This week on things ‘I didn’t think were possible in life, but once you actually look into it they are’… The Monaco Grand Prix.
A few years ago, after being exposed to Formula 1 exactly ZERO times in my life, I went to the Malaysia Grand Prix, and man, was it awesome. Since then, I’ve had it on my bucket list to go to Monaco, but I didn’t think it would ever happen. Cut to 2018, I convinced my parents we needed to go (it wasn’t hard), and we made it.
I bet you’re thinking, WOW are you secretly super rich? Well that’s none of your business and I’d appreciate if you stay out of my personal life (read: I’m not). No, I do not have a yacht, or the €33,000 is costs PER DAY to moor it in the marina. If you wanted to buy a spot on someone else’s yacht for the day it costs a casual £7,000 or more. Pocket change, right? Well clearly we skipped all yacht options, not sure why, they were all so reasonably priced.
Staying IN Monaco during this weekend is also not a realistic option for those of us who are not filthy rich, even the Marriott was priced around $7,000 PER NIGHT. Soooo yeah, what’s up France?!
London —> Nice
We flew in to Nice and stayed a short Uber ride (shout out to my mom for using Uber for the first time ever. She’s so hip) away in Villeneuve-Loubet at Mercure Hotel Villeneuve Loubet Plage. This hotel had a rooftop pool, and views of the French Riviera, so you will find no complaints from me here.
*note: the sun is no joke here… you’ll feel the burn.*
We took all of Saturday to sit at the pool in preparation for the race on Sunday. It was a great time. The marina in Villeneuve-Loubet is a short walk from the hotel and this is where we ate dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Friday at a French restaurant called Flora. The food and service were both incredible, highly recommend. Saturday night we decided to try the Michelin starred restaurant, La Flibuste. This was also delicious, however, if you are like me and forget to take your heartburn pills, maybe skip the wine pairings, or you will die. Wine gives me heartburn, I drink it anyway. At both restaurants I did something CRAZY: I ate my food before I took photos of it. Apologies for being a bad millennial. Here’s the marina though.
Now for race day. We bought our tickets directly through the Formula 1 website. They have a range of prices and different viewing areas, but we chose the marina view, which run about €550 each. Worth it.
We took the train from Villeneuve-Loubet to Monaco-Monte Carlo. The train ride takes about 45 minutes and you don’t need a passport to cross borders. Once in Monte Carlo it’s a pretty simple walk down to the event. The Grand Prix takes over the whole city, so you can’t miss it.
Yes, we are divided on which teams we route for, and no, neither of our teams won. Oh well, it was still AWESOME. Watching and hearing those cars in person is something else.
Getting home was a bit trickier. It seems like every person who wasn’t on a yacht was taking the train home, so the wait to get into the station took a WHILE. It was being regulated by the police so the platforms wouldn’t overcrowd. At least there was good views while waiting to get in.
Pro tip for the train: maybe check to see which stops it goes to. Maybe learn French sometime. I’m not saying we got on one that didn’t stop at Villeneuve-Loubet, but if we had, the taxi ride back from the next station wouldn’t have been too bad…
Once we made it back to the hotel, we ate dinner there, passed out, then headed back to London the next morning, but not before catching this view. Success.
*Waves checkered flag*
Byyeeeeee
P.S. Thanks Mom and Dad.
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