I'm going to talk about my experience at Ultra Music Festival in march of this year, my first too, so that you are prepared for next year, or any other similar festivals, and know what to expect to have fun. That said, expect anything. Ultra was one of the best experiences of my life, I became a raver after Ultra. So if you still have any doubts about going, don't think about it anymore, DO IT! you will not regret it. And believe me, it is worth the $400 three-day admittance. However, If you want to save yourself some serious money, you have to buy months in advance (early bird sales, pre-sales, etc) then you will get the best out of your money.
I read some blog posts about surviving Ultra before I went, and they still didn't prepare me for what I experienced myself. So, I'm going to make you my own list of important information based on my anecdotes at Ultra. I will also be posting pictures me and my friends took in the festival as well as from the internet:
Aerial view of Ultra 2013
1. Be practical- LESS is BEST:
Ultra is a huge event, people from all over the world come to this amazing get together. I think the first weekend I went to was expected to have at least 150000 people so you can only imagine the amount of physical contact and sweat your body will go through. SO:
-The Less fabric you wear, the more comfortable you will feel (sweating, etc)
-The less stuff you carry the lighter you will feel, the better you will dance, the less cynical you will feel about getting pick pocketed, you get the deal.
-Less Bottles: Don't carry water bottles with you, they are heavy, buy camel backs. Everyone at Ultra was wearing them and it looked so comfortable, I wished I had known to do the same.
2. Be Creative and let go (but not too much):
It's such a fun festival filled with talented and world renowned DJS who will make you jump, dance and rave all day long. Bring funky clothes, have a drink before you go in.
Ravers Fashion
3. Meet People:
Its the United Nations of Raving and a lifetime opportunity to meet people from around the world. Who knows, maybe you will meet your summer fling there, share a friendly roll with a Canadian, or find a couch to crash in your first trip to Amsterdam next year.
Friends we met
4. Bring Friends With You to the Festival:
I know I said before this festival is a great opportunity to meet people but I recommend bringing friends with you as well, at least one with a sane judgment, because a friend of mine who went this year got lost and ended up taking a ride home with a stranger she had met at the festival and he tried to drugged her in the car, she freaked out and ran out of the car, it was a very scary experience. Ladies, expect freaks in this festival and be careful getting back to your place of stay.
On the way to Ultra
5. Drugs/Booze: Word of Advice
I don't recommend doing drugs for this festival especially after #4 and because one also doesn't know what they're REALLY selling you. But I will admit I did see people ON them and a few selling them. And yes, they do check you in the entrance so be smart.
My friends and I drank right before we went to the festival, that way we'd be happy by the time we were in. It was a perfect combination, at least for me. A friend drank so much for the second day that by the time he was inside, he got stranded and eventually in his drunk-ness, tried to get on top of a stage and was kicked out within an hour. He doesn't remember why he tried to get on the stage. He was so disoriented after being kicked out he started crying uncontrollably and somehow ended up walking back to South Beach, if you know Miami, that's an incredible distance from Ultra's location.
Megastage- Ultra 2013
6. Finding a Place to Stay During the Length of the Festival
My friends and I decided to stay at a hostel. I had never stayed at one and we were getting closer to the date of our trip so I volunteered to book it. Worst Decision Ever. We booked at Santa Barbara hostel. It was very disappointing and disgusting, it was almost like a biohazard to breath there. We met, however, wonderful people from all over the world and that made our stay a little bit better. We could've stayed at a hotel but we wanted to save more money by staying at a hostel together and we ended up with a poor choice for waiting so late.
Moral of the story: Yelp every single place you're thinking of staying. And Book Early for cheaper prices and better commodities.
Example of Light and graphics show, one of my favorite parts of the festival.
7. Nourish Yourself:
Have a good meal right before you drink/go to the festival and right after you leave the festival. Two meals a day, will keep your expenses in check :) but DO IT these festivals are so exhausting you need all the energy you can get from liquids and nourishments.
8. Transportation:
Check out the transportation maps of the cities you will be visiting (it's a good advice for any kind of travel). That way you will know how to get around if worse come to worse.
That said, there are different, accessible and reliable ways to get to/leave from Ultra.
- The Festival Drive Shuttle Bus/ aka Party bus: Costs may vary each year, check out their facebook page for current prices and early booking. These are buses including booze and music to entertain you as you make your way to Ultra.
- If you are staying in South Beach, you will also find local shuttles (running on collins ave and washington ave) that will be taking people to the Fest for $10 (as of 2013) and they will also be located two blocks to your right from exiting the festival (can't remember the street) after is over.
- Taxis may be available but are very expensive. I never took one so I can't tell you.
- Buses also run along the area and 24 hours ( once an hour past midnight) Check out/plan your route with the Miami metrobus to find the one that will work for your location.
9. Skin protection
Sunblock it all of that body! because if you don't you will end up hating the sun like Howie from benchwarmers when the second day of the festival starts.
My list. My experience. Everyone will have a different experience but I'm putting my own (and my friends) out there for you all to learn from it, since you're the cautious kind, which I'm sure you are if you took the time to look this up and read it.
Enjoy to the fullest!!
FM
