VERY well done, Geneva, very well done…read more
I've been to several motor shows in different countries, and this one was *by far* the most jam-packed, excitement-inducing, heart-stopping exhibition. For one thing, the lighting was optimal for photos, and my standard point-and-shoot was able to take some pretty amazing pictures. The exhibits are so well framed for awesome pictures that I found myself more than once having to remind myself that the pictures were secondary to actually seeing and appreciating the cars. The sweeping displays are huge and quite grandiose, and you can't help getting caught up in the excitement, especially with the many world premieres.
It was a great opportunity to see, touch, and sit in cars that most of us can only dream about, and the cars were made very accessible to visitors. Some of my favorites were the Lambourghini Aventador, Maserati Gran Tourismo, Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, and on the slightly more practical side, the Volvo V60 hybrid. There was no intimidation factor, and representatives were always close by to answer any questions, without hawk-eying me when I was fooling around inside of the cars.
Be careful if you want to step outside, as if you go through the main exit, your ticket will no longer work and you have to pick up an invitation pass from the Information Desk. But the replacement tickets are much prettier than the standard ticket, so if you're the kind of person who collects ticket stubs, it may be worth it to just exit and re-enter through the information desk. If you do decide to do that, however, remember the approximate time you came in as they will check that to make sure you're not picking up someone else's ticket.
I arrived at 11am on a Thursday and it was already full. By lunchtime it became fairly difficult to walk through the more popular exhibits. The tickets are half price after 4pm, but I don't even want to imagine how large the crowds are once work gets out. At CHF16, it's definitely worth the full price tag to get there in the morning.
