Duesseldorf Boat Show

[Flossdog]

After all this discussion about EC and Excel shows, does anyone know of any organised trips from the UK to the Duesseldorf Boot 2008 show in January? I used to go every year when I lived near Cologne and they were always very good and thought it might be good to go again.

 

[Auntie Helen]

I've been wondering about Düsseldorf too, being a big fan of Germany. I gather it's an enormous show with plenty to see but I don't know if it's a rip-off whilst you're there. I presume it's easy enough to stay in Köln and get the train to Düsseldorf every day? And I would have thought it's an ideal candidate for getting the Eurostar.

 

[Amphitrite]

The Eurostar should be perfect, changing to the Thalys in Brussels - which brings you directly to Cologne (or maybe even Dusseldorf). The show is, IMHO, no ripp-off, but I don't know about the hotels as I have famiy thereabouts. Going from Cologne to Dusseldorf by train is easy, about a good half an hour.

 

[Flossdog]

Yup, letting the train take the strain is the best option but hotels in D'dorf at exhibition time are a real struggle. I thought that if there was a package with transport, entrance and hotel, it might be more attractive cost wise. Have tried searching the net without success.

 

[Piers]

Been to the show. It's enormous, and I mean enormous. You could do with a few days to do it properly. Well laid out, lots of room, good eating facilities, etc. Amazing.

Just in case you didn't get the message. I really enjoyed it!

 

[LadyJessie]

Agree, you really need to set aside two days to do Boot Dusseldorf. Otherwise you would stress yourself silly and you would miss the point of just enjoying the show.

It is a fantastic show, some people in London could learn something here. Go and enjoy it!

 

[bluedragon]

It depends why you're going. All the non-boat stands are focussed on Germany and its neighbours (charter, info, books, etc, etc). If you actually want to buy a Hanse or Bavaria it might be interesting!

 

[vyv_cox]

There is a whole hall of chandlery, ancillaries, etc. You could easily spend a day just in there. All the stand personnel seem to speak English. Chandlers are generally not trying to rip you off. Some good deals on many bits and pieces.

We've been twice and would go again, taking the fast train from The Hague to Utrecht, then the ACE (German TGV) from there to Dusseldorf, about 2 hours each way from memory.

 

[jamesjermain]

I agree that Dusseldorf is a great buyers show - its huge - fifteen halls most of which are larger than either of the Excel halls. There are genuinely interesting boats there you never see over here.
But if you don't go to Excel because it is soulless, lacking in entertainment and difficult to get to to, you wont like Dusseldorf.

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
But if you don't go to Excel because it is soulless, lacking in entertainment and difficult to get to to, you wont like Dusseldorf.

[/ QUOTE ]I don't go to a boat show to look for 'atmosphere or soul' so I don't get many of the comments on this blog. I go a boat show to look at boats and boat parts/services. The actual buildings does not really interest me, it is an exhibition hall for ****** sake! The Dusseldorf show (and to a lesser extent Paris) fulfills the highest demands you can have on a boat show. LIBS, and especially EC, does not.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Dusseldorf costs:

It's EUR 23 for a 2 day ticket to the show itself
Food and Drink per day say £50 a night tops if you allow for one posh meal and one session.


Dover Calais ferry is about £50 for a car and four passengers
Fuel would be £150 ish at a guess

Two sharing a room say £50 each
plus travel at £50 each
Food and sustenance £150 each
2 day ticket to show £15 each
TOTAL £265 each for a party of four in two twin rooms

Any better suggestions as to how to do it at a sensible price? Anyone interested in doing it all like that?

Geoff

 

[Wunja]

Lots of information here

 

[LadyJessie]

I think you have overestimated the prices in Dusseldorf. If you follow the 'hotel' link on Boot's webpage, you will see that there are still hotels available for around 50 euros per room, so you can budget 25 euros per person. Secondly, I am not sure why you would spend 50 pounds on travel. The entrance ticket is also vaild on all public transport in almost the whole Ruhr region. Thirdly, you will live royally if spending 150 pounds on food, you can eat very well in Germany for a lot less than that, even if you are generous with your support for the very good german beer industry.

 

[moondancer]

It is an awesome show. Just to put it into perspective they had just under 300,000 PAYING visitors last year which is approximately 3 times the footfall of the London show.

 

[Richard Shead]

They do have 300,000 visitors but they come from ALL over mainland Europe and that makes a big difference.

 

[LadyJessie]

Yes Richard, it is a show that is so good that it makes the effort of travelling long distances to it really worth your while.