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Original poster

Isle of Wight Festival - first timer - panicking I will forget something

24 replies

NotBabiesForLong · 29/05/2023 08:01

What do we need to take?

Total novice, in a fit of mid-life crises FOMO we (i) booked tickets for IoWF. Really exciting... now panicking at what I have done.

We have power in our tent.

Can you take camping chairs in to the festival?

Looking forward to seeing Jarvis! But I can't stand up for a day, and I can't sit on the floor all day either. Creeking bones.

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 29/05/2023 09:19

You can't take chairs into the main arena. To be honest, if you want to get any sort of decent view of the stage they're pointless, and annoying when you're trying to fight through a crowd.

Take endless wet wipes, whatever you want to eat and drink at your tent (IIRC you can't take your own food and drink into the main arena), earplugs, bumbag.

JorisBonson · 29/05/2023 09:19

With screenshot

Isle of Wight Festival - first timer - panicking I will forget something
Allrightmylover · 29/05/2023 09:46

Have you booked your ferry if you’re taking a vehicle or are you a foot passenger? Back in the 1970’s my Mother got very annoyed as lots of hippies couldn’t get a ferry back as too crowded and she used to say there were hippies in the streets for days!

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Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 29/05/2023 16:57

We booked the ferry when we bought the tickets. Had visions of being stranded on the island

OP posts:
RockSocks · 29/05/2023 17:55

Have you booked your ferry yet?
Islanders get discount codes we won't be using them this year
I have a few more if anyone would like them

Isle of Wight Festival - first timer - panicking I will forget something
LimitIsUp · 06/06/2023 15:49

I am going too with my 20 year old dd - not massively looking forward to it tbh. I've thrown some money at it because I can't do camping in a crowded field - both of us would not cope (dd is autistic). We are staying in Pink Moon's Tipi Terrace in a super classic furnished Tipi. I messed up and didn't book a ferry so I had to book the hovercraft as a foot passenger (not too bad as we are on South coast and local). So as a foot passenger I want to take as little as possible, and we don't intend to do cooking on a stove. Could do with a cup of tea in the morning though - my question is, will I have to wander far to get a cuppa because if its more than 10 minutes away I'll have to take a campstove and kettle just for hot drinks?

Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 07/06/2023 08:01

We see in pink moon too. They sent an email yesterday with more info, and there looks to be a cafe and restaurant on site.

OP posts:
LimitIsUp · 07/06/2023 16:06

NotBabiesForLong · 07/06/2023 08:01

We see in pink moon too. They sent an email yesterday with more info, and there looks to be a cafe and restaurant on site.

Thanks, yes - saw that this morning. It looks quite good!

movingstars · 19/06/2023 10:23

Did you survive?? I went too with DD, never been to Festival in my life before but would do it again in heart beat… but in a boogie tent 😂

LimitIsUp · 19/06/2023 12:31

We went and left early - 'boutique' camping experience was a joke. Plan to go again in future, stay in a B&B and use the festival bus service to go in and out each day

redspottedmug · 19/06/2023 13:03

DC just back (we're on the ferry at 6am!).

They took a tent, camped in one of the quieter fields, and had an absolute blast.

What was wrong with the boutique camping? DC said it looked like rows of pretty basic tipis.

They were tempted to upgrade to one of the posh loos but said the facilities weren't open all the time and had massive queues.

LimitIsUp · 19/06/2023 14:09

They were precisely that, rows of fairly basic tipis. I paid £1500 for a 3 person deluxe furnished tipi - there were only two of us which was just as well as it would have been super cramped with three. The furnishings were budget quality and minimal, the tipis were too close together and not entirely water tight, and there were too few shower cubicles (e.g. constant queue for the shower at least 10 deep, from 7 am to 12 noon on Saturday morning). Total rip off and not value for money. Lesson learned

movingstars · 19/06/2023 15:31

Interesting to hear about boutique camping experience, I thought that was going to be my answer! A friend camped in the respect your tent field and that was much better (allocated pitches). They also have an accessibility field although that sold out very quickly.
We did pay extra for showers and toilets; maybe we timed it right but the queues removed quite quickly and you could go straight through for loos.
I did book a hotel for last night though, didn’t fancy listening to people pack up through the night and it was bliss to be in a quiet hotel room in a comfy bed.

redspottedmug · 19/06/2023 16:26

£1500 Shock I'd expect something glamorous and cosy. What a rip off.

DC thought the love your tent might be worth the money. They stayed next to family camping and was quite calm, away from the more rowdy campers (they like their sleep too!)

LimitIsUp · 19/06/2023 18:00

Yes exactly - those were my expectations, sadly dashed. I absolutely will stay in a very comfortable B&B in future and use the festival bus service which is £45 for the entire weekend and unlimited trips. This also means we won't need to travel in until early afternoon, rather than having to hang around at the festival site all day, under the relentless sun, waiting for the Main stage events to get started later in the afternoon

movingstars · 19/06/2023 22:00

@LimitIsUp best idea! Did not know there was weekend bus ticket…

LimitIsUp · 20/06/2023 12:25

Yes, download the Southern Vectis app (the bus service) if you go next year

Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 20/06/2023 21:48

LimitIsUp · 20/06/2023 12:25

Yes, download the Southern Vectis app (the bus service) if you go next year

We were in the harvest moon deluxe tent for 2. About £1100. I thought the tent, bedding and ease of it all and furniture was great. But, oh my lord, the toilets were horrific!!!! Super clean, but they made me gag. The chemical combo was worse than unpleasant.

In contrast, loos near the main stage were fab.

But i thought the camp showers were great. It was super hot, so i had a couple each day and I really can't complain about them.

We ended up leaving early too - I couldn't face queueing and getting home at some horrendous hour. So we managed to get back and watch Robbie on TV at home. A shame, because he did a great show.

Overall, I loved it, and I would book the same tent again, but with the loo upgrade.

OP posts:
LimitIsUp · 21/06/2023 17:45

I think they must have provided more showers per head at Harvest Moon than on Tipi terrace because shower availability was a significant issue there. I agree that the toilets near the main stage were surprisingly clean

OrangeSpicedBun · 25/06/2023 20:07

NotBabiesForLong · 20/06/2023 21:48

We were in the harvest moon deluxe tent for 2. About £1100. I thought the tent, bedding and ease of it all and furniture was great. But, oh my lord, the toilets were horrific!!!! Super clean, but they made me gag. The chemical combo was worse than unpleasant.

In contrast, loos near the main stage were fab.

But i thought the camp showers were great. It was super hot, so i had a couple each day and I really can't complain about them.

We ended up leaving early too - I couldn't face queueing and getting home at some horrendous hour. So we managed to get back and watch Robbie on TV at home. A shame, because he did a great show.

Overall, I loved it, and I would book the same tent again, but with the loo upgrade.

Show quote history

I've just booked the same for next year. Was starting to get a bit worried but am I correct in thinking Harvest Moon was OK and Pink Moon had issues this year?

I hope you don't mind me asking...what did you actually need in the end? I see there are toiletries ..might be OK for DH. I'm thinking of getting foot ferry over as we are local, DH is thinking of car ferry and supposing we might need extra e.g camping chairs, stove etc. We get a bit of a discount on both but need to book ferry when released.

Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 25/06/2023 22:18

OrangeSpicedBun · 25/06/2023 20:07

I've just booked the same for next year. Was starting to get a bit worried but am I correct in thinking Harvest Moon was OK and Pink Moon had issues this year?

I hope you don't mind me asking...what did you actually need in the end? I see there are toiletries ..might be OK for DH. I'm thinking of getting foot ferry over as we are local, DH is thinking of car ferry and supposing we might need extra e.g camping chairs, stove etc. We get a bit of a discount on both but need to book ferry when released.

Show quote history

Harvest Moon was lovely. It was just the toilets which made me gag - but they were constantly cleaned etc.

Showers were lovely.

We didn't take much with us, compared to many others. I had a wheelie suitcase and a camping chair. DH had the same, plus a wheelie cool box.

Camping chairs were great, and picnic blanket, as you could take them in to the main stage and pitch up for the day.

Bedding and towels supplied were lovely.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 25/06/2023 22:20

Yes, a stove or bbq would be handy.

Toiletries were good, including tooth brush and tooth paste. And a sleep eye mask was surprisingly good.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotBabiesForLong · 25/06/2023 22:21

Actually, maybe a bucket would be a good idea.... you know what I mean.

OP posts:
OrangeSpicedBun · 26/06/2023 07:32

Thanks so much @NotBabiesForLong really appreciate.

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