Info please - buying tickets independently and Restaurant

[wsn03]

Having been to Le Mans 3 times I realise I no longer need tour companies / agencies for my trips, especially as I have made my own arrangements for accommodation.

Next year is going to be a bit different, I'm actually taking the missus for a one-off experience before doing a proper long trip with the lads and for the first time my step-son and nephew the year after.

I'm going to make next year a long weekend with all the glam she will enjoy - couple of swanky hotels, seeing all the corporate cr@p at the Grandstand, and dinner in the Panoramic restaurant. I will survive this knowing that while she faffs about in the hotel room, I can watch the race on local tv whilst listening to Radio Le Mans in my earpiece...all the while knowing that for once I'll get laid at Le Mans and will wake up in a comfortable bed...totally novel.

Because of leaving the kids and not making it too onerous I've planned this as a sprint down on the Friday morning, returning midnight on the Sunday - this will be right on the edge of acceptable for everyone concerned.

This is going to mean arriving at Le Mans Saturday morning (staying in a lovely hotel in Rouen the night before), so probably reaching circuit by tram at about 12.30pm from Le Mans town (staying at a hotel there for the Saturday night).

So here come the questions:

1. is there a way I can order my tickets online directly? Or should I just buy them on the gate? Can I do that at the MM Arena end where the tram terminates? Would prefer online because its one less thing to think about.

2. I want to eat in that Panoramic restaurant. I can't find anywhere how to book? Do you just turn up? And before anyone tells me I know its expensive, but this is a one-off, just like the hotels, all to add to the experience for the wife.
Tents, beers, burgers and chips for me normally and to follow the year after with the lads.

Thanks

Edited by wsn03 on Friday 30th June 11:22

[wsn03]

E36GUY said:

I think you'll want to buy any grandstand tickets in advance as they sell out but GE tickets can be bought anywhere, not just from MM Arena. There are ticket booths at every pedestrian entrance including that opposite the Tram station on the Antares roundabout.

Thanks. I'm thinking GE as we will be mostly walking around.
I will bring something to sit on so we can watch the start from the banking just down from the Dunlop Bridge (you capture the vast crowds and the atmosphere pretty well there), then will wonder around all the village stuff at the grandstand - all the glitz will be right up her street, beats shopping I suppose.

So that just leaves the restaurant question.

[wsn03]

DS240 said:

Tickets can be bought direct from ACO. Usually go on sale sept/oct time.

If you get a membership you can buy earlier than general sale.... but this is only really useful for grandstands and camping.

If it is general entry you are only after then just wait for general sale or buy on the gate.

However, if you're after making it a bit more comfortable for the wife then i'd consider a grandstand (Shelter from sun (pick the right stand) or rain). Dunlop is good for the view and big screen and the pit straight adds pit action on top of big screen.


I wouldn't expect too much from the panoramic. I don't know about bookings, but I did it a couple of years back and the food wasn't great too be honest. But this may have changed since.

We take in our own food now.... saving cash, queues and nicer quality. How about taking in a 'luxury' French picnic for snacking and then eat well in Le mans later on if you're not staying at the circuit too late?

This is very useful info thank you.
I'm starting to think Grandstand overlooking the pits - she really enjoyed the same at the Isle of Man TT the first time I took her. I'm not finding much great about the panoramic on the web, and I think you're right. As we're staying in Le Mans town be far better to get a proper nice French dinner in the town later, we have no reason to be staying at the track for too long, I expect we'd be done around 7pm.

Think I'll join the ACO now.

[wsn03]

Thanks for all the replies.

Love the ACO idea and facilities.
Didn't realise Saturday night hotel was such an issue, i will either use the small campsite i have lined up, or more likely stay 30+ minutes away.

The missus has been to the TT and NW200, she likes to see a taster of the things im into, i just do it differently when she's involved with much less emphasis on the race, and more on the atmosphere and certain comforts.

If i drive to circuit for say 11am will it be possible to park up without too much grief? I presume that is what non-campers do?

[wsn03]

The Leaper said:

Most unlikely you will be able to find anywhere to park up. Get an official cark park ticket instead from the ACO, recommend Parking Blanc. Charge is about €45 and covers all the days of the event. You get a specifically allocated car space so you can come and go as you please knowing that you can always get back to your spot.

Only issue about Parking Blanc is that it is not ideal for a quick getaway on Sunday immediately after the race, so we always plan to have a BBQ or something and leave maybe 2 hours later, while listening to the end of RLM.

R.

More excellent advice, thank you, i will order a parking ticket.

Meanwhile Novotel Le Mans have already said NON.

I have booked a superior room in a stunning looking hotel in Chartres...i guess about 40 miles away, perfect.

We will be at the hotel on Mulsanne straight on Sunday afternoon so no escape traffic issues - i know the back roads to avoid problems.

[wsn03]

Again thanks for the replies.
I think Chartres is too far away. Going to check out the nearer options

Edited by wsn03 on Saturday 1st July 17:56

[wsn03]

rlw said:

You might get a room here.

domainedelacourbe.com

we've stayed there three times and it a thirty minute drive to the circuit.

I rang them and they asked me to send an email...just done it. Fingers crossed

[wsn03]

wsn03 said:

rlw said:

You might get a room here.

domainedelacourbe.com

we've stayed there three times and it a thirty minute drive to the circuit.

I rang them and they asked me to send an email...just done it. Fingers crossed

They just mailed me, i can book from mid July. Thanks once again

[wsn03]

Du1point8 said:

The Panorama restaurant has a roof terrace and bar.

This is an awesome place, whilst expensive, we decided to watch the start from there and indeed a lot of the race from the roof terrace.

We ended up going there for 2 days and ended up being on first name terms with the barmaids with our booze consumption.

Let me dig out some pics.

Root top:


(will dig out more once wifi working properly)

Edited by Du1point8 on Sunday 2nd July 13:03

That does look really good. Thanks for posting. Did you have to eat there to use the bar? Id definitely like to use it, but probably not for food. Did you eat there? Was the food good?

[wsn03]

sahajesh said:

wsn03 said:

That does look really good. Thanks for posting. Did you have to eat there to use the bar? Id definitely like to use it, but probably not for food. Did you eat there? Was the food good?

Bar is free to enter and well worth it.

Thanks for the heads up, I think we'll be using it but probably eating in there anyway.

Edited by wsn03 on Monday 3rd July 15:27

[wsn03]

Du1point8 said:

Errr.... Their food got a bit cold so not sure if it was great or mediocre... we worked out at 50 Euros a head it was cheaper to get a meal there and then disappear to watch the start of the race on the balcony for a few minutes, then it was to get a grandstand ticket.

Finished off the cold food and annoyed the staff in doing so... Then found out the roof terrace was open (or should I say we found it had a roof terrace), so grabbed several hundred Euros of wine and disappeared up there all day until being kicked out at closing time.

Our bill was something like 1000 Euros or so a day to sit on the roof terrace and have clean toilets, food, etc whenever we wanted... Not quite in the spirit of Le Mans, but we (8 of us) were content and decidedly drunk most of the time we were there.

If there and you can get away with doing what we did, I would do it... On several occasions, the bouncers were chasing us round, but as there are 4 different routes to the terrace, we never got caught and in the end, they gave up as we didn't cause any harm to anyone except our wallets. We also joined the RAC club that was up there one day too... they invited us to join in once they saw us there for X hours straight enjoying the race.

On that trip, the roof terrace made the Le Mans special, getting to sit in the delta car and getting pictures of friends on the podium... that made it a memorible trip... (shortly after getting the photo on the podium, security found us and were not happy).

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'm really liking the look of this place, especially if there is a roof terrace. With a grandstand you get pretty uncomfortable quite quickly. I like being able to move around. This is only to get a flavour of the event, she's not going to be interested in what's going on particularly.

I'm thinking lunch at about 1.00pm (better than a burger stand) followed by going on the balcony for the start until about 4pm.
After that maybe head to the ACO place slightly further up for an hour.
Hour walking around all that corporate stuff, maybe more, let her browse the for sale stuff. Then slowly head back peeking a glance at the interesting spots around the Dunlop Bridge, all the way down to Tetre Rouge. Then 10 minute drive for dinner at that restaurant (I always forget its name but go there every time) on the Mulsanne straight for around 9ish.

All checks out fine. It's just to get a flavour of the whole thing, and that ticks all the boxes.

Sunday will be that hotel on the Mulsanne straight (Arbour I think, again forgot its name) for a lazy couple of hours to see the end of the race, then the quiet country roads out and home.

[wsn03]

WhyTwo said:

The Leaper said:

Most unlikely you will be able to find anywhere to park up.

R.

Maybe by the main entrance but not away from there.

On Sunday we park in the public car park by Tetre Rouge (we drink too much on Saturday to drive so get cabs in and out but it's never full when we get dropped off there on Saturday). It's a 30 second walk from the tram stop there and 2 minutes from the Tetre Rouge entrance. If you have pre-purchased tickets just jump the queue to the front and sail straight in. Cost €4 or €5 for parking. Always plenty of available spaces

More useful advice, thank you. This would be perfect. I want to enter and exit from Tetre Rouge because I want to finish off in the evening by showing her a bit of the race from Tetre Rouge corner. It's also the place from where I take the back roads to the restaurant on Mulsanne straight.

Edited by wsn03 on Monday 3rd July 15:50

[wsn03]

WhyTwo said:

wsn03 said:

More useful advice, thank you. This would be perfect. I want to enter and exit from Tetre Rouge because I want to finish off in the evening by showing her a bit of the race from Tetre Rouge corner. It's also the place from where I take the back roads to the restaurant on Mulsanne straight.

Edited by wsn03 on Monday 3rd July 15:50

In that case, if you're stood on the platform at the tram stop with the circuit behind you, you would take the right turn just across the tram lines as you head away from the circuit (1st exit off the roundabout and bear right rather than following along the tram lines). As I say it's a 30 second walk from there to the car park entrance which is on your right

If I've understood you correctly that's Parking Relais : Antarès - Setram.
Also very near MM Arena which I used this year in the evening of the race, also a good location.
Thanks

[wsn03]

Du1point8 said:

If you are really lucky one of the pits might be open after the race... perfect excuse to go and chat the pit crews.



However, if you do decide to keep on wandering up and then go re-enact the winners stand:



Guarantee the security team finds out and you will be kicked off the race circuit... was such a shame we were so close to the camp site and had to walk the long way round after being told off.

We were not looking for any souvenirs honest!!

Brilliant, how cool is that! You did well getting on the podium, deserved tho after 24 hrs drinking

[wsn03]

Chrisgr31 said:

On Expo campsite one of the travel companies had some up some tepees, they looked quite luxurious might be worth a look if you cant find a hotel

That's a good suggestion thanks. The missus is a light sleeper, anywhere within a couple of miles of the track is a no-go. I'd be better off travelling far out with a hotel than staying anywhere near the noise.

I'm the complete opposite. I can sleep through anything, and normally collapse in a heap about 5am while listening to Radio Le Mans whilst holding my Whisky bottle.

This posh way of doing it is going to be a very odd experience for me, happiest sitting on dusty banks, drunk, sleeping in tents etc.

[wsn03]

Tyre Smoke said:

Since you've been twice already, and it's 12 months away, you seem to be going into an awful lot of detail to take your wife who seems to have zero interest to a motor race.

Have you actually asked her if she wants to do any of this? It sounds like you are trying too hard to make her 'get' Le Mans.

Perhaps she would rather spend the day actually shopping in Le Mans? There is sweet FA to buy at the circuit unless you want overpriced and questionable quality replica race clothing. Unless she's a total petrol head she's going to be bored rigid inside ten minutes.

Imagine your wife planning some epic shopping expedition followed by a Spa treatment for you?

I've been 3 times.

Yes we have discussed it, yes she does want to do it, otherwise I wouldn't be going to the trouble. I like going to things with my mates and on my own. My missus likes making sure we're not leading separate lives all the time.


Because we actually like spending time together we make sure that we do include the other person in our thing once in a while, and we do it in a way that the other person will actually enjoy. Both Spas and all 3 shopping trips were actually enjoyable, coming from a bloke who despises the idea of both.

The wife has been to the TT races, the Manx Grand Prix and the NW200. She wants to see Le Mans. Her idea of seeing it is a taster of the event compared to mine of sitting in a hedge with a radio for the full 24 hrs.

She got a big kick out of the other events, no reason she won't like this one. She gets some time with me seeing me in my happy zone, we get to do some quality stuff together at the cost of some pure race indulgence...its a compromise but everyone comes away happy.

The following year I'll go with the lads again and at least she won't feel she was left out. She still talks about seeing John McGuiness on the podium of the Senior TT, I can't believe Le Mans won't be just as impressive in its own way.

I was single for years after my divorce to avoid being with some cranky old crab who despised me doing anything - what a change to be married to someone who not only encourages me to pursue my interests, but occasionally joins in without any prompting.

As for shopping she'll only browse. Besides we're planning a weekend in Paris later that year, she can tour the shops properly then (to be fair she mainly does the sales)

Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 5th July 12:12

Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 5th July 12:15

Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 5th July 12:34

[wsn03]

Tyre Smoke said:

She's not getting a taster though is she?

She's getting a fluffed up version. It's not a taster of what you do. The shopping and Spa treatments she took you to were exactly what she was doing anyway. Your version of Le Mans is very different (and arguably cheaper) to what you are planning.

She's getting a taster of Le Mans. The heart and soul of the event is the same however you choose to do it. And no, she definitely never gives me the full version of her stuff, it would lead to rage as a minimum.

Are you trying to help with advice or looking to shoot down a plan? Im struggling to understand why this is a bad idea that warrants scrutiny. You seemed to have not read that she enjoyed the TT, MGP and NW200, so what's different (besides cars?)

[wsn03]

Tyre Smoke said:

I'm not shooting down your plan. It's up to you what you do.

I'm just putting an opposing view. You seem to think that your wife is going to be as enthusiastic about it as you are. Have you actually spoken to her and asked her what she wants out of this? Because the way you come across is something of a control freak. You are planning everything she is going to be doing down to the minutest detail. She seems to have no input whatsoever.

Let her have a say in the planning perhaps?

My wife read your posts, she thinks you need to get a life.

[wsn03]

Tyre Smoke said:

I would suggest the opposite is nearer the truth.

I'm out.

Oh no, how will i cope without your counselling? Damn

[wsn03]

Great Dane said:

At Le Mans there are no rules there are no 'rules' of what you have to do..... some people camp, some people sleep in their cars, some people stay at a chateau - really there are no rules... you don't have to do everything available (because you will be back...)

True...though im willing to bet my missus wont be back, one taster she'll appreciate, but probably nothing more, contrary to what the wind up merchant is trying to imply for what reason i have absolutely no idea.

I think im becoming addicted to it myself, I'll probably start going every year. Cant stop thinking about it since this last trip. Planning the next is like therapy!

Radio Le Mans and the cars in the background, bliss. There's nothing quite like it.

The feedback must be infectious, i have 6 wanting to join me the year after the next. Going to stop telling people about it i think.

Edited by wsn03 on Sunday 9th July 20:24