Totally clueless englishman

[nosebag]

Hi Guys and Dolls,

I am planning on attending BM 2011 for my Honeymoon.

We will be coming from the UK,

me and my soon to be wife are putting together some costings so we can start saving now.

Can some one point me in the right direction on finding out answers to the following questions.

Where is the best for us to fly in to?
Best place to Rent car/van?
Ball park figure of what you are likely to spend at the festival?
General advice for noobs?

plus if you could link to me any threads that you feel will help me plan this very exciting trip

P.L.U.R

nosebag

[Turnip]

I spent like 6 bucks on ice and only bought 2 iced teas at the cafe.



Everything else is free, as commerce isn't allowed at BM beyond there.


I guess the answer for how much you will spend there is relative to how much ice and cafe you want.

[nosebag]

[quote="Turnip"]I spent like 6 bucks on ice and only bought 2 iced teas at the cafe.



Everything else is free, as commerce isn't allowed at BM beyond there.


I guess the answer for how much you will spend there is relative to how much ice and cafe you want.[/quote]

haha i am definitely going to need ice for my PIMS

do you know of any good car/van rental companies - and where is best to pick them up from

cheers Turnip

[Fire_Moose]

fly into Reno or San Fran or San Jose.

get yer rental now, do not tell them yer going to the burn, tell them rib cook off in Reno.

[ygmir]

welcome nosebag:

you'd be well advised, to read the survival, and first timers guides on the main site.

Then, DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK.
there is a lot of info here on eplaya, in differing, and multiple threads.
you'll need to go to the index, and start searching topics and reading.
Know, not all the advise here is "real" (only spending a couple bucks for the whole event on ice and coffee) usually, we save the snark for page 2
If, you read all this info, and also google specific questions, and, can't find the answers, ask here.
But, if you get lazy, and just ask for the obvious, be prepared for some folks to not have kind responses.

Burning Man is about "self reliance" and, we all try to promote that.

But, we're all also to go the extra yard, for those who are trying to help themselves.

[TomServo]

ygmir likes Absinthe...bring him some.

[junglesmacks]

God I had an absinthe shot on NYE sugar cube and all.. holy hell was that one of the most disgusting tastes I've ever tasted.. blech bach yuck ack

[ygmir]

God I had an absinthe shot on NYE sugar cube and all.. holy hell was that one of the most disgusting tastes I've ever tasted.. blech bach yuck ack

*takes junglesmacks off the "sharing" list*

[theCryptofishist]

Where is the best for us to fly in to?
Best place to Rent car/van?

There are some car companies that are burner friendly. I don't know which ones, but poke around in this subforum and you'll find lots of suggestions.
Note, distances in the America west are huge. San Francisco is (depending on factors) probably five or six hours and Reno is almost two. Start going to Salt Lake City or Los Angeles and you're talking some serious driving. That should be a considered factor.

General advice for noobs?

The Q&A, Tips and Tricks is a very good place to start browsing.

Okay, I don't know what's going on here, but the coding is fucked.

[phil]

Louise has a few pages with shopping information for you:
http://civilizedexplorer.pbworks.com/w/ ... /CivExReno

She has links to stores for tents, hardware, and the like; stores for food, ice, liquor, and such; stores for lodging while you're in Reno; stores for renting stuff. Shopping pages include links to maps to each store, lists of stores by expressway exit, lists of stores by item, and such. The RenoRV page lists places that rent RVs; some of the places do not rent to Burners because the RVs are returned in deplorable condition. They will not change their mind because you promise to do better -- I'm sorry to say they have heard that before. Some will rent to Burners; of those that do, some charge a premium to clean the RV.

As others have mentioned, do your homework -- you are on the right track to start planning now.

Good luck and have fun. Louise and I give away Burner clothes on the Friday before the Burn. If you can remember, drop me a private message here in August when we know where we'll be located and we'll let you know where to show up for free clothes.

[Lord Of Ruin]

fly into Reno or San Fran or San Jose.

get yer rental now, do not tell them yer going to the burn, tell them rib cook off in Reno.

Actually that would probably be Fly into Reno or Sacramento. Why fly in to something 5 hours away by car?

[Lord Of Ruin]

Ok, as others have said, read the material already available. Start on the BM website and go from there.

I'd recommend getting out a notebook and start from the general to specific in your planning.

So to begin, you'll have "transportation, food, shelter, water/hygiene, & clothes/gear."

As you research each area, you'll come to some sort of decision on how you want to do each one, how much emphasis (read: money) you want to spend on each area.

You will revise them continually as the event approaches. This is normal.

You may want to consider joining a theme camp for convenience sake. You'd pay a small camp fee, and have a few chores, but you'd likely get some infrastructure and support out of the deal.

LoR

[Dr. Pyro]

If you fly into Sacramento, the owner of the AVIS/Budget dealership is very burner friendly. PM me if you would like the information. Also our camp might be able to assist with logistical support if necessary. There's only about 150 of us at your disposal.

[Fire_Moose]

fly into Reno or San Fran or San Jose.

get yer rental now, do not tell them yer going to the burn, tell them rib cook off in Reno.

Actually that would probably be Fly into Reno or Sacramento. Why fly in to something 5 hours away by car?

Northern Ca. is all the same. Like an Arizonian would know the difference.



And i hate to be the barer of bad news, but the Borg had a conference this morning and ended up banning the English, sorry.

[ygmir]

fly into Reno or San Fran or San Jose.

get yer rental now, do not tell them yer going to the burn, tell them rib cook off in Reno.

Actually that would probably be Fly into Reno or Sacramento. Why fly in to something 5 hours away by car?

Northern Ca. is all the same. Like an Arizonian would know the difference.



And i hate to be the barer of bad news, but the Borg had a conference this morning and ended up banning the English, sorry.

if they banned the Englsh, will that go for their "protectorates" and such, too?

I do loves me some Canuks and Aussies.............

and the English..........

hell, I loves 'em all.

[tamarakay]

dang, i'm just coming from texas and i get a bit overwhelmed at times.

Welcome to eplaya!

[MisaBlue]

Hi Nosebag!
Do the readings, explore eplaya and make friends here - this was what helped me to come for my first burn in 2010 and I cannot be more grateful to them.

[Sham]

Hi Nosebag!
Do the readings, explore eplaya and make friends here - this was what helped me to come for my first burn in 2010 and I cannot be more grateful to them.

.....and Misa, will you be back for 2011?

[knowmad]

God I had an absinthe shot on NYE sugar cube and all.. holy hell was that one of the most disgusting tastes I've ever tasted.. blech bach yuck ack

*takes junglesmacks off the "sharing" list*

Haaaahaahaaha!

[MisaBlue]

Hi Nosebag!
Do the readings, explore eplaya and make friends here - this was what helped me to come for my first burn in 2010 and I cannot be more grateful to them.

.....and Misa, will you be back for 2011?

I dont have ticket nor the flight ticket in my pocket yet, but yes, I will be back How could I resist and not go.

[theCryptofishist]

fly into Reno or San Fran or San Jose.

get yer rental now, do not tell them yer going to the burn, tell them rib cook off in Reno.

Actually that would probably be Fly into Reno or Sacramento. Why fly in to something 5 hours away by car?

Northern Ca. is all the same. Like an Arizonian would know the difference.

The last time I thought of flying in and out of Sacramento (admitedly in the 90s) it was an $800 dollar difference over Oaklan. That's $80 an hour that one might pay oneself by driving an extra 10 hours round trip.

[Lord Of Ruin]

Actually that would probably be Fly into Reno or Sacramento. Why fly in to something 5 hours away by car?

Northern Ca. is all the same. Like an Arizonian would know the difference.

The last time I thought of flying in and out of Sacramento (admitedly in the 90s) it was an $800 dollar difference over Oaklan. That's $80 an hour that one might pay oneself by driving an extra 10 hours round trip.

Well, since you're located in a "small Magellanic cloud," I would expect that some sort of bizarre route pricing comes into effect.

I guess my main point was to LOOK AT A FUCKIN' MAP! to the OP. There are a number of travel options/tradeoffs to be had (mileage on that rental truck/car might eat up the airline savings, for instance). In some parts of the world, there might be only one airport serving a festival. Here, there are a number of options with advantages/disadvantages, etc.

[capjbadger]

God I had an absinthe shot on NYE sugar cube and all.. holy hell was that one of the most disgusting tastes I've ever tasted.. blech bach yuck ack

*takes junglesmacks off the "sharing" list*

I'll take junglesmacks spot!

-Badger

[ygmir]

happy to pour for ya, CAp.

[Teo del Fuego]

As for what you are likely to spend while AT Burning Man, one of the earliest responses is correct: very little. Unlike Glastonbury, almost nothing is for sale at Burning Man. You will need ice, most likely every day. Ice goes for $4 per bag. Center Camp sells cappuccino, espresso, lemonade, vitamin water, etc. for about $4 a go. If you leave the event and re-enter it's something like $25-$30.

Your costs getting there, surviving the weather, and getting home, of course, are highly variable. The biggest challenge you will have is renting transportation from the airport to BM and back again, as well as, making a pretty intelligent shopping list and scoring all your food, shelter, water, and blinky needs en route. There is a ride-share thread or forum somewhere on e-playa you should check out. Also, take Doc Pyro up on his offer of logistical assistance. He is a Playa legend and runs one of the best theme camps around.

[graidawg]

this post is exactly what i was looking for as i intend to travel solo from the uk for this years BM. you have given me places to look and good suggestions :D thank you

[falk]

Everything else is free, as commerce isn't allowed at BM beyond there.

Careful here. This doesn't mean that you can get things you need for free at Burning Man. This means that you need to bring whatever you need with you because you can't buy it when you get there.

Total cost depends on what you do and what you bring. I can easily spend $4-5000 if I'm doing an art project. If you're just going as a tourist, it's just the cost of airfare, your ticket, and your camping supplies.

Renting an RV is hellaciously expensive and you need to start looking NOW. RV's are awesome, but too expensive if you ask me.

Instead of renting a car, see if you can cadge a ride from Reno with someone else who has one.

Read the survival guide. Read it again. Keep reading it until you no longer read something and say to yourself "oh, I missed that before".

IMHO, you should join a camp. There will be people to give you advice, help you set up, and fix you up with things you didn't bring because you didn't realize they were important. They also usually have shared shade structures which are extremely nice.

Theme camps are cool, but expensive and they usually don't take just anybody. See if you can find a camp of like-minded folks to hang out with.

[graidawg]

to nosebag - nimzy on another thread is a first timer too (and me) we are all england based and i would guess we collectivley have less of a clue than the ferrets on crack that attend regularly
she suggested we try meet up beforehand and see if we make a collective travel plan (minus the aaxe murderer)
this strikes me as a very clever starting point. if nothing else we can use it to share what we havew found out and posibbly make a camp together in the shade of some other more organized camp

[graidawg]

oh yea remembered i know somebody in nevada who could probably help with a vehicle if i asked nicely :)

[Mitch]

Where is the best for us to fly in to?
Best place to Rent car/van?
Ball park figure of what you are likely to spend at the festival?
General advice for noobs?

nosebag

If you want to try a ride share, you can fly into Reno and hope for the best. It's much closer than anyplace else you can go but there aren't any direct flights (so then you have the question of whether you'd spend more time on the ground driving or more time in airports and on planes).

More likely, though, you want an major international airport that has direct flights from London on mulitple carriers (keeps the prices down). That rules out Sacramento and Reno and pretty much leaves you with San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

If you have other business in Los Angeles or want to visit there, you can consider that, otherwise it's too far. I'd give San Francisco a miss, too many Burners vying for finite resources and the car-rental companies WILL know where you're going.

That leaves Las Vegas and Salt Lake. LV car rentals are expensive but you might find something reasonable if you start now. I don't really know about Salt Lake City, but a lot of international Burners do come in via Vegas (and that's not a bad place to begin/end your trip). I haven't studied it, but I think there are more flights to Vegas, thus lower prices.

Either of those cities will probably be a two-day drive, but you probably can't do it in one day from San Franciso anyway unless you're good at sleeping on the plane and want to zoom down the highway immediately after escaping the airport.

As to expenses, anywhere from $500 to $5000 per person. If you rent a big car or a van you'll be able to carry all your provisions with you; if you don't have room for water (and a way to remove gray water), you'll have to arrange with a camp. It's a good idea to stay with an established camp if you can find one you like and that has room for y ou and reasonable camp fees.

If money is no object, rent an RV in Las Vegas or Salt Lake, but do it now. Solves your water problems (though you should probably bring extra) and gives you cooking facilities. If you come on your own, you won't have them unless you want to buy a lot of stuff and throw it out or give it away at the end ofyour trip. Smallest one will run you about $4000 if you reserve now, much more later on, but you'll have complete independence.