Festival Travel
Fed up with Glastonbury grime and Reading rain? Music lovers seeking warmer climes are heading to festivals overseas to see the biggest names in music, without the big threat of mud.
In the UK we’re guaranteed impressive headline acts, current DJs and promising newcomers. Going to a festival abroad gives you access to bands that are equally as impressive, local cuisine and (location depending) better weather.
Even the most seasoned camper prefers it to remain dry, even if it’s only long enough to put the tent up. Pictures from the Isle of Wight festival, showing boggy campsites and muddy revellers, would put many people off festivals for life.
Why put up with the British climate when you could jet off to Benicassim to boogie on the beach?
Face the music
If you are giving up on the UK and travelling abroad to a festival, there are plenty to choose from - many in warm or unusual locations. They can also be much cheaper than UK festivals and some have far better facilities. Leave the boggy fields for England and try something different this summer.
Sziget in Hungary takes place on an island in the middle of the Danube, accessible only by water taxi, the location for Serbia’s Exit Festival is a 13th century fortress and one of the stages at Eurockéennes in France is on the beach.
Top festival travel tips:
Buy your tickets from a reputable source to avoid a wasted journey
Arrive at least one day before the festival so you don’t have to worry about delays
Take a hat and plenty of sun cream - you don’t want to get heatstroke or sunburn
Pack lightly and leave non-essential valuables behind
If you’re driving to the festival, check there are places to park
Find out if you can hire a tent at the festival so you don’t have to travel with one
Learn a few useful phrases in the local language just in case
Remember your EHIC card if you’re travelling to a festival in Europe
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and limit your alcohol intake
Take a first aid kit with you to treat minor injuries
If you’re travelling abroad for a musical experience, remember that it’s still a holiday and you need to take the usual precautions. Travel insurance could financially protect your trip if the unexpected happens. John Lewis Travel Insurance offers three levels of cover for you to choose from - Essential, Plus and Premier - so you can make sure that all aspects of your trip can be covered. You can visit their website here to find more information about their product offering.
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