QE2 Story Forum
Community => Past Events => Get Togethers & Events => QE2 Story QE2 50 year conference 22 September 2017 => Topic started by: Bob van Leeuwen on Jan 25, 2017, 03:27 PM
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Just a really quick question, I do hope to come and visit the event in September, I'm working some things out, one of them is getting to Clydebank. I wanted to drive to Clydebank with my own car, never been to the UK before, and would love the experience.
This is sadly to time consuming going via Dover, or any other near port. And sadly the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull is way to expensive to justify this, so I plan to go by plane from Amsterdam to Clydebank and hire a rental car.
Do you recommend any hotel near the airport and in range of the events that will be held? I have looked online, but I would also like to include your thoughts in the subject :)
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Just a really quick question, I do hope to come and visit the event in September, I'm working some things out, one of them is getting to Clydebank. I wanted to drive to Clydebank with my own car, never been to the UK before, and would love the experience.
This is sadly to time consuming going via Dover, or any other near port. And sadly the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull is way to expensive to justify this, so I plan to go by plane from Amsterdam to Clydebank and hire a rental car.
Do you recommend any hotel near the airport and in range of the events that will be held? I have looked online, but I would also like to include your thoughts in the subject :)
Our recommended hotels are in Glasgow, by the river, near the transport museum. From here there is a 20 minute train to Clydebank, and it's also an easy direct route by taxi. It's Also close to everything that Glasgow has to offer of course.
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If there is sufficient delegates staying at the Crowne Plaza we may organise a bus to and from the conference venue. We will not know this until nearer the event. As Rob stated the train link to Clydebank is very good.
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The priority booking with the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Pacific Quay, Glasgow was arranged because of the easy transport links to the city centre, and rail link to Clydebank for the conference. I have stayed at this hotel and the nearby Premier Inn, Pacific Quay and like both hotels. There are also other hotels in this area as well as many excellent hotels in Glasgow city centre. The benefit of staying in one of the Glasgow hotels is apart from attending the conference and meeting up with forum members over the weekend, Glasgow has many tourist attractions.
The train is the best mode of transport from the Premier Inn, Pacific Quay to Clydebank. There is a walkway from the SECC (near to the hotel) to the Exhibition Centre Train station 10 minutes approx walking time from the Premier Inn. I looked at the train times for this Friday to get an idea of times and for a direct train travel time is 17 minutes. Taking a Train where there is one change is slightly longer 21 or 25 minutes so I would not advise taking a train where you have to change, There is a short walk to the Clydebank Town Hall.
As John has mentioned we have discussed a bus from Pacific Quay area to Clydebank and return and will keep everyone informed.
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Thank you all for the replies, I really do appreciate it :)
I just took a look at Google Maps of the area again, I'm thinking about also taken one ore two days off in the next week. I have already seen many other points that I want to visit (thats why I want the rental car, to go everywhere I want).
I have already seen some many places I want to go and take a look, Greenock for example. I have never been outside of mainland Europe before, and apart from summer holidays, never outside The Netherlands, so I'm really looking forward to come :)
Planning work has already started, I need to discuss it at work, plan the trip etc, I do hope that if I have any questions, that I can send some of you a private message?
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Bob, I'm glad to hear someone actually wants to go and see Greenock!!! Most folks . . .well, just joking.
Plenty local knowledge in that area.
Most folks arriving on cruise ships either go on tours or make the mistake of turning left and going into the town centre - better to head towards the west and - especially if you have a car - get to the top of Lyle Hill where one of the best views in the world awaits you - assuming the rain and clouds don't obscure it.
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Bob, I have the feeling that the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with which the event organisers have agreed a special conference price, will be the centre of activities for that week-end. Apart from members staying there, there will also be excursions starting from there and the possibility of having drinks / snacks together there. It would therefore be useful to look for accommodation either in the Crowne Plaza itself, or in the vicinity.
Here is the special deal with the Crowne Plaza :
https://qe2event.com/accomodation/
On a previous occasion, I tried a smaller hotel in the vicinity, the Campanile, and found it entirely satisfactory :
http://www.campanile-glasgow-secc.co.uk/en/index.aspx
Another recommendation I have received is the Premier Inn Pacific Quay, also within easy walking distance from the Crowne Plaza :
http://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/scotland/strathclyde/glasgow/glasgow-pacific-quay-secc.html
Both of these are close to the action.
From previous experience, I can add that it is probably useful to book early in Glasgow -- hotel spaces seem to get booked out quickly!
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It is a local holiday weekend in Glasgow at the time of the conference. You may think it gets quieter but probably not. There's also a major event on at the exhibition centre Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 Sept so hotels are likely to be busy and prices do go up. The Crowne Plaza have offered us a good rate for the conference. As Isabelle points out the other hotels in the vicinity are great too.
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Hi Bob,
It'll be great to meet you - and hoping it won't seem patronising to say - "Well Done" for venturing North!
Hotels in the UK have two prices at the time of booking - one is more expensive so that it allows you to cancel ahead if for any reason, you can't make use of the booking.
The Premier Inn at Pacific Quay allows you to cancel up to 14.00hrs on the day of booking - The Crown Plaza allows you to cancel up to 72 hrs before arrival.
All hotels charge your credit /debit card for the cheaper rate whether or not you are there to stay - if you don't use the room, you still have to pay for it.
Hoping this makes sense...
All the best and safe travels!
Rosie
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If I could I would avoid driving in central Glasgow (we're planning to go by train, stay at the https://www.carlton.nl/en/hotel-george-glasgow (https://www.carlton.nl/en/hotel-george-glasgow) (isn't that part of a Dutch chain?) and take the train to Clydebank and back. If you've got a car why would you want to stay in central Glasgow (the traffic and the hotels and parking are both expensive. Clydebank isn't well endowed with hotels but what about staying somewhere like Dumbarton or Port Glasgow where both prices and parking should be better - I can't recommend hotels because it's a long time since I've been there and I've never stayed there.
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Thank you all for your replies, currently I have made some general travel planes with all your help. There are some small things that need to get sorted, hopefully tomorrow, then Monday I will ask the days off at work, after which I will buy all the tickers etc, reserve hotel and flight.
@Pete Hamill: Probably, I would have given the same response, if you would come here to the Netherlands, for example a town that is between Bodegraven, where I live, and the next major city to the east Woerden, called Nieuwerbrug, is something I drive through as quickly as possible (well, not faster the 50KPH since the speed camera). But for some very strange reason, tourist love it, since it has the last bridge on our country when toll needs to be paid in order to use it. Going to Utrecht, is personally something I just hate, not easy to drive around, finally when I get where I need to go, parking a pain (must say, that when working with me dad near the Dom Church, I just drive around it until he is done), but tourist love it. For the same reason I would like to go down to Greenock, it is something completely new for me :)
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Bob, good to know that the advice has been useful and fingers crossed that your boss will approve the days off work.
There is so much to see in Glasgow and the surrounding area, and of course Rob is organising an event for Forum members on the Saturday and asking members to respond if they would be interested https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7493.msg83301.html#msg83301
I agree with Malcolm that it is best to avoid driving through Glasgow. Like any big city it is easy when you know the routes, but because of one way systems it can be confusing. Glasgow has a very good ring road system so it is easy to avoid the city centre, but again easier when you are familiar with routes.
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We have booked three nights at the Crowne Plaza hotel Thursday to Sunday. This is a hotel we frequently stay at when in Glasgow like, but we equally like the Premier Inn Pacific Quay, which is nearby.
It would be interesting to have information on which hotels QE2 Story members have booked for their stay in Glasgow.
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It would be interesting to have information on which hotels QE2 Story members have booked for their stay in Glasgow.
We're at the Carlton George :)
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We're at the Carlton George :)
Hi Malcolm, I have not stayed at the Carlton George Hotel, but know that the location, at the top of Buchanan Street is very central for shopping, eating and transport links
There are good shopping facilities in Buchanan Street and Buchanan Gallery Shopping Centre. Princes Square for shopping and eating is accessed from Buchanan Street. There is also the Willow Tearoom on Buchanan Street and some nice restaurants in the area. Glasgow Concert Hall is nearby.
There is a train from Queen Street Station (lower level) to Clydebank Central Station, which is a five minute walk away from Clydebank Town Hall where the conference is being held. There are also trains from Queen Street to Singer station but it is a slightly longer walk - ten to fifteen minutes.
The committee aim to give more details about transport option to event venue and a map showing where the Town Hall is in relation to the station.
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The Carlton George is a nice hotel - I stayed there end of Feb this year. Nice and central, good quality for the money too!
Gav
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I have to admit that I'm quite looking forward to their " free decanters of vodka, gin & whisky" ;)
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OK, so despite only being a 35 minute drive to Clydebank, she who must be obeyed has decided that we will make a proper event of it, so we have booked Thursday night and Friday Night at the Crowne Plaza.
Looking forward to meeting up with fellow forum members and QE2 enthusiasts.