Dusseldorf Motorhome Show

[atlantisbird]

Hello everyone, and thank you donmadge for your message. My wife and I 60&58 are selling up and plan to motorhome before we get too old or unable to enjoy it. We have been looking at shows and read the print off all the magazines since April 2005 and are now close to making the leap. Our questions: We know we can fly to Dusselforf via Ryanair from Stanstead for 5.99 plus charges ,whatever they are, and return similar. What would be the best and cheapest way to, a) to find B&B nearby (we don't like hotels), I have tried Dusseldorf site. b) to find a rental motorhome and park on site. c) any other method of getting there ie renting from another area and driving to the show. We understand we would need at least 3-4 days as it is bigger than NEC so we plan to spend 7 days. Can anyone who has visited without a motorhome put in their 2 penneth please with web sites or contacts if known thank you. Kind regards Ann & Harry

[Clive]

My experience with big shows in Germany is that all the local accomodation, B&B or Hotels is fully booked up many months in advance. I have suffered from big shows when I have needed to go on other business when its "Show Time" It is most likely that you will end up in a B&B 15 or 20 miles away, so you will need a car. You will need to get in early!. We plan to take our Motorhome and go in 2007. There is a large campsite nearish and frequent bus service between the camp site and the exhibition. C.

[Brian Kirby]

Don't know if you were considering this, but don't buy at the show: not unless you speak and can read German fluently at least, and even then only with great caution!

[Mel E]

I agree with Brian. Two other things: 1. Two days is bags enough for the Show: visit 2 days with a rest day in the middle. Use day 1 to look at everything that might fit, Day 2 off site to discuss and Day 3 to narrow down your chopice of model and layout. 2. Do not sell an appreciating asset (your house) to buy one that depreciates (a Motorhome). Much better to rent out your house and use the net rental income to pay for a mortgage on the house to buy the motorhome. Remember, you can offset mortgage, maintenance and repair and reinstatement costs (during and after the end of the rental period) against rental income, and only the net is taxable. If you do it any other way, when you need to move back into a house, the price will have gone up (perhaps substantially) and your motorhome will be worth a lot less.

[net-traveller]

For what it's worth the following may be of use. Many campsites in Europe have tents/caravans etc for rent so may be worth using www.eurocampings.co.uk and have a rummage. Rental info is on the facilities tab. Some campsite even have guest houses/pensions attached. If you don't mind being 45 miles (42 of which are motorway) away you could look at www.camping-berger-koeln.de and from the links check out their own guest house. I know you said you didn't want hotels but www.varta-guide.de has selections from basic to 5 star. Just one other web address, apologies if you have checked it, www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de which is not the site linked to the Caravan-Salon site. Cheers

[atlantisbird]

Hello and thank you all for your input. This is what we have done after going to see 2 travel agents who wanted £700.00 and £900.00 for 4 nights we decided to see what was available on line. At Jet2.com from Leeds/Bradford return for £138.90 for 2 adults complete. At Booking.de 5 nights B&B at Hotel ZurLuftbruche 1 km from show and airport 325.00 Euros all in. I dont think we can better that even if we go all the way to Ryanair @ 5.99 plus taxes and it takes you to a different Dusseldorf airport much further away. If we only need 2 days at show we can have a little break. (lol) Mel, We do plan to sell the house as it is too big and the neighbours are , shall we say, not worth being our neighbours. Many thanks Ann & Harry

[Brian Kirby]

Happy bratwurst!