Forum group to Düsseldorf boat show, Jan next year?

[BelleSerene]

When Southampton Boat Show declines as far as it has done, and London Boat Show fallen so far that it has merged with a cycle exhibition, you have three options.

(a) Put up with visiting a boat show where few boats are exhibited and many of the major or interesting suppliers don’t bother to exhibit. Content yourself with imagining what all the boats that aren’t there are like, and selecting between just one or two brands in each market (winches, rope cutters, etc).
(b) Live with never going to a boat show again. Hey, the internet takes you where you want to go and the sofa's comfortable.
(c) Put in a bit of effort and venture outside our comfort zone to where real boat shows are.

Paris in December is great. But Düsseldorf in January is incredible. Several halls, each the size of Excel. I went in 2016.

What do people think to the idea of a group outing for the hell of it? At this notice, it’s £100 to fly from Heathrow, Friday late afternoon to Sunday evening. There are cheap hotels in the city centre 5km along the bank of the Rhine.

https://www.boat-duesseldorf.com/

 

[Seven Spades]

We are going.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I keep telling myself I'm going to do Dusseldorf but it's that time of year where I'm still trying to get my act together after Christmas so maybe a commitment now isn't a bad idea. It's actually a pretty easy drive from the South of England too - I think that would be my choice. One question - does major on the boats or are there plenty of stands with strange and wonderful things you never knew you needed?

 

[duncan99210]

I keep telling myself I'm going to do Dusseldorf but it's that time of year where I'm still trying to get my act together after Christmas so maybe a commitment now isn't a bad idea. It's actually a pretty easy drive from the South of England too - I think that would be my choice. One question - does major on the boats or are there plenty of stands with strange and wonderful things you never knew you needed?

Boot has everything, in spades. Düsseldorf Messe is enormous and Boot takes it all. You’ll find all the major and most of the minor boat makers there. Then there are halls given over to chandlery, engines, etc etc etc. We’re going this year for the first time in ages; helps that No 1 son lives in Harlem so we can combine a visit to Boot with a visit to his family.

 

[MikeCC]

Going with a couple of pals. £70 Flybe from Southampton Jan 18-21 but seat sale ending soon. Sunday evening return to Soton not great though.

 

[Angele]

I went this year. Flew over on the Thursday. Back on Sunday. Stayed close to the "hauptbahnhoff". Had a couple of great days at the show and some wonderful meals in the centre of town. (Was completely defeated by a huge knuckle of pork).

Definitely going back in 2019.