Hi

We are looking to stay overnight on the Wednesday before crufts.  Any advice on the best places to stay?  Dogs won't be with us, we're just coming to spectate.  I've seen some hotels in Birmingham centre which say that a train runs to the NEC and I've noticed that the prices are cheaper than those hotels near the NEC/airport.  Never been to Birmingham before, so any advice would be apreciated. Thanks

i need advice on hotels too

have you got a name for hotels that are not as near to nec

georgina

You could try the Holiday Inn Group.  We are staying at one about 30 minutes away as it is a lot cheaper then near the NEC.  They also take dogs if you are exhibiting.

At this date I think your best bet would be to look at the Holiday Inn, Travelodge, Premier Lodge etc websites.  You put in the town and they list the closest hotels, so you can sort of work outwards from where you want to be.  We are at the Holiday Inn at the NEC, but last year stayed at one a little further out.  The Campaniles are good too, there are 2 within about 10 mins of the NEC, no idea about availability.
bye
Gwen

You could look further out such as Lichfield,Tamworth,Sutton Coldfield as with the new toll road the NEC is now a straight road
and takes half an hour from any of the above places.

You still have to go on the M42 to get to it though don't you - and thats where the problems are. I was sat in it for an hour and a half last year - going by train this!

The NEC created the problems last year by booking another big exhibition at the same time as Crufts creating twice the amount of traffic.
From leaving my house to getting into the west car park usually takes me 20mins.  We went back to do shopping on Sat last year (we were showing on Fri) and it took nearly 2 and a half hours!!
They have said that there will be no other major exhibitions on with Crufts this year, thankfully!

Aaah, that explains a lot!

There is a local way for local people :-)
and you dont touch any motorway,but its one of those
routes I can do but cant explain.

I wonder if it's the route I use? ;)

Someone told me about it last year, after I had spent five hours on a journey that should have taken two and a half. I did not arrive at Crufts in the best frame of mind, luckily I was not showing until the next day.  What really p'd me off was having to buy a full price entrance ticket when it was the NEC's fault that I could not get in early and also had to park 30 minutes walk away.  Not that I can remember it for this year.

Do you think it would be less hassle to stay in the town centre and take the train to the NEC or drive there from the city centre?  Are the trains reliable and what's the parking like at the NEC?

Trains are good from New Street into Birmingham International. You then just walk into the NEC through the station :)

Charly, the parking is EMENSE. Buses take you from the car park to the door.

Dawn R.

LOL.  sounds a bit like Disney World!!  Thanks for your advice everybody, you've been really helpful.

Its like Disney World alright - but without the fun on the ten mile walks to the door (buses are always full) :)

Think I'll go with the hotel in town and take the train then.  What would be a good time to get there?  Having never been, it's a completely new experience.

You'll love it!!! Have fun.:)

Dawn R.

Coventry Road is full of Hotels and B&B's right near the NEC, I put some details up in an other post will try and find it for you.

EDIT TO ADD

Central Guest house on Conventry Road 0121 7067757 is cheap, there are quite a few on Coventry road and it is just 2 mins from NEC

We stayed at The Inn keepers last year and they room was very nice, food was good etc  Also on Coventry road just 2 mins.

http://www.innkeeperslodge.com/lodgedetailsmall.asp?INNID=WHES

Another one is  Days Inn
Link for Days inn  http://www.activehotels.com/hotels/index.php3?hotelid=117182&trkref=ENG&subid=&searchCount=1&year=2005&month=1&day=7&numnights=0&rooms=0&LANGUAGE=en

Marsden Green about 10mins walk from nec is full of b&bs and a couple of small hotels, www.necgroup.co.uk has accomadation section. Viv

hi!
We are also going to crufts!
a good place to stay is the Novotel, it is extremely close to both Airport and NEC.
More details can be found on the Crufts website under accomodation,
enjoy Crufts,
Carol

Iv'e just come back from a week at the Hilton which is next door to the NEC!  There are a couple of Holiday Inn's nearby - I would avoid the one by the airport - the planes will keep you awake all night!
Sarah

Thanks for all your ideas.  We've booked the premier travel inn and are staying on the Wednesday night, in order to be up early to see the staffys the next day.  Can't wait.

There are lots of nice looking hotels in Meriden about 10 mins from the NEC,, I so there is a B&B that looks good as they have the caravan park for 5 caravans behind and 6 acres of land for the dogs to excercise on