[LM24] Le Mans - the FAQ's (Information Only - Not for Chat!)

[valedave]

Re: 1. Best place to camp is totally subjective. What are you looking for in a campsite? Loud parties into the wee hours or a quiet, relaxed site? Close to the track or is distance from the action not a problem?

[GT6]

Originally Posted by morningview66

A couple of questions. Just wondering what people think are:
1. Best places to camp?
2. Best places to park?

Reasons why might also be helpful.

Thanks

Well there is a big question, plenty of good stuff on beermountain.com to tell you about the campsites as for parking you will not need it if you have a on site camping slot, but if you use one of the private campsites you may need to book a parking space, however some of those campsites do provide transport to/from the circuit.
Most of the popular sites will be hard to get this close to the race but some do appear on various forums and even on e bay, the ACO does have spaces on the larger cheaper sites still left and that would be the best place to buy them, no mark up and no need to buy overpriced race tickets, get them when you arrive.

If you post a idea of what your ideal camping would be we can recommend a site or two but suspect that this late you will just have to get what you can, however I would say that what ever you get you will be amazed at le man and probably start planning 2014 before you leave

[morningview66]

Thanks for the replies and info.

The ACO seems to only have space left in the Yellow campsite, so i am looking to get on and book as soon as possible.

I have seen on some forums rumours that booking a campsite direct with the ACO is not definite and that you just get put onto an unguaranteed waiting list. Is this true?

Also what is the process for getting hold of the actual tickets, are they sent, or do i have to pick them up?

Thanks again

[GT6]

There has always been problems due to the high demand for certain sites, however that is only applicable when the booking site opens as everyone asks for the popular sites and not all can get them.
At the moment if you book on the ACO site and they still have availablility you will get what you order. If you feel unable to trust the ACO then use Nadine at the Le Mans tourist office, many on here including myself use this route.

BOUTTIER Nadine <nadine.bouttier@ville-lemans.fr>;

Trust her she will get you the best site available and you pay cost plus postage no more

Ticket/camping passes are sent out in April/May by post

[Aysedasi]

I know that Simon will rib me again for suggesting it - I guess it depends upon your level of desire and what you're prepared to pay - but there are agencies which will be able to sort out some campsites which the ACO can't - simply because the ACO sell a big wodge of the camping spaces to the agencies every year.

Having spoken to Brian Sheehan of 1st Tickets, a number of sites are definitely sold out, but Bleu Nord, Expo, Beauséjour as well as Arnage and Mulsanne are still available.

I'm getting a clear impression that camping spaces have gone much faster this year than last. It all comes down to what you want and if what you really want is only available from an agency - you pays your money and takes your choice.

If there is a particular camping site that takes your fancy, it's always worth asking on here if anyone has a spare ticket - sometimes it happens.....

[GT6]

I think all of those sites are still available on the ACO sites, but if you do want a particulat site then try all the accredited agencies there I am aware that some do still have camping places on even the most popular sites.

[Aysedasi]

The ACO have Beauséjour as well as Dairon and Pincenardiere, but not Bleu Nord or Expo.

[Simmi]

It would be interesting to see if the increase in camping take up corresponds to a larger number ending up on ebay again.

I wasn't really looking last year but it seemed like there weren't as many up for grabs?

[GT6]

After seeing many camping tickets going begging in 2011 on e bay last year there were very few and a lot of them seemed to be agencies off loading unsold stock, always a few on the various forums, just looked in the ACO site and only yellow left, a couple of weeks ago there were Expo and a few others so yes tickets are selling fast

[Gingers4Justice]

I've got a G4J Top Tip here for the campers.

Save some space in your stomach for a morning Super U trip. All of them have cafes in them where you can have a lovely French lady make food for you - and here's the best bit - you can eat it with a knife and fork on a clean plate. The coffee's always good too.

The Hyper U in ecommoy has my special blessing for this little luxury.

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by morningview66

A couple of questions. Just wondering what people think are:
1. Best places to camp?
2. Best places to park?

Reasons why might also be helpful.

Thanks

For best places to camp and the reasons why, see:

http://beermountain.com/index.php?page=campsites

Most all parking area's are to be found close to or inside the confines of the track, near the grandstands and the Village.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I've got a G4J Top Tip here for the campers.

Save some space in your stomach for a morning Super U trip. All of them have cafes in them where you can have a lovely French lady make food for you - and here's the best bit - you can eat it with a knife and fork on a clean plate. The coffee's always good too.

The Hyper U in ecommoy has my special blessing for this little luxury.

Sorry G4J - you missed the best bit .... you can use their toilets....

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I've got a G4J Top Tip here for the campers.

Save some space in your stomach for a morning Super U trip. All of them have cafes in them where you can have a lovely French lady make food for you - and here's the best bit - you can eat it with a knife and fork on a clean plate. The coffee's always good too.

The Hyper U in ecommoy has my special blessing for this little luxury.

I know to some people on here eating in a supermarket cafe/food court is not even considered, but I always find them good honest and cheap.
We always stop off at bernay on the way down for lunch, the supermarket has a lovely cafe over looking the car park so we can see when interesting cars arrive and the hand made Pizza's are very good, never manage to eat it all as the toppings are so generous.
during the classic we usually have at least one meal at the Carrefore in Le mans, again the food is good and i would recommend it, you can always tell the quality of a place by the popularity and a small group of english sitting alone outside a french cafe usually tells me that the locals would not recommend the place, whereas a suoermarket food court full of locals tells me something different.
Food snobbery by english visitors us often repaid by over priced poor quality food and worse.

[rdjones]

I always used to have lunch up at Flunch in Carrefor if I was down there for the week.

[Aysedasi]

Ah, Flunch is quite 'famous' to the members of Team DoT......