Where to stay in Le-Mans

[m0ssy]

I realise its all a bit late but another car and myself are driving to Le-Mans for the first time this year.

I have booked our ferry from Portsmouth - Le Havre leaving Thursday night so we should get to Le - Mans at about 11.00am friday.

We are not sure where to stay/ book. I am interested in Team Langoustine campsite as have read good things on here about them, but the trouble is a pitch is £255 in their site and will give access to 1 car only, and we have 2 vehicles. They have suggested buying a car park pass for the other vehicle but the ACO website does not have any left.

So where else should we stay? if we cant get a car park pass for the other vehicle we should possibly purchase 2 pitches elsewhere, but being a novice to Le-Mans am unsure where to go? or how to get a car park pass for the other vehicle.

Any suggestions?

[alloallo]

Hi Speed Chills do a private camping pitch which is £159.00 per car. Brilliant value as they have private hot showers, toilets, security etc and they're a great bunch of guys.

[froglet]

ACO booking is open and giving the options of parking in either Rouge or Vert. Vert is probably closer to the Langoustine campsite if you're lucky with where the attendants tell you where to park your car. Both carparks are huge so you could be parked at least 15-20mins walk away, not good if you are lugging camping kit to another site. They are also currently selling Beausejour camping passes at 49Euro's per car. Way cheaper than TL of course but it's approx half hour to walk up to the village from here(from the road entrance)overall time could be an hour if you are camped way at the back of the site, which you may well be by arriving Fri morning. On the plus side the Porshe curves are a few mins walk away and Arnage village is about a 20-30 mins stagger away. It's a huge,and popular campsite, you certainly wont have any problem making friends here. Just don't start panicing yet...while the ACO site is saying everything is sold out at the moment that probably means that they have allocated all tickets. Many of them will end up being returned by the agencies, and individuals, as people decide that they can't afford to go this year and they will then become available to buy through the site. Expect to see people trying to sell 'em throught this forum and others, and of course there is good ol' eBay. Risky strategy I know but give it a month or so before you really start panicing...absolute worst case scenario...get down there...head for Beausejour and get two passes on the gate when you arrive, they've been selling 'em "on the door" there for the last few years as far as I know.

[m0ssy]

Thanks for the info chaps.

I guess there is no need to panic at the moment as I suppose getting the ferry confirmed and booked is the most important thing at this stage.

£255 seems a fair bit for a camping pitch at TL. Im wondering what is the benefit of paying this as oppossed to 2 pitches at another camping site?

[froglet]

Depends how much you value things like watching the race on telly, a bar, marquee, security and having someone else put your tent up for you(TL not Speedchills by the look of it) I guess. Well...IMO...telly. Pah! If it's the race you wanna watch then wander up to the circuit! Plenty going on there, and showing the same sat-feed on the big screens. Just have to listen to Radio Le Mans for English commentary, you'll spend all weekend listening to it anyway. Any other sporting events on the same weekend can usually be found on TV in the local bars. Bar...well plenty of overpriced outlets at the circuit or do as most people do and go to the local supermarket and stock up on beer, a dustbin and ice or take a genny and a fridge, plenty of people do! Marquee...get a cheap gazebo from same supermarket and leave it for the scavengers on Monday morning. Security...possibly the big one I guess...but...make friends with your neighbours when you get there. They'll keep an eye out for your stuff as you will for theirs. Tents can never be secure so don't take anything you can't afford to lose, that's just a fact with camping. If you value it, lock it in the car out of sight, just as you would back home. As for your car security, again IMO, you'll be fine. Everyone there appreciates and respects great cars and as such damage and theft isn't really an issue. It can happen but it's pretty rare. Getting there Fri lunchtime-ish you can expect demands of burnouts on your way to your campsite though! Windows firmly up or expect a faceful from a supersoaker if you don't comply! Dunno what you're going in but...don't take this the wrong way...there will always be a nicer, bigger, flasher, rarer car than yours somewhere getting more attention, making yours less desirible to any potential idiot, almost the ultimate in security!...And I'm sure you can manage to put couple of tents up between you and your mates. Have some practise runs in the weekends before. Guess they win hands down on the clean bogs and showers front though! Although things have been getting better over the years on the campsites. If you can survive a queue for the bog and showering at "off-peak" times you'll be OK! Like I say, all just my opinion, others no doubt swear by using such companies. But if you've never been before and just want a simple turn up and everythings done for you approach then, go for it....not much of an adventure though is it...