Montecarlo
Grand Prix
Hotels,
Studios
and Flats to
rent during Grand Prix de Monaco
Monaco
for The Fast and The Furious by Tom Matosevic
Of all the sporting events in the world, none
can match the glamour and excitement of the Monaco
Formula 1 Grand Prix.
More
than just a car race, it transcends sport to become
Europe's premier sporting and social event. Even
just the name conjures up images of sun-soaked
celebrities, expensive yachts and even more expensive
living. But this image is somewhat misleading.
Monaco is far more accessible and affordable than
it appears.
F1
Grand Prix weekend is definitely the best time
to visit Monaco. This may go against all the advice
you've ever heard about travelling in the off-season
to avoid crowds. But it is the crowds - the spectators
- who lend this event the carnival atmosphere
it's so famous for. Everyone from self-made millionaires
to budget backpackers is there for the pivotal
race on the Formula 1 calendar.
Even
if you have no interest in motor sports, you can't
help but get swept up in the atmosphere.
The
Monaco F1 Grand Prix has been held on the first
Sunday after Ascension Day since its modern inception
in 1950. It determines the staging of the races
for the entire Grands Prix season.
There
are three real options for viewing the race. You
can watch it from the grandstands; this offers
the best views of the race, the yachts and the
giant screen televising those parts of the track
you can't see. The stands situated opposite the
harbour, which run from Tabac Corner to the Swimming
Pool, offer the most encompassing view. While
the stands at the chicane, facing towards Tabac
Corner, provide a different picture altogether
and give a clearer view of how hard the drivers
really work. Depending on the Grandstand, tickets
can be expensive, so you may care for the next
option.
You
can buy a General Admission ticket offering access
to Old Monaco, which is situated on The Rock and
provides a bird's eye view of the track. Your
best bet is to wedge yourself firmly against the
parapet and stay there for the rest of the day.
It helps to be part of a larger group, because
if you move from your spot for any reason, it
will soon be occupied.
It
also helps if you get there early as all the best
spots are snapped up quickly.
An
easier option with General Admission tickets is
to find a shady tree on The Rock hillside, just
below the parapets of Old Monaco, and enjoy the
race among the Tifosi. These Italian fanatics
follow Ferrari to all the European Grands Prix
and are as remarkable to watch as the race itself.
You can always tell how well or badly Ferrari
is doing by the expression on their faces.
Watching
the race from the leafy hillside requires the
surefootedness of a mountain goat. However, it
does offer some of the best views of the race.
Just remember, no matter how strenuous it may
seem climbing up, it's getting back down that's
the challenge.
The
most civilized option for watching the race requires
a little planning. It involves booking a table
at one of the many restaurants overlooking the
track. Only, be sure to book the best table! The
meal may be a little extravagant, but considering
you get grandstand views, a great meal - including
service, and you save on the cost of admission,
it's hard to beat. So why not organize a group
and book a table?
Just
sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacle.
Race
day in Monaco is best described as LOUD! From
the roar of the engines to the cheers of the crowd,
your senses are on full alert. That's the kind
of excitement this race generates. Fortunately,
Monaco is rich in natural beauty and quiet, out
of the way places where your senses can escape
- even if only temporarily. Old Monaco is one
of the most interesting places to explore. Here
you will find the cathedral in which Prince Rainier
married Grace Kelly.
In
front of the cathedral, on the rocky coastline
of Old Monaco, the Exotic Garden offers wonderful
views of the azure Mediterranean, and the newest
of Monaco's districts - Fontvielle. It's the most
tranquil and manicured example of horticulture
you are ever likely to see. And, the sculptures
within the Garden are as exquisite as their surroundings.
The
Exotic Garden is an oasis of peace while, just
below, the harbour area is shaking with the force
of Formula 1.
The
only 'unpalatable' aspect of Grand Prix weekend
is the peculiar practice of 'Grand Prix Prices'.
Many taxis, restaurants, hotels, bars, tobacconists,
and roadside fruit sellers raise their prices.
The higher prices are also usually matched with
lower quality. Vendors
who charge 'Grand Prix Prices' figure most of
the trade isn't regular and won't be coming back
anyway. The trick is to find establishments that
don't try to rip off tourists. This is easy -
either go with someone who knows what to avoid,
or look for places inhabited solely by the locals.
The
independent traveller will have an impossible
time finding accommodation in Monaco for the race
weekend. And nearby towns like Menton, and even
Nice and Cannes are usually booked out well in
advance.
The
alternative is to book onto a dedicated tour.
These tours vary from four to 14 days and cater
to all standards. The best advice when looking
for a tour is to go with a specialist Motor Sport
tour company like Page & Moy in the United
Kingdom, or Australia's Temple Grand Prix that
offers a fully escorted tour from Australia, which
incorporates a land content only package for travellers
from the USA and Asia who wish to make their own
way to the Riviera.
About the Author
Tom Matosevic is a freelance travel writer and
Monaco F1 Grand Prix Tour Guide with Temple Grand
Prix. for the latest on their 2006 Tour, and to
sign up for Tom's F1 Update Newsletter. http://www.templegrandprix.com
