EUROPEAN FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX

This was our first F1 race so we thought we'd go for the better tickets - paying £500 per ticket for P3 seats.

Now when I looked at the circuit map online the seats looked great, in-between the starting grid and the first corner - excellent I thought! ... But upon arriving for Fridays practice there in lies a big 'Telefonica' footbridge blocking my view of the starting grid, pit-lane and believe it or not the podium. Now when you pay £500 for a single ticket based on diagrams put online, you'd expect nothing to be blocking your view (the bridge was not specified anywhere on the website). The bridge was built especially for the race to allow VIP's to cross the circuit - fair enough, but maybe someone should have told the race organizers to maybe build it at the back of the starting grid where it doesn't block any views!!! ... We weren't the only ones surprised / angered by that, people around us didn't expect it either.

Its a dilemma, because if you get seats in the first 3-4 rows the bridge will not block your view, but then you have to watch the race through a meshed fence (not great). The higher up you go, the better the view of the race, but blocks your view of the above mentioned.

You need a TV in front of you ideally when going the F1 - we had one, but alas was during the qualifying it wasn't working (well not for the full time!)

For £500 you could maybe expect a little bit more aswell. All you get is tickets to Friday, Saturday & Sunday. To actually walk along the starting grid / circuit we had to queue in the F1 beach park to get a 'FREE' ticket. Why BookF1 couldn't provide a ticket for us I don't know, after all it is FREE. We also bought a program for 10 Euro - again maybe this is something BookF1 should include into the more expensive tickets to make the experience that little bit better.

For the race I would not pay £500 again - I would pick another seat around the circuit, so long as it has a TV to view.

Valencia as a race is ok, like most / all street circuits it doesn't allow for much over-taking. Valencia as a city is very nice... great beach, nice food / bars and the F1 beach park erected next to the circuit allows you to drink the day / night away. It is very easy to get around with a great Metro / underground service. You can get the Metro from the airport to the centre for about 3 Euro.

Our First trip to a Grand Prix. My wife and I spent a very long weekend in Valencia. Lovely City. Very accessible race track to the City. Good public transport access. Got a Tram to the front door of Circuit on first day. Ample frequent bus transport to our own Gate (N3 N4) on race days. Good atmosphere. Hot and sunny. Boisterous crowd. Local element were very pro-Alonso and vocally anti-Hamilton. Catering a bit costly - but Hey, we don't do that every day. Some Licensing Glitch on Main Race Day (Sunday) - Beer not for sale (Eh?).
Would go again

Expected more F1 and sponsor blurb, also difficult to get the pit lane walk.

I purchased surprise 2 x tickets for my son and I for the Valencia Street Circuit, unfortunately something came up and we were unable to use the tickets. No fault of the tickets, it was such a shame when my son is such a Ferrari supporter and we had never been to an F1 before, he was especially keen on this race as he was hopeful to see Michael Schumcher. Hopefully another time

first street circuit attendance, limited views due to style of circuit. stands were very tight in seating when all were full could not move. due to heat circuit should have had covered stands as peoplr were passing out due to heat and close proximity of others. Organisers need to sort it out a little better.

Very disappointing due to lack of atmosphere and bad organisation of the food and beverage service.

Overall, we had a great weekend. We had a reasonable view of the circuit with a big screen directly in front of us, which partially made up for the fact that the Kangaroo TV pick up point was too far away and inaccessible from our part of the circuit. The toilet facilities were adequate, a long line of portaloos. My main complaint was that on race day the service of beer was intermittent and I couldn’t determine why. One minute they were serving beer and the next they had stopped and I don’t think it was because they had run out. It was pretty poor really. The food on offer wasn’t very good either, on Saturday or Sunday.

The weekend was good. Would have been nice to walk to other areas and see what the seats would have been like.

What can I say, excellent weekend and with having the weekend pass we were able to get free tickets to a pit walk which was fantastic. We were in row 5 of Grandstand G4 and again we couldn't have asked for better view of the track. Some say its a boring track but I love it and can't wait to return. The only comment was the weather it was extremely hot over the race weekend and especially on the Sunday with temperatures reaching 40 degrees, this shouldn't be an issue next year as I understand they are looking at moving the race to the end of June when it is a bit cooler. Go enjoy the race and enjoy the fabulous city of Valencia.

As my first GP experience it was awesome atmosphere to hear the cars up close, nothing prepares you for how loud everything is!
We went on a really hot weekend and it was not easy sitting under the hot sun. Wide brim hats definitely recommended, would be good if stands were covered for sun protection.
Only one small TV screen was provided for 2 large stands so not easy to keep upto date with what is going on in the race. Bigger screen or more screens should be provided, recommend bringing a personal radio so you can tune into commentary somehow.
N4 location - near the hairpin so occasionally catch some overtaking moves or cars spinning off.
Next time will save up and try grand-stand!

We had a splendid weekend and we are very impressed with the arrrangement . No problem at all! And: Valencia is a fantastic town.

we had sunday race tickets only in general admission but were impressed with the area reserved for this purpose. about 30 ft from the track but not a very long stretch for viewing from the wall where we were. the other downfall was that there was no tv screen in the immediate vicinity. however, you were free to move around the area which was quite extensive so were able to watch more of the action but from further away and were then able to see tv screens in different areas. on the whole very impressed and cant wait to do it all again.

Overall my partner and I really enjoyed Valencia. We have been to several tracks (try to go to one each year) and found some aspects of Valencia to be better than others, some aspects not so good. I will try to give a fair overview. Please bear in mind that we are very fussy, so anything that I say is good has to be good! The Great: Getting into the city, parking, access to the track and Kangaroo TVs fantastic. On the Friday we parked in a road (free) approx 20-30 minute walk from the track. Saturday and Sunday we parked in the University car park (this was open and FREE for race weekend and there were very polite young men at the entrance, possibly students helping out). It was also more than half empty both days so we don't think it had been advertised enough. Right next to this car park is a tram stop. There were officials at the tram stop, helping you purchase tickets etc. It was only a couple of euros each (return) each day and the tram took us right to the track area. I think it was 7 stops. There are two trams which run from the university stop; one takes you fairly close to the track plus you will have a short walk as it then turns and does a circular route. The other (sorry, can't remember the number but think it was 5) takes you right to the track area. We got off at stop 'Grau'. The trams were lovely and clean and air conditioned. Fabulous service. Same on return. PS the car parks signposted as you drive to the circuit are approx 30 euros for parking - and quite a walk away. We rented Kangaroo TVs for the weekend. This is the first time we have tried them and they are FANTASTIC. I was a bit sceptical and thought I would spend the whole time twiddling buttons, not getting anywhere and annoying my partner with "how do I do such and such ....etc" (I'm a very non technical female). They were so easy to use, really clear commentary (we tuned into BBC commentary), you can check any information at any time, re-run parts of the race, listen to team radios, sit on board with any driver etc etc. I really cannot stress enough how great they were. We knew everything that was going on during the race and more. We will definitely hire them again. In fact, I don't think I would like to NOT have them at a race now! Now, the Disappointing: We always buy the best tickets we can, almost always opposite the pits as I like to have a nose at what is going on there - I might not be technical, but I am nosey! For Valencia we purchased P3, which is shown to be opposite the pits on most circuit maps. Our seats were about half way up the stand, towards the left as you face the stand. (NB: there were a large number of seats adjacent to us which were empty the whole weekend, we assume they were not sold because of restricted viewing). Approx £500 per seat (3 days). They were NOT opposite the pits. P1 and P2 are opposite the pits. P3 is opposite the pit lane exit. Now, this would not have been too bad if it had not been for the bridge (with advertising) which crossed the track between P3 and P2. It obliterated the whole of the pit lane and a huge part of the track to our right. We could just about see the cars in the distance to the right (but only for a second as they had come from a bend), they were then blocked from our view by the bridge before appearing in front of us and then driving off to our left. Very very very disappointing. We honestly could not even see the garages and could only see the last little bit of the pit lane. I took the least photos I have ever taken at a Grand Prix. Probably the most expensive tickets we have bought and the worst view. Fortunately the Kangaroo TV compensated somewhat for this. Must mention that the seats in the last couple of rows (top) of the stand P3 could probably see a bit more of the track. The 2 guys next to us also expressed their disappointment and, I think, were going to complain later. Now the Could Be Improved: We took our own water each day, frozen the night before (we were staying in a villa) and also our own food. We are glad we did because there were hardly any facilities for food etc. I guess this is due to it being a street circuit and there are places to eat close by BEFORE you enter the circuit area. Although we took our own water we did notice that water could be purchased in shops just prior to entering the circuit, much cheaper than at the circuit. I think it was around 2 euros for a 1.5 litre bottle. We did buy fresh orange juice and ice drink (it was lemon, cold, slushy and really refreshing) at the circuit and these were 4.5 euros and 3.5 euros respectively. The ice drink was great. The portaloos were ok, never luxurious or great, but they did flush and were quite passable. Phew! That's just about it. Overall we enjoyed Valencia and would go back, although this is unlikely as we have so many other circuits to visit. We would not purchase P3 again. Never did get to the bottom of what P1 and P2 are all about. We think they must be corporate, employees or sponsors etc. They are covered stands (the only ones at the track) and are right opposite the pit lane, garages etc. We had previously read that NO stands at the track are covered. If you are still awake, hope some of these hints and tips help. Have a great time if you go next year!!

Great time at the event - Weather was mostly too hot.
Would have liked more places to go for shade / sit and have a drink.

getting into valencia was easy at around 11.30 to watch the practice. Very well organised and my seat in G1 was really good. TV screen right opposite. Only thing was that because you have to wear earplugs is you cannot hear the commentary or listen to the radio which I bought off bookf1 so you miss what is going on sometimes. It was the most amazing experience but would like to try a more exciting venue.

Valencia is a beautiful city. We visited on the Wednesday to check out parking and found that signage was excellent so found free parking no problem and this was also the case on race day (we only had race day tickets). On the Wednesday we visited the 'Beach Park' where there was supposed to be 'lots to see and do' but found this a little disappointing and uneventful with only Toyota providing a big entertainments facility. We were, however, able to book a track walk (with 3 day tickets you can book a pit-lane walk) which was free. We returned on the Friday evening for a track walk and this was excellent. We were able to walk the length of the start/finish straight and see the crews working on the cars in all the garages which was awsome. Plenty of photos here.
Race day: We had tickets for G1 which provided good views as the cars slowed slightly for the corner and headed for the start/finish. The downside was the heat, 35 degrees celcius and no cover at all. Sun tan lotion and hat essential, especially something to cover the neck as well as water - we took 2 large bottles of iced water, frozen the night before. Ice lollies for 2 adults/2children cost us 16 Euros - the most expensive frozen water I've ever purchaced. There was a large tv screen in front of us and the option to rent Kangeroo TV (cost 60 Euros with a 200 Euro deposit, 10 Euro's off if you spotted the voucher in a book picked up in the Beach Park 4 days earlier). Note that video cameras weren't allowed altho there were plenty of people with still cameras. Also remove the tops from any bottles (we stuffed ours in pockets prior to entering) but security are quite strict and search bags. All in all an excellent 1st grand prix for our children (13 & 8) and apart from the sun burn we really enjoyed the experience.

good overall, but the screens were a little small to read race times and positions

Agreat weekend, spoiled only by silly beer pricing

Good access to circuit but poor facilities inside the grounds and view was slightly more restricted than expected.

Great weekend. No complaints. Would definitely book through you again.