Newbie adivce

[Will_Tide]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice from some Isle of Wight regulars.

A few friends and I are looking to got to IoW for this first time this summer but are a little confused as to our best ticket options.

What are the best camping ticket and ferry packages to look for? And what is parking like at the festival? Is it worth me driving all the way (from Derby) or should I get the train and taxi/shuttle bus?

Just looking for some good options.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[snowdragon]

I think the Ferry companies bump up the cost for vehicles round Festival Times. We live locally and went to the Island forgetting it was Bestival and to go for the day taking a car was much more than normal and we werent even going to Bestival

I think you can buy combined ferry travel and Festival Tickets as a package. I know Red Funnel do this....

http://www.redfunnel...wight-festival/

Depending how you are getting down if you don't go by car you could go down to Southampton by train and you can get through ticketing on the RedJet Jetfoil (takes about 22 minutes from the mainland to the Island).

When booking through a rail website put in your origin say Derby and destination as Cowes West By Red Jet. You then don't have the hassle of having to buy tickets for the ferry when you get to the pier. Belive me you will be chuffed you did this because the queues at the Red Funnel ticket office at festival times is manic so you can just breeze straight from the Bus onto the pier and make your way unhindered.

To take advanatge of cheap advance fares on the train: You don't get these if you include the RedJet but there is a way round this:

Put in your origin Derby destination Southampton Central. This should pick up any cheap advance fares. Then make a separate booking for your RedJet ferry tickets putting in Southampton Central to Cowes West By Red Jet. You will probably have to do this bit as two single tickets if you are camping over one booked the day you go out one booked the day you return. This is still cheaper than a period return direct with Red Funnel especially if you have a railcard to give you 33% off. Dont forget your railcard if you have one as you get 33% off the rail and the ferry fare if you book through a Rail website and dont forget to select your origin station for ticket on collection. You can collect all tickets at the start even if you have separate tickets for different parts of the trip.

http://www.southernrailway.com/

There is a free bus to the RedJet from Southampton station.

I know you can also camp using Tangerine Fields so you dont have the hassle of carting tents, sleeping bags and the like. Tangerine Fields also has better toilets, showers and so on.

http://www.tangerine...t-festival.html

Hope that helps.

Edited April 9, 2012 by snowdragon