Monaco 2009 - where to sit and what to do?

[BigBazza]

Hi,

Just booked the hotel in Nice ready for next years Monaco GP. Last time I went we sat in the K stands which were great and i'm probabaly looking to sit there again.
Who is the best ticket agent to use for the seats and what "additional" events would you reccomend to get invloved in, where should we be looking to go on Sat and Sun nights for the best atmosphere etc.
On a pretty tight budget BTW.

Thanks

Bazza

[woof]

Hi

Casino Square is pretty good - big screen etc or the entry into rascass ?
It's one of those places where i don't think there is an ideal place to sit.
Alternative is too look for a balcony somewhere for rent - not a bad way of doing it. Food and champagne is normally included
http://www.f1rst-class.co.uk

[sniff petrol]

I was at Rascasse in 2002. views were good but the ground was very hard.

[TvrJohn]

Always fancied this also, shall monitor thread for more information

[BigBazza]

Just for info, we have booked a hotel near the station in Nice, not the best area but close to station is a bonus and we won't spend much time there. Total cost for 3 nights (Fri, Sat, Sun) for 2 twin rooms is £609 which I think is a steal.

Just waiting for airlines to put prices on for that time and will probably end up going for the the K stand again as it was sooo good.

It was more the apres prix entertainment I was looking for ideas on, are there any parties we could get into if we got our name down early enough etc.

[woof]

Party wise - i can point you in the direction of the Amber Lounge
The do parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - but Sunday's is the driver's party - and yes alot of the drivers do turn up

http://www.amber-lounge.com or email "Rae Etherington" <[e-mail]> and say hello from JM

[BalhamLotus]

BigBazza said:

Just for info, we have booked a hotel near the station in Nice, not the best area but close to station is a bonus and we won't spend much time there. Total cost for 3 nights (Fri, Sat, Sun) for 2 twin rooms is £609 which I think is a steal.

Just waiting for airlines to put prices on for that time and will probably end up going for the the K stand again as it was sooo good.

It was more the apres prix entertainment I was looking for ideas on, are there any parties we could get into if we got our name down early enough etc.

Did that this year. The rail strike really wasn't very helpful and apparently not that unusual on GP weekend. Got (pre-booked) coaches into Monaco in the mornings with the tour operator we booked the trip through, and then got stitched for taxis "home". Average trip back to Nice was EUR100 - the trains stop at midnight so you're signing up for this really. Best night was Saturday, although a taxi back to Nice at 3:30am followed by a coach back to the circuit at 7:15am nearly killed us.

For nightlife our "guide" kept suggesting Stars and Bars, but it was basically like a knackered Sports Cafe in London. The cocktail bar upstairs which is apparently very good had been taken over by Stringfellows for the weekend, but having seen the girls walking round the circuit on the Thursday evening, it didn't seem worth going in (Daylight is not a lapdancers best friend). Best places were a couple of the hotel bars for spotting and then Rascasse seemed to be very lively with a mix of Euro crap and covers bands. There was a bar set up on the track which didn't close until 5:30am on Saturday night apparently and was open again late on Sunday.

I know someone who was in Amber Lounge on the Saturday, and despite the fact he was hosting a table (and had obviously paid handsomely for it), there was still a punters v VIPs feel to it. Good for impressing a customer on the company check, not worth it out of your own pocket was his advice. (It's more than £500 just to get in from memory!)

[BalhamLotus]

BigBazza said:

On a pretty tight budget BTW.

Just seen this bit. I would stay the hell away from Jimmyz.

[woof]

BalhamLotus said:

BigBazza said:

On a pretty tight budget BTW.

Just seen this bit. I would stay the hell away from Jimmyz.

Jimmyz is the most expensive bar in the world i think and not worth it, unless someone else is paying - I had some really good nights down at Stars and Bars

Saturday night in Monaco is pretty special - Start at Stars and bars - go to the rascasse (not called that anymore but the bar on the corner). Wander around the port, past of the mega yachts (try and blag yr way on to a corporate one) and then up to casino square - the down to the tip top bar.

To me, it's the best place to experience a GP - unique, and the closest you can get to the track and the action - and you can do it on the cheap. I did it that way for many years.

[Northern Chimp]

Agree that Casino Square is a good place to sit. I got tickets in the stand for 2006. The noise bounces off the buildings beautifully and there is enough going on the keep you entertained (the big screen and the posers on the balconies of course).

I bought the tickets directly from the Monaco Auto.Club as soon as the season dates were announced. They were posted to my house a few months before, an no agency taking a handling fee. http://www.acm.mc/club/club_main.php

From Niece (I stayed there too) you can get the train to Monaco - not a cool as a yacht or helicopter - but MUCH cheaper and only takes about 20 mins.

Enjoy!!!

[BigBazza]

Thanks for all the advice, i'm taking it all on board, have booked the Amber lounge for the Sunday night and will just take Sat night as it comes.
Getting back to Nice early hours both nights will be expensive I know but I don't think my beer scooter will go that far!
Thanks again and keep any suggestion/hints/tips coming for me and others who want to do it.

[andy_s]

Interesting thread - I'm looking at organising a 40th birthday and the birthday boy is interested at having it over a GP weekend. Monaco seems to be the obvious choice for an indulgent, interesting weekend that's easy to party from.
We'd be looking at a budget of about a grand (and a half?) per head plus drinks for the weekend - not enough to get a big boat or luxury balcony but enough to indulge ourselves. Interested in the racing, the experience and a couple of good party nights to boot.
Has anyone any other suggestions as to location (I'd prefer Spa but think I'm the only one who's more interested in the racing than the drinking!)?
Do you think the budget is realistic? (There'll be about 6-8 of us).
Any suggestions or ideas regarding clubs/hotels accom in general from someone who's done a similar thing? The group is all male.

....wish I'd suggested paintballing in Cleethorpes - far simpler.....