this will be my first year travelling to the Fest. just wanted to get some advice from the english convoy reguarding travelling/flights to gainesville. am currently looking into flying into atlanta and hiring a car for the drive down the gainesville. is this feasible? any other advice? cheap airlines? etc.

flights to orlando from heathrow are usually under 400 quid return on travelsupermarket.com (shop around on there, its a bit of a lottery as to which day will have the cheapest deals), and getting a seat on a return shuttle to and from gainesville is like 35 pounds. much less hassle than hiring a car from atlanta!

The flights we've been finding are about £310 but after this I can't help, this will also be my first year

UK or English, which is it?

last year our flight from manchester to orlando cost around £300 and we used one of the shuttle buses from orlando airport to gainesville university (right near the holiday inn). it was about £30 each return and took less than two hours! it worked out really really well!

heyy im a 1st time uk fester too the best flights i've found are to orlando from london (heathrow maybe) with Continental, £306 return. pretty long flight though 'cuz u gotta change in houston to get it cheap. I'm planning on flying to orlando then getting a bus to gainesville. if you find cheaper let me know

Where in London are you from?

The best advice I can give is don't book anything for a while. The flight prices go up and down again but it's best to wait and see what else is going on as you can probably get a free stopover and do something fun. Last year for example, we went to NYC and saw Lawrence Arms and American steel on a boat cruise followed by the Ergs playing an apartment show.

As far as places to stay, Holiday Inn for fun and convenience, anywhere on SW13TH for sleep and money saving but it sucks to walk back if it rains!

On a slightly different note, myself and Jam (Fest regulars may know him...big drunken northerner!) are gonna try and organise a pre Fest gig in Kingston if anyone fancys coming? We thought it would be nice for people to meet each other before we all head out there,

The thing is, I'm going out early October so it's gonna have to be September time. If any bands playing Fest wanna play Kingston then get in touch.

sounds like a grand old plan!

im up for that

As if I even need to say anything to further confirm a 'hell yes' you can expect from TCOL, Timmy..

there was at least 40 brits there last year not including bands!
we stopped in NY but then had stupidly double booked on the way back so ended up hanging in charlotte airport for 8 hours, nice!

my advice, if you dont like walking then gett he Fest hotel- we were at the comfort inn and took 20 mins walk a day to get up to the Fest and its shit when your still wankered from the night before.

Flew into Orlando last year and got a shuttle up to Gainesville. Was pretty cheap and hassle free. Didn't even take very long. Pass some interesting sights on the way, best of which has to be a sign for "Sex Shop & Truckers Showers!" At one point the driver almost pulled out in front of a car and nearly killed us but no other hassle whatsoever and they were really cool.

that place also offers all you can eat wings sometimes
just in case anyone wanted to get some food from a beyond low class strip club during The Fest

hi james! it has to be you, right?