bros2

[Edited by bros2 - 7/2/2003 4:03:07 PM]

rob oneill

Hi.
Im planning to drive down to Monaco with my girlfriend in a few months time, stopping off on the way camping, and the staying a couple of nights in a posh hotel in Monaco to live it up a little ;-) Also want to take the scoob round the grand prix circuit
Then camp on the way back.
Was thinking of doing it in about 10 days, dont want to be driving every day, all day.
Has anyone done this, any advice for me. Not even worked out how far it is yet.
Also, do they have SUL in France?
Cheers, Rob.

NACRO

as far as SUL goes- yes they do have it. Also it is 98 RON instead of 97, I last bought some a few weeks ago and it varied between 96-103 euro cents per litre (about 70p).

As far as driving goes I would drive via Champagne region, then down towards Orange/Arles, Aix en Provence, Nice and finally Monaco.

Freak

Good luck driving round the circuit.....traffic... lol hardly going to be doing race speeds or getting it sideways.

You will be amazed at how narrow it actually is and how big the drivers ***** are for racing around there.

Im sure someone will post up details of toll roads etc to use.

It really is a beautiful place and well worth visiting-dont forget to visit the japanese garden too.Stunning

rob oneill

Cheers guys, thats a good start.
Keep em comin

*Sonic*

I wouldnt even attempt to go over the speed limit around the 'grand prix' circuit, as apparently there are police all over the place, just waiting to do just that

Itv F1 did a bit about it last year, and they come down hard on speeders in Monaco, due to the F1 GP being held there, and all the wannabees

Not saying you will Rob, have a fantastic time tho, Ive been thinking about doing a similar sort of thing myself, and having a drive round the 'circuit'

Steve

rob oneill

Yeah, just want to see the sights realy, check out all the Ferraries and multi million pound yachts. looks like a great place.
Cheers.

Chris L

We did it in a Renault Clio hire car when we were down for the Monte Carlo Rally. What a place! Totally unreal - not as expensive as you first think (unless you choose to stay in Casino Square ).

Driving the grand prix circuit is a real laugh. We followed a fab Diablo around and we were all hanging out the windows listening to it as we went through the tunnel - he must have thought he had a bunch of nutters following him

Haven't driven down myself, but we did do a 6 hour drive down from Santander to Lloret De Mar for the Catalunya Rally. It is not a million miles to get to Monte Carlo, once you are down there. Toll roads are great, if a little expensive. Very few of the locals seemed to use them, so it was great with a dozen Scoobs

When we went down for the MC Rally, we stayed in Nice which is a bit of a dump (let's face it, everywhere is a bit of a dump when you've been to Monaco ), so I would try to get a hotel in Monte Carlo itself.

Good luck and enjoy it - truely a unique experience.

Chris

Apple

at least you can get directions and a street map from autoroute...

NACRO

You could also make a trip to St Tropez which seems to feature the same kind of rich boys toys as Monaco with the added advantage of far more model girl types and a cheaper prices. Also in my opinion a bit more class than Monaco which has seedy tax haven connotations.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Where is your start point in France?
When I've done this route, I've only used toll roads as far as St Quentin, then gone off onto the D1 via Soissons, Chateau Thierry, Sezanne, Troyes, (although A26 all the way is quicker), A5 to Langres, A31 to Dijon, join A39/A40 to junct 7(Bourg en Bresse South) then onto the N75.
You then have a choice of following the N75/N85 via Grenoble, Gap, Sisteron, Digne, Grasse, Cannes, and then N7 out of season, or A8 in season to Monaco,
or you can follow N75 only as far as the D522 to Bourgoin, which is signed "Route Bis" all the way to Aix en Provence, where you'd join N7 or A8 again.
The former route takes you on the famous "route Napoleon" through some of the nicest scenery in France, while the latter route is quiet, easy to follow, loads of twisties, and through vinyards and fields of lavender.....in fact the later part is called the "routes des vignes", and wine is cheap and excellent.
You could always go one way and return the other......
If you're camping, invest in a Michelin Camping France guide, which lists loads of reasonable sites wherever you go.
Alcazar

Chrisgr31

Have driven down there several times myself. If taking time over it do go the scenic route. Get a road atlas and look for the routes with a thick green line down one side of them. Some of them offer spectactular views. As someone else said take the Route Napeolen from Grenoble to Canned via Gap and Grasse. Its a fnatastic route but is very slow, as its along the sides of the mountains.

We crossed another mountain between St Etienne and Grenoble it was interesting as it started snowing! Trying to snow with only a kerb between the sliding car and a several hundred foot job was interesting!

A trip to the champagne area is good, remember to stay overnight there though!

I'd leave plans flexible so you can stop when and where you want!

NACRO

I agree with other suggestions here try driving the Route Napoleon a truly awesome road that zig zags its way up and down some mountains.
Nice places around there include Pont-en-Royans nr Grenoble and much of the surrounding area including the Parc de Ecrins and other places in the Haute Alpes.

Mossman

Columbus Hotel in Monaco is lovely - co-owned by Coulthard.
Mossman

ChrisB

Taken outside the Columbus earlier this year (by me )



<Drooool>

Claudius

St Tropez is much more expensive than Monaco. St Tropez is a shïtty fisher village with a few night clubs and millionnaires. Some posers from MC go there, but it's really very uninteresting.

Route Napoléon is great! And so is RN7 from MC to Nice and all the mountain roads and special stages just outside MC.

If you speed in MC, chances are you get caught. 300 policemen on 1.5 sq miles! They will only fine you 22.50 EUR though. Just be careful

NACRO

LOL@st tropez ****ty fishing village!

its pretty expensive but nothing compared to Monaco!

I agree its overrated but if you wanna see the ultra rich at play then its as good a choice as Monaco.

Also as I said before muchos babes.

Tim-Grove

Bloody hell the frogs get ripped off just like us then!!!