Formula 1

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AdamR

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I am not sure if this is the appropriate place for this topic, but I couldn't see anything obviously more appropriate.

I have booked to travel to Singapore at the end of this month to watch the Singapore Grand Prix. I am an F1 fan and will be travelling alone (Mrs AdamR was not interested and my mates could not afford the expense of flights and tickets just for a weekend).

I have decided to make this a bit of a tradition and aim to travel to at least one overseas GP each year. Next year I will do Melbourne (of course) and I am considering the other options. I cannot get away from work during April 2012, but otherwise I am available. It would be good if it was a venue where I could take my wife and (then) 6-year-old daughter for them to sight-see while I watch the race. It would also be good if it was close enough/cheap enough that I could find someone willing to go with me.

Since I am doing Singapore this year, next year I was thinking one (or more, if lucky) of Malaysia, Japan, Korea, India or Abu Dhabi (the closest circuits). My criteria are cost (travel, tickets, accommodation), language and general convenience. I don't speak anything other than English and school-French, so I need to be able to get by with just those. I am not particularly price sensitive, but I would prefer cheaper to more expensive if all else is equal.

Does anyone have any similar experiences they can share or advice they can give?

One other option, and starting to look more attractive, is to do a few weeks in Europe next year and work it around either the Silverstone-Hockenheim or Spa-Monza doubles. That is, obviously, likely to be much more expensive overall, but does make for a good family trip and kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

Thoughts?
 
Well, you could plonk the family in DXB and head over to the circuit - it's on the Dubai side of Abu Dhabi, and the family can lounge around and go to the souks, ski-mall, Burj Dubai etc. Might be easier accomodation wise, and there's plenty enough to do for a few days. English only wont be an issue.

Cant comment on Korea or Japan, but ISTR the circuits are a fair way out of town (out of the capitals at least) so that limits your options. But they're options nonetheless. They might be an option if you want to be away for a little longer.

It might be worth waiting and looking online for feedback on India this year - ISTR there's a resident F1 nut on AFF who's heading to multiple GPs this year including India. Get an impression of the circuit, viewing, accomodation, hassles etc. There's a TR started I believe but obviously the GP's some weeks away.

Malaysia - again it's a bit of a haul out of KL but a left field thought would be to make a proper holiday of it, go to Sabah or somewhere similar, and you head down for a day or two for the GP and have time before/after with family reaxing by the beach.

The "leave family at nice place and I go to the GP" might be a good option as accomodation for three during any GP tends to be pricey, whereas if you're going just for the day, or a brief overnight, you may not be as fussy on hotels and can afford somewhere less lavish. I guess there's some variability in what to do depending on what he family like to do on holidays (beach, explore, adventure etc).

The EU option is also a good one. With the use of a phrase book, i wouldnt let "english only" be a stumbling block.

Good luck! Oh, and you know a Trip Report is mandatory now you've asked for help. ;)
 
docjames said:
Well, you could plonk the family in DXB and head over to the circuit - it's on the Dubai side of Abu Dhabi, and the family can lounge around and go to the souks, ski-mall, Burj Dubai etc. Might be easier accomodation wise, and there's plenty enough to do for a few days. English only wont be an issue.
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That is a good idea. I hadn't really thought about how close Abu Dhabi is to Dubai. Not wanting to sound ignorant, but is Dubai feasible for a Western woman and little girl alone?

Oh, and you know a Trip Report is mandatory now you've asked for help. ;)
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Will do!
 
AdamR said:
That is a good idea. I hadn't really thought about how close Abu Dhabi is to Dubai. Not wanting to sound ignorant, but is Dubai feasible for a Western woman and little girl alone?
!
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I'd say yes in terms of major tourist attractions / hotels etc. Bear in mind you're there in the evening etc.

It's about 1hr by road. I'd imagine with some research you'll find shuttle buses or you could rent a car. Taxi was ~ $80.
 
Melb. good for extras to Shop.
Malaysia extra good for Shopping. Malaysia is the only country where i could say that going to the F1 is cheap. track tickets are cheap if you book before the end of the year. hotels are the cheapest by far. getting to the track is only about $30.00 AUD by taxi. ($80.00 you got ripped off bigtime) and then you organise with the driver to do every day there and back. or hook up with a few other people and share. have done KL 2006/07/10/11
Suzuka/Japan. not so easy. stayed in Nagoya (2.5 hours from Tokyo). unable to book hotel without it being a package tour, and getting to track is a little complicated. not much shopping unless you count the Noritake Museum and the Castle (loved the Castle and wished i'd gone to the museum, but with F1 3 long days, not so much time)

Shanghai is quite easy. Hotels not cheap. getting to the track via train is very easy once you've done it the first time.... 2005/2006/2007/2008/2011
Bahrain. OK, not much shopping. hotel not cheap. track tickets not cheap. 2007

Singapore. no cheap hotels. shopping good. not cheap track tickets.

am trying to book Abu Dhabi for this year now. hotels are difficult unless on a package tour at this stage, but i am trying to get a 2 bedroom apartment as there is 4 of us. some packages stay in Dubai and travel to AD by bus everyday. not keen to do that as have spend a week in Dubai in 2007 already. Dubai very safe for a woman and child. heaps of shopping available and water parks. they would have a great time.
will let you know about Europe next year, as planning 3 races in a row for May/June.

Feel free to ask more or PM me for any info on the above F1's

and this comes from the point of view of F1 female/ male partner and 15yo daughter who comes with us.

Kathe
 
Thanks KLN

Awesome post, great advice. I really need to find another F1 fan willing to travel. There are a couple of guys at work who watch the races, but I am not sure if they would travel OS for it. It sounds like it would be handy to have someone else with me for some of the races.
 
we have done at least 2 OS races a year, but have now vowed to do at least 1 new one, only in Asia so far. thought about Sing for this year, but with having done it the last 2 years, thought that AD was a better bet and better value
we always have one rule. don't do the first race of a new city. their infrastucture is always cough. i.e. don't do India this year. Korea maybe OK, but then again, maybe make the rule 2 years.
only other race not mentioned was Mt. Fuji. in 2009.
so AD a work in progress. just trying to work out how to get us their in J.

i think that KL next year would be a first good one OS. their are heaps of people there going to the track. we have a private car which is full, but have others who don't go until sat/sun who just organise a taxi between them for the sat/sun. they all just seem to meet up at a nightclub the night before, or the hotel lobby the next morning. hot though! just depends how long a day you want to do. we go all day, all 3 days, but have friends that only do sat/sun, and short days. saying that, easy to organise things to do in KL during the day while you're at the track for your family. heaps to do, and cheap still.
 
I do KL, Singapore, China most years. KL is definitely the cheapest.

Also been to pretty much all the European races since I used to do some work for Williams. Monza used to be very cheap but judging by the pricing I saw for this weekend that doesn't seem so any more

See you in Singapore in 2 weeks :) Turn 1 grandstand (although haven't booked flights yet). If you are coming through Sydney let me know and if flights align I can get 1 or 2 of you into the F lounge.

Caveat - all the above assumes that I can eventually get out of India - but as an aside I saw a massive billboard of Lewis and Jenson being erected in Bangalore this morning. The new Delhi race could also be a cheap option
 
One of my bucket lists is to attend the Monaco Grand Prix. I have already visited Monte Carlo but not when the F1 was on unfortunately :(
 
I can't add to much to the question however wanted to say I'm looking forward to the Singapore GP in a few weeks time!

Family/Friends don't understand why im going by myself... I just explain to them its therapeutic :)
 
simonpenny408 said:
See you in Singapore in 2 weeks :) Turn 1 grandstand (although haven't booked flights yet). If you are coming through Sydney let me know and if flights align I can get 1 or 2 of you into the F lounge.
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Thanks for the advice and offer. I am going through Melbourne, unfortunately. Flying Jetstar on Starclass fares booked just before the change and price increase. The whole idea actually started as a cheap status run holiday - it was only after I thought about it a bit more that I decided it would be a good idea to do it at GP time.

I am also sitting in the Turn 1 grandstand. A4, Row 4, seat 13. I was told that was the best place to sit, and I hope it is good for the price of tickets!
 
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I'm doing just walkabout this year. Had free seats at Turn 2 a couple of years ago.. went to book them this year and wow! :shock:

When's eveyone getting to Singapore? I'm on the 00:05 SQ landing at 6am Friday.
 
hummel said:
When's eveyone getting to Singapore?
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JQ7 from MEL, landing 4.50pm SIN time Thursday. I was intending to go JASA on QF, but the last cheap J seat went the day before my credit card points credited.
 
I think we've got a block of 10 tickets in Section 5 row 16.

Probably going up late Thursday or early Friday morning to get there in time for drinking with the lads. Probably have some spares for Friday night practice because none of us bother going to that
 
AdamR said:


Thanks for the advice and offer. I am going through Melbourne, unfortunately. Flying Jetstar on Starclass fares booked just before the change and price increase. The whole idea actually started as a cheap status run holiday - it was only after I thought about it a bit more that I decided it would be a good idea to do it at GP time.

I am also sitting in the Turn 1 grandstand. A4, Row 4, seat 13. I was told that was the best place to sit, and I hope it is good for the price of tickets!
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don't forget to go and check out all the other corners. turns 5/6 are excellent,as well as a the last corner. there is an open public viewing area there that is great to watch as they come around and head up the straight.
but check out all the area's too.
 
Now where's our serial F1G1 attendee Dr Mikki?

My brother if off to the SIN F1 shortly ex SYD. He books himself a red-e-deal SYD/ADL on QF81 then an upgradeable fare ADL/SIN same day/same flight on QF81 as you only need 22,000 points to upgrade ex ADL to J whereas ex SYD you need 40,000! For the sake of saving 18,000 points he can live with sitting in whY SYD/ADL.

He still gets his bag through checked from SYD to SIN & both boarding passes so doesn't need to do anything in ADL.
 
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