Go for the Checkered Flag: Grand Prix Destinations

Fasten your seat belt: Formula One season is almost upon us and for rev heads, car enthusiasts and speed junkies, there's nothing like witnessing a race in the flesh. All the glamour, parties, celebrities, the smell of fumes in the air -- it's enough to turn a normally docile spectator into a fanatic. Throw in an exotic overseas destination and you have an ideal way to spend a long weekend.

With 17 races to choose from in 16 international destinations -- plus one right here at home in Indianapolis -- why not ignite your vacation with a little Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull or Williams action? The count down is on until the first checkered flag comes down on March 18 in Melbourne, Australia and then there will be seven months of races to choose from.

Even if you're not particularly into motor racing, destinations come alive during a Grand Prix -- with parades, add-on events, fireworks, celebrity sightings and a lot of partying.

The official Formula One website (tel. 888/205-3315; www.formula1.com) has a tickets and travel section that helps you plan your racing getaway (powered by Expedia). You can choose a combination of packages that include race tickets, flights, hotel and/or car rental. It also allows you to choose more than one destination on the same trip, or only book accommodation for a few nights on a longer trip. For example a three-night trip to Barcelona in May, 2007 to attend the Spanish Grand Prix is $1,271 per person (with an early booking discount) and includes round-trip airfare on Alitalia, three nights' accommodations at the four-star Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya, a three-day general admission pass to the race and all air taxes and fees. Upgrade to a general admission pass with Grandstand B seating for an additional $222 per person. Other preferential seating passes in better viewing areas can cost as much as $447 for a three-day pass. You can also choose to add on dinners, attractions, tours, a football match (Barcelona FC) or a Flamenco Show.

A flight, hotel and ticket package to the Malaysian Grand Prix in April is priced from $1,165 per person based on double occupancy. It includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, five nights' accommodations at the two-and-a-half-star Swiss Inn Hotel located in Chinatown, continental breakfast daily, all taxes and fees and a three-day admission pass to Hill Stand C1. Upgrade to a three day pass in the Grandstand Citrine for an extra $224 or go for the K1 Platinum three day pass for and extra $361 -- making tickets for this Grand prix probably the cheapest on the circuit.

There is a glitch is the booking system, though, because when you click on dates from the given calendar, they appear in non-American format (i.e. date / month / year) so when the booking page comes up, the date is always unrecognizable to the system and you have to manually change it.

If you decide to book your flights and hotels on your own, the Formula One website can still get you hooked up with tickets for the big event, or you could risk it and just buy general admission passes when you arrive (grandstand seating is almost always sold out in every destination several weeks or even months before the event).

The 2007 Formula One season is as follows. Lowest ticket prices are highlighted, where currently available:

• March 18, 2007: Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne
  Race/final one-day admission - $96
• April 8, 2007: Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
  Three-day pass to Hill Stand C1 - $18
• April 15, 2007: Bahraini Formula One Grand Prix, Sakhir
  Final race day pass to Victory Grandstand - $42
• May 13, 2007: Spanish Formula One Grand Prix, Barcelona
  Three-day general admission - $184
• May 27, 2007: Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
  Final race day pass to the Secteur Rocher - $126
• June 10, 2007: Canadian Formula One Grand Prix, Montreal
  First day race pass - $32, final race day - $86
• June 17, 2007: US Formula 1 Grand Prix (USGP) - Indianapolis
  Three-day general admission - $71
• July 1, 2007: French Formule 1 Grand Prix -- Magny-Cours
• July 8, 2007: British Formula 1 Grand Prix -- Silverstone
  Three-day general admission - $194
• July 22, 2007: German Formula 1 Grand Prix -- Nuremburg
  Weekend general admission - $59
• August 5, 2007: Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix - Budapest
  Weekend general admission - $206
• August 26, 2007: Turkish Formula 1 Grand Prix -- Istanbul
• September 9, 2007: Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix - Monza
  Three-day general admission - $121
• September 16, 2007: Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix -- Spa / Francorchamps
  Final race day admission - $191
• September 30, 2007: Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix -- Fuji Speedway
• October 7, 2007: Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix - Shanghai
• October 21, 2007: Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix - São Paolo

For a classic race on a spectacular track, it's hard to go past Monaco (May 27, 2007). All the ritz and glitter of the French Rivera comes to the tiny principality as the Formula One cars hit the streets of the harbor front city. Driver David Coulthard calls Monte Carlo home and this circuit is one of the oldest (it dates from 1929) and most exhilarating as the cars come dangerously close to the barriers which just happen to be the actual sidewalks of the city's streets. Apart from stunning scenic views of the Mediterranean and the multi-million dollar yachts in the harbor, other eye candy come sin the form of celebrity sightings. Over the past couple of years Formula One fans gracing Monte Carlo have included George Clooney, Hugh Grant, Paris Hilton, Liz Hurley, Brad Pitt and Paul Newman. A 40-minute train ride from Nice, the nearest international airport - Monaco is a great base for ongoing sightseeing and adventures in the south of France pre or post race. Hotels book up quickly during race time, so you may want to consider staying in a nearby city like Beausoleil, Villefranche-sur-Mer or Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and taking a train into Monte Carlo daily.

Airfares in late May aren't cheap but they are still more reasonable that peak summer fares. You can get to Nice for the following sample fares currently available on Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com) including all taxes and fees:

• From New York $699 on American Airlines and Swiss International Airlines
• For Miami $1,026 on LTU International and Lufthansa
• From Chicago $1,118 on American Airlines
• From Atlanta $1,128 on Northwest Airlines
• From Los Angeles $1,332 on Northwest Airlines

At the opposite end of the Grand Prix spectrum, is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, now in only its fourth year. This state of the art new track is one that drivers and spectators love with exceptional facilities, massive stands and viewing areas. In early October in Shanghai, the weather is mild and there is so much to do in and around the city that you'll definitely want to extend your stay beyond the race and discover China's historic treasures. Keep in mind that this is peak season for travel to China so hotels may fill quickly, even before and after race days. Air China (tel. 866/270-5897; http://us.fly-airchina.com/US/index.html) has flights to Shanghai in October 2007 starting from the following (taxes are additional)

• From San Francisco $999
• From Los Angeles $1,012
• From New York $1,138

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