I went last year and absolutely loved it, to the point that both Steph and I agreed that we would come again this year, before the show had even finished!
As Toby said, it's an Overlanding show so if that's what your after then it'll be right up your street. The stuff isn't cheap, but if you do some research before you go, you can pick up some bits of kit that cost an extra premium in the UK, or aren't on the UK market.
It's a good place to see all the different solutions to the same question, what's the best way to travel overland?
The most impressive bit was admiring all the craftsmanship and design that had gone into all their custom campers, especially the Toyota based versions, very very impressive! They have some very well thought out and proven designs.
The show is very well organised, and the shuttle bus to and from the show was typically german in it's regularity! If memory serves me correctly it was €18 for a four day show pass, can't remember what the camping cost, but it wasn't much. The only catch with the camping is finding some spare scrap of land the hasn't been claimed yet, you know what the Germans are like with the deck chairs and their towels, well on the camping ground they rope off areas for their mates, which means you have to sort of muscle your way in a little and pitch a lot closer to the people around you than you normally would.
I went off to the show on the first day, having arrived the night before, to return at lunch time to find us blocked in on all sides by another three new arrivals! In my experience it just seems to be they way it works at this show, as it's so popular. The atmosphere is great and everyones is very friendly, and will move to let you out if nessecary.
As Toby mentioned, having an evening stroll around the camp ground is just as interesting as the show it's self, there really are all types of excellent vehicles there, and interesting owners to chat too. I even had people coming and checking us and the vehicle out, as being from the UK, we were unusual and the definatley the minority group. A think I saw around ten UK vehicles, including Andy's, in a sea of a couple of 1000 vehicles from all over the world. I say that because an Australian registered 110 parked up by us one night!
It's a show that's well worth the effort, and I will be back again this year!
Cheers,
Scott.
