LIBS tips

[jamesjermain]

Having read most of the comments about LIBS at Excel here are a couple of thoughts for visitors next year.

Don't go on either Saturday or the first Sunday

Use the handy maps produced by YM/PBO/YBW for planning and getting round the show. Buy the catelogue as you leave for future reference/company details.

Plan your visit carefully and avoid trying to see the whole show, as you might have done at Earls Court. ExCel is so much larger you should concentrate on the stands you need/want to visit first.

Leave the Guinness to last - the stand is big enough to cope with the numbers

Pre-book tickets - ExCel does not have enough positions for cash sales on the day

If you are coming from Ireland, Scotland or the far West consider flying. Flights to the City Airport are reasonably prices and land almost on the show site. ExCell is also easily reached from Stanstead and not too bad from Gatwick.



<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[SteveB_Sigma33]

If you go on either of the weekends you really should expect to be pushed from pillar to post! I went on Tuesday first thing. Loads of space, happy friendly staff on the stands.

Sorted out a new GPS and VHF/DSC and haggled between the various stands! Had a great day. Plus the food was actually nice!

I hope the LBS never considers going back to Earls Court! Makes me feel grubby just thinking about it.

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[Ohdrat]

Maybe they could rename Excel to Word or Powerpoint or even Access too! Mind you the assciations might become corrupted..

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[Peppermint]

Re: LIBS tips (Also)

Don't try to eat at busy times. Brunch at eleven and not only do you avoid the queue but you can visit stands while many other folks are trying to get fed.
nb. the pasties from the green caravan by the boats afloat area were realy good.

If you go by car use the park & ride. It's good value at £5 and the buses are plentyful.

Take cash. The cashpoint service was poor with big queues for the machines that did work.







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[IanPoole2]

Has anybody actually said they prefered Earls Court yet?


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[KipH]

Went during the week, so had breathing space. Agree venue is now too big to see everything in one day, and a magazine guide will get you round no problem. I found the cashpoints easy to find and use. I also felt that by not having any elevated area to look over the exhibits, there was something missing. It's still a much better venue than Earls Court, even if I only live 15 minutes walk from there.

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[ParaHandy]

jings ... was the boat show on ... !?

took train from Oxford on saturday. got area day ticket + boat show ticket discount + map how to get there all for £18 (£12 with rail pass) return. took 1.5hrs in total and, the DLR told us not to get off at normal stop because queues too big but get off at next stop (w'surf tent) where no queues and straight in ... might have been lucky

once inside - straight to RYA room to sit down, drink and work out where next ...

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[dickh]

Re: LIBS tips & CHEAP tickets

Get your tickets via the Daily Telegraph - only £7 each and you collect on the door. Worth it just if you only buy the one copy to get the phone number.....


<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[zefender]

Don't use the main carpark and definitely avoid the park and ride option. Instead drive right in to the Travel Inn carpark, park and go to its reception, smile and say that you've come to the boat show for a few hours and, with luck, instead of charging you £5, she'll give you a ticket for free. Then walk 200 yards to show entrance or hail down golf buggy person who'll take you staright to the bottom of the main stairs. Worked for me anyway!

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[Sybarite]

I suspect it might be cheaper all round and more convenient (for non-London area dwellers) to go to the Paris Boat Show instead.

???

John

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[Dave99]

Dont buy musto MPX/HPX at the show unless you are buying alot of other things and can get them to knock say 10% off. All are on sale at the RRP without a discount and there are better offers on the internet. Someone on a stand (i wont name which) agreed that they weren't offering much off musto because if they lowered their prices, everyone else would follow and then they'd all make less money - price fixing I call it.

And dont expect to buy anything in size M or L on the last few days of the show

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[AndrewB]

A good LIBS for the trade is a bad one for us.

Last year they seemed to be almost giving Musto HPX suits away. SWMBO got 25% off on the last day at Earl's Court, I could practically justify the expense ... no, I'm kidding, but it's been good ammo ever since when she's lingered outside Debenhams.

I enjoy Boat Show haggling, but it really didn't work this year. "How much?". "£XXX." "With a Boat Show discount?" "£XXX - 1 iota." "I'll give you £YYY." "Get lost, next customer please".

 

[DeeGee]

Even better tip...

Went on Sunday to Vive La France exhibition at Olympia...not many boats there, but:

Free coffee.
Free wine-tasting.
Free wine-tasing seminar.
Free cheese tasting.
Free all sorts of other things too...

LIBS: bought the trashiest filled bread-roll imaginable for £5 (it LOOKED good and I was hungry), beer v overpriced. Free - NOTHING.

Going to VLF show really put rip-off LIBS in perspective.


<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all