Glamping may not be an option as festival ticket prices surge

With the UK’s festival season just around the corner, new research from shopping comparison website Kelkoo reveals that unsuspecting revellers are now paying 58% more for tickets than they did five years ago. The average weekend ticket price, which includes camping, is now £180, £66 more than it was in 2006 at just £114. Some festival tickets have shown bigger price hikes than others with some events increasing by as much as 79% (from £95 to £170) since 2006.

Buying the ticket is one of many expenses incurred by seasoned festival-goers as they also have to buy a range of equipment and accessories for the full weekend experience. This festival kit includes a range of camping equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, gas cooker, torch and of course, in anticipation of the great British summer, the essential wellington boots. However, unlike the fixed cost of the ticket, our research shows that this survival kit can be purchased online for a budget friendly £103, 89% cheaper than the £967 price tag attached to the luxury ‘glamping’ kit.

For example, you can pick up gas cooker from Campingaz for just £9.99, 80% cheaper than the 2 burner camping stove with a grill at £49.99. Also, the traditional Hunter wellington may be the brand of choice for some but the Festival Fluro 2011 style costs £85, £73 more expensive than Tenax traditional green wellies for just £11.99 from Express Wellies.

Chris Simpson, Marketing Director Kelkoo, comments: “The popularity of UK music festivals is showing no sign of abating, despite the tough economic climate. With ticket prices increasing steadily year on year, it’s more important than ever for people to look for other ways to save money on their festival weekend.  As our budget survival kit shows, by shopping around online, people can buy all of their festival essentials for just over £100, this is 89% cheaper than the luxury ‘glamping’ equivalent at more than £967.”

For more information, visit kelkoo.co.uk.