If you're going to MEDICA for the first time this year, or are still trying to decide if you should go, here are some handy travel tips you'll be glad to know.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
English is the international language of business and it's also the language of medicine. So if you only speak English, you shouldn't have any trouble getting around the fair grounds, or Dusseldorf, or communicating with the exhibitors and attendees - most Germans, and most people from every country, are fairly good with English. But it is nice to have a few common phrases handy in German to make your stay more enjoyable> So be prepared to greet people in the morning with a chipper "guten Morgen" (good morning) or "guten Tag" (good day). You can build your own list of phrases for free with any online translator.

Your Dusseldorf weather forecast
The weather in Dusseldorf in November is characterized by daily high temperatures running from around 57°F (14°C) at the beginning of the month and dropping to about 47°F (9°C) at the end of the month, So a comfy jacket is recommended. Rain is a possibility, as Dusseldorf has no dry season to speak of.

Getting from the airport to downtown
Dusseldorf's airport is simply called Dusseldorf International Airport (symbol: DUS) and it's about 7 miles (10km) from downtown Dusseldorf. Expect the taxi fare to be about 25 to 30 euros - and get euros in the U.S. before you leave.

Think about flying into Cologne
Depending on where you are coming from, an option is to fly to Cologne if that gets you a direct flight from the U.S., and then taking the train to Dusseldorf. Cologne only is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Dusseldorf, and the trains run frequently. If you do fly into Cologne, consider staying there as well. The prices are significantly lower then in Dusseldorf, where the hotels charge a premium to be close to MEDICA.

Using your cell phone
It is strongly advised that you check with your carrier about cell phone service in Germany and costs while in and around Dusseldorf - or you could get hit will a really big bill. And whatever you do, turn off the roaming feature on your phone, if you go outside your service area and access another carrier, you will get whacked!

Check out the MEDICA floorplan before you go.
Though it's billed as the world's largest medical trade show, many first-time visitors to MEDICA are stilled awed by the size of the show, so do a little home and it won't take you long to get your bearings. The exhibitors are organized by medical specialty or modality, or in some cases, by country of origin, like the U.S. Pavilion. See the floorplan here: MEDICA Floorplan

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