Coming from Ireland

[Danielc123]

Hi guys, first timer here, coming over from Ireland, just have a few questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we are yet to book flights.

There are two of us planning to fly over to Bristol on the Wednesday, arriving at 07:40. What would be our best bet to get there? I heard getting to the bus station from the airport would be a bit of a pain in the arse, would a Taxi be best? If so roughly how much would a taxi cost?

On the Monday we have a choice of two flights departing at 8am or 9pm. Roughly what time would we have to leave the festival at in order to catch a flight at 8am? I think perhaps we may just have to wait around until 9pm.

Does anyone with experience of flying to the festival know whether we would be better off bringing equipment (Tent, sleeping bags etc.) or should we just buy it there, I know Ryanair can be dicks about heavy luggage.

Finally and most importantly alcohol. I normally bring a crate or two of beer with me to festivals, but obviously this isn't possible because we are flying. I don't fancy paying £6 a pint for the weekend so can anyone recommend an alternative.

Sorry for all the questions but hopefully there will be a few others in my situation that will be helped by this thread.

Cheers

Dan

[bexj]

Hi

Cant help with specifics for flights but a couple of points...

I wouldn't risk leaving the festival on Monday am to get an early flight, it can be chaotic,. If you must get the early flight then leave late on sunday and stay in a hotel nearer the airport.

Beer is much less than £6 a pint, more like 4.50, but would if at all possible stop en route from airport to stock up, you can save a fortune as you can take booze anywhere at Glastonbury

[Kellg80]

Regarding booze could alway get shuttle into glasto ( I think there is one sure someone will correct if not) on Wednesday pm after setting up camp to stock up. Not ideal but a lot less hassle than trying to get all in one go .

[H.M.V]

I travelled from Ireland last year and I can't tell you how much you should book a hotel for the monday night to get a shower and some shut eye before you head home.

I'd also travel over on the Tuesday rather than the wednesday red eye, that way you can sort your booze etc.

I checked in a tent and rucksack and paid for 20kgs at £40 and it turned out it only weighed 15gs which I could have bought for £30. So just a bit of stuff to consider. Remember if you book well in advance Travelodge are pretty cheap so well worth it.

[donthaveacoolname]

Hi I've been travling from ireland for a number of years, flown in and got the bus to Bristol then out the festival; got a taxi from the airport to the festival stopped in Shelton mallet for booze; but the best option I've found was to get the roslare ferry on Tuesday and on the way back get the 12:45am ferry tue morning. Stopping in a premier inn on the way for a sleep and shower. And getting a cabin on the boat. Not much more expensive than flying.

[storm]

We travel over from Ireland every year and have travelled to the site many different ways. A minibus for 13 worked out about £25 return each in about 2011. I think a taxi would cost you about £50 to £70 one way. You can't get straight to the site generally, you need to be dropped off at the Bath and West showground and get a (free) shuttle bus from there and will need to get back there too for your lift home.

Try looking/advertising on the lift share, there are often posts from small groups looking to share taxis from the airport which makes it a much cheaper option.

You can buy a NE coach ticket on site to get back if you don't have the taxi option back too.

It's a long way around as you have to go away from the site first but another option is a bus to Bristol from the airport, get off at Bristol bus station and get a NE coach into the site. Or you can get off at Bristol train station, get a train to Castle Cary and then a (free) shuttle bus to the site. Both buses drop you off at Gate A.

Either way you should be able to build in a beer stop either in Bristol or get your taxi to stop in Shepton Mallet or somewhere on the way, but beer is much cheaper on site than in Ireland and nothing like the queues you get here either.

Ryanair let you bring bags up to 20kg I think but it's pricy, we share a rucksack between two for tents and heavy stuff and have a good packed hand luggage bag each too and try and travel as light as possible.

You could buy everything you need in Bristol/on site but you'll still have to bring it all back so is it worth it?. Or look at the pre-pitched/ tent hire options on site. Though they'll cost you and most are either off site or a long way out. WV hill of death seems to be a killer for many.

We only stay in Bristol the night before if we have an early coach package otherwise we fly over the Wed morning generally The Travelodge in Bristol is the grottiest hole ever, cheap but horrible, I stayed there once and never again (and I am not fussy), though that was in 2007 so maybe it's better now, check online reviews. Last year we stayed in the Premier Inn right by the bus station, cheap enough and grand for our needs.

Coming back no way would I try the early flight, unless you leave the site Sunday night and stay in Bristol and then a taxi to the airport which is about £25, though I think the airport bus would be running at that time too. We generally stay onsite until Monday afternoon and go for the late flight on Mon.

[Danielc123]

Cheers for the all the information guys, very helpful! You've convinced me that the idea of flying home at 8am is a terrible one. Luckily we have plenty of time left to sit down and come up with a better plan. Thanks again!

[Wooderson]

Who's the silly little chap in the middle of the photo?