Before you depart for your Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter, get to grips with all the finer details to ensure your time at the F1 fixture is as enjoyable as possible.
Monaco is world renowned as the Mediterranean’s capital of glamour and prestige. Yet its status as an independent city-state and tax-free haven often cause concern over visas and passports. Likewise, what do you wear in one of the wealthiest places on the planet and what’s the best way to arrive?
Some common questions asked by Monaco Grand Prix yacht-goers prior to their arrival are listed below, alongside expert answers providing invaluable advice and insider tips.
There is no strict dress code at the Monaco Grand Prix, but there are still some considerations to be made when packing for your Formula One superyacht charter.
For daytime viewing aboard a superyacht, smart casual dress is recommended. As temperatures can exceed 20 degrees and the best viewing spots are unlikely to be shaded, it will be too hot for suits and ties. With the weather mind, you’ll be likely to need sunglasses and sunscreen too.
Temperatures, however, dip quite rapidly when the sun goes down, so you may want to take a jacket. Also, as shoes aren’t permitted on board superyachts, those considering wearing high heels may want to switch to flats, especially as heels aren’t very practical when climbing into and out of a tender.
The nearest airport to Monaco is the Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE). Around 22 kilometres away from the centre of the principality, it serves more than 100 destinations from around the world. Once you’ve landed, there are a number of ways of reaching Monaco.
The most impressive and, at seven minutes, the quickest is by helicopter. Transfers usually include a chauffeur to pick you up from the Monaco Helipad and take you directly to your hotel or superyacht. Visitors could also charter a private jet and land at Monaco’s private helipad further in land.
Another option is to take a taxi, which will cost between 90 and 130 euros. A 21-minute rail trip is also possible after catching the No 99 shuttle bus to Nice-Ville station, while buses run directly from the airport’s terminals into Monaco. The 110 Express takes around 45 minutes.
Monaco is part of Schengen region, so anyone who holds a European passport will not need a visa to enter. Likewise, citizens of America, Australia and the UAE do not need a visa to visit Monaco, if their stay is under 90 days and their passport is valid for six months past their entry date.
Those travelling from other countries may need a visa to enter Monaco. Please visit the French Embassy website to find out more.
You will need a valid passport to visit Monaco, but as the principality has no border checkpoints, those arriving by rail or road, will not have to present their passports when travelling over the border from Nice. Yacht-goers arriving by superyacht, may have to present their passport at dock entry.
The culture in Monaco is similar to that in France, but there is a notable difference and this is the language with French, English and Italian commonly practised.
In public places, visitors will find a lot of signage is displayed in English and most staff at restaurants, bars, shops and pharmacies in the city centre will be able to speak English. It’s not uncommon to hear English being spoken in many places around Monte Carlo.
The local currency is the euro (EUR). There are seven denominations of the euro in banknotes, ranging from five to 200 euros. At the time of writing, the exchange rate between the dollar and pound is $1.13 dollars to €1.
In coins, the euro has eight denominations. Each coin has a varying design according to their issuing country, but this does not affect the euro’s value in different European countries.
There are plenty of banks and money exchange bureaus around Monaco and visitors should have no trouble exchanging money in all major currencies.
Typically, the best rates can be found at money exchange bureaus and there are plenty to be found in the malls - savvy travellers will avoid the bureaus located at the airport or at most hotels.
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