Making sure you can get in the gig/festival

Never attempt to attend an overseas festival without a ticket. It’s not the best move to rely solely on getting one out there, if you can’t get a ticket, your efforts for getting there are going to be totally wasted! Make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions of your ticket BEFORE you go. Yes its boring, and you may need a magnifying glass, but it’s better to know beforehand how to cancel your tickets if something prevents you from going, what you can and cannot do/take with you. Remember, you may be veteran to the UK gig and festival scene, but things can be and are very different overseas!

Make sure you purchase your tickets from an official source, you cannot guarantee after all your travelling efforts that a touted ticket will get you into the venue. Don’t forget to check out the venue online, you may find out more info about the layout, opening times, accommodation advice and travel to and from the venue. And don’t forget to check the type of ticket you have brought, are you going to have to queue or have you reserved a seat?

Flying out to your country of choice

We can’t stress this enough, check your flight details, have you got the right airport, both here and aboard? If you’re parking your car at the airport do you know where to park, how much it will be etc?

Make sure you know what your baggage quota will be and if you’re going to go over it, most airlines will charge you for extra luggage, and let’s face it, if your off to a festival overseas, your won’t be travelling light.

Don’t get drunk at the airport and miss your boarding time, you won’t be allowed on, and you may well have to pay for another flight! Don’t forget that if Airport staff consider you too drunk to fly, you will not be allowed on the flight and lets face it that’s a disaster you don’t want all for the sake of starting the drinking too early! Oh and don’t forget your passport!

If your passport has less than 6 months to run at the time of your trip, make sure that you get a new one at least 3 months before you’re due to go. Check out if you need a visa to enter the country, the consulate or embassy of the country will be able to let you know what you do and don’t need.

Familiarise yourself with the British Embassy in your country of choice, if you lose your passport or come into any problems, you will need to contact them to help you out.

Don’t forget to be insured, many places offer insurance, make sure you’re covered for your festival/gig and declare any pre-existing medical conditions too, if you fall over and re-break that bone while you’re away, they won’t pay for your running repairs, and trust me, it’s expensive!

Accommodation

This is a long winded one to advise on to be honest. If you’re doing a festival you are more than likely to be able to camp, but you do need to know where you will be camping, and the rules of the campsite. As said elsewhere, there will be items that are prohibited, so make sure you read your t&c’s!

If you’re not camping, you will need a roof over your head. Make sure the accommodation is what you require, don’t just book in a blind panic. Is it close to your venue? Is it a safe location? Is it a dump? Most of the questions are hard to answer, but do your home work online and it should be a breeze. Don’t leave booking alternative accommodation til the last minute either, be prepared so you aren’t left disappointed, in a total dump, miles from where you want to be because all the best / most suitable places are fully booked!

Travelling around

Driving

If you’re going to drive (which I wouldn’t suggest unless absolutely necessary) you really do need to check lots of bits and bobs before you go.

* Know your road laws (http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/index.html There is A LOT to take in, so consider this option very carefully. This link is for Europe only)

* Does your insurance cover you for driving abroad?

* If your hiring a car is the car hire company reputable?

* Can you book in advance? I would always suggest pre-booking your car.

* Have you got a map that’s easy to read?

* Do you know what the road signs mean and which side of the road to drive?

* Check out parking charges too

Public Transport

By far the simplest (depending on location) way to travel in my opinion. Make sure you have a guide to the transport system that you can understand, the stops and maps will be in the native language! Check prices and times before you travel.

One hint is to make sure you have the right or little money when you go to buy your ticket, most thieves target tourists at major destinations, waving your £50 notes about will only tell them your a great target!

Taxis

Use official taxis, you can check out which ones to use by looking on the local tourist board website. Get in an unlicensed one, and you can expect a stupidly high bill, and possibly a wheel falling off on the way or worse.

The tourist board may be able to tell you roughly how much the trip should cost too, so make sure you’re not ripped off!

Health while overseas

We can’t stress this enough, make sure your insurance covers what you need it too, and that you disclose ANY pre-existing medical condition. Check how the treatment is paid for, will you be expected to pay the costs upfront and then you are reimbursed? Or will you not have to worry about a thing?

A trip to the dentist before you go is the best idea, a filling may be loose, if that comes out while your away, not only will you be in agony, but your bank manager may not like paying foreign dentists the earth!

If a medical emergency does happen you will be asked for a medical history, so you should carry it with you (this will also help with your insurance too), your doctor should be kind enough to help you on this. Know what number to dial in an emergency and at least learn how to say can you speak English!!

Don’t forget your meds too, sounds simple, but so easily done. Your medication may be overly expensive, hard to get hold of, or nonexistent where your off to.

Money

If you’re going to take your plastic with you, make sure you’re not going to pay the earth just for swiping instead of carrying cash. Martin Lewis the money saving expert has done his homework on travel money, and HATES being ripped off. Check out this little tool which will tell you the best place for your travel money http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/ It also tells you if you will be charged for using your card, its definitely worth a look. Make sure you know how much your paying for items, you will know by checking the exchange rate. Make sure you have enough money for your journey, but don’t be silly and take too much!

The Event

Common sense, and helping hands go along way to staying safe.

Drugs should be avoided, main reasons being, a lot of countries have very harsh penalties against users, and unless you know your laws, this can be very hairy. Just be safe, don’t do them, you have no idea who you’re buying them off, what they actually contain, and whether or not you will wake up in hospital. Steer well clear!

If you decided to ignore our advice, you seriously run the risk of getting arrested! If this does happen, the British consult should be able to help (their address and contact number should be kept on you at all times). They will help provide legal assistance and advice.

Take it easy with the booze too, in some places, being drunk can leave you with a sour taste of police cells in your mouth. Check out the local drunk and disorderly laws.

Thanks to Leanne O’brien for this information