Geneva Motor Show

[V8mate]

Anyone been?

Mrs V8 has suggested that a trip out to the show this March might be a good birthday pressie. Is it worth travelling that far for 'just another motor show', or is the Geneva gig something better?

[Exoticaholic]

V8mate said:

Anyone been?

Mrs V8 has suggested that a trip out to the show this March might be a good birthday pressie. Is it worth travelling that far for 'just another motor show', or is the Geneva gig something better?

I've been there 25 times. I can assure you it is worth your while to go because the variety and breadth of the show is a knockout. We are not talking about bread and butter manufacturers but small and uprising brands such as RUF and TechArt. Also the Italian design houses such as Bertone, Pininfarina and Castiga like to surprise hence Geneva as their usual 'launchpad'.

The show at the Palexpo Show is about 10 to 15 mins walk from the airport so you can cover the show in one day but for me, two to three days is the norm.

Here are two pictures to show you one car at one end of the spectrum, and the other car at the other end.

Exo

[pacman1]

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

[blank]

It's a good show. Million times better than the UK ones.

You can do it as a day trip if you really want, as the show is next door to the airport.

[Exoticaholic]

pacman1 said:

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

Too glad to oblige...

The main thing is to bear in mind that sterling has not performed well against the Swiss Franc in the last few years, so everything feels expensive, on a par with London.

I am staying at the Etap hotel down the road from the airport - comfort is ok but convienence better. I only need a roof over my head and that's it. I am attending on press days so prices are higher. If you are going on public days, it will be cheaper.

Public transport is very efficient and runs like clockwork.

I can't write home about eating out in Geneva - because I go with my client and eat whatever they order!

Here is the link to the official Salon website - it will be the 80th anniversary of the event.

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

As usual, and further questions, just ask.

Exo

[V8mate]

Thanks for the tips, chaps.

Flights and hotel booked - looking forward to it

[Exoticaholic]

V8mate said:

Thanks for the tips, chaps.

Flights and hotel booked - looking forward to it

Excellent news, glad all has been sorted.

[V8mate]

What's the weather going to be like?

[JulesV]

It doesn't really matter, you barely step outdoors walking from the airport to the exhibition hall. I went last year for the day and had a great day, just booked again for this year.

[Exoticaholic]

V8mate said:

What's the weather going to be like?

The walking route from the airport to the show is covered, well, say 90%!

[V8mate]

I'm going for four days though and only one will be at the Show.

[ticmon]

I went a couple of years ago and it was great. Good if you like your plane spotting too as the outdoor section looks over the runway for the airport. Geneva itself is a different thing alltogether. In a word 'ste'.

[Martial Arts Man]

It's brilliant.

Well worth the trip!

[Exoticaholic]

ticmon said:

I went a couple of years ago and it was great. Good if you like your plane spotting too as the outdoor section looks over the runway for the airport. Geneva itself is a different thing alltogether. In a word 'ste'.

I agree. Given that Geneva is a financial hot spot with all these private banking, the airport seems be be stuck in another age. Even if variety of restaurants has improved in the last two years, the same cannot be said for the duty free. They really need to pull out all the stops and redevelop the airport into something that the Swiss would be proud of.

As for the city, mum's the word.

[Nigel H]

Sounds good. I'm going too - it's my 10 year old boy's brithday pressie. Planning to do it in a day from Luton; still waiting for the tickets to be released so we can pre-pay.

How busy will it be, and any top tips?

[Bluebarge]

Exoticaholic said:

pacman1 said:

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

Too glad to oblige...

The main thing is to bear in mind that sterling has not performed well against the Swiss Franc in the last few years, so everything feels expensive, on a par with London.

I am staying at the Etap hotel down the road from the airport - comfort is ok but convienence better. I only need a roof over my head and that's it. I am attending on press days so prices are higher. If you are going on public days, it will be cheaper.

Public transport is very efficient and runs like clockwork.

I can't write home about eating out in Geneva - because I go with my client and eat whatever they order!

Here is the link to the official Salon website - it will be the 80th anniversary of the event.

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

As usual, and further questions, just ask.

Exo

That's all very interesting, but you missed out the crucial detail - when are the gorgeous birds there? is that just press days or can you wander round with carpet fluff on your tongue on public days too?

[Exoticaholic]

Bluebarge said:

Exoticaholic said:

pacman1 said:

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

Too glad to oblige...

The main thing is to bear in mind that sterling has not performed well against the Swiss Franc in the last few years, so everything feels expensive, on a par with London.

I am staying at the Etap hotel down the road from the airport - comfort is ok but convienence better. I only need a roof over my head and that's it. I am attending on press days so prices are higher. If you are going on public days, it will be cheaper.

Public transport is very efficient and runs like clockwork.

I can't write home about eating out in Geneva - because I go with my client and eat whatever they order!

Here is the link to the official Salon website - it will be the 80th anniversary of the event.

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

As usual, and further questions, just ask.

Exo

That's all very interesting, but you missed out the crucial detail - when are the gorgeous birds there? is that just press days or can you wander round with carpet fluff on your tongue on public days too?

I'm afraid it will be press day when the ladies are out in force to spice up the car displays. I shall post pictures tonight.

[ticmon]

Exoticaholic said:

Bluebarge said:

Exoticaholic said:

pacman1 said:

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

Too glad to oblige...

The main thing is to bear in mind that sterling has not performed well against the Swiss Franc in the last few years, so everything feels expensive, on a par with London.

I am staying at the Etap hotel down the road from the airport - comfort is ok but convienence better. I only need a roof over my head and that's it. I am attending on press days so prices are higher. If you are going on public days, it will be cheaper.

Public transport is very efficient and runs like clockwork.

I can't write home about eating out in Geneva - because I go with my client and eat whatever they order!

Here is the link to the official Salon website - it will be the 80th anniversary of the event.

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

As usual, and further questions, just ask.

Exo

That's all very interesting, but you missed out the crucial detail - when are the gorgeous birds there? is that just press days or can you wander round with carpet fluff on your tongue on public days too?

I'm afraid it will be press day when the ladies are out in force to spice up the car displays. I shall post pictures tonight.

Not so. There was loads to look at on the public days when i went. Most manufacturers only had tarts on the stands giving out info and whatnot.

Just remembered too, when i went in 2008 Nissan had a 4x4 track near the main entrance which a driver would drive you round (and for free!!). Got a lot of respect for the Patrol after that.

[Exoticaholic]

ticmon said:

Exoticaholic said:

Bluebarge said:

Exoticaholic said:

pacman1 said:

Exo, any recommendations on where to stay, eat etc in Geneva?
I've flown there many times whereupon I'd hire a car and head for some skiing.
I've tended to go around March, have often seen the show advertised, and have always thought I should go.
Since skiing is somewhat expensive at the mo, this might be a great alternative.
Cheers in advance.

Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 9th January 15:44

Too glad to oblige...

The main thing is to bear in mind that sterling has not performed well against the Swiss Franc in the last few years, so everything feels expensive, on a par with London.

I am staying at the Etap hotel down the road from the airport - comfort is ok but convienence better. I only need a roof over my head and that's it. I am attending on press days so prices are higher. If you are going on public days, it will be cheaper.

Public transport is very efficient and runs like clockwork.

I can't write home about eating out in Geneva - because I go with my client and eat whatever they order!

Here is the link to the official Salon website - it will be the 80th anniversary of the event.

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

As usual, and further questions, just ask.

Exo

That's all very interesting, but you missed out the crucial detail - when are the gorgeous birds there? is that just press days or can you wander round with carpet fluff on your tongue on public days too?

I'm afraid it will be press day when the ladies are out in force to spice up the car displays. I shall post pictures tonight.

Not so. There was loads to look at on the public days when i went. Most manufacturers only had tarts on the stands giving out info and whatnot.

Just remembered too, when i went in 2008 Nissan had a 4x4 track near the main entrance which a driver would drive you round (and for free!!). Got a lot of respect for the Patrol after that.

To be fair, the last public day I went at the Geneva Show was in 1987! It has always been press days for me, so didn't see what was going on, on public days.

[andrew.]

we did it last year for the first time

it makes the various london/nec shows look like amateur affairs

cheap flights
airport adjacent to the halls
inexpensive to get in, free guides
edible food
really helpful staff
but most of all, even in what was apparently a quiet year, plenty of interesting cars and pretty much open access

jfdi