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We are off again after loving our first trip last year, it is full of caravans and motorhomes and yes it is mainly geared at tin tents and people with more money than sense to spend on silly speedboats that makes men think they extend their manhoods!  We walk every inch of every hall and only stop for some lunch to make sure we look at everything and get our value from the ticket price. We are staying in the Copthorne Hotel in Birmingham City Centre for two nights (being close to Birmingham New Street station is a priority) which we did last year too and its just a hop on the train from New Street station to Birmingham International and we are in the NEC. We sort of make it a romantic weekend break and go up on the train and stay for two nights to make it worth while travelling up from South Wales for the show.  If you go with a negative attitude you probably wont enjoy it and be disappointed and that is a shame because it is a great day out looking at amazing dreamworld motorhomes and 5th wheelers. 

Quote: Originally posted by Domino666 on 01/2/2009

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yes it is mainly geared at tin tents and people with more money than sense to spend on silly speedboats that makes men think they extend their manhoods! 

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I sense much anger here lol

Boating is a fantastic way to spend a day... there's nothing finer than messing about on the water.

Manhoods needn't come into the equation at all.

We're probably going too. There wasn't a great deal of camping stuff to see last year but it's still a decent day out. The boat hall is great and a good way to spend a fantasy lottery win :)

Thank you, above posts have really cheered me up now.  Based on what you've said Atherwitzend and Domino666 we have decided to get a taxi from the Travelodge to New St station and then get the train to the NEC, come back after our day at the show, train/taxi back to hotel and then go out for something to eat.

Feel much happier now and actually looking forward to it.  Domino, we aimed for it to be a nice romantic weekend away too, as it's our anniversary the weekend before (Valentine's Day)

I just wish trains were cheaper as we'd have travelled to Birmingham that way, but at a cost of £126, no way!

Thanks again

So, now I am actually looking forward to going (providing the snow clears up!) can anyone give me any tips about driving into Birmingham.  I usually use the AA for my route, just wondered if anyone else has any ideas or tips.

Thanks.

Well we went and had a fantastic time.  To those who said we were in a grim area, I didn't think that at all.  As someone else said, it was a bit tricky to get to (the hotel not Birmingham) but once there it was a nice hotel if a bit noisy at night, a short walk to Broad Street and all the bars and eateries, ate out twice. Tesco's just across the road for any necessities and only a 15 minute walk to the station.

Overall a very good weekend, topped off by a trip to Chester Zoo on the Sunday before we drove home.