Things to know for the Inagural Las Vegas Grand Prix 🏎️.

Boy oh boy, I don’t think I can ever truly be prepared for Sin City, especially for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix!

This was such a last-minute send-it trip with zero clue what I would do for tickets, where to stay, how to get around, or when I’d go to bed. Here’s where my low down comes so you know what to expect for next year’s Vegas Grand Prix. The last thing we want is the Mad Max energy….

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Flights:

Surprisingly, this is the easiest thing to cover. If you’re flying from California, book your travel with Southwest or JetSuiteX. It’s so easy to check in your luggage and be on your way! I paid a total of $150 for a roundtrip from the Bay Area to Vegas. What a steal! 

Where to stay:

If tickets don’t take all your money…. hotels will. If you know you’re attending the LVGP next year, I’d book your stay as far ahead as possible. I particularly loved the Wynn since it was off the track and made it easy to get to and from. +1 to that, there are also a TON of events and happenings (Almave, +44, Ferrari Film Premiere, etc.) that occur at the Wynn, so it just saves you a ton of Ubers and time. 

However, the Wynn is also one of the nicest hotels on the strip therefore being one of the most expensive. A great alternative is Planet Hollywood which will give you a great view of the strip or the Cosmopolotin.

Some other fan favorites:

• Cesar’s Palace 

• Bellagio 

• Virgin Hotels 

• MGM Grand 

• Conrad Hilton 

• ARIA 

Tickets:

As you all know, tickets were insanely priced for the LVGP. Frankly, it is the most expensive GP to attend in my opinion (Monaco is a different story). I went in with ZERO tickets and had no clue where I was going to sit but ended up in suites all weekend, along with a great view from the Mirage. I personally don’t like buying a 3-day weekend pass because then you’re confined into one zone, but if you prefer to be one and done, its a great way to get the best value. I like to check Ticketmaster or StubHub the night before to try and get the lowest priced ticket before the event. Let’s break down the zones I was in and how this might put things in perspective for you when buying your seats. 

Main Grandstand View in Section 104 during Opening Ceremony

• Main Grandstands

  • Facing the desired, star-studded Paddock Club and team garages, this is one of the most energetic spots to be on the track. 

  • We were here for the opening ceremony and got gorgeous views of the fireworks going off and the drone show that happened. While I did not sit here for any of the actual racing, I have sat in this section at other races, and here’s what I have to say: 

    • This is where you’ll see the cars have their pit stops, starts, finishes, and podium

    • There is always a screen in front of you to keep up with the rest of the race which is awesome! 

    • Main grandstands are probably some of the most expensive tickets you can get for any race, but its definitley worth the experience if you're able to make it happen. The energy here always leaves me incredibly emotional! 

  • Now let’s talk food! The catering was provided by Wolfgang Puck and is included with your ticket, along with soft drinks and water. 

    • Chinese Chicken Salad 

    • Short Rib Grilled Cheese 

    • Pulled Barbeque Jackfruit Tater Tots 

    • Hot Dogs 

    • Smores Churro 

• Mirage Zone

  • Sat right in front of the Mirage Hotel, you’ll get unrivaled views of the cars zipping by on the main Vegas strip. With all the lights shining bright and a gorgeous background, you’ll have a phenomenal view. 

  • You will be sitting right off of Turn 12 going into Turn 13. 

  • This is definitely a premium view, so it’s worth going for a practice day if you want to experience it but not pay for an arm and a leg for qualifying or race day. 

  • Food, water, and soft drinks are included. Menu items included: 

    • Chicken Tenders and fries 

    • Nachos 

    • Sandwiches 

    • Popcorn

    • Freshly baked goods 

    • Mac and Cheese 

• North Koval Zone

  • We had the privilege of enjoying the American Express suite that faced the backend of Turn 4 going into Turn 5. 

  • You will need a reservation to enter the premises, and it can not be done through the concierge. 

  • Each floor is separated by your card member status, there is a wristband color for different access. 

  • As a platinum card holder, I was able to take 3 guests with me and enjoy views of the track from the third floor. Here we got goodies, massages, hors d'oeuvres, blankets, portable chargers, popcorn, bar, and endless screens to keep track of the race. 

  • Everyone was so kind and had amazing energy! 

  • If you are interested in what the American Express Platinum can do for you, see if you qualify and experience the benefits today. 

• South Koval Zone

  • This had to be one of the most INSANE experiences I’ve had yet at a Formula 1 race. 

  • We were guests in the Sirus XM Suite, and boy was I freaking out!! 

  • Sitting on Turn 4, we were met with unlimited alcohol and delicious food. 

    • I indulged in Prime Rib, Shrimp Rigatoni, and never-ending Moet Chandon Brut. 

    • I didn’t get a chance to try the Swordfish, Chicken, or Desserts, but I’m just going to manifest now that there will be a next time ;) 

  • It had great energy and was so plush and lavish. I’d say it was equivalent to what you’d get in the Paddock on maybe 1-2 levels down of “grandeur” and obviously the pit lane walks, etc. 

  • Facing Ellis Island, there are also grandstands available facing back at us. If you want this great view and experience at a more affordable price point, this is a great alternative. 

  • Most importantly…. let’s talk about their bathrooms. In grandstand seats, your bathroom will be a well kept porta potty, but here you have a automatic toilet with a bidet! 

How to get around:

This is probably one of your main questions since the strip is quite restricted being a street circuit, so let’s break it down. 

You will have 3 best friends: rideshare, pedestrian bridges, and your feet 🥲 

• If you’re able to stay on the strip, this will save you a lot of time getting from point A to point B, especially if you’re at the bigger named resorts like the Venetian. The pedestrian bridges will make it easy for you to get from one side of the track to another, as well as cutting through hotels. 

• Rideshare during the day is not too bad, but the track shuts down about 3 hours before the race starts, so make sure to get where you need to go before then otherwise you could be in the car for a hour… 

  • When in doubt, backroad, backroad, backroad! 

• Rideshare during the evening is where things get tricky. Calling Ubers are difficult, and will take 10-15 minutes longer than estimated. Lyft seemed to be more reliable in the evening. Calling a car from a hotel is the best since there are always designated drop off and pickup zones. 

• Unless you’re not planning on going far, I highly reccommend wearing comfortable shoes. The hotels are MASSIVE, so you’ll be running around quite a bit and the last thing you want is to run out of steam in stillettos. In order to get where you need to be as fast as you can, comfy shoes will be your best bet. 

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Those are all the best tips I can give you thus far. Overall Vegas was a phenomenal race desptie my hesitations going into it, not knowing what to expect besides a circus. Please keep in mind that in the evening it does get quite chilly as the desert winds and low temps kick in, so bring a jacket and portable charger!