Benicassim 2013!

[Michael The Work Geordie]

Thanks for the advice I think I'll need all the help to be comfortable that I can get ha! I'm not too good with heat and tend to get a bit twiney when I'm tired! God help people near me VillaCamp sounds like it's the one for me then. My only issue with taking my own tent is having to lug it all the way there and trying to fit it in my luggage, perhaps a pop-up one would be better mind!

Edited January 14, 2013 by Michael The Work Geordie

[mulligana]

Is there a difference in the crowd between the 'Villacamp' and normal camping areas? Like has the villacamp got an older crowd???

[rug568]

I was hoping for something a little more specific.

[PastCaring]

I was hoping for something a little more specific.

[fib_lover]

Thanks for the advice I think I'll need all the help to be comfortable that I can get ha! I'm not too good with heat and tend to get a bit twiney when I'm tired! God help people near me VillaCamp sounds like it's the one for me then. My only issue with taking my own tent is having to lug it all the way there and trying to fit it in my luggage, perhaps a pop-up one would be better mind!

[kingofthejebends]

RENFE is the Spanish national rail service. They have a website, that can be viewed in English, where you can check timetables and book tickets. The timetables are displayed by region. To get from Madrid to Benicassim, I would guess that you would need to take a train from Madrid Atocha station to Valencia, and then another train from Valencia to Benicassim.

Thanks for explaining a route, that makes things a little clearer because the Renfe website isn't exactly brilliant.

To the person who told me to Google, no need to be a dick about things. I have done some research but to be honest most things about Benicassim seem to be 3 years old, and as a first time visitor how am I supposed to know about its relevancy?

[cragsyj1]

You considered staying somewhere instead of camping? There's still a couple of places in our lovely air conditioned bungalow in Camping Bonterra if you are interested!

[PastCaring]

No, the RENFE site isn't the best is it? I would imagine, though, that if you look at the mid distance (as opposed to the local services) routes from Madrid to Valencia and from Valencia to Barcelona, you should find the trains that you need.

[aixa]

There is a twice daily train from Madrid to Benicassim at 09.10 and 17.10, takes 3 hours and cost €73.70 tourist class . Also a coach, 3 times daily from Madrid to Benicassim, takes 3 and 1/2 hors and cost €33.50 (during the Festival, direct to and from Madrid Airport)

[Chelseadele]

No worries, happy to be of some kind of use! If you get a smaller one it shouldn't be too much hassle to put up / carry around and if it's cheap enough you'll probably save a few pennies. I think Villa Camp is a little quieter so probably suits with shade etc.

*Oh, and I'd try to get there on the Wednesday if possible! Try EU Fest for coach transfers from Barca airport if the train tariffs are OTT / fully booked. So convenient to have travel to and from Valencia sorted the last time I went.

http://www.eufest.com/festivals/beni/transport

[fib_lover]

Were thinking of coming over the 17th - 22nd and was wanting to stop in a hotel, what price could you possibly do mate? How far from the festival is it? Easy/affordable to travel there each day?

Thanks

[wilko8]

Has anyone got any experience of booking apartments for benicassim on www.rentalia.com?

Any help appreciated. Cheers.

[gedkelly]

Has anyone got any experience of booking apartments for benicassim on www.rentalia.com?

Any help appreciated. Cheers.

[MartynCleary]

Hey! Long time listener, first time caller here! I've been following the thread since I came home from Benicassim in 2012 and just thought I'd share my experiences and basically try to help anybody that was stuck for ideas of what to buy and what to take, this may be a long one but, I hope it helps!

1) Tent!- You're obviously going to need a tent so you can get that all important 3 hours of sleep throughout the WHOLE FESTIVAL! Last year I took a two man tent which was of fair size, I could lie down in it and stretch and I'm 6'2, but, as with everything good there has to be a downside! I had to put it in a checked-in bag with my clothes and stuff, when I could have used that room to not break my back lugging the damn thing around! So anyway, I've found this absolute BEAUTY of a tent that's lightweight, durable, easily noticeable and above all is UV coated to protect from (at least some of) the sun!

http://www.lazyboneuk.com/products/Moontent-%252d-Pop-Up-Tent.html

2) Backpacks/Rucksacks- Okay so you've got the tent (and hopefully your ticket!) You need something to put it in! Amazon has some excellent prices when it comes to Rucksacks and I've found this one that fits in with Ryanair's hand luggage restrictions!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Backpack-Rucksack-55-60-Roamlite-RL01K/dp/B005OPUUWO/ref=sr_1_11?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1358194557&sr=1-11

3) Flights- If you're flying with a group of people I would recommend trying www.skyscanner.net to find the best deals on flights, also, check your cabin baggage restrictions with your chosen flights! Last year I went with a friend and we'd both checked bags onto the flight which cost an extra £50 on top of the original prices!! So, I digress, as I was saying, if you're travelling with a few people, why not check one bag in and have all your tents and heavier items in that and buy a durable rucksack for clothes and such..

4) Traveling to Benicassim- Last year I used the services of Eu-fest (http://www.eufest.com/festivals/beni/transport/). Their services are relatively cheap and reliable! I made sure to have plenty of time to spare before we were picked up so I could get changed and have a few pre-festival drinks in the airport! Also, I actually met a lovely group of Irish girls whilst we were waiting for our coach, so I already knew that this festival was going to be freakin' awesome!

5) Setting up your tent!- Okay so, you've gotten your wristband and have found your pitch, now, this is where I failed big time, I wasn't used to the heat and as a pasty white scouser with a full head of hair it was a nightmare trying to set up this tent with around a million poles, nowhere to peg the guy lines in and nothing but the sun..just laughing at you! Try not to exhaust yourself and do anything to strenuous out there, drink plenty of water and keep the suntan lotion on at all times!

6) Make plenty of friends!- Seems a bit silly, but you're going to need to have people watching your back, and as a scouser, if anything goes missing, you can clearly tell who people are going to blame! Anyway, I made friends with two Mancunian lads who were absolutely incredible, we sat up every day/night belting out tunes to passers by and inviting people to come and sit with us and share a drink! I had an incredible time with them and even traveled up to Barcelona afterwards and spend a few nights there with them!

7) Get to see the town!- Benicassim is a great little town with tons of bars, try and get around and not be a hermit the entire time, some of the bars even let you charge your phone in there, which is a real time saver as opposed to waiting for 3000 girls to finish straightening their hair!

8 ) (I know I've missed quite a bit out but) Leaving Benicassim- Try and get your train tickets BEFORE MONDAY as we were stuck in the most horrendous queues with no shade and a ton of sweaty/smelly festival-goers to fight with to get to the front!

I was going to try and make this post quite long and fill it with tons of useful information but I really can't be arsed, I hope these nuggets of information helped and feel free to ask any questions on here or facebook, I'll be happy to help!

https://www.facebook.com/martyn.cleary

[CP9]

6 months to go!

[CP9]

Cheers for the info Martyn. We are going on Monday and want to explore the area until the music starts in Thursday. Any good bars in Beni you recommend? Or even good places to get food?

[MartynCleary]

Cheers for the info Martyn. We are going on Monday and want to explore the area until the music starts in Thursday. Any good bars in Beni you recommend? Or even good places to get food?

[leemavers]

Does anyone know when more acts are to be announced!? And what are the odds of blur playing? I'm so disappointed at the acts right now :-(

Love beni though!

[wilko8]

yes mate used them a couple of years on the trot and then did a deal with the actual owner , all good nice and simple with no issues , what do you want to know ?

[Habylab]

Hi there!

I am considering massively to go here this year, or Open'er in Poland. Open'er (without doubt) has the best line-up by farrrr this year, but Benni seems much more appealing considering the weather, atmosphere etc. Few questions!

1) Travel

Being from the UK, what's the best/cheapest way to get there. Should I travel on Monday, early doors? I could get a flight to Spain, Barcelona looks cheap, and then travel by train? Any recommendations help massively. Cabin restrictions are gonna hit me massively! If I left at say 6am, would Benni still be reasonably empty to camp in a good spot? Thanks.

2) Comparison to Reading

I've done Reading, and Latitude twice, before and know the ins and outs, so how does it compare? For me, I like the atmosphere, and the way music was playing basically when I woke up. I'm guessing the later end makes that the same for Benni? Also, sound quality, camp site size comparison would be awesome.

3) One of my mates is 17, I read you need a parent if under age? Is this true?

4) Can I bring alcohol into the arena? I'll buy it in town.

5) Any rumours on the 4th headliner? And how many other English acts play in comparison to other festivals?

Thank you very much to whoever challenges to answer this!

Edited January 15, 2013 by Habylab

[gedkelly]

Just that really. We used eufest last year, which was fine, but the apartment was basic to say the least. Did the job, but was quite a lot of money for what it was.

But we're getting a bit old now (29....) and want something a bit more comfortable! Ha. And there seem to be some decent priced places on Rentalia.

Just wanted to see if anyone on here had booked via Rentalia and if it was a trustworthy site.

[kingofthejebends]

Thanks Martyn, plenty of useful stuff there for everyone. Especially useful for newbies like me!

[PTA]

Hi there!

I am considering massively to go here this year, or Open'er in Poland. Open'er (without doubt) has the best line-up by farrrr this year, but Benni seems much more appealing considering the weather, atmosphere etc. Few questions!

1) Travel

Being from the UK, what's the best/cheapest way to get there. Should I travel on Monday, early doors? I could get a flight to Spain, Barcelona looks cheap, and then travel by train? Any recommendations help massively. Cabin restrictions are gonna hit me massively! If I left at say 6am, would Benni still be reasonably empty to camp in a good spot? Thanks.

2) Comparison to Reading

I've done Reading, and Latitude twice, before and know the ins and outs, so how does it compare? For me, I like the atmosphere, and the way music was playing basically when I woke up. I'm guessing the later end makes that the same for Benni? Also, sound quality, camp site size comparison would be awesome.

3) One of my mates is 17, I read you need a parent if under age? Is this true?

4) Can I bring alcohol into the arena? I'll buy it in town.

5) Any rumours on the 4th headliner? And how many other English acts play in comparison to other festivals?

Thank you very much to whoever challenges to answer this!

[Rock123]

Benni have changed there rules on minors now. People aged 16-17 can now come without adults permission but have to wear an under 18's wristband. Being the unlucky bastard i am , I'm 18 a few days after I come home from Benni. It's possible to lend a friends ID who is not coming to benni but it has a different name to what my ticket says. do they check everyone's ID upon entry? Because I look over 18. Any ideas how I could not be stuck with a shitty child wristband? From the benni site ". Remember you need to show your ID or Passport in order to exchange your ticket"

[rug568]

Cheers for the info Martyn. We are going on Monday and want to explore the area until the music starts in Thursday. Any good bars in Beni you recommend? Or even good places to get food?