The jewel in the crown of any Formula One season is the Monaco Grand Prix, which takes place this year over the weekend of May 13-16th. The streets of the famous principality have played host to the Formula One world for eighty years.

The Monaco Grand Prix also has the (well-justified) reputation of attracting the rich and famous but every year tens of thousands of ordinary race fans flock there to view the sight and (incredible) sound of 200mph projectiles dicing with each other inches away from the barriers in what is almost gladiatorial style combat.

Monaco is a race that everyone even remotely interested in motor racing should do at least once – and there are travel packages that can be done on any scale of budget – from value packages organised by the specialist motor racing tour operators through to hospitality and accommodation on one of the large yachts in Monaco harbour.

On the organised tour side, Thoms Cook offer packages, from around £400 for a three day stay through to around £4000 per person, while Flight Options offer a VIP-style day trip to Monaco including flight, champagne breakfast, lunch, and dinner for £799 per person.

Because of the huge variety of viewing options tickets are normally in addition to the cost of the tour, so you pays your money and you takes your choice but a grandstand ticket is essential (unless you are yacht based) and they start from around £100 for race day (practice and qualifying days are substantially cheaper) and go up to around £400.

If you do want to make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and mix with the glitterati on a yacht in the harbour, again there are a large number of options.

One company who has been successfully hosting guests at the Monaco Grand for a number of years is F1 who operate a number of the Sunseeker yachts in the Monaco harbour. They offer two day full hospitality packages on yachts positioned near the F1 Drivers’ paddock which include grandstand seats by the famous Rascasse corner. Some accommodation on board is available and otherwise can be arranged if desired, as can flights and transfers. Packages start from around £2800.

Online travel agents also offer packages. A package with Lastminute starts at £606.62 per person and includes a three night stay at 3* hotel Scribe in Nice based on twin/double room sharing, daily Breakfast, ticket for Sunday’s race, Transfers hotel/circuit/hotel by private shuttle bus on Sunday and a group leader.

There are a huge variety of people who operate trips and tours to Monaco and people come into the market every year attracted by its fame and glamour and looking to make a fast buck.

Make sure that you book with an outfit who have Monaco experience and if in doubt, enquire.

Simon Maurice's Top three tips to ensure your Monaco experience:

1. Although you will find ladies in high heels and gents in couture shoes, it’s better to wear something sensible on your feet, as road closures often make a lot of walking a necessity.

2. Make sure to take something waterproof as Monaco has had its fair share of wet races over the years and take a hat or head covering of some sort as you will need it whether it is sunny or rainy.

3. Earplugs/ear defenders are a necessity! - you won’t believe how noisy a Formula One car around the streets of Monaco is, until you experience it first hand, by which stage it will be too late.

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To get to Monaco, fly to Nice, then catch a bus/train/helicopter.

4 May 2010