South Korea Overview

Officially known as the Republic of Korea, South Korea is situated on the Korean Peninsula, in East Asia. Its only border is with North Korea. South Korea’s capital city is Seoul.

Getting to South Korea

The best way in which to get to South Korea is by air. South Korea’s main international airport is Incheon International Airport, which is situated about 70km to the west of Seoul. A number of airlines operate flights to Incheon Airport from the U.K.

The Korean International Circuit

The Korean International Circuit is situated in Yeongam, in the South Jeolla Province, in the south-west of South Korea.  It’s about 370km to the south-west of Seol, so if you hire a car at Incheon International Airport, it will take you about 5 hours to reach the circuit. Alternatively, you could take a high-speed train from Seoul to the town of Daebul and travel to the circuit from there.

The circuit was constructed in 2010 and should be completed just in time for the 2010 Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix. Designed by Hermann Tilke, it is comprised of a permanant section and a temporary section. The temporary section passes along the harbour.

There are 18 turns and 3 high-speed straights on the track, with the longest straight measuring 1.2km. The circuit is 5.621km long and the F1 drivers will aim to complete 55 laps of it.

Hotels near Yeongam

Yeongam is in a rural area of South Korea, so finding accommodation there isn’t easy. There are some hotels and guesthouses, such as the Shangria Beach Tourist Hotel and the Shinan Beach Hotel, in the nearby city of Mokpo, and there are also a number of hotels in the city of Gwangju. The city of Seoul, however, has a wide range of hotels for you to choose from.

Nearby Attractions

South Korea is a beautiful place and is well worth exploring. If you’re visiting South Korea for the F1 Korean Grand Prix, you may want to extend your stay and see some of the state’s many attractions.

The city of Mokpo, which is only a short distance from Yeongam, is home to a number of attractions,  including South Korea’s National Maritime Museum and the Mokpo Natural History Museum.

You could also spend some time exploring Seoul. Attractions in the city include the palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, the National Museum of Korea, N Seoul Tower and the Everland theme park.

Essential Information

South Korea is 8 hours ahead of the U.K and the currency used is the South Korean Won.

The Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1′s only night race, is the fifteenth Grand Prix in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 24th to the 26th of September 2010 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. If you’re planning to go to the race, here is some information about the circuit and some of Singapore’s other attractions.

Singapore Overview

The city-state of Singapore is situated in South-East Asia. It’s an amazing mix of the historic and the contemporary, and is packed with attractions.

Getting to Singapore

The easiest way in which to get to Singapore from the U.K. is to fly to Singapore Changi Airport. More than 80 airlines operate flights to and from Singapore Changi Airport, and it’s only about 20 minutes’ drive from Marina Bay, where the F1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place.

Although you can hire a car during your stay in Singapore, it’s can be both complicated and expensive, so your best option is to use public transport to get around. There are shuttle buses which operate between the airport and the main hotels, and you can travel around Singapore and to the Marina Bay Street Circuit by bus, taxi or train (on Singapore’s metro system, the Singapore MRT).

The Marina Bay Street Circuit

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place on the streets in the Marina Bay area of Singapore. Although Singapore was a venue for a Grand Prix during the 1960s and early 1970s, it first appeared on the F1 calendar in its current form in 2008 and has already gained a reputation as being one of the most challenging of the Grand Prix season.

The circuit stretches for 5.073km, and passes by the Raffles Hotel, Padang, over the Anderson Bridge and along Esplanade Drive. It has 23 turns, including Sheares Corner and Singapore Sling, and drivers aim to complete 61 laps of it.

Hotels in Singapore

There are many different hotels to choose from in Singapore, but be aware that room prices tend to increase at the time of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, so it’s worth spending some time looking for a good deal before booking.

If you have deep pockets, try the expensive but luxurious Raffles Hotel Singapore (1 Beach Road, Singapore). Originally opened in 1887, the Raffles Hotel is now one of Singapore’s best-known landmarks and is known as being the birthplace of the “Singapore Sling” cocktail. The hotel has 103 suites, 15 bars and restaurants, a theatre, a gym, a swimming pool, a spa, a shopping arcade and even a museum.

Other hotels in Singapore include the Grand Pacific Hotel Singapore, the Fullerton Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Hotel Changi Airport, the Hilton Hotel Singapore and the Grand Hyatt Singapore.

Nearby Attractions

Singapore has plenty of attractions, so here are details of just some of the other things that you can see and do whilst you are there:

• The Singapore Flyer (30 Raffles Avenue, Singapore) – take a flight on Singapore’s version of the London Eye, the Singapore Flyer. At 165m tall, it’s actually 30m taller than its London equivalent, and offers stunning views across Singapore.
• Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569) – founded in 1859,  the Singapore Botanic Gardens contains a wide range of plants, including medicinal plants, bamboos, fruit trees, bonsai trees and palm trees. It is also home to the National Orchid Garden where you can see the world’s largest collection of tropical orchids. Other attractions within the Singapore Botanic Gardens include a number of sculptures, a visitor centre, a children’s garden and a botany centre.
• Universal Studios Singapore (Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa, Singapore) - Singapore’s Universal Studios theme park is the perfect place to visit for a day out. Rides at the park include the Revenge of the Mummy thrill ride, the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and the Battlestar Galactica duelling rollercoasters. You can see a number of shows within the park, and there are also restaurants and shops there. Universal Studios Singapore is part of Resorts World Sentosa, which is situated on the island of Sentosa, about 10 minutes’ away from Singapore’s Central Business District. The resort also includes Singapore’s Marine Life Park and Maritime Xperiential Museum, as well as hotels, shops, bars and casinos. 
• Singapore Zoo (80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore, 729826) -set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo is home to more than 2,500 animals, birds and reptiles, including lions, elephants, gibbons, baboons, white tigers, emus, Komodo dragons and snakes. You can  see a number of shows and watch the animals being fed, and the zoo also has several food outlets and a zoo shop.

Essential Information

Singapore is 8 hours ahead of the U.K. and the currency used there is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).

Image: Colina†ion

Monaco Overview

The Principality of Monaco is situated on the Mediterranean Coast and has a border with France. It’s the second smallest independent state in Europe and has a reputation for attracting wealthy residents due to its tax-free status.

The principality is divided into five main areas: Monaco-Ville, La Condamine, Monte Carlo, Fontvieille and Moneghetti. It is then sub-divided into ten wards.

Getting to Monaco

Monaco doesn’t have its own airport, so the easiest way to get there is to fly to Nice Airport and then travel to Monaco by rental car. It will take about 40 minutes to drive there in your Nice hire car. There are also buses that run between Nice and Monaco.

Alternatively, if you fly to Paris, you can catch a train to Monaco from there.

Circuit de Monaco

The Circuit de Monaco is Formula 1′s most famous street circuit and the Monaco Grand Prix has been held here since 1929. Construction of the circuit begins about 6 weeks prior to each year’s race and it is then removed again after the race.

The circuit is 3.34km long and the F1 drivers aim to complete 78 laps of it. The lap begins and ends at Sainte Devote and passes through Casino Square, through the famous tunnel and alongside the harbour. It’s an incredibly narrow track,  so it’s difficult for the drivers to overtake each other and the race is usually full of incidents.

Monaco Hotels

Although Monaco is only small, it has plenty of hotels, many of which are close to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix circuit. For some of the best views of the track, try the Hotel Port Palace, a 5-star boutique hotel in Monte Carlo, which overlooks the harbour. This 6 storey hotel has 50 rooms and suites, a Michelin star restaurant, a bar, a spa, a fitness centre and a hairdressing salon, and you can watch the Grand Prix up close from its terrace.

Other hotels in Monaco include the luxurious Hotel de Paris (in Casino Square), the 3-star Hotel Ambassador Monaco (which is situated close to the start of the Grand Prix circuit), the Hotel Metropole and the Columbus Monaco (which is part-owned by ex-F1 driver David Coulthard).

Attractions in Monaco

One of the most important and historic landmarks in Monaco is the Prince’s Palace, which was constructed during the 16th century on the site of a fortress which dated back to th 12th century. The palace, which is the official residence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, underwent major restoration during the 1950s. Now open to the public, the Prince’s Palace incorporates a range of archiectural styles, and highlights include the Royal Courtyard, with its patterned paving and double revolution staircase, and the stunning Mirror Gallery.

The Prince’s Palace also houses the Museum of Napoleon Souvenirs. Other museums in Monaco include H.S.H. Prince Rainier III’s Private Collection of Antique Cars, and the Monaco Naval Museum.

You can also visit the Oceanagraphic Museum of Monaco, which includes exhibits and an aquarium, or explore the Jardin Exotique, a botanical garden set on the cliff top. If you’re visiting the Jardin Exotique, you can take a tour of the site’s “observatory cave”, which features beautiful stalagmite and stalagtite formations, and explore the Anthropology Museum.

Monaco is also known for its casinos, the most famous of which is the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Casino Square (Place du Casino). The casino has been in operation since 1863 and its wide range of table games and slot machines attract some of Monaco’s wealthiest visitors.

Essential Information

Monaco is one hour ahead of London and the currency used is the euro.

Image: Jeff Wilcox

The schedule for the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship is:

• Bahrain Grand Prix (12 – 14 March 2010)
• Australian Grand Prix (26 – 28 March 2010)
• Malaysian Grand Prix (2 – 4 April 2010)
• Chinese Grand Prix (16 – 18 April 2010)
• Spanish Grand Prix (7 – 9 May 2010)
• Monaco Grand Prix (13 – 16 May 2010)
• Turkish Grand Prix (28 – 30 May 2010)
• Canadian Grand Prix (11 – 13 June 2010)
• Grand Prix of Europe (25 – 27 June 2010)
• British Grand Prix (9 – 11 July 2010)
• German Grand Prix (23 – 25 July 2010)
• Hungarian Grand Prix (30 July – 1 August 2010)
• Belgian Grand Prix (27 – 29 August 2010)
• Italian Grand Prix (10 – 12 September 2010)
• Singapore Grand Prix (24 – 26 September 2010)
• Japanese Grand Prix (8 – 10 October 2010)
• Korean Grand Prix (22 – 24 October 2010)
• Brazilian Grand Prix (5 – 7 November 2010)
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (12 – 14 November 2010).

In the next post in this series, we’ll be taking a look at Bahrain, the venue for the first Grand Prix of the 2010 season.