for the shower. If you pick your moment you won't have to queue for long.
Subject to group size you should be able to arrange your ticket, camping and travel within a £250 per person budget, even at this "late" stage - most reservations are placed in June for the following year.
Good luck with your search.
Personally I'd aim for Houx, Bleu, Tertre Rouge or Maison Blanche if any of these camping passes become available.
If you lock your valuables in your car then the "security" of a private campsite can be negated. Similarly don't be fooled by the queues for the shower. If you pick your moment you won't have to queue for long.
Subject to group size you should be able to arrange your ticket, camping and travel within a £250 per person budget, even at this "late" stage - most reservations are placed in June for the following year.
Good luck with your search.
You can do it cheaply, which we did on the first time.
We have gone with speed chilles at BSJ this year, and I have to say the security thing was the biggest seller. Whilst you can just lock your valuables in the car, frankly we decided we would rather pay some more and get the stress level right down to zero on the issue - with the
s emerging on Sunday evening it will be nice to be able to just bed down after a heavy 24 hours without worrying about how adventurous they may or may not be.
We have gone with speed chilles at BSJ this year, and I have to say the security thing was the biggest seller. Whilst you can just lock your valuables in the car, frankly we decided we would rather pay some more and get the stress level right down to zero on the issue - with the
s emerging on Sunday evening it will be nice to be able to just bed down after a heavy 24 hours without worrying about how adventurous they may or may not be.Matt_N said:
Well we booked in with Speedchills in the end, bigger pitch and also some friends are at Beuausejour too which swung it for us, sounds like there will be a few PHers there too 
You won't regret it Matt! I have stayed with Speedchills for the previous four years; once at Bleu Sud and the remainder over at Beausejour. I have decided to stay elsewhere this year (Team Langoustine) purely because I fancied a change of scenery and wanted to be closer to the accessible parts of the circuit. The atmosphere at Speedchills is great, everyone is friendly and the facilities are clean with at worst, a tiny queue. Highly recommended 
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