How did you all get to Crufts.? We came by coach and it was a complete nightmare.?? Eventually when we did get into to see the dogs, it was so crowded that we didn't get to see many at all. What do others think??

It took us 1hr and 45mins to get out of the NEC car park on Friday I think it was the most un-organised I have ever seen the NEC carpark.  They even ran out of spaces and we were directed to park on the side blocking people in :rolleyes: lucky we drivers could sort it out ourselves because the parking attendants were about as much use as a chocolate fire guard :P had a great day otherwise though :)

Hi,

It took us an 1 1/2 to get out of the NEC carpark utter maddness you would have thought
they could have sorted the problem out it was much the same last year:-(

However we had a fantastic day with "Gundo" we didn't get placed but what a thrill to be there.

Briony:-)

We got in fine as we were told by visitors wo had been that day to leave early in the morning to avoid the jams and we left dead on 4 and got out without any problems :)

There were several parking attendants there on Thursday but they weren't attending to the parking, not when we arrived anyway.

Years ago I worked at what was then the Metropole Hotel (Now the Hilton) whenever there was a large show we were all  given passes to display in our cars clearly indicating we were hotel staff and should be allowed through. However you tend to find that a lot of the Car Park attendants are only temp and brought in as and when required.  The main pre-requisite appears to be the ability to become ignorant once the high visibility jacket is put on.  The number of times I was directed to the west car park when my vehicle clearly displayed a hotel staff badge.  I remember an attendant being crushed by one vehicle whilst directing traffic about 8yrs ago.  They do not do this job on a regular basis and some (not all I hasten to add) feel the jacket gives them authority over everything in the NEC.  On a lighter note we left on Friday and walked back to the North Car Park, we hadn't purchased a car park ticket so asked at one of the exit barriers if we could pay on exit to which we were told yes.  Only the exit station for the section we were in wasn't manned so we got off without the £6 charge :)

jammy :P

Actually I wasn't going to own up to this but since you have,  when we got to the booth to pay for the car parking we were so far from the car and didn't know if we would have to take a ticket all the way back to it, we decided not to bother.  And as we didn't leave until 10pm we didn't pay either. :p:

:rolleyes:  I was tempted to try to get away with not paying because I didnt get a proper space :D :D

Rolled in on the train, walked straight in. . . . . . . . Said goodbye to a friend as she went to her car, Went for a bite to eat and a drink, pick up a few things from the trade stands, back to the station 1.5 hours after friend left. Friend and self arrived home at same time!

How about that for an advert for the rail?

Best wishes, John

it was a nightmare for us too! we took the massive range rover, couldnt park anywhere so had to drive around for about 45 mins, eventually parked god knows where!
i agree it was sooo unorganised! 

but had a great day! HEAVEN!

We got there on Friday. Parked straight away. No problems. Got into E5.
Getting out we left it till after 4, bad mistake!!!!!!!!! Took us 3/4 hour to get out.

Saturday got stuck on M42 for about 3/4 hour in the que(same time as day before).  then had to go right round to w4(I think)
decided to leave at 3 to get out before the show people(it was getting tooooo crowded and had taken all the enjoyment out of it) and got oiut no problem.
Lea :)

So are we all going to complain then. I hope so as we don't want a repeat next year. It takes all the enjoyment out of it. Mind you I think if we go next year we will go up the day before by train and then we can go in first thing in the morning, I noticed a holiday inn nearby. I am still going to complain tho'. so I hope some of you do.:)

I think I'll be complaining.  Fortunately we were lucky to arrive at 9am on Sunday and got in relatively easy and left at 4pm before the masses left.  But, it was so packed it wasn't enjoyable and the one event we wanted to see in the special events ring we couldn't get anyway near.  Maybe after this year, they ought to limit the numbers and make everyone pay in advance.  I don't like to get serious, but what if they'd been a fire?

I think that at any massive event like crufts there are going to be problems.  I went and got there nice and early, no problems at all. I went on the train on Sunday, again, no problems. One problem is that the KC wont let dogs leave until a certain time....meaning that there are sudden big rushes to leave, all at the same time. Im not gonna complain....dont wanna take the chance of the KC trying to move it back to london !

On Saturday we had no problems, parked straight away in the West car park 7.15 am, came out at 3.45 (nice security guard let us out early) back to car, straight out of the car park 10mins drive  to motorway and home by 6.15 (Halsemere Surrey), this is the best run we have ever had. :)
Karen.