GRAND PRIX..1999
 

My husband wants to go to the Grand Prix in Monocco for his 50th birthday next year. Any suggestions? We will probably go a bit early and spend a couple days in Paris and then?????? Thanks!

Are you talking about the Formula I Grand Prix? If so, start planning now, unlike here in the States, Formula I has a huge following in Europe. You can probably get info on details from Yahoo, they have a site for auto racing. Tickets will probably be about $200-300 dollars for three days, practice, qualifying and race day. Instead of Monaco, you might consider lodging in France or Italy and taking a train. <BR>

Check out www.f1-tickets.com <BR> <BR>Monaco is probably one of the most expensive F1 venues. My friends went for their honeymoon and loved it (they used F1 Tours and were very happy with them). <BR> <BR>They list the prices for tickets Sat. and Sun. as: <BR> General Admission US$134 <BR> Grandstand Seating US$655 to $850 <BR> <BR>I have gone to the Montreal race six times. Grandstand seating is more reasonable (~$250, General admission is out of the question, it becomes a crush at the fence.) Everyone speaks french and is very pleasant. Never having been to Europe, it felt like France to me! <BR> <BR>Take him to Monaco for his birthday, and having become rabid fans of F1, go to Montreal next year!

Paul, Thanks for the info re tickets. I've been to F1's at Spa (Belgium), Mexico, Canada and 3 venues in the states, Watkins Glen, Dallas and Phoenix. Of them all, Spa is my favorite, plenty of GenAd places to sit, a circuit with plenty of places for overtaking and a beautiful setting. The last time we went to Montreal, they were also holding the International Fireworks Exposition..it was one heck of a show, and then F1 the next day!! Nirvana. <BR>

Hi! I'm from Montreal and agree wholheartedly that June/July in the city is incredible! I went to the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix, so I can also offer my two cents about that! You would definitely want to stay in France, even if you're not on a budget, because Monte Carlo is so totally crazy the day of the race,you'll appreciate being able to leave when it's over, even if only for a few hours and then return later to got to casinos or something. Nice is only a fifteen minute train ride and there are much less expensive lodgings avilable. I'd make reservations by around February...after that it could get difficult. Another good thing about Nice is that it's only fifteen minutes from Cannes (in the opposite direction of monte carlo) so if the Grand Prix coincides with the film festival (as it did this year) you can be right in the middle of lots of excitement! The tickets for the Grand Prix were expensive. I didn't see anything about "General Admission" for $125. The cheapest thing I saw was about $40 to watch the race from up on the hill (standing room only, not much of a view), and the next cheapest thing I saw was about $315 for grandstand. There are also many other options if you get creative...all offices and buildings with balconies overlooking the race will rent their balconies out. I watched from a balcony right in front at the start line. I didn't have to pay (one of the benefits of being a twenty-something female in a city full of guys!) but the men who took me payed about $400 each, including lunch and open bar. I had the time of my life. Let me know if I can answer any questions. kimberley

We were in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago (only for a day) we were on a cruise. However they were setting up for the Grand Prix. The place was wild also because Cannes was going on at the same time. Book now. You don't want to ruin #50 for hubby. Have fun. We only got to walk the track. Wished we could hav spend more time there <BR>