Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

[madDan]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Thankfully something to aim for - sorry for those plugging for Brighton

For those ruling it out - think about it as part of a euro tour maybe? Whenever we have done smartTimes we have always approached it this way (even Riccione when my turbo siezed the only part I missed the smart Roady for was ST part) We have a list of options mulling about for next year for ourselves.

Probably one leg will be partly Ply-Santander - Cas' the other leg will probably be a jaunt through France and Spain stopping over at relatives and friends places along the way.

Some folks don't do distances and probably will never do a continental ST which is a pity, some people don't mind the odd jolly (last year we did Dorset to the NordKapp at the tip of Norway whislt others did Antwerp ST) the cars are certainly more than capable.

So if you folks are even slightly undecided - give it some consideration before ruling it out - after all what an adventure!


I wasn't at Lucerne this year due to no Holiday left but would have loved to have gone, Alpine roads are great fun.


As for Brighton it would have probably been a none starter for me..........

[Evilution]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

I have 2 plans for Portugal.
Be totally drunk (as I am now) and... ok only 1 plan.

[adrimo]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

There are 3 options.

Drive the entire way - madness at 1400 miles.
Ferry to Santander and then drive - about 500 miles.
Let smart transport your car to the event and fly there.

Option 2 ans 3 sound great to me no way I'm driving 1400 miles in a smart, would be interesting to find out how much option 3 will cost, could then turn it into a proper holiday

[Mr Mynheer]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

We will go, i fancy Portugal but not sure i will do it in the crossblade although my son has volunteered to drive it down!!! Probably take the 451.

[RCR10]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Who would let Smart take their car abroad for them? I for one wouldn't who knows what they would do to it. Ferry to Santander seems a good option if you have deep pockets lol

[adrimo]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Who would let Smart take their car abroad for them? I for one wouldn't who knows what they would do to it. Ferry to Santander seems a good option if you have deep pockets lol

I wouldn't mind mine being transported, I'm sure it will be insured, ferry sounds good to but pricey for me

[Mr Mynheer]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Ferry to Santander seems a good option if you have deep pockets lol

Looked it up today. Portsmouth - Santander - Portsmouth with an outside cabin both ways .............£738!!!!!!
1400 miles is not too bad over 5 days. Anyway, its what we do, we are smart owners, we go on the crazy trips and love it!

[davros7760]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

The portugal bid was by far and away the most organized and thought out - and a chat with a german journalist
revealed is backed by a serious amount of money from local city councils.

They offered several packages 5/7 night stays, camping alternatives, but the benchmark package was

A 1 way flight to Portugal, 5 nights 4* accomodation, and your car shipped by freight from anywhere
in Europe 'from' 325e per person.

So 700euros + a 1000 mile drive / 2 or 3 stopover nights/ £50 ferry makes it feasible whilst a return drive would
put off most people.

I heard some childish objections to the portugal bid - the use of the words 'from 325e' for example. This led to counter claims
implying when they finally release the details it will be twice as expensive, blah, blah, blah.

A couple of people went further and claimed it would be impossible to do it at that price, the portuguese were in effect lying.

[J500ANT]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

EasyJet want from £77.99 one way to Portugal (via a google search, no idea on specifics.) and the cheapest 5 nights 4* in Cascais via Booking.com is showing as £507 for a studio apartment - for 5 nights (14 Aug - 19 Aug) (no idea if these are the dates, it's just an idea).

Add on the cost of transporting your car, now do you see why the €325 is barely believable? If they can do what they said for that amount, good for them!

[putzie]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

well it will all come out in the wash lol better get some pop corn !

[Evilution]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Looks like it will be subsidised then. I'm sure they didn't just say it say it to win or picked a number out of thin air. They must have done research.
I'm sure there are some cheap hotels in the area although, accommodation could be a load of tents lol.
Transport will cost smart next to nothing if they are using transporters returning from dropping cars off to dealers.

[OrangeDave]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Well, I am planning on either taking the ferry down to Santander (we've done this before) and driving the rest of the way, or, possibly, drive all the way down through France and Spain. I love these kinds of long tours. There's a guy in Norway who is doing this and he's planning a tube down.

[davros7760]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

EasyJet want from £77.99 one way to Portugal (via a google search, no idea on specifics.) and the cheapest 5 nights 4* in Cascais via Booking.com is showing as £507 for a studio apartment - for 5 nights (14 Aug - 19 Aug no idea if these are the dates, it's just an idea).

Add on the cost of transporting your car, now do you see why the €325 is barely believable? If they can do what they said for that amount, good for them!

One word - subsidy. The german journalist involved was unequivocal -it was far more to do with local politics rather than financial viability. They (local city councils) wanted to be seen to be doing something to bolster tourism.

So just like politicians all over the world, it seems they are happy to use taxpayers money for 'vote winning' schemes. Sounds depressingly familiar and feasible.

I haven't checked your figures - I'm certain they are valid as a baseline reference- but they apply to 1/2 people booking their holidays individually.

Finally, I find it very hard to believe that Smart senior management were unaware of the details of their proposal and/or
did not politely insist on seeing a detailed breakdown of the logistics of the proposal.

I worked with them before - germans are far too thorough. If they get it wrong it's egg on their faces and a PR disaster.

[SailSussex]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

There are 3 options.

Drive the entire way - madness at 1400 miles.
Ferry to Santander and then drive - about 500 miles.
Let smart transport your car to the event and fly there.

As far as I can see, smart will be using the empty car transporters to bring all the cars from smart dealers back to Hambach and from there out to Cascais.
When it's over they will deliver them back to your smart dealer. I think it's a great idea that might work really well.

Not sure my Motorhome will fit on the transporter?

[Evilution]

Re: Why we shouldn't vote for Brighton for SmartTimes 14

Smart never made a motorhome so no, probably not.