Long gone are the days festivals were cheap and you could rock up with a tent and a 6 pack of cider. Festivals, such as the Isle of Wight Festival, are a more sophisticated affair now with options for everyone, from the avid camper to those who don’t fancy pitching their own tents.
All these extra options do mean the price tag for a festival can be huge but there are still options to fit all budgets… Money.co.uk is here to help.
Before you get your wellies on and head for the fields create yourself a budget for the weekend. This way you can decide whether you want to splash out or make it a more frugal event. Check out the festival website – www.isleofwightfestival.co.uk – before you go and see what’s on offer, that way you can budget for any extras which tickle your fancy.
You need to be honest with yourself about how much you can afford to spend. It’s easy for costs to spiral out of control when you’re there so planning ahead and being strict with your budget will help you to avoid running out of money on the first night.
Getting there:
If you aren’t an Islander you’ll have to take the trip across the Solent to get to the festival, which can cost you a pretty penny. Ferries will be more expensive the closer it gets to the days of the festival. If you’re able to avoid travelling on festival days and go over a couple of days earlier, it may mean you save yourself a small fortune getting there.
Southern Vectis will be operating bus services from the normal stations and from the ferry ports, meaning visitors and Island residents alike can get to the festival easily – more details at www.islandbuses.info.
Luxury:
If camping in a noisy field isn’t quite your idea of fun, there are plenty of other options at the festival. The choices these days are endless from boutique camping in pre-pitched tents to luxury huts depending on your budget.
If you’re really looking to splash out there is the Camp Kerela experience… but this will set you back more than a pretty penny at around £8,500 for 2 people.
How much will it cost you:
Standard Adult Weekend ticket: £209
Ferry travel: £130 (approx.)
Camping Gear: £50-£80
Food & Drink: £50 a day x 4 days =£200
Overall cost approx: £620
This doesn’t include any luxuries like posh loos or fancy champagne, so remember that you will need to budget extra if you are planning on splashing out.
Other Costs:
If you do want to add in extra luxuries this is how much they could cost you:
• Luxury loos (cleaned after every use and have hot water) – £17.50 per day – for the 3 days = £52.50
• Phone charging = £20
• Hot Tub – £35 = £40
• Cold cans of beer for campsite: 24 cans = £30
How to save:
There are a few things you can do before you leave home to help you spending a small fortune.
• Phone Charging: Firstly buy a cheap external battery and charge it up before you leave home. This way you won’t be stuck in long queues to charge your phone or be stung with rip off charging fees.
• Consider H2O: Take a thermos which will keep cold water cold and hot water hot. This way you can fill it up for free and you won’t be buying plastic which is better for the environment too.
• Buy your food and alcohol before you go: Food and drinks bought onsite at festivals can be notoriously expensive. Glass bottles and alcohol are rarely allowed into the main arena so you’ll have to consume them before you leave the campsite.
• Take your own face paints: Face painting can set you back a few quid so have fun with your friends and do a DIY job.
• Get in for free: There are loads of ways to get a free ticket. Sign up as a volunteer online – you may have to do a certain number of hours of unpaid work during the festival but you’ll save yourself a fortune. You could become a Jolly Green Sherpa… https://www.islandecho.co.uk/jolly-green-volunteers-sought-for-isle-of-wight-festival/.
For more top tips on how to do festivals on the cheap visit Money.co.uk at https://www.money.co.uk/guides/how-to-do-festivals-on-the-cheap.htm and https://www.money.co.uk/guides/how-much-do-festivals-cost-and-what-should-you-take.htm.
