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

Gnomon, if you book train tickets early, you can get to Hannover quite easily from other airports. Try Düsseldorf.

Mannheim is much closer to me, and since the folks from high up north don't seem to mind going to Mannheim, then that's absolutely fine with me. Maybe my sister can come here instead of me going there.
I'd love for Gnomon and MMF to be able to attend the meet.

Sho:
50% MA 50% H

Well - that went down like a lead balloon.

Counting the votes slipped my mind this lunchtime as I was very busy looking into things for my husband's 60th birthday party and exchaning e-mails with the kids about the entertainment.

But not many votes have come in. Come on folks - we wanted a decision today.

Undecided's - I'll give you one last chance to state a preference.

Otherwise, we have the voting as follows:

Mannheim:

50 + 80 + 100 = 230

Hanover:

20 + 50 + 0 = 70

So, if everyone else is easy either way, Mannheim it is.

OK?

I can vote 50-50 if you want

Mannheim is fine with me.

due to unexpected problems I am not sure if I can make it all
but that would go for both, Hannover and Mannheim...

Mannheim is fine with me - but i still don't know if i can make it

I made notes. that's all I can do at the moment

ah no, I can read notes as well

So we had only three votes, besides the people who didn't care either way?

So is it decided on Mannheim, then?

By the way, if it just ends up being me, B'Elana and Trillian's Child in Mannheim, I'll still be happy.

So it would appear

I'll do my best, but since I've just been offered that job that includes working weekends, I don't know whether I'll make it.

I mean, it would appear it is Mannheim. And barring any unforeseen development I will be there anyway. That's what I meant by I don't mind either way

OK, I'll go and book some tickets then.

Tickets booked! I'm arriving in Frankfurt Airport at 10:00.

Cool.

Checked with my social secretary and he can look after the Gruesomes (who don't want to come - ) for the weekend

so I'll look into trains and overnight accommodation.

Should I book a train in advance or buy a ticket on the day?

Is there a direct train from Frankfurt Airport to Mannheim?

Where should I stay in Mannheim on the Saturday night?

These are all questions which someone who can speak German can answer easier than I can.

To answer your questions, Gnomon:

Trains go direct from Frankfurt airport to Mannheim - they are adjacent stops on the "ICE" system. Allow yourself time for a LONG walk through the airport!

Tickets can easily be booked in advance on line. I would recommend this, then you can concentrate on finding the right platform etc. www.bahn.de


Train times from Frankfurt airport to Mannheim for a Saturday would be:

(I'm including the stop at Frankfurt Station, perhaps B'Elana will be travelling at the same time)

Dep. Frankfurt 10:25
Arr Frankfurt Airport Regional 10:35
Dep. Frankfurt Fernbahnhof 10:54
Arr. Mannheim 11:24




Thereafter (for B'Elana):
Trains from Frankfurt Station to Frankfurt Airport at 10:25, 10:32, 10:47, 11:02, 11:10 ... arriving at the airport 10 minutes later.

Next connection from Frankfurt Fernbahnhof to Mannheim (no stops): 11:41, 11:54 (travelling time approx. 30 mins)
From Frankfurt Regionalbahnhof - this journey is a little longer because it stops everywhere : 10:39, 11:26, 11:39


Cost of single journey: 19-22.50 Euros. Return journey 38 - 45 Euros (look out for "Sparangebot".)


So you would arrive at the station in Mannheim probably at around 12:20 - 12:30 which is just right for lunch!

I will look into places to stay in Mannheim for you. Depending on the time of your flight back, you could spend some time on Sunday morning exploring on your own. If the weather's nice, there are plenty of interesting things to see. Alternatively, you would be quite welcome to stay at my house, but I live South of Mannheim - i.e. in the opposite direction to Frankfurt, albeit only a half-hour's drive.


I wish I could start swatting up on Mannheim now so I can give you all a competent guided tour, but that'll have to wait till after 13 Feb (my husband's big birthday party!)

Anyway, I recently did a guided tour of Mannheim with some friends and I lived there for a good while, and I'll do a couple of day trips there and check out what restaurants and hotels are like these days, as well as reading up about it.

- I think I calculated a bit wrong there - you'll possibly be in Mannheim before 12 which is even better, of course - you can dump superfluous luggage at your hotel (if applicable)