h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Don't know about Belgium, but it's a definite 'Yes!' for Germany.

I was going to say that, too.

You can also check whether it's cheaper to book your train from Belgium or Germany...

RF do you need a hand booking a hotel in Düsseldorf? I guess not - but you could run a few names by us if you like and we can make sure you're not in a dodgy area.

Right, hotels I'm considering so far are:

Mercure
Four Points
Kastens
Madison
Terminus
Friends

Are any of these in an area I should avoid? All of them seem fairly central.

RF

OK, I'm listing them here in the hope that the real Düsseldorfers here (unlike me who hasn't been there regularly in about 10 years) can give more pointers. However...

1) Mercure - is in Am Seestern. That's down Oberkassel way, it's easy to get to the centre of town from there on the tram (takes... oh around 10-12 minutes) but it is over the other side of the river. Not a bad location though. Business hotels round there

2) Four Points - that's on Luisenstr. As far as I remember it's at the Graf-Adolf-Platz end of Königsallee - therefore, pretty much in the middle of town. And Königsallee is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the universe. Altstadt and shopping area within 5-10 minutes walk (you have long legs...) and very easy to get around by tram if you don't want to walk.

3) Kastens - Up by the Rheinkneebrücke. It's probably more like 10-15 minutes to the shops/altstadt, but close to the Rheinufer (where there are nice bars, restaurants etc) also lots of business hotels there

4) Madison - Graf-Adolf-Str - so again, not too far from the centre of town and the shops. Easy to get around by tram. Not far from the Four Points and Kastens, so fairly close to the financial hub of Düsseldorf (in case you fancy a busman's holiday)

5) Terminus - That's on am Wehrhan. Just beyond the shopping area (5 mins by foot) and a bit further from the Altstadt (about 15 mins on foot depending on how thirsty you are) Easy to get around by tram, though. The less trendy or businessy part of town

6) Friends - it's on Worringer Str, which is close to Am Wehrhan and about equally distant from shops and pubs as the Terminus. Pretty much in the same area.

If it were me, I'd go for either 2, 3 or 4 - all things being equal (price etc). Then I'd go for 5, 6. Then 1.

And it's all based on distance from the Altstadt and shopping - because that is where it's all happening in Düsseldorf... (well, the art galeries are there too, which is what I tend to do these days when I'm in town)

Anyone else got comments?

Anyone else?

Also, do we have any plans for what's going to be undertaken either on Saturday or Sunday that could influence hotel location?

RF

I'll be a tourist like you, I have no idea.

I don't think there's anything that we could do that would greatly influence the hotels from that respect. For one the tram system is fab, for another - Düsseldorf is absolutely tiny. I often get around it on foot.

I'll be in Düss next Saturday after sending the Gruesomes to bug my parents for 2 weeks, so I'll have a look around to see if anything is on.

The weekend we have picked is the last weekend of the school holidays in this state. That means everything is either going to be terribly packed, or totally empty.

I would suggest at least a trip up the TV tower - you can see all the way to Köln (and spit) if it's a very clear day.

We definitely need to have a shufty around the "altstadt" (we can go in all the Irish pubs...) and I think we really ought to do something with a Japanese flavour, since the place is practically Japanese (oh I know - we could play golf...)

Any of the locals want to help me out here? I usually only go there for the cinema, the shops and the art gallery.

well, as for the "better move me" .. I booked a ticket D'Dorf to EEKland for the 10th of August .. it would be a shame if I didn't show up the 9th in D'dorf, wouldn't it?

and in a state of Rumification Pierce the Pirate booked a ticket on the same plane so it seems.. so I think it's safe to assume he'll show up around that time in D'dorf as well

.. any chance on a place to sleep? I may be a hippo but I am housetrained, and Pierce is .. well ..

See here: F10086540?thread=5425952

Seems to be just Tav so far, so we should still be able to find you a sofa.

Unless anyone has a better offer...

Oooh, this is getting better and better.

We'll have a proper international meet.

Oh, and Mala, time to update the attendee list.

Give me a few minutes...

Updated!

.. a truly international meet in or around D'dorf almost nextdoors

I'm trying to convince Otus to come, too...

good

I've just looked and there seem to be plenty of reasonable hotels. I'll just have to look where they are on the map. Can someone guide me to a sort of plan? I can arrive at 10.44 on the Saturday from here without having to get up toooo early. Is that about the time everyone will be meeting up?

By plan - I mean time plan, not street plan!