UGPE Ladies

THE ULTIMATE GRAND PRIX EXPERIENCE - May 14-27 2012

We haven’t forgotten the ladies…

We always ensure that there’s plenty to please any participants who may be less car-oriented.

The Roadbook we produce will be full of ideas of interesting highlights and destinations. Here’s a taste of some of the alternatives to car activities…

The schedule allows free time to explore, shop and wander around many of the great destinations we visit. Of course shopping is an integral part of holidaying and some of the places we visit have amazing shopping opportunities. And at times where there are major international events taking place, like the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix, retailers make an extra special effort.

One couple who participated in one of our tours have travelled extensively for years. The wife Marjorie came along on her husband Alan’s insistence, even though she has no interest in cars. Marjorie called me aside on the final evening to tell me that they travel by themselves or in tour groups often, and even though she isn’t at all interested in cars, this was the best trip she had ever been on. She underlined the wonderful destinations, free time allowed in the schedule, guidance, fascinating insights she got at the places we visited and the good mix of hotels and restaurants as highlights. She wasn’t particularly a shopper, so didn’t personally maximise shopping opportunities. It was very good to get feedback that we were looking after everyone’s interests. – Paul Blank, itinerary designer & Tour Leader

The restaurants we go to are well-located so as to be in walking distance from our hotels. Many of the restaurants capture the essence of the locations we’re visiting. For example, in Nice we have our lunch with Bob Constanduros, the international Grand Prix commentator on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the ocean. At night in Nice we will dine in a charming restaurant in a square in the old town centre, followed by ice cream from a specialist shop with over 200 flavours. Some restaurants are outdoors, making the most of the lovely evening light and Mediterranean climate.

$Description: Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\2011_p8.jpg$ Past group in Sirmione Description: Description: http://www.classicrally.com.au/ultima35.jpg St Tropez $Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\UGPE_219.jpg$ and at lunch in Nice

Our Hotels are carefully selected, luxuriously fitted out and well placed in the towns we visit. These are hotels I’ve personally stayed at and can vouch for. Some have characteristics of their region. Our Turin Hotel, for example, sits on the edge of the historic town centre and is a restored building from the 19^th Century. It’s ideally situated for exploring the old town centre and its many attractions. Our Lucerne hotel overlooks the spectacular lake with mountains behind. Our lovely St Tropez hotel is right in the heart of the village and you can enjoy breakfast by the pool.

Our hotel in Turin Lake view in Lake Lucerne Our hotel in the centre of St Tropez

In Monaco, for example, there is a plethora of things to do if the racing doesn’t take your fancy. Monaco is quite small and easy to get around on foot. Public escalators assist in many locations. The Royal Palace sits on a rocky outcrop known locally as “The Rock” and it is surrounded by the old town of Monaco with its charming alleys, shops, cafes and restaurants. There’s the cathedral which celebrated its 100^th anniversary in 2011 and other historic buildings. Of course the Casino at Monte Carlo is always worth a look as are the exclusive shops around it. Monaco is also famous for its many themed gardens. Then there are the museums, owned by the Royal Family – covering such diverse things as stamps, cars, oceanography and even a zoo.

The Rock at Monaco Monte Carlo Casino and garden Monaco Cathedral

Destinations in our tour include, as an example, Sirmione, which sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Garda – a spectacular huge lake in Northern Italy. Originally a Roman settlement, the more recent wall and water-surrounded village is only about 800 years old... It’s a strikingly beautiful place to visit, and there’s time to explore before dinner. Wonderful shopping, scenery and historic buildings, much like many of our destinations.

Sirmione on Lake Garda

If you feel like skipping the Practice day for the Grand Prix or the Historic GP, I highly recommend a visit to St Paul de Vence, a remarkable hill-top, walled, medieval village full of galleries, specialist shops and cafes. This is only a few kilometres from our base in Nice.

St Paul de Vence

If you’d like to explore further, in easy reach of Nice is the town of Grasse, the world centre for perfume, where the bulk of the ingredients of the world’s finest perfumes come from. There’s even a perfume museum which we can give you directions to. Grasse also has a Museum of Art and History of Provence.

Grasse

Between Nice and Monaco are many incredibly beautiful locations along the Cote d’Azur with plenty to see. St Jean Cap Ferrat, with some of the world’s most expensive real estate features the Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa. Eze on the middle road to Monaco is an amazingly pretty village, with a big perfumery open to the public. Even Nice has plenty to offer, with many art galleries, specialist shopping districts and the famous beachfront the Promenade des Anglais.

Villa Ephrussi St Jean Cap Ferrat Hotel Negresco, Nice

In Stuttgart there’s the long Koenigstrasse shopping street – a mall closed to traffic, with side-streets featuring specialist galleries and shops. Nearby are historic buildings. At Nurburg is the derelict castle which can be visited. Another of our overnight destinations, Grenoble which dates back 2000 years, is in a very pretty mountainous area at the foot of the Alps. You can take a cable car up to the Bastille. Turin has many impressive Piazzas and historic buildings you can explore in its expansive old town centre. The river Po is just a few blocks from our hotel.

There’s plenty to see everywhere we go…

In Nice, on the Monday morning following the Grand Prix is the biggest Brocante market in the region. This is a collectables and antiques fair held in a square a few blocks from our hotel. It has an amazing array of items, quite unlike anything you might have seen in Australia.

And the car museums and events we go to are among the world’s absolute best – and are immensely popular for good reason – they are spectacular! The Monaco Grand Prix is so famous because it’s one of the world’s premier events of any kind – and 2011 will be its 70^th year. The Mille Miglia has a character like no other event. The newly refurbished car museum in Turin has just had 40 million euros spent to create an amazing experience which will impress any visitor. The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart attracts over a million visitors a year – and half of them are women. All come away impressed. You don’t need to be a car fanatic to appreciate the automotive highlights of The Ultimate Grand Prix Experience.

Expect to be amazed by what you experience – and you’ll be impressed.

In Turin’s car museum Monaco Grand Prix At collectors’ car auction

St Tropez $Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\2011_p10.jpg$ Brescia $Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\2011_p2.jpg$ Nice $Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\Porsch10.jpg$ Nancy $Description: C:\OLD DATA\OLD FILES\DATA\web site\Porsch4.jpg$ Porsche Museum

For more details, contact the staff at Magic Travel in Subiaco on (08) 9381 8744 or email sales@magictravel.com.au
Tour guide Paul Blank will also be happy to discuss the itinerary with you - (08) 9271 0101, info@classicrally.com.au
Magic Travel - Member of ATFA Lic 9TA 1268

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