Festival decision help

[ourkid1984]

Hi all international festival goers!

My friends and I are stuck on which international festival to go to this year. We all like the look of the following festivals;

Southside

Pinkpop

Open'er

Bilbao

Opitimus Alive

We've been to Pukkelpop and Rock Werchter and loved them both for different reasons. Liked Pukkelpop for the cost and the variety and liked Werchter for the huge space in the campsites and the stalls outside the arena so a mix of both would be excellent.

I'm looking for advice on what are generally the cheapest and best way to get to each festival and what the general vibe is for each one. It would also be helpful if people know how much English speaking are each of these festivals because I'm affraid and embaressed about our lack of foreign language skills, typically English I suppose....

Many thanks in advance for everyone's input!

[Markj11]

Hi

Went Open'er in 2009, really enjoyed it. Flew from Liverpool, very cheap. The campsite was what you would expect, and the festival site was very spacious, a lot of food stalls and about 4 stages/tents, was brilliant. Food and drink very cheap, worked out about a pound for a can of beer. Also got the free bus service into the local town Gdynia most days, not much to see but a few bars, again very cheap. Regarding English speaking people, not many do to be honest, but we got along, everyone we met was very friendly. Would recommend for sure! In a dilemma myself about what festival to go, considering Werchter, whats the general vibe?

Edited January 19, 2011 by Markj11

[ourkid1984]

Thanks for that reply Markj11!

Definately still an option.

Refering to Werchter the vibe was very relaxed and laid back and just full with people happy just to have a good time and the bars outside the festival site were great and at a reasonable price for what you got. The festival site and camping was very spacious with good facillities. I would say that the general audience age was between 30 and 40 but also plenty enough youngsters to keep it varied.

If you enjoy a laid back festival with very good big named acts but not full of roudy dick heads then its great but if you're looking for a glasto or reading style experience then it won't be for you.

[AmyShambles]

Went to Open'er last year. It was pretty good, apart from the fact that you couldn't take alcohol into the camping area (we did manage to sneak some in, got some taken off us one time though). Poland is a really nice place, beer and food is cheap, which is always good. Didn't like the fact that all they sold in the arena was Heineken though, would have been good to have some spirits too, but that's mainly because I'm not a huge lager fan. I'd definitely recommend Open'er, especially if the line-up is good. Cheap beer, good crowds, couldn't ask for much more.

Edited January 27, 2011 by AmyShambles

[j4cko1984]

I have been to Benicassim and Exit! Both brilliant! Benicassim, is brilliant with the beach of a day and enjoy the festival of a night! the alcohol for mthe supermarket is very cheap! but once in the festival last yr was €7 for a ltr of beer! Mainly british to be honest but never the less we had an amzing time and you will have a ball!!

EXIT is unbelievable! the setting is something else and pictures do not really do it justice, really cheap in and out of the festival i think about £1.50 -£2.00 for a beer! The thing i did not realise is the city it is in is unreal! Loads of bars and loads of restaruants its like a capital city! for an experience i recomend EXIT for Lineup and fun i say Benicassim!!

P.s we are going to Optimus alive this year, try something new!