Going to a festival is one of the most exciting parts of summer. It’s a chance to escape the real world for a few days and immerse yourself with the things and people you love the most. You get to see many of your favourite artists performing in one place at one time, you get to be with your friends 24/7 and you might even get to coat yourself in glitter while you’re there. And there’s no reason why the journey to and from the festival can’t be part of the fun, especially if you’re all travelling together. In fact, going as a group can also help keep the costs down…
Travel together
If you’re journeying by car, then going as a group will mean you can split the fuel bill. However, it may be preferable, especially if you’re planning on having a few drinks and not a lot of sleep at the festival, to travel by train. Not everyone’s aware of this, but most operators offer the chance to buy group tickets to save money on travel. Not only can you save up to a third on journey costs, but you’ll have a great time together too.
Pack snacks and drinks
We’ve all politely paid the eye-watering prices train companies ask for a bottle of water and a packet of crisps! If you bring a bag full of goodies with you, however, not only can you enjoy your favourite food without needing a bank loan, but you can also share it around your group and start the festival fun on the train.
Plan your festival
Someone will no doubt have a schedule to hand, and the train is an ideal place to get planning. You’ll be able to determine where you’ll need to be (and when) to see your favourite artists, and which members of the group will want to come with you. Others may suggest seeing someone you’ve never heard of, so this is also a good way to broaden your horizons. You might also establish who’ll be doing the cooking, putting up the tent and getting the drinks in!
Get ready together
You’ll want to look your best when you step off that train, so a long journey might be the ideal chance to sort out hair and makeup. It’s hard to do this in a car or a bus, but if you’re sitting around tables on a train, you’ll have the social space you need.
Play card games
Once the makeup’s done, the festival’s planned and the food’s eaten, it’s time for some games. Bringing cards is ideal because they take up very little room, they cost next to nothing, and there are a multitude of games you can play with them – crazy eights, rummy, pontoon and Uno are all easy to learn and fun to play.
Travelling together on the train will mean the festival will start the moment you greet each other on the platform. All anxieties about camping in the rain and getting lost will disappear. You’ll all relax together, share stories and laughs, and get excited about what the next few days have in store.