This article has been provided by YHA Australia, Australia’s largest budget accommodation network. Check out their website for bookings and accommodation reviews.
We all know how expensive music festivals can get, here are some tips to catch the bands without breaking the bank.
1. Get early bird tickets
A photo posted by Katrice Czaja (@triceypops) on
Aug 17, 2016 at 2:45am PDT
Don’t wait till the last minute – many festivals have early bird specials or pre-sales that are significantly discounted. Subscribe to their newsletters and follow them on social media so you can be the first to know when they release them.
2. Work your way in
A photo posted by Lexi Calo (@gypsy_rose13) on
Apr 28, 2014 at 4:16pm PDT
Many festivals rely on volunteers to scan tickets, hand out freebies (more on that later) and clean up, and you probably won’t have to work the entire day either. Check out their websites and apply as early as possible. Note that everyone and their mother will try to volunteer for big festivals like Splendour in the Grass, so choose your battle wisely.
3. Win tickets
A photo posted by iHeartRadio Australia (@iheartradioau) on
Aug 16, 2015 at 11:46pm PDT
Wait, people giveaway tickets for FREE? You heard it right. Radio stations and festival sponsors often host competitions to giveaway tickets, and sometimes even an all-expense-paid trip! (Side note: the author is preparing for hers as she writes this.) So scout their websites and social media accounts religiously once the festival is announced and enter everything – you’ve got to be in it to win it.
4. Avoid flying
A photo posted by Jade + Matthew (@jadeandmatthew) on
Sep 9, 2015 at 5:53am PDT
If you’re going to a festival that’s out of town, try getting there by bus or train! An interstate return flight could easily set you back big bucks that you could be spending on festival merch or, let’s be honest, more booze. Coach services like Greyhound have routes connecting NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC and SA, or hire a car with a few friends for a road trip. Just pump your festival playlist on the way to start the party early.
YHA Bonus: Members get an exclusive 5% off all Greyhound passes and 5% off Europcar hire.
5. Stay in hostels
A photo posted by YHA Australia (@yhaaustralia) on
Aug 16, 2015 at 5:55pm PDT
It’s cleaner and sometimes cheaper than camping – especially if you don’t already own camping gear and utensils. It’s super fun as people who stay there are likely to be attending the same festival so you can take a Tinder break and actually meet like-minded people IRL. Staying in hostels is obviously a LOT safer than couch-surfing aka crashing at some random dude’s place who may or may not skin you while you sleep.
YHA Bonus: From Field Day to Future, check out which of our 85 backpacker hostel is near your favourite festivals.
6. BYO (almost) everything
A photo posted by YHA Australia (@yhaaustralia) on
May 11, 2015 at 3:52pm PDT
Staying in hostels means you can use the communal kitchen to make breakfast and even pack lunch every day – if the festival allows outside food and you’re bothered! Otherwise bring something simple – energy bars, nuts or crackers can help stretch your budget further, and you won’t have to drink on an empty stomach.
7. Look out for freebies
A photo posted by MARCUS SANDQUIST <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2/72x72/1f1f8-1f1ea.png" alt="