The recently announced PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing is right around the corner, combining the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo and WPT Amsterdam events with a mid-European “swing” from one world-class stop to another.
Not only will those competing across the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing get a chance at more than $50,000 in additional cash and prizes thanks to PokerStars and the World Poker Tour, but they’ll be able to experience two of the best locations on the poker tournament circuit.
Starting Off in Monte Carlo: Getting There
PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo presented by Monte-Carlo Casino® starts April 25, 2017, and runs through May 5. The event takes place at Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, and those traveling by plane will want to fly into the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport.
The Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, or Nice Airport for short, is about a 30-minute car ride from Monte Carlo, or five minutes by helicopter if you’ve got that sort of money to spend. Most major cities offer flights into Nice, including Amsterdam, London, Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Stockholm, Dublin, Frankfurt, and New York.
Once you’ve arrived at Nice Airport, buses are available to Monte Carlo departing every 30 minutes, or you can hop in a taxi or car service for as low as €95.
If you’d like to take a train into Monte Carlo, you can certainly do so. Most international trains stop at the Monaco-Monte Carlo station, and the TGVs to and from Paris, France’s intercity high-speed train service, takes about six hours.
For those looking to drive, the ride into Monte Carlo along the coast is a beautiful one. It’s a little under 600 miles to drive from Paris and 470 from Barcelona. Italian destinations Sanremo, Genoa, and Milan will each run you under 200 miles by car, and Marseille is also under 200 miles.
For more information on how to get to Monte Carlo to begin the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, go to VisitMonaco.com.
Where to Stay in Monte Carlo: Accommodations for All Budgets
There are plenty of great options for accommodations in Monte Carlo, but it’s not always easy to pick a place to stay. That’s where PokerStars Travel can help. The site offers plenty of options at varying prices levels to help you get squared away for your trip to Monaco, and they make it easy by keeping the best options in the same place.
If you’re looking to stay right on property, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is the spot for you. This is where the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo events will be held. For a more slightly affordable option that’s only a three-minute walk from the tournament venue, check out Le Méridien Beach Plaza.
For those on a tigher budget, Novotel Monte Carlo, Hotel Columbus, or Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco will be the places you’ll want to look.
If you’re looking for top-level luxury, then check out Hôtel de Paris or Monte Carlo Beach Hotel. The former is about a 20-minute walk from the tournament venue, and the latter is about a 10-minute stroll away.
Go to PokerStarsTravel.com to book today.
Outside Fun: Things to Do in Monaco
1. Prince’s Palace of Monaco and Oceanographic Museum
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco was built in 1191 and is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Each day at 11:55 a.m. local time, the changing of the guard takes place, making for the perfect time to visit. A tour of the palace is a true journey through historic centuries. According to VisitMonaco.com, this gorgeous venue is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in April and May, with an €8 price of admission for adults.
You can pair a trip to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco with a visit to the magnificent Oceanographic Museum. This world-famous museum is dedicated to marine science and oceanography, and it’s open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Cost of admission is €13, but if you couple it with a trip to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, you can do so for €19 total.
2. Walk the Avenue Saint-Martin
We know you’ve got a lot of poker to play during the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, but it’s important to stay active and get some fresh air while on the road. While in Monte Carlo, there’s no better way to do that than a stroll along the Avenue Saint-Martin.
Along this beautiful walk, you’ll be able to see the St. Martin Gardens just below the Monaco Cathedral and experience brilliant views of the Mediterranean coast.
3. Drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini
Thanks to our friends at PokerStars and StarsFun, you can take a spin in a Ferrari or Lamborghini while in Monte Carlo. PokerStars is giving away more than 100 rides in these spectacular automobiles that will allow you to experience the Principality of Monaco in amazing fashion. Selected PokerStars Championship events will have a draw to award free Ferrari rides, and all players who bubble a live satellite in Monaco will also receive a free voucher.
French Riviera Poker: Can’t-Miss Events in Monte Carlo
First and foremost, if you want a chance at the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing leaderboard, you’ll want to compete in the PokerStars National Championship from April 26-30 and the PokerStars Championship Main Event from April 29-May 5. The National Championship comes with an €1,100 buy-in, but has a big guarantee of €1 million. The Main Event has a pricier buy-in of €5,300, but is estimated to award €750,000 to the winner.
Other key events are as follows:
– PokerStars Cup: April 26-29 with a €440 buy-in and a €200,000 guaranteed prize pool
– PokerStars Championship Super High Roller: April 27-29 with a €100,000 buy-in and a €1 million first-place guarantee
– PokerStars National High Roller: April 28-29 with a €2,200 buy-in
– Single-Day No-Limit Hold’em: April 30 with a €50,000 buy-in
– Pot-Limit Omaha: May 1-2 with a €10,300 buy-in
– PokerStars Open: May 3-5 with a €220 buy-in and a €50,000 guaranteed prize pool
– PokerStars Championship High Roller: May 3-5 with a €25,750 buy-in and a €1 million first-place guarantee
For more on PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo, click here.
Next Up: WPT Amsterdam Featuring WPTDeepStacks
After hitting up the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo for the first stop of the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, next up will be WPT Amsterdam featuring WPTDeepStacks, running May 5-13. Whether you leave Monte Carlo a little early on May 3 or 4, or duck out on May 5 or 6, there are plenty of nonstop flight options from Nice to Amsterdam that will cost you around $300.
Air France, KLM, and easyJet all offer nonstop service from Nice to Amsterdam, and the flights will only take about two hours. With the WPT Amsterdam festival of events starting on May 5 at 4 p.m. local time with the €1,500 buy-in WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam, you’ll have plenty of time to fly from Nice to Amsterdam and get in on the action. Should you miss Day 1a of WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam on May 5, Day 1b starts on May 6 at 4 p.m.
Holland Casino Amsterdam is the host venue for WPT Amsterdam, and it’s only a short 20-minute drive from the Amsterdam airport.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Book Now with WPT Travel
There are plenty of great options for accommodation in Amsterdam, and WPT Travel has you covered.
Amsterdam Marriott Hotel and Hampshire Hotel – Amsterdam American are both perfect options close to the venue. The Quentin Amsterdam Hotel and Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam City Center are a tad further away, but offer more affordable options.
Most options are located in the heart of Amsterdam, offering not only easy access to Holland Casino, but also plenty of entertainment and food options within a few steps.
Head to WPTTravel.com now to book your stay in this vibrant city.
On the Felt: Plenty on the Schedule in Amsterdam
The first event of the WPT Amsterdam festival, and one of the events of the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, is WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam. The WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam €1,500 Main Event kicks off the festival and runs May 5-8, beginning strategic global expansion for poker’s premier mid-major tour. The event features two starting flights, Day 1a on May 5 and Day 1b on May 6, and reentry is allowed. Players in this event will begin with 30,000 chips at blinds of 25/50, and levels will be 40 minutes long until heads-up play, when the levels move to 30 minutes each.
WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam will also be the first qualifying event for the 2017 WPTDeepStacks European Player of the Year, and the winner will get €15,000 in buy-ins to WPT Main Tour events in Europe and a €5,000 WPTDeepStacks sponsorship package.
The WPT Amsterdam schedule also features the €6,000 High Roller. This two-day event will bridge the gap should you bust out of WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam early enough to have a day or two offer before the WPT Amsterdam Main Event. It starts May 8 and ends May 9.
Closing out the WPT Amsterdam series and the final event of the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing is the WPT Amsterdam €3,300 Main Event, running May 9-13. This is the second WPT Main Tour event of Season XVI, and the winner will earn a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions in addition to the lion’s share of the prize pool. Players in the WPT Amsterdam Main Event will start with 30,000 in chips and play 60-minute levels until heads-up play is reached. Reentry will be allowed, and registration will remain open until the start of Day 2 at 2 p.m. local time on May 9.
Click here to view the full WPT Amsterdam schedule.
Off the Felt: Things to Do in Amsterdam
1. Get On a Bike
Amsterdam is the perfect city to take a bike ride in, and many would argue that cycling is the absolute best way to see the city. There are nearly one million bikes in the city and 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) of bike paths. The terrain is mostly flat, making it easy to pedal around. Riding a bike around the city makes it easy to go from place to place efficiently and it’s easy to stop, hop off, and enjoy q bite to eat at one of Amsterdam’s splendid cafes or head to one of the many street markets.
It’s also easier to travel further on a bike than by walking, meaning you can see more in a shorter period of time. One of the spots we would suggest heading to and stopping for some well-deserved relaxation is Vondelpark, the largest city park in Amsterdam. It’s centrally located just south of Leidseplein.
Bike riding in Amsterdam is not only enjoyable, it’s safe. The city is absolutely made for cycling, so don’t be timid to hop on a bike and cruise around.
2. Check Out Museumplein
Museumplein is Amsterdam’s museum square and home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum. The Rijksmuseum is dedicated to art and history in Amsterdam, and the Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh. The Stedelijk Museum is also an art museum, dedicated to modern and contemporary artworks. If you’re looking for a cultural and historic break from the tables, Museumplein is your place.
While you’re visiting Museumplein, be sure to look behind the Rijksmuseum where you will find the iconic “I amsterdam” sign. This is the perfect place for a photo to mark your trip to this beautiful city.
Other great photo spots in Amsterdam can be found here.
3. Take a Canal Cruise
Amsterdam is full of canals, 165 of them to be exact. Just as with cycling, taking a canal cruise is a great way to see the city, and there are plenty of cruise options to allow you to do so. There are options that come with food and drink, or ones that allow you to hop on and off at various locations.
For more information on canal cruising in Amsterdam, go to Iamsterdam.com.
That wraps up our guide to the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing. We look forward to seeing you in Europe for both legs of this great event, starting with PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo April 25-May 5 and concluding with WPT Amsterdam featuring WPTDeepStacks May 5-13.