Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
I've heard that tickets with a hotel packages are usually available? Is this true? And if so, what do those usually run? I dont care to stay in a dirt bag hotel, just figured it would be cheaper than having to buy all the camping equipment necessary...which I have none of since I have never been
There are hotel packages, but the pricing and details haven't been released yet (take a look at Bonnaroo.com under "info", fifth link down on left hand column).
Camping is going to be cheaper though.
Tent - $50 Canopy - $30
You're done. Add in a chair or whatever to increase comfort, but sitting on a cooler works just fine.
Don't have a sleeping bag? I'm sure you have blankets and sheets, so you can skip that expense.
I'm guessing you're going to spend the above per night minimum, and most likely more than that per night. The only reason to get a hotel is because you can't afford an RV and want to have AC, a nice bed, and shower available. Otherwise you're missing a lot of the bonnaroo experience....
Post by Fishing Maniac on Jan 12, 2011 12:07:53 GMT -5
You can get a tent for $20 or less. Getting a hotel room means that you are not really doing roo. You can probably get away with a tent and a chair and make some friends on the board who have shade and other stuff with whom you can camp.
Hotel packages run about 600-800 for the festival if I remember correctly. Also as of last year there was no shuttle service provided, so you had to drive in and out.
Post by JustSoYouKnow on Jan 13, 2011 0:06:20 GMT -5
my BF had never been camping before our first Bonnaroo 4 years ago, he has since gone camping in the mountains every year... since we didnt have camping gear, we borrowed a tent, borrowed a cooler and bought a pop-up(bringing shade is a must). We also bought a grill($20) but that was just bc my BF eats every 2 hours and since that first year we don't take the grill anymore. He did a "dry-run" and set up all the camping supplies in the courtyard of our apartment with his buddies (since he didn't want to learn the ropes from a girl) and we were set from then on. He also had a camel pack that was a company gift that was a life saver! This past year we went to Voodoo Experience in New Orleans and got a hotel and we decided we will never hotel festival ever again, we will find a campsite close to the festival saving the money is worth it.
**&& nobody on the board can instruct you to not go the hotel route, but since the two things you addressed are hotel price and never camping then that's why everyone will be commenting in on those. personally, my BF had no clear plan on camping before his first Roo and it was a life changing experience for the better! Hope this helps
I've heard that tickets with a hotel packages are usually available? Is this true? And if so, what do those usually run? I dont care to stay in a dirt bag hotel, just figured it would be cheaper than having to buy all the camping equipment necessary...which I have none of since I have never been
Good luck with this crowd here. They will feed your head with silly things like "you aren't really doing Bonnaroo if you stay in a hotel". Will you miss certain elements of the festival atmosphere if you stay in a hotel? Possibly. But if you're a huge music fan and still get to see plenty of great acts despite where you sleep, then you are "still doing Roo". Everyone's experience is difference. Don't let any snarky, elitist mentalities tell you otherwise.
You will see plenty of hotel offers over the next few months anywhere from a few miles to 30+ miles away from the farm. Keep your eyes open. I suggest doing a google search of "Bonnaroo hotels" a few times a week.
^^^agree on the elitest comment, but for the most part I haven't seen that in this thread.
The key areas of experience I think you'll be missing out on without staying onsite at Roo (RV or camping):
- Not having a "basecamp" to head to during the day to get out of the heat/sun - Missing out on meeting some interesting people; for me, 90% of meeting new people occurs at the campsite (or RV) area. Hanging out at the campsite is a lot of fun.
These two reasons are a huge bonus to the Roo experience imo. Also, you have to add in the additional hassle of getting a ride and traveling to the hotel.
It's fundamental cost/benefit analysis here.
Also, the OP stated they were looking for cheaper alternatives to camping. I personally don't think you can go to Roo for any cheaper than general camping, and that includes buying new equipment AND having plenty of shade. Lots of people can help with making the most economical decision when it comes to buying gear.
I would listen to someone who has been a part of this community longer than a few months. They tend to know more and be more helpful.
When I first joined I had tons of questions. The people that were the most helpful were the ones that had been around for a while.
Hope that doesn't sound "elitest". Whatever.
wow...interesting way to try and filter out opinion. I've been to Roo 5 years now. My join date has no correlation to my Roo attendance. There are plenty of people who have been going longer than me, but there are a helluva lot who haven't.
Why are people here so damn stuck up on join date? How naive....
The biggest issue I have with hotels is the driving in and out part. If I found one relatively close that ran a 24 hour reliable shuttle I would consider it. The other side, (and this is just a general observation that does not apply to everyone) is that having a hotel can make you lazy and skip music. It takes a lot of discipline to get up off your butt and drive an hour in to see music when you have AC and a shower. When you are hot as balls at camp going in seems like the smart thing to do.
Edit
That being said if you do not have any camping experience let me also invite you to join in at camp inforoo. It is a group environment, and will take a lot of pressure off of camping noobs. You will have to haul some stuff to tent only but once you are there it is pretty nice.
Last Edit: Jan 13, 2011 12:02:42 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
I'm not stuck on it. I just think that a mojority of the time you get better info from someone that has been around for a while over someone that came here a few months ago and just pissed people off the whole time.
I'm just giving an opinion. I don't think it's a naive one. And I never said anything about how many times you have been there. I said how long you have been a member of this community.
But whatever.
As far as camping goes. I would definately reccomend it. It's fun and you are outside. A lot of us have boring office jobs. I know I do, so I welcome the summer and festival season. I like being outside away from tv's, cell phones, air conditioning, and all of that other crap that no one really needs.
If you need help on good cheap camping supplies PM me and I'll send you pictures and information on all of the stuff I have that has been with me for almost 13 years of festivals.
^^^agree on the elitest comment, but for the most part I haven't seen that in this thread.
Really??? ......
I did say for the most part, but I get you.
Note the join dates of people who made those comments....this is coming from people who have been around a lot longer "than a few months."
Also, the comment about turtling in the hotel room is a good one. I know of quite a few people where that's happened, though with RV's on site. The AC is extremely inviting when temps rise to 100-ish (+)
It takes a lot of discipline to get up off your butt and WALK in to see music when you have AC and a shower.
Yes it does!!!
You're even worse since you have an actual house (and a 1.5 mile walk each way). Another hotel option might be to get one, but also set up in camp inforoo so you do not have to leave every time you want something.
Also, the comment about turtling in the hotel room is a good one. I know of quite a few people where that's happened, though with RV's on site. The AC is extremely inviting when temps rise to 100-ish (+)
This past year me and my husband were in the AC tent behind the which stage enjoying a cold beer and comfy chairs. We were going to leave to see John Fogerty but every time we said five more minutes, or one more beer. We ended up watching the show on TV.
I usually don't care about AC, but in my defense it was really HOT last year.
im sorry I didnt mean to come off as meaning something like I was too good to camp. The whole not showering and not enough sleep thing doesnt bother me. I just thought it may be cheaper than having to buy all the camping materials but apparently not. Im new to this whole thing.
im sorry I didnt mean to come off as meaning something like I was too good to camp. The whole not showering and not enough sleep thing doesnt bother me. I just thought it may be cheaper than having to buy all the camping materials but apparently not. Im new to this whole thing.
Nah, you didn't come off as too good to camp at all. A lot of the above discussion will be repeated in other similar threads, as the topic of RV/Hotels comes up again (and again and again...).
Stoked for you and your first year. The first year is the most interesting (good and bad). ;D
any tips on how to do this on a budget or tips and trips on food like mentioned above would be greatly appreciated. thank you guys for all your help, just send me a pm! also, what is this camp inforoo?
I've never done the camp inforoo, but if I heard about that my first year I would have jumped on the opportunity (more people pitching in = more shade and more people watching out for you).
For tent, here's a start (I am not adovcating amazon.com, it's just easier for me to give some ideas):
For food, think stuff that doesn't require cooking, because the last thing you're going to want to do in the TN heat at Roo is stand over a grill. At least that's how I feel lol
PBJ, granola, mixed nuts, etc.
Make sure to get some water bottles. It's really really important to stay hydrated, even when you aren't feeling thristy. I like the aluminum water bottles because even if you fill at the water stations in centeroo, the water stays cool for a few hours.
Also sunglasses, hat, sunscreen...there are and will be a lot of threads about what to bring so keep an eye out.
Edit: I'm sure you'll get all the above and more in the PM from karen
any tips on how to do this on a budget or tips and trips on food like mentioned above would be greatly appreciated. thank you guys for all your help, just send me a pm! also, what is this camp inforoo?
The only food I bring is snacks, and fruits meals in centeroo are around 7-12 dollars and two a day should do you. Camp inforoo is where a group of us get together and stake out space in the tent only area up by the entrance. You will have to carry stuff on thursday but with a big group a lot of stuff can be communal as well. I did camp inforoo last year and to me it was the best way I have done Bonnaroo yet in 5 years.
2006 Car camping by myself, no shade but somehow I ended up right upfront so not too shabby.
2007 Huge group we ended up in the back end of nowhere and since we had a nice camp I did not go in as much as I wanted to
2008 VIP I had a good time, but overall did not feel it was worth 300 dollars for a shorter line to get in to the fest and a shorter line for centeroo.
2009 Went with a small group GA we were right by Bushy Branch so not terrible, but none of us spent any time in camp that year.
2010 Camp inforoo I hauled my stuff to camp and was less tahn 5 minutes from everything and could easily sneak back to camp to pound PBR's instead of buying them. Plus the company was nice.
I have not done a hotel yet, because the odds of me leaving late night sets in driving condition are pretty negligible.
im starting to get not as stressed about all of this...a 2 person tent and small canopy isnt looking too bad price wise, not will it be too hard to carry if we do go the tent ony route..that, a big cooler on wheelsand a couple of other random items wouldnt be too bad to carry between a couple of people