Paging the Germans

I have to get to Hamburg for a meeting in December.

Flights from Cardiff and Bristol are crap - they're all via somewhere
else.

The temptation to drive is overwhelming.....

Is this a good idea, or should I just drive to Heathrow and fly?

 

If you set off now, you could walk, swim, walk some more and STILL be on
time.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

(SteveH) wrote in :

according to http://www.ham.airport.de/en/fluginformationen.html there are
direct flights to Bristol with http://www.olt.de/

Out: 0805 or 18.25
Return: 0704 or 1755

 

The question now is why they don't turn up on my usual source,
Skyscanner?

 

Trying to get a head start?

Well, it's going to take you 4-5 hours at least to make it down here,
then cross the channel. Calais-Hamburg is about 760km according to
Google so it's another 10-11 hours driving time.

I dunno, unless you can do it on company time I'd be tempted to
fly. *Especially* as you'll be driving through large parts of Northern
Germany that are absolutely flat and boring.

 

(SteveH) wrote in

as I have said in other threads, always go to the destination airport and
look at their listings for routes/airlines.

Looks cheap enough too: about £150 return.

 

Good point. I've always sorted stuff with SkyScanner in the past, but
OLT appear to slip through their net.

More expensive than Heathrow with BA, but a lot closer for me.

Unfortunately, the return flight time is useless.

I could always use that as an excuse to book a 2nd night in Hamburg,
though.....

 

(SteveH) wrote in

oh, it came up on Blaney's favourite kayak.co.uk

 

Heh, have to plan for it now, 'cos of the flights and stuff.

Well, I was kind of thinking Harwich - Hook of Holland.

 

Depending on the state of the Antwerp ring road, that'll save you about
2-3 hours max. I think you'll spend more time on the boat...

 

Just looking - it's 327 miles from Hook of Holland to Hamburg.

I figured I'd be able to maintain something above 100mph on the German
side and do that in 4-4.5 hours at the most.....

Might not be a great plan - but I've mailed a German colleague who lives
down in Exeter to see if he fancies making a weekend of it - meeting is
Thursday / Friday AM. I don't mind spending another night out there and
coming back on the overnight boat on Saturday.

 

That's hugely optimistic IMHO, especially in Winter. Yes, you may get
the car up to 140 on occasion but maintaining 100mph can be a problem.

Plus, you're really stuffed if winter arrives...

 

If I got the diesel barge up to 140mph, I'd be rather surprised.

Hmmm, I assume they get proper winters over there, then?

Maybe flying from Bristol and booking a 2nd night over there is a good
idea, then.

I just really fancied driving it, to be honest.

Stupid bloody idea, booking Hamburg in December, if you ask me.

 

There is that as well...

Not necessarily, but like Britain, that far North in Germany goes
seriously screwy if you get snow.

During anytime from Spring to Autumn, I'd be with you but I think
December to February are a bad time for this.

 

Wot 'e sed. Some friends with a sense of urgency (late for RHCP gig) on
a VFR took five extremely fast hours from the Hook three weeks ago.

Can be (three weeks at -20 C 18 months ago) but YWMV

OLT are a pleasant airline based in Emden SAAB2000 50 seater from
Bristol quite a mellow flight usually.

No! Excellent time - peak season for the Christmas markets - gluhwein by
the bucket load.

If you need any local info - get in touch

Dave - in HH

 

That's a very good site - it'll replace skyscanner as my first check.

 

(SteveH) wrote in message

It's a shit idea unless you want an excuse to drive on the autobahns.
Your options are either Calais or, The Hague. After either of these
you've still got a ****-off big drive (500+ miles I think) which (from a
15+ year old memory) wasn't that interesting; Autobahns get boring after
a while.

If you're looking to save time I'd fly from Heathrow, if you're looking
to play around your choice. Of course, you could also fly from Brum
IIRC.

 

Well, the Autobahn thing did come into it.

The issues revolve around flight times as much as anything else - Wessie
found me a flight from Bristol, which gets me there on time, but leaves
before the meeting ends. Same applies from Birmingham.

My options are to drive down to Heathrow the night before to get an
early morning flight, or to stay an extra night in Hamburg and fly to
and from Bristol.

Either way, the company will have to stump up for an extra night in a
hotel - I'd prefer this to be a hotel in Hamburg, to be honest.

 

(SteveH) wrote in message

I'd assumed that was the case.

Hmm.

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/stern-hamburg/index.htm

 

Not my problem - our head office is there, so I'm sure we've got a
handful of top-notch hotels giving us preferable rates.

Hmmmm. Holiday Inn, Heathrow, or a night in Hamburg.

It's a tough one.