Full festival atmosphere, but with comfort instead of chemical toilets
While some music festival aficionados seem to rate sleeping in puddles almost as highly as they do listening to bands, some more sophisticated music fans may regard the prospect of camping in a muddy field as reason to stay home.
But comfort and festivals are no longer an either/or decision: a wide range of companies have innovated ways to bridge the gap, offering glamorous camping (‘glamping') options that afford a low-grime, worry-free festival experience. Here are the most ubiquitous glamping options - companies that move from event to event on the festival circuit - and some highlights at members' favourite festivals.
Whether you want us to book one of these options for you, or have us investigate options or nearby hotels to a particular festival, call us, and we can take care of the groundwork for you. You may also want to check out our Festival Survival Guide for the ultimate lowdown on how to survive and even thrive in festival conditions - call or email your lifestyle manager to request a copy.
Indulgent accommodation
If money's no object, you might want to consider the high-end alternatives to camping at some festivals that make many a five-star hotel seem a bit shabby. At Glastonbury, Camp Kerala and Land & Sky are the most indulgent choices of accommodation. Both campgrounds offer tents with luxury furnishings, on-site showers and toilets and high-quality catering to help guests avoid the siren songs of the chip vans on the festival site; Camp Kerala has even added a spa facility for 2009. At several thousand pounds for the weekend, these options are undoubtedly dear - but undoubtedly the most stylish.
Yurtels
At the Big Chill Festival, Yurtels - prices start at £895 - are luxury yurts with all the trappings of a good hotel inside. In a dedicated campsite, your Yurtel will come complete with a king-sized bed, luxurious bedding. Fresh flowers in your bedroom and complimentary toiletries in the convenient, clean bathrooms complete the hotel simulation.
Tangerine Fields offers ‘luxury' camping at ten different festivals, including Big Chill and Latitude - you'll still be sleeping in a tent (or, at a premium price, a tipi or yurt) but it's all set up ahead of time, so you needn't ever crawl around in the dark looking for tent pegs. Sleeping bags, air mattresses and torches can also be provided. Even more exciting for the squeamish camper, however, is the fact that at most festivals, Tangerine Fields have designated shower and toilet areas for the exclusive use of their clientele.
Myhabs
Myhab is billed as the green alternative to tents, which all too often are let littering festival grounds after everyone has gone home. Myhab living spaces, on offer at 17 different festivals this summer, from Glastonbury to the Isle of Wight, include amenities such as lockers, soft beds, and an elevated base to keep things from getting soggy. Reserving a myhab for a festival means that it will be there for you to move in immediately, with access to dedicated showers and toilets as well. They are made from reused and recycled materials and green-minded occupants can leave at the end of the festival knowing that the myhab team will take the shelters down and recycle the components.
Podpads are erected on campsites at 22 music festivals, including Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight, and Latitude. They basic wooden structures - they look like colourful garden sheds, and are made from weatherproofed plywood. Though the accommodation is relatively basic - luxury here means a single solar-powered light, sleeping platforms with mattresses (festival attendees must provide their own bedding) and a door that locks - Podpads are peaceful and indulgent in comparison to the average tent, without removing the occupants from the rest of the action.
• Call us for a comprehensive list of what to pack to ensure that you are a happy camper.
