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-   -   Monte Carlo during Grand Prix? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/monte-carlo-during-grand-prix-294379/)

talltraveler Mar 4th, 2003 03:14 PM

Monte Carlo during Grand Prix?
 
My cruise ship will be stopping in Cannes for a day and I am planning on taking the train to Monte Carlo. However, it will be during the Grand Prix and I am wondering if that will severely limit the sights that I can visit. I still think it would be interesting to visit but was wondering if anyone has ever experienced Monte Carlo during the race.<BR>Thanks!<BR>

Wendy Mar 4th, 2003 03:49 PM

I was there 3 years ago during the race and didn't find anything to be closed. We went to the castle, the church, Monte Carlo (Monaco is actually the town- Monte Carlo the casino), etc. There is a lot of star watching to be had and you can walk the pits after the races.<BR><BR>Wendy

talltraveler Mar 4th, 2003 05:07 PM

Thanks for the input Wendy!

andy Mar 4th, 2003 08:14 PM

talltravler-<BR><BR>We were there 2 years ago on a cruise ship due the pre-qualifying of the Grand Prix- A lot of the streeets are closed due to the race path...<BR><BR>But most of the tourist sites are open ,as are the casinos....

PumpkinEater Mar 5th, 2003 06:14 AM

Andy - have you booked your cruise on the Century yet?<BR><BR>P.S. - Monte Carlo is the city and Monaco the principality. During the Grand Prix it is impossible to get anywhere near the streets used for the race unless you pay to get in. Even the normal vantage points for watching those streets are blocked with boards restricting vision. And the people - must be tens of thousands. We took the train from Villefranch and walked from the station in Monte Carlo to the Palace area. While most everyone else was watching or trying to watch the race, we found no one at the little shops around the Palace area and ate a delightful lunch while watching the race on TV. Oh, and the Casino is impossible to get to during the race as its smack in the middle of the race.<BR><BR>Peter

talltraveler Mar 5th, 2003 08:04 AM

Thanks All. It sounds like it will be crowded (what I expected) but it seems like it will still be worth it to visit.

andy Mar 5th, 2003 08:15 AM

Peter- Don't want to get in a match with you- but Hubs was able to walk into one of the qualifying stands with 4 other people from our cruise ( Windsurf) and there was no fee required..Fees are for the main day of the race....And if you find otherwise, I guess he was just lucky then, as no one was asking for tkts.<BR><BR>Also all the folks on the ship went into Monte Carlo at nite and did go into both the GRAND CASINO ( ie.James Bond) and the rest of them..<BR>While ,they were crowded, you can get in them..<BR><BR>Talltraveler- be aware that the GRAND CASINO charges an admission fee pp=but it is well worth it...plus if you do go into that particular casino, head back to the AMERICAN room for rouletter.<BR>Forget Black Jack there as the stakes are way too high-like $100 per hand...<BR><BR>But Roulette is cheap and computerized .If you stand there long enough ( like 1/2 hr) you will see which numbers keep coming up...<BR><BR>We gambled in the American room and won back everyone's price of admission ($20pp) -plus we made a profit...<BR><BR>The other casinos in the area ( all within walking distance of the Grand Casino) do NOT charge any admission fees.

Wendy Mar 5th, 2003 12:12 PM

Peter, of course your correct ( Monte Carlo is the city and Monaco the principality.) thanks!<BR><BR>Wendy

Andrea_expat Mar 5th, 2003 04:35 PM

And don't forget - you need your passport to get into the casino!

PumpkinEater Mar 5th, 2003 06:49 PM

Andy - no match at all. You were talking about the qualifying day and the original poster and I were talking about the DAY OF THE RACE. And, of course, the night of the qualifying and the night of the race, in fact, you can get to the Casino because THE CROWD HAS LEFT AND SO HAS THE CRUISE SHIP.<BR><BR>And don't forget the dress code for the Casino is not shorts and a polo shirt.<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR>P.S. - Andy, have you booked your cruise on the Century, yet?


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