[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Even though Montrealers will be able to spot you as an out of town race fan, what with backpacks and racing attire, you'll still want to fit in. Be aware that no one jaywalks...and they stay on the curb waiting for the walk/green signal...even if there is no oncoming traffic.

Agreed. J walking in Montreal can have a severe effect on your life span.

My wife is from Montreal, and every time I J walk here in Ottawa, she is screaming at me "are you crazy!?!".

[wdb]

Originally Posted by pseto

... and I don't have to be 'that guy' sitting in the 'Dicks' chair

I know right! Ah well. C'es la vie. We got red, wife is turning into a Ferraristi (I refuse to say tifosi). Myself, I'll have a red seat, orange backpack, gray hat, and silver hair. Leave 'em guessing.

[saaltonen]

I appreciate this thread, keep the info coming guys!

Had not thought of going to the CGP until last year, when a friend of mine had a chance to go. He was raving about how great a time he had, so definitely put the bug in my ear. I wasn't able to arrange a trip for this weekend, but I going to start planning now to make the trek next year.

It is about a 6 hour drive from where I live. I think if I leave early in the AM on Thursday and get there around noon or so that would leave a good long weekend, to drive back Monday morning or something.

Going to be visting Monaco in early September this year, so I will have to do some recon there for a Grand Prix trip at some point in my life. If anyone has some tips on how to do one without being independently wealthy, let me know

[Chief F1 Fan]

Originally Posted by saaltonen

Going to be visting Monaco in early September this year, so I will have to do some recon there for a Grand Prix trip at some point in my life. If anyone has some tips on how to do one without being independently wealthy, let me know

Went to Monaco 2 years ago and it was fantastic. Stayed in Nice which is a 20 minute train ride in to Monaco. When you walk out of one of the train station tunnels you end up right at Ste. Devote!
Tips:
1.don't go with a tour group, book a hotel for at least 4 nights in Nice; I paid for 5 nights for 2 of us at Le Negresco (top end hotel) vs. what I would have spent for 1 of us for 3 nights at a much-lesser hotel with Grand Prix Tours. I booked in January for the May GP
2. buy race tickets early too, I'd strongly suggest Casino Square (I forget the stand number), the swimming pool complex as close as you can get to the chicane and the Midi Terrace, Hotel Hermitage for the race (UNBELIEVABLE!!!)
3. while in Nice head to Eze on Friday for something non-race related to do
4. have a glass of wine in Eze at the "Golden Goat" http://www.chevredor.com/restaurants-bars/ on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.
5. Don't rent a car, you don't need one


PM me if you have any more questions, I'll help all I can.

[Benzima]

Have fun in my town! Let me know if you need tips from a "local"!

Weather will be amazing. City will be crazy!

[pseto]

Originally Posted by Benzima

Have fun in my town! Let me know if you need tips from a "local"!

Weather will be amazing. City will be crazy!

i hope the weather is great, but thought i saw possible rain on Fri/Sun. Hitting the road tonight!

[Chief F1 Fan]

I prefer a wet race, even if it means sitting in the rain.

[saaltonen]

Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan

Went to Monaco 2 years ago and it was fantastic. Stayed in Nice which is a 20 minute train ride in to Monaco. When you walk out of one of the train station tunnels you end up right at Ste. Devote!
Tips:
1.don't go with a tour group, book a hotel for at least 4 nights in Nice; I paid for 5 nights for 2 of us at Le Negresco (top end hotel) vs. what I would have spent for 1 of us for 3 nights at a much-lesser hotel with Grand Prix Tours. I booked in January for the May GP
2. buy race tickets early too, I'd strongly suggest Casino Square (I forget the stand number), the swimming pool complex as close as you can get to the chicane and the Midi Terrace, Hotel Hermitage for the race (UNBELIEVABLE!!!)
3. while in Nice head to Eze on Friday for something non-race related to do
4. have a glass of wine in Eze at the "Golden Goat" http://www.chevredor.com/restaurants-bars/ on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.
5. Don't rent a car, you don't need one


PM me if you have any more questions, I'll help all I can.

Thanks for the info, that is very helpful. We are flying to Nice for a long weekend while we are visiting family in Finland. We are staying in Cannes this time, but I did notice that the public transit from Nice to Monaco (and much of the Riviera for that matter) is pretty well laid out. We are getting a rental car this time, as we wanted the flexibility to travel North a bit. The Golden Goat looks like a great stop, we will definitely add this to the itinerary. I always book things well in advance, so that usually isn't an issue for me but I can certainly imagine things book up quickly in the case of the Grand Prix.

[jeffkukuruda]

Just an FYI, i have an extra ticket (for all three days) in grand stand 12 for sale. I posted it in the non-auto for sale section. a buddy fell out of our group. Im arriving tomorrow evening and can meet anyone that wants it! and I'll separate them if desired.

Cheers,

Jeff

[dcgolfdr]

Originally Posted by jeffkukuruda

Just an FYI, i have an extra ticket (for all three days) in grand stand 12 for sale. I posted it in the non-auto for sale section. a buddy fell out of our group. Im arriving tomorrow evening and can meet anyone that wants it! and I'll separate them if desired.

Cheers,

Jeff

How much for the ticket?

[pseto]

Well, I just had one of the best weekends EVER! Thanks to everyone who chimed in on this thread, lots of great info that came in handy.

With all the walking we did, all the poutine we ate was totally justified

Hotel reservations for next year are complete and I'm looking forward to going back!

[wdb]

We had a GREAT weekend too, thanks in no small part to the tips in this thread. Great venue, great city, great atmosphere. If I may be so bold as to post a tip after a single visit to the race, I'd say "stay in center city" because the whole place is a party all weekend. Montreal doesn't just welcome the race and its fans, they build on it and make it even better.

We WILL go back.

[saaltonen]

Great, thanks for the updates guys. Glad you had a good time

[Chief F1 Fan]

Originally Posted by wdb

We had a GREAT weekend too, thanks in no small part to the tips in this thread. Great venue, great city, great atmosphere. If I may be so bold as to post a tip after a single visit to the race, I'd say "stay in center city" because the whole place is a party all weekend. Montreal doesn't just welcome the race and its fans, they build on it and make it even better.

We WILL go back.

I'd add the caveat having stayed in the city center that if you're an older guy like me, the noise is incredible there. Pop-up concerts everywhere . . . I prefer Old Montreal near the Cathedral Notre Dame but hey, to each his own. I would add that the small boutique hotels in town are wonderful. I've been staying in the same one (Auberge Bonaparte) since the year it first opened and reserve upon checking out.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan

I'd add the caveat having stayed in the city center that if you're an older guy like me, the noise is incredible there. Pop-up concerts everywhere

Excellent point! We were at the Travelodge on Rene Levesque, two blocks away from Ste Catherine which is where most of the noisy activities -- and several large hotels -- were located. I counted my blessings that we were not staying in one of them.

[pseto]

Reviving this thread since F1 is only 10 days away. Looking forward to another awesome trip and hope the race is better than that snoozer at Monaco this past weekend.

Tickets in GS12 booked again, but this time staying at an AirBnB in Gay Village. Any advice for that area?

[dcgolfdr]

We are in grandstand 24. Heading up on Thursday.

[pseto]

Originally Posted by dcgolfdr

We are in grandstand 24. Heading up on Thursday.

nice, we're headed up Thurs too

[dcgolfdr]

Originally Posted by pseto

nice, we're headed up Thurs too

You driving or flying? We are driving.

[3GFX]

Still debating on bringing the car. Not sure if heading up Friday morning yet or not.

[pseto]

Originally Posted by dcgolfdr

You driving or flying? We are driving.

We're driving, actually half the fun was driving up/back last year

[dcgolfdr]

Originally Posted by pseto

We're driving, actually half the fun was driving up/back last year

I agree. We are leaving Arlington 7 AM in a white X1. Going up 270 to 15 to 81. We can race.