What's good in Dusseldorf??

[dmitri]

Hi team, I have just booked 2 x J awards HKG-DUS on CX for next Feb. I am ticking off a few firsts with this trip so it should be good. Itinerary as follows-

Sydney
Hong Kong
Dusseldorf
Brugges
Brussels
Luxembourg City
Colmar
Paris
Dusseldorf
Hong kong
Sydney

-First J award booking so stoked to be on CX as everyone on here has given it good reviews, (CX375/CX376)
-Ticking off Hong Kong, Belgium and Luxembourg finally.
-It will be me and my wife first trip with company, as we are having our first baby in October

Can anyone please advise on the pro/cons of travelling with a pram (take own or buy over there and leave it), what are top spots to check out in Dusseldorf for 2 overnight stops (1 each way) and what are the best lounges to check out in Hong Kong airport- I'm QF platinum.

Sorry for long winded story,

cheers, Dmitri

 

[Mattg]

I haven't been to Dusseldorf but I can recommend you do a day trip to Cologne. I think it takes under an hour on the train from Dusseldorf and Cologne is a lovely German city. You can't miss the enormous cathedral and there are lots of nice restaurants in the old part of the city.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Can anyone please advise on the pro/cons of travelling with a pram (take own or buy over there and leave it),

Hi,


I detested ever travelling with a pram/stroller and in particular when flying anywhere.

I used instead one of these: Possum Child Carrier | Child Carriers / Kids | Packs | Macpac Australia

My three daughters are all now 18+ and so when I bought the possum it was the first of its kind as it had a full backpack harness with waist belt making carrier larger loads a breeze. I carried my daughters till up to about 4 years old using it.

When they are young, the kids love it as they are high and can see everthing, and are close to mum or dad.

Only really con for me is that when off your back that it does not self-support and so you cannot just leave junior in it as a "chair". Whereas with a pram/stroller you can plus the child can sleep in it.

However you cannot beat the freedom of the backpack:
* When my daughter was 2 we were hopping on and of the cable car tram with ease
* You can walk on beaches easly..as opposed to wheels that bog
* Stairs are not as issue, nor escalators
* In crowds you can just walk, whereas witha parm you are dodging people or having to go slowly
* You can walk much quicker than you can pushing
* Your hands are free for taking pics etc...including for pushing/towing a wheelie bag (whereas with a pram that is awkward

 

[LadyC]

Dmitri, how old will your little one be when you travel?

 

[Foreigner]

Baby due Oct. See OP # 1.

I've stayed in Dusseldorf once but will go again in Oct. The Altstad is worth visit as is Koenigsallee for shopping. Cologne is less than 30 min. by train. Yes, the cathedral is a must-see and very close to main station.

Found this useful link:

http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/en/home/

Expect cold weather.

 

[civi_joe]

If you're a beer fan the many pubs in the Altstadt are worth a visit, nice and cosy places to get out of the cold.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Good news on getting CX J seats you will enjoy. Up there with QF J Unobtrusive service IMHO

 

[dmitri]

Hi,


I detested ever travelling with a pram/stroller and in particular when flying anywhere.

I used instead one of these: Possum Child Carrier | Child Carriers / Kids | Packs | Macpac Australia

My daughter are all now 18+ and so when I bought the possum it was the first of its kind as it hada full backpack harness with waste belt making carrier larger loads a breeze. I carried my duaghters till up to about 4 years old using it.

When they are young, the kids love it as they are high and can see everthing, and are close to mum or dad.

Only really con for me is that when off your back that it does not self-support and so you cannot just leave junior in it asa "chair". whereas witha pram/stroller you can plus the child can sleep in it.

However you cannot beat the freedom of the backpack:
* When my daughter was 2 we were hopping on and of the cable car tram with ease
* You can walk on beaches easly..as opposed to wheels that bog
* Stairs are not as issue, nor escalators
* In crowds you can just walk, whereas witha parm you are dodging people or having to go slowly
* You can walk much quicker than you can pushing
* Your hands are free for taking pics etc...including for pushing/towing a wheelie bag (whereas with a pram that is awkwardThanks for info, my wife will do some investigation.

Thanks for the info, my wife will do some digging

 

[LadyC]

Apologies for the redundant question, I was a bit tired when I read your post.

We have done 3 trips with my son since he was born - at 6.5 months, 7.5 months and 13 months. We have taken a stroller each time and although it can be annoying to deal with at either end of flights, in my experience it is definitely worth it.

We bought a maclaren techno xt stroller second hand off ebay and use it as our travel stroller. It is very sturdy for long days but can fold up and be gate checked. They can sleep in it during the day relatively undisturbed and it is good as the bag/water carrier.

If your little one is only 4 months, you may be able to use a baby carrier such as a Tula or Ergobaby to carry them. But carrying them all day even at that age is tiring. And I think they are so small that they need to be in a front carrier rather than a back carrier.

We have a Tula and have taken that also for shorter stints or in case the little man needs to be close.

 

[dmitri]

Sounds good Lady C, I think taking our pram is the way to go.

 

[Peter78]

If you're a beer fan the many pubs in the Altstadt are worth a visit, nice and cosy places to get out of the cold.

Not sure how applicable these topics are given you will have your infant with you - and congratulations - however I would agree that Dusseldorf is not as nice as Cologne. I might be biased as I grew up close to Cologne, and return there frequently for regular visits but it is only thirty minutes on the train and a great place to spend a few days.

The beer there is also much better, as the Altbier is terrible... In comparison, the Kolsch Cologne is famous for is an easy-drinking beer and the pubs are fantastic.

Finally, February 4 to 8 are the dates for Karneval next year, a terrific time to be in Dusseldorf or Cologne although I am not certain whether a festival will be high on your agenda. If your stay coincides with these dates, I would look into accommodation sooner rather than later.

If you need more help, please feel free to PM me, I know the area quite well, having lived there for close to 30 years.

 

[dmitri]

Not sure how applicable these topics are given you will have your infant with you - and congratulations - however I would agree that Dusseldorf is not as nice as Cologne. I might be biased as I grew up close to Cologne, and return there frequently for regular visits but it is only thirty minutes on the train and a great place to spend a few days.

The beer there is also much better, as the Altbier is terrible... In comparison, the Kolsch Cologne is famous for is an easy-drinking beer and the pubs are fantastic.

Finally, February 4 to 8 are the dates for Karneval next year, a terrific time to be in Dusseldorf or Cologne although I am not certain whether a festival will be high on your agenda. If your stay coincides with these dates, I would look into accommodation sooner rather than later.

If you need more help, please feel free to PM me, I know the area quite well, having lived there for close to 30 years.

Great info Peter, much appreciated, I'll will definitely pick your brain over the coming months.

cheers, Dmitri

 

[Demon_fan]

Very happy to hear some good reports about Cologne. I'll be there for 4 nights for work in May.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

.

If your little one is only 4 months, you may be able to use a baby carrier such as a Tula or Ergobaby to carry them. But carrying them all day even at that age is tiring.

.

In the two carriers you recommend that may be so. The versions I and my wife used (and once we had more than one daughter it was with a backpack each) have full bush walking harnesses and waist bands making it a lot more comfortable to carry children all day (for the non-bushwalkers on the forum the ability to comfortbally carry larger loads is greatly increased with the right backpack). Infants are a breeze. I carried my daughters up to 4 years of age (they would at that age walk, but when tired I would carry).

For me it really depends what you want to see and do, and how restricted you want to be. If one was not that active pre-kids, then using a stroller is probably fine.

For my travels tastes it is too restrictve. ie Middle daughter was born on Dec 6 and in Jan she summited Mt Buffalo on tracks like these:

 

[LadyC]

I don't disagree with you, back carriers are more comfortable and easier to wear for longer. My understanding is that current recommendations are baby is in a front carrier until they can sit up themselves, hence my suggestions. The Tula can also be used as a back carrier once they are a bit older (not sure about ergobaby).

 

[Limewood]

Some excellent pubs and eateries in the Altstadt, DUS is real big on trade exhibitions went there 3 times in the 80's 90's.

 

[Mattwah]

Am about to head there for that exact reason, but I stay in Ratingen instad, nicer place I reckon and much cheaper accomodation when a tradefair is on

Some excellent pubs and eateries in the Altstadt, DUS is real big on trade exhibitions went there 3 times in the 80's 90's.