by Jake Stone, UK Country Manager, at Goboony
The UK summer music festival season has officially begun, with Latitude recently welcoming over 40,000 revellers each day. For many, the thought of a sunny, fun-filled long weekend brings so much excitement – time with friends, singing away to iconic artists, and making memories that will last a lifetime. But for others, there is a sense of trepidation. Lengthy queues, sleep deprivation and the thought of camping in a tent – navigating festivals can also be a tricky beast. Until you add a campervan to the mix.
Weatherproof - check. Cost effective - check. Comfortable - check. Storage - check. Hiring a motorhome is a great way for music lovers to combine the fun of a festival with all the home comforts guaranteed. Did someone say tea - in an actual mug?
Preparing for a stress-free arrival
As soon as you’ve sorted your festival ticket, it’s time to book the campervan pitch (that’s if it’s not already included, best to check). Each festival ground will normally have limited space and a campervan spot requires an extra fee. Take note of your vehicle length and make sure you book the appropriate pitch – otherwise you can risk being turned away on the day. If you’re not sure, always book a bigger pitch.
Always plan your route to the campsite and be aware of the entry point to use on the day - Google Maps will be your best friend here! Festival set-ups can become very busy, and you don’t want to be making three-point turns in a campervan because you’ve used the wrong entrance.
Aim to arrive nice and early to avoid any delays, long queues and to get a decent pitch close to amenities. Another perk of having a campervan is that you can book a local campsite the evening before arrival so you can set off early and be there in no time at all. Ultimately, the sooner you get set up the more time you’ll have to enjoy being at the festival.
Pack smart
Taking a campervan to a festival means you’ll have plenty of space for everything you might need - but that doesn’t mean you need to fill every corner of your vehicle. Focus on the items that will help you save money whilst you're there - think bottles of water and plenty of snacks. Remember that most festivals won’t allow glass bottles onto the site, so always choose plastic or cans. Preparing meals such as pasta, pot noodles and sandwiches can also save time.
Keeping in mind the rubbish disposal facilities (or lack thereof) at the festival – it might be worth bringing your own bin liners or bags for rubbish or recycling.
Remember items such as toilet paper, sanitiser gel and wet wipes which will help keep you feeling fresh throughout the day. A pair of earplugs might help you get a good night's sleep even if your neighbours are set on partying until sunrise. Microfiber towels are handy too as they dry much quicker than cotton towels so you can freshen up in the kitchen sink if a shower isn’t available. Finally, don’t forget the essential items that are often left behind; a bottle opener, a first aid kit, suncream and a torch.
Know the practical side
Every festival will have different amenities and rules so doing your research ahead of time is key to ensure you know what to expect and can plan ahead efficiently. The most common facilities are toilets, water, and water-waste containers. Waste is not to be disposed of anywhere else on festival grounds and most sites currently have no option for grey waste, so it’s recommended to use the toilet facilities on the ground and not in your campervan.
There are usually no showers (unless your campervan has one) so being armed with wet wipes and dry shampoo might be sensible- just like the other festival goers! There’s also no electric hookup and generators are not allowed, so it’s a good idea to choose a campervan that has a gas stove for cooking and solar-panels for electricity if you think you’ll need it.
Staying safe in your vehicle
Make sure the campervan you hire allows for festivals and has the correct insurance to match. When you leave for the day always close all the windows properly and lock up - even if you’re popping out for five minutes. It’s also a good idea to keep your blinds or curtains closed when you’re not in so passers by can’t see the contents of your campervan.
A spot of rain is always something festival goers will have to take into consideration. Anything’s possible on the weather front, so being prepared with items such as rubber track matts in the campervan in case the field is muddy on departure means you can easily drive away if the vehicle happens to get stuck.
Drive into your best festival experience yet
There are a lot of things to consider when planning a campervan trip to a festival and the perks of having your own home on wheels will make you the envy of others. Simply having a comfortable bed and good night’s sleep can turn your whole festival experience around, not to mention all the money you can save by bringing your own food and drinks. And the best part is, if you are welcomed with the classic British rain, you can easily dry off and get warm at the end of the day – ready to do it all over again the next.
About Goboony
Inspired by Airbnb, Mark de Vos and Foppe Mijnlieff started the Goboony platform in 2015 to focus on the motorhome and camper van community. This allows camper owners to earn back what they spent to purchase and maintain their vehicles. That being said, many users simply rent them out to make others happy and meet new people.
Goboony now has over 8,000 vehicles on its platform, and they have already sent more than 100,000 people on holiday from the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium.
Goboony believes that everyone should experience the freedom of a motorhome holiday at least once in their life, and they are well on the way to achieving that! They are growing fast and will soon be the largest camper community in Europe. Their motto ‘Share the freedom’ says it all. They not only share motorhomes but also inspirational ideas and tips on the most beautiful destinations, or as they call them, boonies!
For more information visit www.goboony.co.uk