Packaged Tours
Tours have their place when it comes to events like the Monaco grand prix. For a start, your transport, accommodation, main meals (mostly), and tickets are all sorted and come in one single package price. Plus, you also get the service and knowledge of a Tour Leader who can save you both time and money. they will take you to places you would never have considered putting on an itinerary you may have devised for yourself, but will be glad they had the foresight to include.
The biggest aspect of a packaged Tour however, is that you will have to spend time with as many as 20 strangers.
Now before you shriek in terror and click through to the packaged or independant travel page consider the following.
It is safe to assume that, like you, the reason those twenty other strangers booked onto the Tour was because they al love their F1 and they all want to see the Monaco Grand Prix live.
It is also safe to assume that by the end of the first day that they will no longer be strangers. That doesn't mean they won't be strange - the odds that there won't be at least one wierdo in a pack of twenty are slim. But look on the bright side...that weirdo may be you. No, seriously, don't think of these Tours as Concentration camps where you have to spend every waking minute with the same people. Generally you will all travel from a location like London by coach. You may all spend the first evening in Paris in the same hotel...you may also be encouraged to all dine together on the first night to get to know each other. of course you don't have to, but I recommend you do - you will be surprised just how pleasant their company will be. Usually after dinner the group continues to get to know each other over drinks. Then again, you do have the option to go sightseeing on your own too.
The next day is spent in transit to the Riviera where you will be accommodated - generally in Nice because it's nice, and because it has loads or Tourist grade Hotels (and don't be fooled into thinking it will be anything but tourist grade) and it is within striking distance of Monaco on a train line (which, incidentally, is the only way to get to and from Monaco during race weekend unless you have a helicopter or boat at your disposal).
The next four to five days are pretty much your own - stay with the group, or members of the group, or go on your own, safe in the knowledge there is a tour Leader and at least twenty friendly faces you can call on for help. And don't be surprised how many of your group you run into when in Monaco - it is a tiny place, and even with an extra 200,000 people crammed into it, you will still see many from your tour as you wander the Pricipality.
So, lets get down to business...who are Tour suited to. People who don't want to worry about the detail - simply book your spot, pay, and turn up at the right place at the right time. Those that like 'like-minded' company, a drink or twenty, a party, or just a good conversation about F1.
Who isn't it suited to - I really can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from going on a Tour - especially if they are a first time traveller. The only people that shouldn't go are the stickler's for detail or the hard to please, or those who aren't happy to go with majority rules.
A Tour will save you time and money, they offer great value, and the potential to make friendships that could last a lifetime. Anyone who can't have a good time at the Monaco Grand Prix doesn't know how to have a good time anywhere.
So which Tour do I recommend? Well, if I was still running my own Tours, I'd be biased. So, in my unbiased opinion I can say that there are great Tours organised from the US, Canada, Australia, and of course the UK, so it depends on where you are. However, even if you are in the US or Canada, or Australia, many of the UK based tours are worth considering. Just sort out your flight to London, get to the pick-up point and go.
Each tour company obviously strives to do their best by you, so quality is not a deciding factor - what does need to be considered is the itinerary. Which tour offers more of what you want? Which has the more preferable hotel or accommodation location? Which offers a full daily itinerary, and which leaves you free to arrange your days as you wish, and which do you prefer?
In other words, grab each tour company's brochure and study them, then call with any questions you have.
If the company has been around for some time there will be reviews and they may be helpful to you. That doesn't mean you should discount the new kids on the block. A new tour company will go out of their way to try and impress and gain favourable reviews, so again, call them.
I won't name any companies in this text, but if you look to the sides of this page you may or may not see tour company ads. If they're there, then it's because they're reputable and worth checking out to see what they offer.
The biggest aspect of a packaged Tour however, is that you will have to spend time with as many as 20 strangers.
Now before you shriek in terror and click through to the packaged or independant travel page consider the following.
It is safe to assume that, like you, the reason those twenty other strangers booked onto the Tour was because they al love their F1 and they all want to see the Monaco Grand Prix live.
It is also safe to assume that by the end of the first day that they will no longer be strangers. That doesn't mean they won't be strange - the odds that there won't be at least one wierdo in a pack of twenty are slim. But look on the bright side...that weirdo may be you. No, seriously, don't think of these Tours as Concentration camps where you have to spend every waking minute with the same people. Generally you will all travel from a location like London by coach. You may all spend the first evening in Paris in the same hotel...you may also be encouraged to all dine together on the first night to get to know each other. of course you don't have to, but I recommend you do - you will be surprised just how pleasant their company will be. Usually after dinner the group continues to get to know each other over drinks. Then again, you do have the option to go sightseeing on your own too.
The next day is spent in transit to the Riviera where you will be accommodated - generally in Nice because it's nice, and because it has loads or Tourist grade Hotels (and don't be fooled into thinking it will be anything but tourist grade) and it is within striking distance of Monaco on a train line (which, incidentally, is the only way to get to and from Monaco during race weekend unless you have a helicopter or boat at your disposal).
The next four to five days are pretty much your own - stay with the group, or members of the group, or go on your own, safe in the knowledge there is a tour Leader and at least twenty friendly faces you can call on for help. And don't be surprised how many of your group you run into when in Monaco - it is a tiny place, and even with an extra 200,000 people crammed into it, you will still see many from your tour as you wander the Pricipality.
So, lets get down to business...who are Tour suited to. People who don't want to worry about the detail - simply book your spot, pay, and turn up at the right place at the right time. Those that like 'like-minded' company, a drink or twenty, a party, or just a good conversation about F1.
Who isn't it suited to - I really can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from going on a Tour - especially if they are a first time traveller. The only people that shouldn't go are the stickler's for detail or the hard to please, or those who aren't happy to go with majority rules.
A Tour will save you time and money, they offer great value, and the potential to make friendships that could last a lifetime. Anyone who can't have a good time at the Monaco Grand Prix doesn't know how to have a good time anywhere.
So which Tour do I recommend? Well, if I was still running my own Tours, I'd be biased. So, in my unbiased opinion I can say that there are great Tours organised from the US, Canada, Australia, and of course the UK, so it depends on where you are. However, even if you are in the US or Canada, or Australia, many of the UK based tours are worth considering. Just sort out your flight to London, get to the pick-up point and go.
Each tour company obviously strives to do their best by you, so quality is not a deciding factor - what does need to be considered is the itinerary. Which tour offers more of what you want? Which has the more preferable hotel or accommodation location? Which offers a full daily itinerary, and which leaves you free to arrange your days as you wish, and which do you prefer?
In other words, grab each tour company's brochure and study them, then call with any questions you have.
If the company has been around for some time there will be reviews and they may be helpful to you. That doesn't mean you should discount the new kids on the block. A new tour company will go out of their way to try and impress and gain favourable reviews, so again, call them.
I won't name any companies in this text, but if you look to the sides of this page you may or may not see tour company ads. If they're there, then it's because they're reputable and worth checking out to see what they offer.
