Category: <span>Travel Guide</span>

Adventures

Travelling Nepal – My Personal Guide

#HeyJo let’s go to… Nepal.

Nepal is very much an adventurers country. The grand majority of people that I met in Nepal chose it as a trekking destination.

It also has deeply seated roots as a stopover (or the final stop) on the hippie trail from Europe to South Asia. According to history, many hippies chose not to leave Kathmandu because they fell in love with the landscape and the relaxed attitude of the people. They also appreciated the free-thinking attitude there towards marijuana. Freak Street was known as the spot to go to and, although that area is no longer a destination for modern day hippies, there is still quite an impressive hippie culture in the north of Pokhara.

I’m writing this travel guide to give advice to anyone who wants to go to Nepal based on my own personal experiences, both good and bad. There are spots I loved and spots I disliked and spots I wished I had gone to, had I known about them ahead of time.

Kathmandu – In Two To Three Days

Kathmandu is loud, seriously dusty and busy. Many people I met during my time in Nepal chose to avoid Kathmandu as much as possible, myself included once I ventured out of the city. Kathmandu does have some impressive tourist sites though and they should not be skipped over.

I spent my time in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. It has pretty much everything you could need while in Nepal: pharmacies, shopping, trek-outfitting, and plenty of opportunity to find a guide to take you on the mountain.

It also has a lot of temples and stupas but, I found that after visiting quite a few that they begin to look the same after a while. A few stood out and have made it to my recommendations of places to go.

I would encourage you to go to the Garden of Dreams, the Seto Machhen-dranath Temple (Jan Bahal), and Swoyambhu Temple (the Monkey Temple). If you have more time, then you should also check out Tri Devi Temple and Durbar Square. All of this can easily be done in two days.

Garden of Dreams

The Garden of Dreams opens at 9:00 a.m. and it’s a nice spot to go to escape the city. The dustiness from the street is kept at bay because the garden is surrounded by high walls. It’s like walking into a calm, lush oasis. I personally spent an entire day at the Garden of Dreams. I wasn’t in a rush and had an infinite amount of time so I was happy to spend the day reading there. The garden can easily be seen within an hour (less if you’re not taking massive amounts of photos).

The entrance fee to the garden is 200 rupees (about $2USD).

I would recommend going for its opening at 9:00 a.m.  There are very few people there at that hour. In fact, there were three others when I first arrived at its opening. With so few people you can truly appreciate the calmness and peacefulness of the garden, admire the flowers and the stone elephant statues, all before the sun starts beating down.

If you choose to stay for the whole day, as I did, there are benches and grassy lawns to relax upon. Once the sun gets to its hottest point, shelter can be found at the cafe in the grounds, or under one of the many trees in the garden.

Seto Machhen-dranath Temple (Jan Bahal)

Before leaving on my trip to Nepal I had read that Jan Bahal was a great temple to visit, but when it came to my day walking around the city exploring the different temples, I completely forgot about it. I would have been disappointed if I had missed out.

Seto Machhen-dranath Temple is glorious for multiple reason. One is that it is massive. The second reason is that it is hidden away in a courtyard with no way of finding it or stumbling across it.

Looking back, I think I was very lucky to have stumbled upon this place.

I was taking photos of a different temple that was situated on a very busy street corner in Kathmandu, with tuk-tuks and motorbikes on one side and vendors selling fruits and flowers on the other. A lady came over and “told” me to go to the backside of the temple and walk through a teal archway.

Not sharing the same language, communication with her was very challenging, but her enthusiasm about where she was telling me to go (and her big camera) convinced me to follow her pointed finger to the other side of the temple.

I walked through the teal archway and came out at the Seto Machhen-dranath Temple.

There is no way of knowing there is a temple here because it is in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by eight-storey high buildings, which are very high for Nepal. The temple is completely hidden, and you have to walk through a teal archway and down a small alley to get to it.

It is incredible though and left me with my mouth hanging wide open. There’s so much going on outside of the temple, with motorbikes and dust everywhere, that it’s shocking to stumble into this serene place for worship. There’s still so much going on inside this courtyard but, in the calmest way possible. Locals praying and pigeons flying everywhere, different offerings being presented at every shrine, all in as hushed a manner as possible. And so much beautiful gold coloured decoration and architecture.

If you can find this temple, visit it. It is so worth it.

Swoyambhu Temple (Monkey Temple)

The draw of Swoyambhu Temple, for me, was that it was nicknamed the Monkey Temple.

It did not disappoint in being true to its nickname. The whole area of Swoyambhhu should be nicknamed “the monkey area” because the whole region has the little guys running about.

The temple itself is massive and, in a way, it’s unfortunate that the monkeys are the point of interest. The stupa is huge and sits on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu, which is shockingly large. The temple covers a few blocks. There are so many different areas to the Swoyambhu Temple as well – different shrines, stupas, and places of worship scattered throughout the temple’s massive area.

It’s scale makes it big enough to be a small village and, with the clapboard buildings at the top selling knick-knacks to tourists as well as a coffee shop for snacks and refreshments, it very well could have been at one point. There are even stalls set up at the entrance with people selling trinkets. So as soon as you enter you have the feeling of it being a pseudo-village.

The temple also clearly suffered substantial damage from the 2015 earthquake and it is pretty shocking to see the rubble and broken down bits of structures surrounded by new bricks for the rebuild.

In terms of the experience with the monkeys at the temple (the whole reason I wanted to visit this temple in the first place), there were monkeys literally everywhere.

And they are aggressive little bastards.

I had been warned ahead of time to be careful of the creatures and to not have any food with me. They’re aggressive in the Swoyambhu area! They are accustomed to people. Not only that, but they are smart and will essentially perform tricks to get food from you.

Heeding the warnings and horror stories, I made sure I went over to the temple with nothing but my camera and some money.

It was pretty trippy to see people praying at the top of the temple with monkeys running around everywhere. You would be walking along and all of a sudden there was a monkey at your feet. Or one just hanging out inside a shrine, scaring you if you looked in. Who would expect to see a monkey chilling in there? Or swinging from the structures overhead? Or jumping from stoop to stoop?

Swoyambhu Temple is an incredible temple to visit simply based on its size, but the monkeys turn it into a unique temple experience.

Extras: Tri Devi Temple and Durbar Square

Tri Devi Temple is a temple dedicated to three goddesses. It’s across the street from the Garden of Dreams with no entry fee. Since it is very small, you don’t need much time to explore. I personally was a fan of Tri Devi Temple because of its dedication to “girl power” and, the lovely sense of calm and peace that washed over me during my visit. There are three little houses there with the statues inside, as well as a large bell you can ring to announce your presence to the goddesses. It is very small in comparison to some of the other temples and stupas I visited while in Nepal, but that’s also part of the beauty.

Durbar Square is a massive area with multiple temples scattered throughout. Many of the temples were damaged in the 2015 earthquake and look like they are being held up by pieces of bamboo, while others have been completely condemned. There are so many temples here that you literally need a map to navigate your way around. If you are willing to venture further into Durbar Square, you will come across Freak Street, the area of Kathmandu that used to be home to hippies making the overland pilgrimage from the UK to Thailand.

Durbar Square is also where the Living Goddess resides. She makes an appearance twice a day from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. My trekking guide informed me she is chosen by a selection committee, and then stays in the Durbar Square temple house with her family until she has her first period. She is only allowed to leave the temple house to make her twice-daily balcony appearances, and for religious ceremonies.

Pokhara – Three Days

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, second to Kathmandu. I stayed in the Lakeside Pokhara area which is a smaller, tourist area of the city. It was a welcome change after the loud, dustiness of Kathmandu as it was much calmer and serene. I spent a week in Pokhara however, three to four days would have been more than enough time.

When in Pokhara I would recommend visiting the Peace Stupa and the north end of Lakeside Pokhara, with a stop at the Movie Garden or for a little paragliding adventuring. I found that the caves or Devi’s Falls were not worth the effort. And it’s definitely worth taking advantage of the calmness while you’re there!

The Peace Stupa

I know, I know… Not another stupa. The Peace Stupa is worth it though, I promise. It’s located across the lake at the top of a hill so even the journey to get there is pretty magical.

You can rent a boat for half the day and paddle yourself for about 700 RPs or you can rent a boat with a driver so that you can just enjoy being rowed across the lake. Once you get to the other side, it’s about a 45 minute hike up to the stupa. After a two week trek I couldn’t believe I was doing those infamous Nepali steps again, and this time simply to see a stupa. Upon reaching the top though, I realized it was worth it.

The views from the top up are pretty incredible, including the unobstructed sight of Pokhara. Again, it was shocking to see how big the city actually is. I realized again how much of a small pocket I was staying in at Lakeside Pokhara.

The stupa is big and white and gold. It’s glorious in its beauty, and at its height, it holds true to its name by being surprisingly peaceful.

There are four statues in the round walls of the stupa, each facing a different direction and representing different events related to Buddha. People can be seen sitting around the stupa meditating. It does seem like a fantastic spot to meditate as the energy there is very calm and peaceful.

After the visit, it was nice to hike back down and row across the lake in the calmness of nature.

The North End of Lakeside Pokhara

I stayed at the south end of Lakeside Pokhara but would walk north every day along the lake. I wish I had ventured further north though because I had heard there was an interesting hippie community in that area — kind of like the new Freak Street of Nepal.

The furthest north I ventured was to the Movie Garden, which I would recommend going to one evening.

Simple in concept, it’s essentially a big screen with a video projector, set up in a tropical garden, playing movies at night. It’s similar to a drive-in movie, minus the cars but with alcoholic beverages available for purchase at the bar.

The night I was there they were screening The Grand Budapest Hotel. It was pretty nifty watching it under the Nepali night sky, surrounded by tropical plants.

Paragliding

The adventure tourism industry in Nepal is pretty big and this includes Pokhara. Every morning, if you looked up towards the mountains, you could see the sky littered with dozens of people paragliding.

I regret not having had gone paragliding while I was in Pokhara. I can imagine it would have had some amazing views with the Himalayas not too far off. Plus it was only 6000 RPs and that included photos.

Where I wish I had visited

You would think that spending a month in a country would have given me enough time to see and do everything I wanted. After two weeks trekking, and one week in Pokhara, my flight out of Nepal was quickly approaching and that’s when it hit me that there were still quite a few things I wanted to do before leaving but, unfortunately, no longer had the time for.

For a return visit, I would include another trek (because you can’t go to Nepal and not do a trek), visit the birthplace of Buddha and spend some time in Bhaktapur. And of course, I would go paragliding in Pokhara either before or after the trek.

The Trek

One thing I learned doing the Annapurna Base Camp trek is that I actually really enjoy trekking. As much as I may have hated parts of it at the time, it’s quite enjoyable.

Doing another trek in Nepal and with limited money to spend, I would not use a tour company. I probably wouldn’t even bother with a guide or porter to be honest (although the porters were incredible and made the trek so much more enjoyable).

Nepal is pretty well set up for tea house trekking so there are plenty of spots to stop for food along the way, as well as “hotels” on the mountain. I met a lot of people who didn’t have previous reservations or bookings at the hotels and still managed to get rooms upon arrival. If there are no rooms available, you are put up in the dining hall with the guides and porters for the night or, you have to trek back down to a different hotel.

Returning to Nepal, I would choose to do either the whole Annapurna Circuit, which is about 18 days or, the Langtang trek north of Kathmandu.

The Birthplace of Buddha

I didn’t even think about it until I had booked my flight out of Nepal but, Nepal is known to be the birthplace of Buddha.

Now I’m not religious in any way (which is probably why I didn’t think of it), but that’s still pretty monumental.

The birthplace of Buddha is in the south of Nepal in Lumbini and, had I thought about it beforehand and planned my “after-trek” better, I would have included time to visit the birthplace of Buddha in my itinerary.

It’s possible that it’s a huge tourist trap, but I also imagine it would be a pretty interesting thing to see while in Nepal.

Bhaktapur

Again, had I done more research into Nepal, instead of spending a full week in Lakeside Pokhara recovering from my two week trek and all the ensuing illnesses, I would have included a couple days in Bhaktapur. After about three weeks in Nepal, I heard from quite a few different people, tourists, and locals, about its beauty.

Bhaktapur is one of the three royal cities in Nepal and was founded in The Medieval Times in the 12th Century. It also has a Durbar Square filled with temples, monasteries, religious sites and palaces. It also has monuments made from terracotta.

Adventures

Southeast Asia – The Boring Safety Stuff

Before heading over to Southeast Asia, I spent a solid month reading and taking notes on the Canadian Government’s Travel Advisory website. I researched the different countries I want to visit, and the different countries I may inadvertently go to, compiling more than 30 pages of notes about safety precautions, entry and exit requirements, and legal differences and customs in these countries.

Safety precautions for any country in the world will change based on a variety of factors, so I will not be including that in this post. However, below you can find a list (in alphabetical order) of the visa requirements, entry fees (if any), and currency per country I plan to visit. It’s boring, but important stuff to know.

Brunei

Currency: Brunei dollar (BND) – USD traveller cheques recommended; ATMs available
Consulate: Bandar Seri Begawan, 5 Floot, Jalan McArthur Building, No. 1, Jalan McArthur; T: 673 (2) 22-00-43
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 14 days.

Cambodia

Currency: the riel (KHR) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; traveller cheques accepted but not personal cheques and credit cards
Consulate: Phnom Penh, 27-29 Street 75, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh; T: +855 023 430 813
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival; valid for 30 days, may be extended once.

  • $30 USD
  • two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos
  • onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Guam

Currency: USD
Consulate: Pohnpei (See Palau)
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for US overseas territories.

Japan

Currency: yen (JPY) – credit cards accepted in major cities
Consulate: Tokyo, 3-38 Akasaka 7 – chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107-8503; T: +81 (3) 5412 6200     –     Fukuoka, c/o Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. 1-82 Watanabe-dori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, 810-8720; T: +81 (92) 726-6348     –     Hiroshima, c/o Chugoka Electric Power Co. Inc., 4-33 Komachi, Maka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan, 730-8701; T: +81 (82) 246-0057    –     Nagoya, Nakato Marunouchi Building, 6F, 3-17-6, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan, 460-0002; T: +81 (52) 972-0450     –     Osaka, c/o Tsuda Sangyo Co. Ltd., 1-8-19, Hirabayashi Minami, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-8550; T: +81 (6) 6681-0250     –     Sapporo, Canadian Place, Poseidon Maruyama 2F, 26-1-3 Odori Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan, 064-0820
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required

  • onward or return ticket, confirmed accommodation arrangements, and proof of sufficient funds

Entry Permits: maximum of 90 days; photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival

Laos

Currency: kip (LAK) – USD and Thai Baht widely accepted
Consulate: Vientiane, KM4, Thadeua Road, Watnak Village, Sisattanak District; T: +856 (0) 21 35 38 34     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

  • $42 USD
  • two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos

Entry Stamp: obtain upon arrival

Malaysia

Currency: rin ggit (MYR)
Consulate: Kuala Lumpar, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, 17 Floor, Menara Tan and Tan 50400; T: +60 3 2718 3333    –     Penang, 3007, Tingkat Perusahaan 5, Prai Industrial Park, 13600 Prai
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 90 days
Port of Entry: required to register fingerprints

Myanmar (Burma)

Currency: kyat (MMK) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; credit cards are rarely accepted and there are no ATMs; currency exchange available at Yangon International Airport
Consulate: Yangon, 65 Sule Pagoda Road, 9 Floor, Centerpoint Towers; T: +95 1 384 805     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – obtain prior to arrival.

  • valid for 28 days

Port of Entry: use same port to enter and exit to avoid problems with immigration (Yangon International Airport)

Indonesia

Currency: Rupiah (IDR) – carry cash when visiting remote areas
Consulate: Jakarta, World Trade Centre, 6 Floor, JI. Jend Sudirman, Kav. 29, Jakarta 12920; T: +62 21 2550 7800     –     Bali, Jalan Tantular No. 32, Renon, Denpasar; T: 62 361 241 118
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

  • valid for visits less than 30 days
  • may be required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: must be paid in cash – price varies

Nepal

Currency: rupee (NPR)
Consulate: Kathmandu, 47 Lal Darbar Marg, P.O. Box 3596; T: +977 1 444 1976
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival.

  • $40 USD for 30-day Visa; $100 USD for 90-day Visa
  • one recent passport-size (2″x2″) photo in colour

Palau

Currency: USD – ATMs available; credit cards widely accepted
Consulate: Pohnpei, H&E Enterprises Building, Kolonia, Phonpei, Micronesia; T: 691 320 5448
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – issued upon arrival.

  • valid for visits up to 30 days
  • required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: $50 USD

Papua New Guinea

Currency: kina (PGK) – USD traveller cheques recommended; credit cards accepted at major hotels
Consulate: Port Moresby, Godwit Road, Waigani NCD; T: +675 325 9333     –     Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra ACT, Australia 2600; T: +61 (2) 6270-4000
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival at Jacksons International.

  • onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Philippines

Currency: Philippine peso (PHP) – credit cards widely accepted; ATMs available in larger cities
Consulate: Manila, Floors 6-8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City; T: +63 2 857 9000 / +63 2 857 9001     –     Cebu, RD Corporate Centre, 96 Gov. M.C. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City 6000; T: +63 32 256 3320
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 30 days.

  • must present an onward or return ticket

Departure Fee: 750 PHP – can be paid in local current of equivalent in USD (cash only)

Thailand

Currency: baht (THB)
Consulate: Bangkok, 990 Rama IV, Abdulrahim Place, 15 Floor, 10500, P.O. Box 2090, Bangkok 10501, Thailand; T: +66 0 2646 4300     –     Chiang Mia, 151 Super Highway, Tambon, Tahsala, Arnphur Muang, Chiang Mia, 5000; T: +66 0 5385 0147 / +66 0 5324 2292
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for visits less than 30 days; may re-enter within any 6-month period from the date of first entry for a cumulative duration not exceeding 60 days.
Entry Stamp: must be obtained from an immigration officer at the point of entry

Vietnam

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND) – credit cards accepted at major hotels; ATMs available
Consulate: Hanoi, 31 Hung Vuong St. Hanoi; T: +84 (4) 3734-5000     –     Ho Chi Minh City, 9 Floor, The Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi Street, District 1; T: +84 (8) 3827-9899
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – must be obtained prior to arrival; extensions may be obtained.
Entry Requirements: registration with local police upon arrival

Music Festivals

Further Future Travel Guide

Further Future takes place in the Valley of Fire, about an hour’s drive north of Las Vegas. Stages are popped down in the middle of the desert, with the festival being the only thing visible for as far as the eye can see, surrounded by the rocky Nevada canyons.

Getting There

Vegas Bound
If you are flying, the most convenient airport to fly into is the McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Nevada, which is about an hour south of the festival.  Alternatively, the festival is about a five hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX).

 
Beyond Vegas
Further Future takes place 50 miles north east of Las Vegas at the Moapa Indian River Reservation. The festival provides a shuttle bus option for festival-goers from McCarran Airport, the MGM Grand and the Oasis Gold Spike for $40.

If you are driving, Further Future provides driving directions from McCarran Airport. Remember to purchase a parking pass, available for $50, as all cars are required to have one to enter the grounds. Multiple entry and exit is allowed.

Where to Stay

If camping isn’t your thing, it will be easiest for you to stay at one of the Further Future partner hotels. Shuttle services run between the MGM Grand, the Oasis at Gold Spike, and the festival for $40. Festival-goers can make unlimited use of the shuttles. Shuttles run every 45 minutes starting at 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. when the shuttle service slows down to every 90 minutes.

Camping

I strongly recommend you experience Further Future in its entirety and camp on site. If this is your first time at an event like this, just follow my lead.

Tent Camping: Passes can be purchased for $95, which gives Futurists access to a 10′ by 12′ campsite, bathrooms, and free showers. Cars are not permitted into the camp grounds. You will need to purchase a parking pass for $50 if you choose to drive to the festival and camp in your own tent.

RV Camping: RV passes are available starting at $250 and allow festival-goers to bring an RV, trailer, or campervan into designated areas for the entirety of the festival. I recommend renting a JUCY RV for the weekend as this was a comfortable and convenient option available for Further Future. Passes with electrical hookups are also available.

Photo courtesy of SHIFTPODS
Photo courtesy of SHIFTPODS

Shiftpods: Further Future recommends purchasing a Shiftpod, which uses space-age technology fabric that reflects 95% of UVA and UVB light from the sun to keep you cool during the day and retain warmth at night. Dust-proof, water-proof, and wind-proof, Shiftpods are perfect to protect you from the harsh desert elements.Alpha Pods: Set up with reflective shade netting, flooring, two single air mattresses, two Further Future branded sleeping bags (yours to keep) and a solar light, these 9′ by 9′ Fest Pods will keep you safe and warm… And look super cool. Starting at $750, your Future home is already set up for you when you arrive.

Horizon Class: Air conditioned bell tents equipped with either two single beds or one queen bed to snuggle with your festy besty, these tents are pure comfort. Don’t worry about portable phone chargers, as the Horizon Class comes with power outlets and storage boxes… So go ahead and bring those hair straighteners and curling irons! Horizon Class starts at $1,650.

Voyager Trailer: A classic 28′ Airstream trailer, four adults can fit comfortably in three different available sleeping arrangements. Curated and serviced by a world-class boutique hospitality provider and including a 24-hour concierge, this boutique camping option will cost you a cool $5,000.

Lunar Palace: If you’re looking for pure, unabashed luxury, the Lunar Palace is for you. This 200 square foot, 9’ high, air conditioned, custom-made luxury dome is fully enclosed with wooden flooring and sleeps up to four people. Furnished with real beds, actual mattresses, nightstands, power outlets and a lockbox, the $7,500 ticket price ensures you live like royalty for the weekend. The best part? The Lunar Palace includes a clothing rack and full-length mirror so you will always look on point.

Habitas: If the above still isn’t enough, Further Future provides Habitas accommodation to give festival-goers the comforts of home and then some. This option starts at $1,800 per person and includes full-service hospitality, linen and towel service, in-suite amenities, one or two double beds, light, furniture, full body mirrors, hot showers, and a culinary experience 24/7 complemented with a beverage bar and tented tea lounge.

Camping Do’s and Dont’s

– You are permitted one 30-can case of beer and one five-litre box of wine OR one litre of liquor into the campground.
– You may sleep in your vehicle if you choose not to purchase a camping pass, but cannot set up any structures or items outside your vehicle. Remember, vehicles can get dangerously hot in the heat of the day.
– Do not bring glass bottles.
– Follow Further Future’s leave no trace policy.
– Free water refill stations are available.
– Charging lockers are available for $45
– Leave your drone at home.

The Moapa Band Of Paiute Indians

Further Future is hosted by the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, taking place on their Moapa River Reservation. The Paiute people believe that everything in the universe has a life force and practice meditation and perform special rituals to harness this force. It is believed that health, wartime victory, weather and fertility were attainable through it. As guests of the Paiute people, festival-goers are expected to respect their land and culture and uphold certain standards of conduct:- Treat their land as you would your own (use the provided bathroom facilities!)
– If you come across interesting artefacts like bones or arrowheads, leave them be.
– Sorry guys, no nudity allowed so come equipped with pasties.
– Don’t forget to thank your hosts as you leave.
– Keep the deep cultural significance of traditional Indian dress in mind when creating your outfits for the festival.
– Out of respect for your hosts, leave all Native American inspired headdresses and costumes at home. If you think it might be controversial, it probably is.

Food

The gastronomy of the festival is of such high caliber and deliciousness that it has it’s own lineup… And what a lineup to feast on. The food and beverage program for Further Future’s return to the Moapa River Indian Reservation featured some of gastronomy’s biggest names, including Frank Gorriceta of Nobu, Jason Neroni of The Rose, and Sam Marvin of Echo & Rig, who hosted pop-up dinners throughout the weekend. Festival attendees are also able to indulge in food offerings such as lobster pho, omakase sushi, locally-sourced produce, artisanal gelato, and numerous vegetarian and vegan options at the various food trucks in the festival grounds throughout the weekend.

Beverages

Complimenting this year’s food offerings, the festival also hosted rare Japanese whiskey tastings from Bar Gyu+, Oaxaca-made and Damiana-distilled Mescal selections, and Richie Hawtin’s own ENTER.Sake. Bartender takeovers also took place throughout the weekend with revered Las Vegas establishments Herbs & Rye and Velveteen Rabbit. Definitely get your hands on some of that surprisingly smokey tequila though.

My Advice

Link up your RFID to your credit card before going to the festival. Further Future is a cashless festival and does not accept cash anywhere on the grounds. It is also a cashless festival that doesn’t require you to constantly be topping up your wristband with funds… Your wristband essentially becomes your credit card for the weekend. So link that up!

Consider renting a JUCY RV for the weekend. The rental van comes fully equipped with everything you could possibly need to enjoy the festival comfortably: Two double beds (one in the cozy, top-bunk penthouse, and one that can be set up inside the van) to sleep four people; a sink with tap and drain, water tank and waste water tank; stove, fridge and cutting board; blinds and plenty of storage space. The company also provides renters with the option to purchase a bedding kit and camping chairs, so if you are flying into San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas for the festival this is definitely a convenient and comfortable option.

Don’t be afraid to take mid-day naps. There is constantly something going on at Further Future… Be it a Visionary Speaker, a yoga class, a nature walk, a sit-down dinner, a sunrise set or a sunset jam session. The festival has been curated to include some of the best of the best in the fields of technology, music, wellness and gastronomy, and trying to see and do everything can be exhausting…

But come to terms with not sleeping very much.

Take joy in knowing that everyone attending the festival is on some sort of spiritual journey, and that you are now a part of that journey. The grand majority of attendees are Burners and this make for a very unique and happy crowd.

Dress up! There are so many beautiful and whimsical outfits at Further Future, people choosing to express what they imagine for the future through their outfits. From moon boots to fur vests to glitter capes to astronauts, Further Future plays host to a very unique, judgment-free crowd so don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly a little.

Take advantage of the IV drip. Available at the Ablyss Spa (and sometimes at the Robot Heart Stage) the IV can be a game changer to your festival experience.

Embrace your journey into the future. Reality will not be kind once you return from Further Future so embrace the experiences you are being graced with and appreciate the individuals who are going beyond Vegas with you into the future.

Music Festivals

Mysteryland USA Travel Guide

Mysteryland USA is held on the historic grounds of Woodstock ’69 in Bethel, NY. The energy of hippies from another time can be felt as Nomads trek up the impossible hill to lose themselves in music, art and culture.

Getting there    Where to stay    Camping    Sustenance     A Little Advice

New York bound

If you are flying in, the closest airport to the festival is Stewart International Airport (SWF), which is located about an hour drive from the grounds in Newburgh, NY. LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are also all within a 2.5 hour drive from the festival. Flying in to Newark will most likely provide you with the least expensive and quickest way of getting to Bethel as flights to Newark are significantly cheaper than flights to Stewart and you won’t have to deal with as much traffic getting out of the city as you would trying to get off the island flying into LaGuardia and JFK.

MLUSA also provides an airport pickup shuttle service for camping Nomads flying in to JFK, LaGuardia, Albany, and Grand Central Station. Rather than renting a car for the weekend, this economical and environmentally friendly option transports people to the camping grounds for $50 each way ($100 round-trip). More information on shuttles can be found here.

 

Mysteryland bound

If you are driving to MLUSA and planning on camping, the festival provides directions (coming soon) from the north. The directions accommodate Nomads driving from New York City, Scranton, Binghamton, and the I-84, providing the quickest and easiest route.

If you are driving to MLUSA but will not be camping, the festival provides directions (coming soon) from the north (from New York City, Scranton, Binghamton, and the I-84). A Kiss and Ride will also be accessible throughout the weekend, with shuttles available for campers who need to take their gear in to the Holy Grounds.

Where to Stay

Mysteryland’s hotel of choice, The Villa Roma Resort, is located within 10 miles of the festival. The resort provides a shuttle service to the festival throughout the weekend included in the travel package. Other accommodations can also be made within the area and AirBnB is always an option. If going the AirBnB route, search for “Bethel, NY” as the location you wish to stay. The local “Yellow Cab” runs full service throughout the weekend so if no one in your crew is driving you still have a way of getting to the festival.

Offsite camping spots can also be reserved with Landers River Camping however this does NOT include a festival pass for the weekend. The campsite is not within walking distance to Mysteryland but reservations here do include shuttle passes to the festival.

Camping

I strongly recommend you embrace the full Nomad experience by camping on the Holy Grounds. Not only do you get to spend more time on the Woodstock grounds, but camping here allows you to take part in the opening party filled with an extra day of music, and all the festivities that take place after the music ends for the day.

Jackie Lee for Mysteryland
Jackie Lee for Mysteryland

 

The Holy Ground: Welcome to the sacred grounds of Woodstock ’69 – where legends like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin played music to a sea of hippies that travelled great distances to experience three days of peace, love and music. ‘Holy Ground’ camping will have you set up within an easy walk from the festival grounds and grants you access to the pre-parties and all sorts of fun daytime activities. The campgrounds are tent-only and Nomads are required to park their car ($35 for a parking pass). While hoofing your stuff in to the grounds for the weekend can be tiring, try and gain strength from the memory of our hippie ancestors who walked for miles just to hear the music. Besides… It’s totally worth it.

Easy Tents: If you are arriving at the festival from a long ways away, Easy Tents is definitely something worth considering. It removes the hassle of having to haul (mostly all) of your camping gear across country with you. Easy Tents are already set up for you upon arrival and include a 2-person airbed and two sleeping bags. If you choose this option you will still be located on The Holy Ground and will be able to partake in the wicked pre-parties, after-dark festivities, and daytime activities. You even get to keep the beautiful tents as a memento of the festival.

Bird’s Nests: New this year, the Bird’s Nests glamping tents come fully furnished with either a 2-person queen bed with linens, 2 twin beds with linens, or 4 individual cots with pillows. Bird’s Nests give glampers the luxury of a private shower facility, lounge area, and bathrooms. Plus they’re super conveniently located.

Camping do’s and don’ts

– Mysteryland is a 19+ event but on-site camping is 21+. If you are under 21, you can camp at Lander’s River off-site.
– Each festival-going camper must have their own valid festival pass.
– There is NO re-entry between the parking lots and the campgrounds. Make as many trips as you need from your car to the camping entrance but do NOT enter The Holy Ground until you have everything you need from your car for the weekend.
– You can bring food and beverage into the campgrounds to sustain yourself for the weekend.
– Limit alcohol to 1 case of beer, 1 box of wine or 1L of liquor per person.
– However, DO NOT bring glass bottles or any type of glass. They will be confiscated upon your search into the campgrounds.
– Leave your weapons, drugs and drug paraphernalia at home.
– Don’t plan on grilling, hosting the neighbourhood BBQ or throwing a bonfire.
– Don’t plan on using anything flammable really (fireworks, candles, explosives…)
– Nothing motorized will get past the front entrance.
– Neither will your bicycle.
– Neither will your drone.
– Flags, flag poles, and totems are allowed but don’t bother with your promotional material.
– Sorry kids, leave you stuffed animals and pacifiers at home.
– Amplified sound systems should be left at home but feel free to bring a portable radio for some campsite jams.
– Showers will be available and are free with a Premium VIP ticket.
– Cellphone charger stations, water refill stations, bars and a fully stocked supermarket in case you forgot anything and everything in your excitement will be available on The Holy Ground.
– Lockers are available for rent in the venue and campground, each equipped with cell phone chargers and available 24/7.
– And definitely bring tarps, blankets, coolers, canopies, lawn chairs, sleeping bags and air mattresses, sunscreen and bugspray, cosmetics and deodorant, and camel bags.
– Good moods and positive vibes only!

Sustenance

Julian Cassady for Mysteryland
Julian Cassady for Mysteryland

The announcement of the food vendors attending Mysteryland is hotly awaited and is even rewarded with its own lineup announcement. The eclectic mix of food, from pizza and bbq, to burritos, coffee and ice cream, is considered by many to be some of the best that N.Y.C. has to offer. With The Smorgasburg Food Fest and Eats ‘n Beats, Nomads will have plenty of local grub to choose from… Expect it to cost you a pretty Birdie though as delicious, craft food at a festival can be pricey. Healthy vegan and gluten free options are available. More deets coming soon.

Wobbly-pops

Mysteryland makes it super easy for its Nomads to stay hydrated throughout the long weekend of dancing. Water refill stations are available throughout The Holy Ground and the festival grounds. Mysteryland also allows camel bags into the event… Just make sure they are empty upon arrival and be prepared for them to be thoroughly searched. Water bottles can also be bought throughout the festival if you forgot to bring your reusable bottle/ hydration pack.

The official beer of Mysteryland is Heineken and, of course it will put you back quite a bit of money at $10 USD for a tall can of regular or light. Craft beer is also available if Heineken is not your thing and a full-service bar can be found in the Label Tent and Speigeltent for those who prefer liquor.

A Little Advice

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS before putting on your wristband. Seriously people, if you mess that up you can kiss your perfect weekend goodbye. Any wristband that has been tampered with is voided. And don’t forget your wristbands at home! Kind of important…

Stop at Wal-Mart before driving into the campgrounds to stock up on ice, plenty of cases of bottled water and a ton of snacks so you can better spend your money once you’re on the grounds. Investing in a cart of some sort for the weekend is also a good idea. Hauling all of your camping gear and supplies from the parking spot to the entrance, to your camping spot is physically exhausting. And who wants to make more than one trip from the car anyways?

Grab maps of the campsite and festival grounds and acquaint yourself with your surroundings. When you’re in an urgent rush to make it to a certain show or when you need to pee at 3 a.m. in the dark you will thank us.

Julian Cassady for Mysteryland
Julian Cassady for Mysteryland

Re-entry in the festival grounds between the campsite is allowed. Re-entry into the festival for Nomads without some sort of Holy Ground camping is NOT allowed. Once you leave to return to your off-site accommodation you will not be allowed back into the festival.

Mysteryland is a cashless festival and runs on the currency of Birdie Bucks (BB). This allows the festival to provide Nomads with faster service as you simply tap your wristband to pay. It’s also fantastic because you don’t have to worry about carrying (and possibly losing) lots of cash. The exchange rate from USD to BB is pretty steep though. $20 USD will buy you 9 BB. Keep this in mind when you are purchasing food and beverages. Cash and credit can be used to top-up your wristband as well as at the Merchandise Booth. Some of the smaller vendors inside the festival only accept cash. I recommend topping up your BB before heading into the festival to avoid the hassle of having to top-up while on the grounds. If you do not use all of your BB, than you can apply for a refund for a fee of $5 that will be deducted from the remaining BB on your wristband.

It is possible to find your friends again if you’ve wandered off solo to check out the Speigeltent while they jam at The Boat. Come up with a meeting spot as soon as you get into the festival grounds (and aren’t too woozy yet so everyone remembers it.) A meeting spot with a set time can reunite you… And might be more reliable than your cell phone with the temperamental service in the festival grounds. Make sure you pick somewhere super unique and low-key though. I suggest things like a funny looking tree, a certain popsicle stand, or the second food vendor from the left. It’s very rare to find your friends at the most popular art installation when hundreds of others are attempting to do the same thing.

Mysteryland USA is in Upstate New York in June. Check the weather and pack accordingly. It has the potential to be hot and sunny, but can also be cold and rainy. The weather in this area at this time can be pretty unpredictable! The inaugural year saw rain and chilly nights making galoshes, raincoats and heavy sweaters for nighttime adventures important festival attire.

While the bugs in Bethel, NY aren’t bad this time of year, Nomads should be wary of ticks. Check one another for tick bites at the end of the night, or at least at the end of the festival.

Caribbean

Holy Ship! Travel Guide

Holy Ship! is held on the magical MSC Divina and sets sail from the Port of Miami. Stages are scattered across the ship, on various deck levels. Twerk your way up to the pool deck via the Disco Express for a little fun in the sun as the artists spin beats guiding the boat across the ocean, or saunter your way down a staircase made out of unicorn horns to find Fatboy Slim spinning a random act of smileyness in the main lobby.

Getting There    Where to Stay    Respect the Ship    Sustenance    A Litle Advice

Miami bound

If you are flying in, the closest airport to the Port is the Miami International Airport (MIA), which is about a 20 minute drive from where the ship sets sail. A cab from MIA to the Port costs a flat rate of $24 USD and shuttle busses to the Port of Miami can also be taken for a fare.

If you are interested in a cheaper flight alternative, look into flying in to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Although this airport is about half an hour away from the Port, the airport does provide a shuttle service to the Port for $30 USD. Flying into FLL can be significantly cheaper than flying into MIA and the money you save on flying into FLL instead of MIA will be well spent on Champagne on the ship.

 

Holy Ship! bound

If you are heading to Miami early, make sure to stay close to the Port the night before boarding the ship for the shortest ride (or walk if you so desire) to the Port.

Where to stay

You’re on a boat… Find your room and don’t fall overboard. Because this is home for the weekend.

holyship_shipIf you are coming in hot for the pre-party the night before the ship sets sail, staying at one of the recommended shipping hotels on the mainland is highly suggested. Filled with your fellow shipfam, these hotels are all (more or less) within walking distance from the club and a short ride over the bridge to the Port. The Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown is a great option that will be filled with pineapples by the time you check out.

Respect the ship

Maybe it’s because Holy Ship! only has five rules to follow while on board, but a lot of epic, weird shit happens…

– Respect the ship
– Respect the artists
– Respect each other
– Respect the ocean
– Respect the staff

Sustenance

Two words: buffet.
HolyShip-Thump-Vice
The buffet is open 24-hours a day and is filled with anything and everything you could ever want to keep yourself going for three days with no sleep. Disgustingly delicious greasy pizza for those late night munchies, fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional snacks, pancakes, waffles and eggs to eat while watching Destructo’s Sunrise Sermon.

Om nom nom.

There are also fancy restaurants you can make reservations at onboard. But realistically, there’s not much time for a nice sit-down meal.

Wobbly-pops

Tap water, coffee and tea are included in the price of your ticket. Everything else though will be charged to your room. This includes bottled water, soft drinks, juice and, of course, alcoholic beverages. The pricing onboard is fairly reasonable (and less expensive than a club in Miami!) but it will add up quickly.

A Little Advice

HolyShipEat raw garlic beforehand to avoid getting boat aids afterwards.

Rum runners.

Come to terms with not sleeping more than three hours a night. If you do manage to find some downtime, embrace it and don’t be afraid to rest for a little bit before powering up again.

No seriously… Raw garlic.

May the power of Gary be with you. #ingarywetrust

Good luck…

Music Festivals

Coachella Travel Guide

The Coachella Music and Arts Festival is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It’s in the middle of the desert, surrounded by palm trees sitting beneath the beautiful shadows of the Santa Rosa-San Jacinto Mountains.

Getting there     Where to stay     Camping     Sustenance    A Little Advice

California Bound

If you are flying in, the closest airport to the festival is Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), which is about a half hour drive from the grounds. However, flying in to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and driving the two and a half hours to the festival will save you money on that connecting flight to PSP.

Coachella also provides shuttle buses to and from the airport for festival-goers. Rather than renting a car for the weekend, this economical and environmentally friendly option transports people to the camping grounds (if camping) or to one of the nearby hotels for $80. Round-trip transportation from LAX can be purchased here.

COACHELLA-travelmap

Coachella Bound

If you are driving to Coachella, the festival provides directions from San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Arizona, and Las Vegas for the quickest and easiest route.

Coachella strongly recommends carpooling and created the carpoolchella initiative with the help of Global Inheritance back in 2007 to help preserve the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. Participating in this initiative opens up the possibility for you to win a variety of Coachella prizes including VIP tickets to the festival for life! So don’t be afraid to ask fellow festival-goers if they need a lift.

Where to stay

If you choose to stay in a hotel, the closest area of civilization to Coachella is Palm springs so you’ll have to book a hotel there and shuttle/cab/uber/hitch a ride to the grounds every day. Local shuttle passes are $50 and can be purchased in combination with a festival pass. A shuttle pass will give you unlimited transportation to and from the stop of your choosing. Shuttles run from 11 a.m. until one hour after the last artist performance of the night. If you are taking a taxi or uber to the festival, pickup and drop-off is near Avenue 49 and Monroe in lot 1C.

If you are driving to the festival every day from your hotel, airbnb, aunt’s house, Coachella does provide free parking at the grounds from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. It may be easier though to park in one of the side parking lots for $15-$40 and walk to the festival to avoid the traffic jam at the end of the night.

Camping

I strongly recommend you embrace the full Coachella experience and camp at the festival. For those of you inexperienced with Coachella camping… Don’t worry. It’s pretty simple.
COACHELLA-campgroundsmap

Car camping: A car camping pass is $85 and gives you a 10’x30′ spot that comfortably fits your car, a tent, and an area to entertain new friends for the entire weekend. Depending on where your camping spot is (first come first served), the festival gates are about a 15-25 minute walk. Only one car is permitted per spot and, if you and your crew have taken separate cars, you must enter the festival together to camp together.

Tent camping: If you are arriving to the festival via shuttle bus, taxi, uber, or carpool then the tent camping option is for you. Each spot is 10’x15′ and can be purchased with your festival ticket for $85. One overnight parking spot is provided with each tent camping ticket for you to leave your car if you did drive to the festival. Tent camping spots are in a grassy area beside car camping spots and are about the same distance to the festival gates.

Lake Eldorado camping: Set up surrounding Lake Eldorado (yes, an actual lake) a spot in one of the 2-person tee pees or 4-person tents starts at the price of $2,350 and increases from there. This option has extra perks and amenities (like private porto potties and flushable toilets), and has your home for the weekend ready to go for you by the time you arrive.

Safari tents: For the true glampers, Coachella’s safari tents are the ultimate in luxury. With air conditioning, private rest rooms and showers, breakfast, security and fully furnished “shakir style” tents that are set up for you by the time you have arrived, this option can be purchased at $7,000 for two people.

Camping do’s and don’ts

– Camping is 18+. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
– The campgrounds open Thursday at 9 a.m. and close Monday at noon. Do yourself a favour and arrive as early as possible to avoid lineups.
– Each festival-goer camping must have their own valid festival pass
– Bring as normal a tent as possible (no branding or logos)
– You can bring food and beverage into the campgrounds to sustain yourself for the weekend.
– However DO NOT bring glass bottles. Glass bottles will be confiscated upon your search into the campgrounds.
– Leave your weapons, drugs and drug paraphernalia at home
– On that note… leave little Fido at home too
– And those tiki torches you have lying around
– And the fireworks.
– Free showers will be available
– Cellphone charger stations and an internet cafe with wifi can be found on the campgrounds
– And in case you forgot anything in your excitement, the campground’s general store carries everything you need; from band-aids and batteries to condoms and toothbrushes. Shuttle buses can also be taken to the nearest Wal-Mart everyday.

Sustenance

COACHELLA-grub2Coachella has food trucks with every kind of food imaginable. There are food trucks, makeshift restaurants, bars to buy alcoholic drinks at and water stations everywhere. Whether you are vegetarian, celiac, vegan, or meatatarian, Coachella has got you covered and will have you salivating over all the delicious options. However here’s the deal… Food is expensive at festivals and Coachella is no exception. Be prepared to spend at least $20-$40 on food per day.

The fresh watermelon is my favorite Coachella snack. For five dollars, you get a quarter of a melon that will refresh you and keep you hydrated throughout the day.

For those camping, there’s a farmer’s market in the campgrounds where you can get a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, smoothies and coconuts, and coffee and pastries. Definitely don’t neglect the breakfast burritos though as they will overwhelm your tastebuds while giving you the sustenance you need to party longer with less strain on your wallet.

Wobbly-pops

COACHELLA-boozeWater is $2 a bottle and you will probably end up with heat stroke if you are not hydrating throughout the day… Especially if you are spending the day at the festival raging under the beating sun. At $2 a bottle, Coachella provides festival-goers with a reasonable price for water however, free water refill stations are located throughout the grounds. The line-up can be super long at these though so make sure to budget time waiting if you are choosing this refreshingly free option.

The official beer of Coachella is Heineken so anticipate drinking at least a keg’s worth. A regular beer is $7 and a tall boy is $9. If beer is not your style, basic high balls can be purchased for about $12.

A Little Advice

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS before putting on your wristband. Seriously people, if you mess that up you can kiss your perfect weekend goodbye. Any wristband that has been tampered with is voided. And don’t forget your wristbands at home! Kind of important…

Stop at Wal-Mart before driving into the campgrounds to stock up on ice, plenty of cases of water and a ton of snacks so you don’t have to waste your money once you’re at the grounds. While I do love Cheetos, protein bars and dried fruit are wonderful snacks for the weekend that will help keep your energy levels high.

COACHELLA-astronaut-courtGrab maps of the campsite and festival grounds and acquaint yourself with your surroundings. When you’re in an urgent rush to make it to a certain show or when you need to pee at 3 a.m. in the dark you will thank us.

Re-entry in the festival grounds between the campsite is allowed. It’s probably a good idea to take breaks in between your favourite artists to go back to your campsite and load up on sustenance.

Carry lots of cash. Don’t bring all the cash you own into the festival every day and make sure you lock up your belongings when you leave your campsite but don’t bother with the ATMs. The service fees are through the roof and the lineups are a waste of time.

It is possible to find your friends again if you’ve wandered off solo to check out the mojave tent while they jam inside yuma. A meeting spot with a set time can reunite you… And might be more reliable then your cell phone with the temperamental service in the festival grounds. Make sure you pick somewhere super unique and low-key though, like the popsicle stand beside the sahara tent… And indulge in one while you’re there.

The Coachella Valley is in the desert… Yes it is scorching during the day. But it does also get pretty chilly at night. Bring sweatpants, sweaters, beanies and blankets for your nighttime adventures.

Go with the flow! We definitely understand the desire to see certain acts but sometimes missing an artist to go on an adventure with a newfound Coachella soulmate is worth it.

ULTRAUSA-courtney Music Festivals

Ultra Music Festival Miami Travel Guide

Ultra Music Festival Miami is held at Bayfront Park, smack dab in the middle of downtown Miami, Florida. The green space along Biscayne Boulevard provides a perfectly intimate setting for confetti to float over your heard and laser beams to light up the Miami night sky.

Getting there    Where to stay    Prohibited and okayed    Sustenance    A Little Advice

Miami bound

If you are flying in, the closest airport to the festival is the Miami International Airport (MIA), which is about a 15 minute drive from Bayfront Park and a 20 minute drive from South Beach. Depending on where you are staying, you are looking at spending about $20 – $40 USD on a cab. Many hotels do offer a free shuttle service between the hotel and the airport though, and public transportation is fairly easy to navigate.

If you are interested in a cheaper flight alternative, look into flying in to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Although this airport is a half hour drive away from Bayfront Park and 40 minutes away from South Beach, the airport does provide a shuttle service to South Beach for $21 USD. Plus the amount of money you can save on the ‘inconvenience’ of flying into FLL instead of MIA may just buy you a round of drinks at one of the clubs.

 

Ultra bound

If you are staying at one of the suggested hotels on the mainland, chances are you can easily two-step your way over to the festival.

Opted on an option in South Beach? While it may only be a 15 minute drive from the festival, hailing a cab will be very challenging so give yourself at least one hour to make your way over and get ready to ruffle your tutu a bit on the bus ride as it is sure to be loaded with fellow Ultranauts. The 103, 119 and 120 will all take you over to the mainland. We recommend taking the 119 from South Beach to the stop at the corner of NE 6th Street and then walking the five minutes to the festival entrance. The 103 will take you directly to Bayfront Park however it does take a bit of a scenic route. The 120 will take you to the bus terminal from where you will need to hop on the MMO light rail towards the park.

Mainland

For those wanting to stay on the mainland, Ultra provides a list of partner hotels for the weekend. The Aloft Miami Brickell is the most economical at $279/night and is only a 30 minute walk from the park. This one is a high in demand option and does sell out quickly. If you’re looking for a shorter walk to the grounds, the Viceroy Miami is a good option.  10442405_860831737313650_7543450660422429188_nRoom rates start at $349/night and this hotel is located a brisk 10 minute walk from the event. For the Ultranaut who wants to be as conveniently located to the festival as possible, the Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown is literally situated across the street from Bayfront Park. Although this is one of the most expensive hotels on the list, with room rates starting at $439/night, it will only take you as long as a traffic light change to get to the festival.

An alternative to staying in one of the Miami hotels is renting an apartment for the weekend. Many Miami residents will rent out their homes to Ultranauts for the weekend at a fair price. This can be an ideal option if you’re going with a group of people as the apartments available tend to still be centrally located and less expensive than staying in a hotel. Look into this early though as these sell out fast!

South Beach

Want to stay in the party-oriented South Beach? Ultra provides a list of partner hotels for here as well. Although staying in South Beach means a longer trek to and from the festival (about a two hour walk to the festival across the bridge if you dare!), many of the official after parties take place in South Beach. The most economical Ultra hotel to stay at here is the Essex House Hotel. Room rates start at $299/night and includes free breakfast.

South Beach also has plenty of hostels to choose from. Although prices do increase at these accommodations for this weekend, staying in a South Beach hostel is the most economical route and is also allow a great way of meeting other Ultranauts. The Bikini Hostel and the Miami Hostel are a short walk from the beach, shops and nightlife, and closely located to the bus stop that will take you to the mainland. The Miami Hostel also provides free shuttles to the nightclubs. The DecoWalk Hostel is the perfect alternative for those wishing to stay closer to the beach and is within stumbling distance from all the nightlife.

Prohibited and Okayed

To ensure it’s return in 2015, Ultra Music Festival had to make some changes to its rules and regulations. The festival is now an 18+ event, has a clear bag policy, and prohibits climbing trees and poles to gain a better vantage point.

The following items are allowed into the festival
– Hydration packs that are not backpacks and are empty upon arrival… i.e. Camelbaks
– Fanny packs
– Cell phones, non-professional cameras, action cameras
– Sunglasses, hats and earplugsUMF-MiamiTimes-GeorgeMartinez
– Illuminated and/or glowing jewelry or costumes (laser beam pasties anyone?)
– Flags and banners without a hard pole
– Sealed packs of smokes
– Sealed tampons…

But you’re going to want to leave these out of your rave kit
– Illegal substances and paraphernalia
– Weapons and anything flammable
– Outside food and beverages, bottles, cans, flasks, coolers
– Professional cameras and recording equipment
– Backpacks and purses… Strict new rules regarding this
– Stuffed animals, face masks, pacifiers, glow sticks, whistles
– Poles, sticks, or totems… #nomoreselfiesticks
– Toys: balloons, frisbees, inflatable balls, laser pointing devices, water guns, spray bottles, instruments
– Opened packs of smokes or tampons…

Sustenance

Let’s be honest here… Ultra is not known for the food it provides to festival-goers. Little boutique, pop-up food stands that are characteristic of many other festivals don’t make much of an appearance under the laser beam filled Miami sky.

If you do get hungry at the festival though, you are looking at spending about $20 – $40 USD. The Bayside Marketplace however, is located next-door to the festival and provides quick and cheap options like Subway, or sit-down restaurant alternatives. Rather than spending $10 on a hot dog in the festival, you’re better off stopping in at the Marketplace beforehand and filling up on good grub there.

Wobbly-pops

Water is a steep $5 per bottle. Being surrounded by fellow Ultranauts under the hot Miami sun all day make it a hot commodity too. There are water refill stations located throughout the festival so if you don’t want to spend all your money on purchasing this necessity on the grounds, invest in a Camelbak.

The official beer at Ultra is Heineken so expect to drink a lot of it. A regular beer is $8. If you’re not a fan of Heineken, you can also purchase basic high balls for about $12.

A Little Advice

I first attended Ultra Music Festival in 2013. My advice here is based on personal experiences from then but (for the most part) remains pertinent to the festival as it is today.

There is no re-entry into the park! Once you have entered the festival, you are in for the day. Most of the headliners are scheduled to perform later in the evening so prepare your schedule for the day accordingly. I sacrificed seeing some of the earlier acts to ensure that I’d still have the energy to attend some of the later sets.

12380_10151559982804244_661601410_nThe Ultra Music Festival app is super useful. It provides a map for the festival, along with a full lineup. You can also customize the lineup for your likes and set up push notifications so that you will be made aware when Steve Aoki is hitting someone with cake in an hour.

Get to know the festival grounds before you get there. Bayfront Park is not the largest venue but it can still get confusing.

KEEP YOUR TICKETS IN A SAFE SPOT. You get the one ticket with three stubs for each day of the festival so do not lose that ticket. If you lose your ticket on the first day you most likely have ruined your chances of getting back into the festival for the rest of the weekend.

The party does not stop once the U stops changing colors… There are so many festival after parties to choose from. Many of which are located in South Beach so accommodation here might be more suitable.

Cabbing after the U has stopped changing colors? Good luck.

Don’t bother with the ATMs at the festival… The service fees and lineups are through the roof so try and plan your spending accordingly. And then bring an extra $30.

For accommodations, I decided to stay as close to the festival as possible at the Holiday Inn right across the street from Bayfront Park. Although I had to spend a couple extra dollars for this spot, the convenience of being a five minute walk from the festival, and not having to worry about how to get home at the end of the event, was pretty awesome. The hotel however only allows entrance to people who present their room key so try and hang on to that.

Ultra is an experience that every raver needs to experience at least once. I loved the experience being an Ultranaut for the weekend and wound up with some super awesome NSFW stories as well. However, from personal experience and research, I would approach the whole weekend completely different the second time around. Ticket prices for the festival are pretty steep. Instead of purchasing a $400+ ticket to Ultra, I would choose to buy tickets to some of the beach parties and after parties, picking and choosing which DJs I am most interested in seeing. Most of the DJs will host one of these parties throughout the weekend and the week leading up to the festival, providing a more intimate experience. While you wouldn’t be attending Ultra and doing Miami as an Ultranaut, you would still be getting an unreal experience and seeing sets being played by your favorite artists.

Miami is expensive. Enlarge your budget.