The Racing hotel is just up from the La Source entrance to the circuit so it's nice and close. What price are they quoting you, some of my friends went to a site around there that was just a temporary site and they were charged a fortune
What facilities do they have? I think it is only a temporary site.
We stay here at Camping Eau Rouge it's a really nice family site but it is a good hours walk to the Karting entrance of the circuit.
Hi Piglet, thanks for the response and info. We are going to book via "traveldestinations" tel 08700 339923, we have been to Ireland twice and to the LeMans Classic this year with them. They are very good, I think they are quoting around £140 per person, everything included, i.e. tunnel crossing, entry to race circuit (6 hors of Spa, 25th to 27th Sept 2009), paddock entry and campsite fees. According to the guy at Travel Destinations the Racing hotel site is a proper campsite with proper facilities (unlike the field we had at LeMans). I fear the worst problem might be that we're told it rains a lot there at that time of year. The website is www.sixhoursofspa.co.uk I'll have a look at camping eau rouge, but I don't fancy an hours walk to the track. Let us know if you are going, we'll try and meet up! Also if you find out any more please share it, as I will. Cheers,
Hi Deemo, It looks OK and if they tell you that it's got facilities then it should be OK. Spa is fantastic, do make sure you take time to walk around different bits of the circuit. You can drive up to Les Combe and park and that is the road that forms part of the old long GP circuit. You can then walk round some of the rest of the circuit fairly easily. Do also make sure you walk up Eau Rouge, it's hard going on your calf muscles but worth it to see the incline.
If you've got some time then do go into Spa itself, there are some nice bars in the square and a funicular railway which runs up to the new Thermal Spa at the top of the hill which is lovely.
Stavelot is nice and there is a small supermarket at Malmedy (follow the signs to the railway, keep going and you'll find it). There is a butcher and a baker in Francorchamps (which is where the Racing Hotel is) and their croissants are lovely. The bar just above the Racing Hotel is popular and does nice food.
With regard to weather, Spa is very unpredictable no matter what time of year you go. Go equipped with waterproofs, water and sunscreen - and that's just for the first morning! When it's wet it is very very wet so you need to take good waterproofs, with luck you'll carry them around the whole weekend and not use them.
We've never been to this event but go to the FIA GT 24 hours at the end of July, we didn't go this year (first year for 10 years I haven't been to Spa), we usually got for a week as there is lots to see and do in the area.
------------- Piglet
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Just been reading your information on Spa, and it is of great interest. We are thinking of doing the 24 Race you mention in July - it seems very difficult to find good information on where to camp. The site you mention - we are all pretty fit, but is it a viable option after spending all day out watching the cars?
Are there any other campsites that you would recommend nearer the circuit - we don't mind noise.
Stayed in Spa, (actually Francorchamps), September last year for the F1 and spent several hours drinking in the Racing Hotel. We camped at one of the many houses that rent out their grounds to tents, caravan and motorhomes. These houses tend to have limited facilities like no EHU for tents, portaloos and no onsite shop. The area behind the Racing Hotel looked better organised for caravans / motorhomes though not 100% sure of the facilities. The field we stayed in cost €135 for three days (arrived Friday PM and left Monday AM) and was just what 6 blokes needed! Not sure if the locals do this for other motoring events. We didn't book, just drove in and paid the money. Very straightforward.
I was lucky enough to drive round the track in my Previa last year. Really tested out that automatic gear box! I'll hopefully be back there at the end of August for the F1 again.
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I've not stayed anywhere other than Eau Rouge camping and as we have a media pass for parking we are able to drive into the circuit. The atmosphere at Eau Rouge is usually great, most of the others on the overflow field will be going to the circuit and we've had some really good time there.
It is a trek to the circuit though, some of our friends reckoned an hour. It would be much quicker if you could take push bikes though and most of the trip into the circuit is pretty flat.
I've not used the Racing Hotel or any of the other houses in Franchorchamps itself but as sjray says there are a good few places to camp. Some friends of mine paid quite a lot of money to camp in one of those places but I don't know which.
There is general camping at Les Combes, which is on the old part of the circuit, this is very close to the circuit and the walk to the pits/paddock isn't too bad. I've not stayed there but some friends of mine have, there are virtually no facilities, you'd need to take a portaloo and not need electric - I'm told it's a great party and that the Germans party hard!!
We stayed at the Racing Hotel campsite in September 2009. Whilst the hotel bar was good, the campsite was not, in our opinion. You could hear the racing tantalisingly close, but it was still quite a walk to the circuit entrance, which meant we went in the car, which defeated the object of camping near the circuit. (Previously at LeMans we were able to camp within the circuit about 100yds from the track, which rather spoilt us!
The facilities at the campsite were not good. No provision for hot water in the showers or elsewhere (2 degrees c in the morning outside the tent in September.) The site was rather shabby, some semi-derelict caravans, green water in the swimming pool (not that we would have used it, but this gives you the general impression)
However the village was quite near with shops, bars restaurants etc.
Since 2009 the site might have improved, but I hope this helps.
------------- Deemo
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Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping at Spa, Belgium
