- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Attending an event in a foreign country can be daunting for some. Luckily, we have been doing that for almost two decades, so we will share with you our planning and ideas. Note that this is written by an older North American person, so the level of comfort and expense might be different from from others.
- Getting there:
- If you are already in Europe for other events, then this should be a short flight. You can fly into Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, probably the easiest way and main city/hub for the country. Alternatively, you can fly into Cluj International Airport, which is the second largest airport in the country and offers flights originating in different places in Europe from some budget airlines.
- After the flight, you will still need to get to Brasov/Rasnov. Train options from Bucharest are more straightforward and direct than from Cluj, at least in our non-local opinion, and can be booked in advance. Renting a car is a good option if you are planning to explore the area more, however, the best tip we can give you is that at least from the airport in Bucharest, you will need an International Driver's license if you only have a North American one. Or at least this was the case a few years back, when we ended up getting stuck without being able to rent a car there. There will be some ‘alternatives’ that some people might provide at the airport with smaller/non-brand-name companies, but you probably don't want to sign or agree to something that you don't understand if the contract is in Romanian or you are pressured to sign. Note, this might have changed, but always try to stick with international rental companies and read the terms and conditions well.
- Staying there:
- There are plenty of convenient ways to attend the festival with the camping provided by the organizers (tickets). This is probably the closest and most convenient way to experience the festival, particularly if you have a large group with you, or you like to make new friends. After camping at festivals for over a decade, it was starting to take a toll on us older adults. So we have opted to stay in a hotel in Brasov, which is easily connected with Rasnov to attend the event. There are still some room opening in Brasov (as of April 2024), but we couldn't find anything in Rasnov. Make sure to look into booking websites that cater to more European-based travelers like Booking.com or Hotels.com as the availability in places like Expedia will be more limited for smaller places like Rasnov.
- Having a great festival:
- I am sure nobody needs to be told how to have fun. However, after attending hundreds of festivals over the years, we have developed a few must-dos:
- Do not forget your sunscreen
- Do not forget your rain/wet weather gear
- Do not forget to wear comfortable shoes, which usually don't look cool, but are functional.
- Be prepared for everything: mud, heat, burning sun, rain, hail, and dropping temperatures. We have seen it all, and anything can happen, particularly in the mountains, so do not underestimate them.
- Drinking leads to dehydration and missed headliners. While we love to drink, we also learned to pace ourselves and keep drinking water to be able to hang for more than a few days. Since this event is
fivesix days long, be sure to be fully prepared for the onslaught of music and alcohol your body might or might not receive.
- I am sure nobody needs to be told how to have fun. However, after attending hundreds of festivals over the years, we have developed a few must-dos:
Romania has always been a great experience for us, so if you are on the fence about attending - do not think about it twice. Just make sure you plan accordingly and set your expectations correctly.
Get your tickets:
https://rockstadtextremefest.ro/tickets/
Below you will find the confirmed line-up, which will be updated as we hear from the organizers: