Just an initial note to see who is interested in a trip to Dusseldorf to do the following:-

Out -Sat 3 Dec

Return - Sun4th Dec

Visit the Xmas Market

See the race of Champions - ( Beryls Chief Pilot has advised that he can get tickets for 20 euros for anyone interested)

I have done some investigation & found the following:-

Train - will take 6-7 hrs to get from London to Dusseldorf, ( eurostart to brussels, onto cologne, change to dusseldorf ) How To Get There

Plane takes 1hr 25 mins airport to airport.( not including airport book in time & travel to / from airport.

Tunnel / drive takes approx 4hrs 35 mns from Folkestone to Dusseldorf

Ferry takes 90 mins -( added as part of edit )

Approx cost

Accomodation £40-65 p.n

Train - Starts @ £ 86 return

Plane - £160 return + parking cost in UK & 32 euros transfer from Dusseldorf airport to city & back.to airport- (you personally may be able to find cheaper)

Tunnel / drive - Tunnel £110 return short stay saver OR £34 each way single ticket as of 23/10, fuel £100 for full journey. - However if we can sort out a car share & get 4 in a car you can split this cost between you which works out to around £50 each.

Ferry can be £25 Dov - Cal, & £39 Cal - Dov - ( added as part of edit on 23/10)

Would need to get at least 4 people agree which 2 cars to take, or whatever number of free seats left to share cost.

If you are definitely interested then please post name & numbers.

Please read the following carefully before putting your name down..

1. Closing date for signup is Monday 7th Nov 2011, I will be closing this thread @ approx 8am on 8th Nov.
2. Once you have signed up I will come back & ask for a non refundable deposit to book the rooms which will be the cheapest I can find in Dusseldorf, close to town centre
3. Please advise preferred method to travel to destination, If you want to fly or take the train, then see item 5 below
4. If car is preferred then will ask for volunteer 'taxis' where the cost of Train / Fuel can be shared - it will be the responsibility of the 'taxi' driver to book the eurotunnel tickets, & make arrangements to pick up the passenger.
5. I am happy to book the hotel, & negotiate 'taxi & passenger', but if anyone drops out of the taxi arrangement, it would only be fair to compensate the driver some of the cost, unless of course a replacement can be found.

I am being as specific as I can here, specially given the financial restrictions we all have today, I hope the above approx costs will help you decide whether to commit to this trip or not.

I have tried to give you an idea of what to budget for travel & hotel, it does not include meals / beer / other spends.

( added as part of edit ) - I will ask when post closes, what method of transport is going to be used to get to dusseldorf, as if there are going to be a mix of ferry & eurotunnel, then it might be worth agreeing to meet at the hotel. lets see what we get.

Edited 23 October, 201114 yr by lfc958

Simon told me about this last night and I would have loved to have come but am at the Christmas market in Brussels that weekend with SWMBO. I'll link to this thread in my signature and it may be worth reposting on the International meets section and maybe other areas of the forum, this is the sort of thing I imagine Briskoda members from across the country would be interested in.

NorfolkLine ferries do Dover to Dunkirk for about £60 return which is a massive saving over the train (£15 each if 4 sharing a car), we've used them 3 times in the past for the Nurburgring, but you have to factor in another hour and a half's travel time each way and the cheaper ferries start really early in the morning so might be a bit inconvenient for anyone coming from outside Kent.

Well you know I'm interested as I suggested it in the first place!! Also as it's my idea I will be taking Beryl. My friend Keith & his wife are interested as is my mate Mark. so I guess that's our 4 to a car quota!!

The 20 Euro's ticket prices are the minimum price available on the ROC web site as of last month & do not guarantee a seat in the Stadium people, maybe standing room only?

Can I say a big thanks to Steve for sorting out provisional options & this post etc

I agree with Jamie re the reduced cost of the ferry as opposed to the tunnel but if we're talking spreading the cost over 4 people, I would personally prefer to spend an extra £15 and save 3 hours of travelling as 3 hours over a weekend is a fair wack of time & a 4 hour journey is much preferable to a 5.5 hour for me.

Also, as we're a CAR CLUB we should maybe go in convoy not by Plane/Train, so I vote drive drive drive!!

Having been to the ROC 2 or 3? times now - albeit in the much warmer Gran Canaria it was a great couple of day's action

Pity I could not talk SWMBO to go to this (she 'freezes' at work in a heated office ) we also get free ferry travel from her employer

but the chance of me talking her into standing/sitting outside in December to watch motorsport (she is not a fan) is zero and the likelihood of me getting 'a pass' to go without her has the same odds.

Having consulted SWMBO, we will be going.

Simon, - Given the short time I would prefer to plod round Market / shops, as i need to un rust my german.

I am happy to take my car so i have 2 empty seats available, OR i am happy to be a passenger & share costs ( need to negotiate pickup )

No ROC at all for you then Mr & Mrs C?

Well it looks like we may be up for this (depending on timetable).

We would be crossing via P&O and would also have 2 spaces available.

SWMBO will probably just do the markets, not sure about myself.

Correct no ROC for me, i want to re experience a german xmas market.

I have been in touch with Gizmo68 & voluteered to take the seats, as they are VERY close to where I live.

I am going to edit the post given the possible various methods of getting to Dusseldorf - Please read to update

As a suggestion i have been looking at the timetables for ferry & eurotunnel. specially given time difference with mainland europe

Ferry from dover a 6:40am is prob good outbound with 20:35 return

Eurotunnel have similar times.

So would you do Xmas markets both days then Steve?

So would you do Xmas markets both days then Steve?

Dont know how big it is, but given that we most likely wont get there till around 2 pm on Sat, & to be on the safe side will probably have to leave around 2pm on the sunday to return, it will most likely be both 1/2 days.

Any More Wanting to join this xmas market.

Dont know how big it is, but given that we most likely wont get there till around 2 pm on Sat, & to be on the safe side will probably have to leave around 2pm on the sunday to return, it will most likely be both 1/2 days.

Any More Wanting to join this xmas market.

I see!

Update

I have been doing a bit of checking around accommodation for the night & narrowed it down to the following 3,

They are not in the town centre as we would need car parking, also tried to make sure they are no smoking rooms , along with hopefully easy access to the Trams or U-Bahn to the city centre.

Residenz Hotel Eurostar, this has Breakfast included in the price of 60 Euros

Astra Hotel, this has Breakfast included in the price of 51 Euros

City Partner Hotel Dusseldorf - No breakfast for the price of £57 or 61 depending on where you book.

Just need to know definately how many more than the 2 I currently know will be needed

Have also found out that the Xmas market covers the following streets - Schadowplatz, Carsch-Hause & Flingstr/ Altstadt, so if you want to have a quick look on a map to see where it covers, this might help.

Update

Residenz Hotel Eurostar, this has Breakfast included in the price of 60 Euros

Astra Hotel, this has Breakfast included in the price of 51 Euros

City Partner Hotel Dusseldorf - No breakfast for the price of £57 or 61 depending on where you book.

The Astra only has 1 double room left now

The others look OK though as well.

A tip from a local hotelier friend is to always phone them direct as you can normally negotiate a better rate directly as they have to give the advertising agent (bookings.com etc) their cut, so there is no reason why they will not meet half way?

The Astra only has 1 double room left now

The others look OK though as well.

A tip from a local hotelier friend is to always phone them direct as you can normally negotiate a better rate directly as they have to give the advertising agent (bookings.com etc) their cut, so there is no reason why they will not meet half way?

Was thinking of ringing them anyway, as when looking at various sites that have these hotels, some of them have a hidden charge to park, & not all sites mention this.

Experience has shown that sometimes these hotels say there are a limited number of rooms left on a website, but a day or so later, more rooms appear, & it transpires that what was seen was the rooms left were at the price quoted.- sneeky

I am going to have a look on laterooms later today to see what else is around

ANY MORE INTERESTED ?

Another hotel possibility

Haus Mooren

Well, Mark & I will want 2 singles for the Sat & Sun nights as we'll leave Monday, I have 3 mates coming down from up North that will require rooms for a few nights, I'll clarify with them this week.

Was thinking of ringing them anyway, as when looking at various sites that have these hotels, some of them have a hidden charge to park, & not all sites mention this.

Experience has shown that sometimes these hotels say there are a limited number of rooms left on a website, but a day or so later, more rooms appear, & it transpires that what was seen was the rooms left were at the price quoted.- sneeky

I am going to have a look on laterooms later today to see what else is around

ANY MORE INTERESTED ?

I want to come, but I'm in negotiations with SWWO (long story) - I'll let you know if I'm going to be able to come as soon as I know!!!

J

ANY MORE INTERESTED ?

Just a thought but has this been cross posted into any of the other regional meets & events sub forums?

We have separate regional areas for meet, if they go into the wrong area they will be moved, also when posted or added to they can be seen in the view new content list.

Some may have seen this posted in the Internationals Meet section in case there is anyone would like to join us for an evening of beer & food etc.

Edited 7 November, 201114 yr by lfc958

I want to come, but I'm in negotiations with SWWO (long story) - I'll let you know if I'm going to be able to come as soon as I know!!!

J

Steve,

Sent you a PM - I'm coming.......

J

Steve,

Sent you a PM - I'm coming.......

J

With Sam?

Update

Looking at availability, it looks like either :-

1- Mooren - Brekky & free parking

OR

2 - RHE - Brekky & 8 euros to park

I personally prefer option 1 as it at least has some character to it.

In order to get the lower rate, I am going to have to pay in full as there is no refund if cancelled, so i will message you the amount & account details to do electronic transfer or my postal address if you wish to use 'old' fashoned cheques

Edited 7 November, 201114 yr by lfc958

I too prefer option 1 (Karen prefers option 2 simply because she likes modern over character - BUT said she is not really that bothered as it is just one night anyway)

I'm happy to go with either - It's only for one night.

Must admit that I'm with Karen - would prefer 'modern' over 'character' - just what I'm used to I suppose

Option two does have a tram stop pretty much outside the entrance to the hotel, so would that make it easier to get to the Christmas market?

J

UPDATE

I Have booked at this Hotel as they had the number of rooms we needed :- Hotel

3 Queensize rooms @ 59,50 € per night included breakfast for 1 night only.

4 Single Rooms @ 39,50 € per night included breakfast - EACH for 2 nights

No Deposit was required, it is pay on arrival, which probably means 1st to get there pays

Anyone who is worried about Queen size room follow this link Queen size bed is 131 - 150cm wide