Learn me Attending Canadian GP

Short story is my parents are considering taking me and my family to the Canadian GP in June! That is super exciting although a bit anxiety inducing since I know nothing about attending an F1 race and I know it will cost a bunch of $ and I want everyone to have a nice time. My kids are 10 and 13 and both big F1 fans. 

I see the official seat at F1.com are sold out but there are seats on stub hub and vivid seats. Can anyone advise on a good place to get tickets (I have no idea what grandstands are good or bad or blasted by sun or hard to get to)? Also interested to hear opinions on lodging for 4 adults and 2 kids. 

We would be driving it is only a 4-5 hour drive for us.

Thanks

I have been looking  at lodging. I can find AirBNB's for 3-500 per night that are big enough for 6 comfortably but they are either 40 minutes East or 55 minutes west of the track. Anything that is downtown is silly expensive. I haven't found any open hotels yet. 

Found 1, it's a holiday in. 2 rooms Friday-Monday is $6,329, yikes. 

Awesome! I've been to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for its NASCAR event years ago. I love the venue. I love Montreal.

The best part about the track is it's easily accessible by Metro - just keep that in mind when finding lodging.

Parking can be tough in the city - and I'd imagine that goes up a notch when F1 is in town.

Wherever you park, add an extra dose of vigilance - cars do get broken into downtown (like any major city). Don't keep anything out in the open.

Good luck on hotels. I always felt Montreal was woefully inadequate in that department.

In reply to J.A. Ackley :

The metro is a good tip, Thanks!

I'm also interested, as I recently bought tickets for this.  I bought mine through Vivid, it is typical ticket seller bullE36 M3 and fees and whatnot.  We ended up with four seats in section 34.  We got an Air BNB for the two of us right on the southern (eastern?) bank of the river right next to that train station which is just one stop on the yellow line.  I think it was $250ish/night all in from Thursday to Monday.  Our friends we are going with are staying in the city at a Hilton of some sort as they have points.  

Apparently the only real way on and off the island is the Metro from what I have read.  Nice that you can bring in coolers and whatnot, not as clamped down as I thought it would be.  

There are several good sites out there that show the views from each grandstand so you can pick what you like.  I was surprised that 34 was still open as it seems like a great view to me of both coming and going, unlike 15 where you are soooo far away due to the runoff room.  I suggest looking at these to find the right cost/value ratio for you.  Apparently GA tickets are not good as there are no hills to stand on to actually see anything.  

In reply to Sonic :

Thanks, I found one site that was helpful https://www.thef1spectator.com/canadian-grand-prix-travel-guide/where-to-watch/

I will keep this thread updated when / if we start to lock down plans

Now I'm wanting a proper smoked meat sandwich and a good bagel for breakfast... I do like Montréal but have never been for the Grand Prix . 

I've rented rooms from the university downtown. And I'm only over the border in Vermont. Otherwise I drive up and back each day. We park over the channel to the northeast of the track and ride the metro across the water to the island.

I've always had seats inside the hairpin (the "stadium") at the north end of the track. Great view as they come screaming down the left side into your peripheral to break for the hairpin, then scrabble for traction as they take off coming towards you down to the pit straight on the right. Plus they have big screens showing action from around the track. 

Gets hot in June. Especially on the aluminum seats. Bring something to sit on. And a hat.

Stay downtown and use the metro if you can.

I think best is to come for practice, qualifying, and support races(Friday/Saturday), then go back to the hotel and watch the race from the comfort of AC (Sunday).

We rent a cabin at a KoA (KoC?) campground with a pool, which is great, but is not air conditioned and might be a little tight for more than 3 or 4 people. Maybe rent two.

We drive to the Longueuil station and take the Metro to the island.

Even though I am not a gambler, we ate at Casino de Montreal one night when we couldn't get a table anywhere else. It's (sort of) government owned, so it's a big step down from the typical casino experience, almost like eating in a cafeteria.

The night before an F1 race can be one of the best spectacles that you will ever witness.

If you are with your family, coworkers, or anyone else that you might see regularly in the future, absolutely do not bring them to a place called Club Wanda's (1458 De La Montagne, Montreal, Quebec).
 

There, you may encounter faces that are familiar to you from the internet. 

So it looks like we may also be in Grandstand 34. My parents said tickets first and then we will deal with lodging. It looks like there are options and since we will have a couple of senior citizens and a couple of kids we probably don't want to be anywhere near Club Wanda's or any other night life!

In reply to NY Nick :

Go to Pasta Napoli in the Latin Quarter. Great Italian food when last I went.

What are peoples thoughts about going on Saturday? I have tickets for Sunday now but debating buying Saturday tickets. Is it worth dragging 2 people in their late 70's and 2 kids around the place for the extra day?

T-4 days until we head to Montreal. Over the past few months I have been doing a lot of work with a company in Longueuil so I have had a lot of resources to help me plan some things. We decided to do things in the city on Saturday. Sunday shows a 60% chance of rain so that should be interesting. 

We ended up with an AirBNB in Old Montreal on Saint Laurent street. It is supposed to be very close to a lot of good happenings in the city. Parking will be awful but I have a few back up plans if needed. I plan to unload our stuff in the AirBNB, park my truck and not see it again until Monday. 

vwcorvette (George, and I care that it's your real name) I will be in grandstand 34, I think that is where you said you usually sit, typically I would have a GRM shirt on but I will be wearing a Lewis shirt instead, I should be the only one with that and easy to spot...

We are going to be there too, also in grandstand 34, 2 U 15-18.  Have tickets for all 3 days. We have an air bnb in longueuil right by the metro station.  My wife and I will both have white Mercedes polos on Sunday.  

In reply to Sonic :

I am in T, I think 1-6 but I have to check. I will look for the while Merc Polos!

Dumb question, how do you get to grandstand 34? Is there a bridge or a tunnel or do you have to wait for designated times to cross the track. 

Everyone has to take the Metro to the Jean Drapeau park station, then go to the cosmos entrance over the bridge, which puts you right near 34.  There's no bridge or tunnel there, not sure how far you would need to walk to find a bridge or tunnel.  We were planning on getting there early enough to make it to the infield across the track. 

I'm here now.  To get to 34 you turn right after you get to the circuit and after 100yards or so on the left is a bridge over the track to get to the infield.  
 

Thanks for the insight Sonic! I'll be on the way there in a little bit. Can't wait to see my first F1 race!

We went 8 years ago and we made the mistake of not getting actual seats.  We just happened to be posted up in those trees to the right of that pic though.  Ah, memories!

Wow, those look like pretty good seats!

FP 1.5 finally underway after 1 was cut short

The last time I was there was in 1967........

I lived 50 miles away and never made it to a Grand Prix. 

It's gonna rain