Festival hypes: spending a festival in luxury
From glamping to spending the night in a villa just a stone's throw away from the festival grounds. More festival visitors are opting for a luxury experience, instead of having to camp in a small tent. No queues for the shower and no struggles with tent poles. The festival elite is advancing.
Of course there are visitors who are very happy with mud flows, noisy neighbors (after party!) and the authentic, back-to-basics camping experience. But there is also a development in the other direction. The festival elite wants to enjoy their favorite DJs from the red carpet with VIP decks, private bars, fast lanes and luxury accommodations.
You can have it as crazy as you like, also at a hardstyle party. Defqon.1 offers a villa for twenty people (from 3500 euros per person) with an optional personal butler, private helicopter, jacuzzi and barbecue including chef. At most festivals it remains a bit more modest. Like at Intents Festival, where you VIP’s (for 25 euros more than a regular ticket) are well pampered with their own entrance, VIP decks with lounge sofas, snacks, fresh fruit and luxurious toilets.
Eventbrite researched this emerging trend in 2018. More than half of the 91 festivals in Europe offer a VIP package, and about 45 percent of the festival visitors are prepared to pay half more for a more luxurious upgrade. The average buyer of a VIP ticket is a 33-year-old male millennial. Other data also show that it is mainly foreign festival-goers and 25-plus visitors who choose to celebrate in luxury. They have a little more to spend or don't go out every weekend and therefore want to enjoy their festival to the fullest. They are a bit more spoiled and willing to pay more for that.
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Defqon.1 villa
Thomas feels the same way. He thinks comfort is really worth something, especially at weekend festivals. “I've had enough stumbling to a spot on the campsite with 25 kilos of stuff on my back. It’s a relief to just be able to take a shower and go to the toilet, without queuing up with half the festival. Or those little things like charging your phone, safely leaving your things behind, getting your own food and drinks from the fridge. It’s worth totally worth that extra money.”
Unlike Vera, who understands the charm of a back-to-the-basics weekend. “I’ve spent a year at Defqon.1 in a cottage on the Landal holiday park. Of course the hot showers and normal beds were nice, but I'm not going to a weekend festival for that. I missed the craziness of the campsite: the sleepless nights, the bizarre adventures. It made me realize that I love the festival camping, I wouldn’t want something else.”
Being able to enjoy the festival to the fullest, that's what it's all about. And we are willing to pay a little extra for that. If you're already spending money, you want the best experience possible. Together with all your friends. This is reflected in the increasing demand for group package. That's why festivals like Defqon.1, Mysteryland and Decibel outdoor offer exclusive zones, where you and your friends can be assured of having a spot together. At Defqon.1 you can buy a friendscamp ticket for an additional €46. Instead of a normal spot, you get a closed off area at the campsite for you and your friends (20 to 50 people), with a picnic table. This way you don't have to worry about being close to your friends. You also get a free power bank. But your tent, sleeping bag and all your other stuff? You still have to bring them with you.
The real die-hard is clear about this trend. It's still a festival, not an all-inclusive holiday. They just enjoy the festival the way it's meant to be. In that small, clammy tent on the festival campsite, including the sleepless nights. Some extra luxury may be nice, nothing beats that authentic experience. Being part of a huge crowd, enjoying the music, the people and the atmosphere. That's priceless.
Interested in a luxurious festival experience? Check out the Travel & Stay options at festivals such as Defqon.1 (although almost everything is sold out for the upcoming edition) or Decibel outdoor.
Of course there are visitors who are very happy with mud flows, noisy neighbors (after party!) and the authentic, back-to-basics camping experience. But there is also a development in the other direction. The festival elite wants to enjoy their favorite DJs from the red carpet with VIP decks, private bars, fast lanes and luxury accommodations.
You can have it as crazy as you like, also at a hardstyle party. Defqon.1 offers a villa for twenty people (from 3500 euros per person) with an optional personal butler, private helicopter, jacuzzi and barbecue including chef. At most festivals it remains a bit more modest. Like at Intents Festival, where you VIP’s (for 25 euros more than a regular ticket) are well pampered with their own entrance, VIP decks with lounge sofas, snacks, fresh fruit and luxurious toilets.
Eventbrite researched this emerging trend in 2018. More than half of the 91 festivals in Europe offer a VIP package, and about 45 percent of the festival visitors are prepared to pay half more for a more luxurious upgrade. The average buyer of a VIP ticket is a 33-year-old male millennial. Other data also show that it is mainly foreign festival-goers and 25-plus visitors who choose to celebrate in luxury. They have a little more to spend or don't go out every weekend and therefore want to enjoy their festival to the fullest. They are a bit more spoiled and willing to pay more for that.
Defqon.1 villa Thomas feels the same way. He thinks comfort is really worth something, especially at weekend festivals. “I've had enough stumbling to a spot on the campsite with 25 kilos of stuff on my back. It’s a relief to just be able to take a shower and go to the toilet, without queuing up with half the festival. Or those little things like charging your phone, safely leaving your things behind, getting your own food and drinks from the fridge. It’s worth totally worth that extra money.”
Unlike Vera, who understands the charm of a back-to-the-basics weekend. “I’ve spent a year at Defqon.1 in a cottage on the Landal holiday park. Of course the hot showers and normal beds were nice, but I'm not going to a weekend festival for that. I missed the craziness of the campsite: the sleepless nights, the bizarre adventures. It made me realize that I love the festival camping, I wouldn’t want something else.”
Being able to enjoy the festival to the fullest, that's what it's all about. And we are willing to pay a little extra for that. If you're already spending money, you want the best experience possible. Together with all your friends. This is reflected in the increasing demand for group package. That's why festivals like Defqon.1, Mysteryland and Decibel outdoor offer exclusive zones, where you and your friends can be assured of having a spot together. At Defqon.1 you can buy a friendscamp ticket for an additional €46. Instead of a normal spot, you get a closed off area at the campsite for you and your friends (20 to 50 people), with a picnic table. This way you don't have to worry about being close to your friends. You also get a free power bank. But your tent, sleeping bag and all your other stuff? You still have to bring them with you.
The real die-hard is clear about this trend. It's still a festival, not an all-inclusive holiday. They just enjoy the festival the way it's meant to be. In that small, clammy tent on the festival campsite, including the sleepless nights. Some extra luxury may be nice, nothing beats that authentic experience. Being part of a huge crowd, enjoying the music, the people and the atmosphere. That's priceless.
Interested in a luxurious festival experience? Check out the Travel & Stay options at festivals such as Defqon.1 (although almost everything is sold out for the upcoming edition) or Decibel outdoor.
