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EXIT Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia July 9th-12th 2009

  • 19-05-2009 10:02am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭


    ANyone going this year? Booking it up this week and not sure what way to go about it at all. Going Ryanair to Budapest on the 9th means missing the first day but nothing can be done about that. Problem tho is we get to Budapest at after 8 on the Thursday so probably too late to try get to Novi Sad then?

    Thinking about getting the train down on the 10th and staying till the 13th. Anyone know details for any mini van type people that are reliable. Over 100 per person using the official travel agents.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Also not sure if we're going to camp or get an apartment. Anyone any recommendations. Would you bake alive in a tent there?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 505 ✭✭✭CamillaRhodes


    I'm going!! :-D Whoo-hoo!!! Since I'm not coming from Ireland, can't give you advice on flights i'm afraid, but the train Budapest to Novi Sad is a grand journey on the way down, though a NIGHTMARE going home, be prepared to be squished in like sardines, and make sure you book your ticket in advance, ideally as soon as you arrive!! (I tried to buy mine on the Monday and barely managed to get a ticket, when I did I had no seat, not that seat numbers meant anything since it was such chaos...)

    I'd defo recommend getting a minibus / taxi if you can afford it, there are plenty advertised online, I can't recommend anyone in particular though.

    Re accommodation - the campsite is lots of fun, if you have the energy for it. Be prepared to not get much sleep. Heat was MENTAL when I was camping, I ended up sleeping outside my tent out on the grass most of the time. But it was great craic. This was 5 years ago, when I felt considerably younger than now ;) So, depends how 'able' for it you are.

    This year I'm staying in a small apartment, did the same last year. Can recommend an agency if you like, Exit Accommodation Novi Sad, they have a facebook page with all their apartment listings (or see www.exitaccommodation.rs). It's costing me 300 euros for a place which sleeps 3 (so 100 yos each) for 5 nights (no reduction for less nights).

    Is it your first Exit? You're gonna have a BLAST :-D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    I'm going!! :-D Whoo-hoo!!! Since I'm not coming from Ireland, can't give you advice on flights i'm afraid, but the train Budapest to Novi Sad is a grand journey on the way down, though a NIGHTMARE going home, be prepared to be squished in like sardines, and make sure you book your ticket in advance, ideally as soon as you arrive!! (I tried to buy mine on the Monday and barely managed to get a ticket, when I did I had no seat, not that seat numbers meant anything since it was such chaos...)

    I'd defo recommend getting a minibus / taxi if you can afford it, there are plenty advertised online, I can't recommend anyone in particular though.

    Re accommodation - the campsite is lots of fun, if you have the energy for it. Be prepared to not get much sleep. Heat was MENTAL when I was camping, I ended up sleeping outside my tent out on the grass most of the time. But it was great craic. This was 5 years ago, when I felt considerably younger than now ;) So, depends how 'able' for it you are.

    This year I'm staying in a small apartment, did the same last year. Can recommend an agency if you like, Exit Accommodation Novi Sad, they have a facebook page with all their apartment listings (or see www.exitaccommodation.rs). It's costing me 300 euros for a place which sleeps 3 (so 100 yos each) for 5 nights (no reduction for less nights).

    Is it your first Exit? You're gonna have a BLAST :-D

    Thanks for the advice Camilla. sent that crowd an mail there now to see if they've anything left. Waiting on a couple of others to get back to me as well.

    Yeah first Exit. First festival other than Witness / ****** i'm ashamed to say! Can see it becoming a yearly thing though. Wish i'd started planning earlier could have got more days off work and panned out on a beach in Croatia for a few days after to recover before going home!

    Just wondering as well. They say you can't enter the festival more than once a day. Does this mean you can't get to the campsite and go back too? Thinking of buying camp tickets just to hang about and for a supplies tent type thing or catching a few hours sleep.

    Don't think I could handle sleeping in a tent in 30 degrees for the whole thing!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 505 ✭✭✭CamillaRhodes


    Hey, yeah it's true, you can only enter and leave the fortress once per day. (Campsite is outside the fortress, in fact across the bridge on the other side of the river) But I doubt you'll need a supplies tent, and you certainly won't be doing much sleeping ;) Seriously, you can get pretty much everything you need up in the fortress, and it's all cheap - food, booze, whatever. If you really need your sleep after partying til dawn (as I do), I'd really recommend you rent an apartment (I think all the hotel / hostel rooms are gone by now) - there just ain't that much sleep being done in the camp site. That said, it's fun to hang out during the day, it's next to the beach, there's plenty of music and stuff going on... If you were feeling generous (and I think camping's only about 25 yos extra ish) you could just get a camping pass and make your mind up when you get to Novi Sad? But you'll defo need to book an apartment in advance.

    Anyway, welcome to the best festival in Europe. I became obsessed with it when I first went in 2002 and it hasn't let me down yet ;)

    I'm sending you a PM, btw.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51 ✭✭Hello there 8888


    Hey guys, I went to Sziget last year and had an amazing time, so I've decided to give Exit a try this year after hearing a lot of good things!Anyway, since this is my first time going to exit, i have just a couple of quick questions...

    I'm gonna camp for the week, so i was wondering if it would be worthwhile lugging a (6-8 man) tent over there or is it easy enough to pick one up on arrival to Novi Saad?

    How can you book the train tickets in advance from Budapest to the gig?

    Is it easy enough to get to Dubrovnik on the Monday after the festival finishes or would it be worthwhile organising something before leaving Dublin?

    Think thats about it...Really can't wait to go!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 505 ✭✭✭CamillaRhodes


    Sziget is good but it ain't a patch on Exit ;)
    i was wondering if it would be worthwhile lugging a (6-8 man) tent over there or is it easy enough to pick one up on arrival to Novi Sad?

    I don't remember seeing tents for sale over there, vast majority of people bring their own - I would bring yours (assuming you are 6-8 people?), otherwise buy a light smaller one at home and bring it over. It's gonna be HOT in the tent, so if you can get a very light / breathable one it would be best for ya!
    How can you book the train tickets in advance from Budapest to the gig?

    The only way I know of (though no expert) is to phone Wasteels, the travel agency, who book tickets on trains in eastern europe - I don't know of any way to book online, certainly not in Serbia. Wasteels are in Kelety train station in Budapest, tel. +36-1 210 2802.
    Is it easy enough to get to Dubrovnik on the Monday after the festival finishes or would it be worthwhile organising something before leaving Dublin?

    You know Dubrovnik is pretty far from Novi Sad, right? If I were you, I'd try to line something up beforehand, cos there's gonna be 80,000 people all trying to leave Novi Sad on the Monday, and most of the foreigners (and many locals too) are gonna be trying to get to the coast.

    Far as I know, you'd need to get a bus or train to Belgrade, then Zagreb, then down to Split / Dubrovnik. I don't know of public buses which cross through Bosnia to get to Dubrovnik, though maybe there are these days. But I'm pretty sure you'll find travel agencies doing 'charter' buses to take people to Dubrovnik, at a bit of a mark-up on regular bus prices. I've never done it so can't recommend one, have a good look at the Exit website and google around a bit. But if your time is limited and you're sure you wann stay in (or depart from) Dubrovnik, DEFINITELY try to book your transport, as well as accommodation, in advance.

    Otherwise, you could just wing it - you're gonna make a load of new 'friends' at Exit, you can always just wait and see what other people are up to. The first year I went I ended up spending 2 weeks afterwards camping out in a derelict rangers' hut up in the forests of the nearby national park, marking trees for preservation and jamming with musicians with healthy quantities of, eh, fun stuff... never could have predicted such an experience before going, but it was the business! ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22 wratch


    I'm going again this year but going to give the firST two days a miss as im flying to zadar and want to spend a few days on the coast of Croatia.

    I think there is a loads of groups on Facebook regarding the exit fest which are worth giving a once over if you need more info on the event....

    see you there :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 144 ✭✭SPACE COWBOY


    Hello all, I was at Exit 2008 myself and it was pretty good.
    I would highly recommend paying a visit to ‘Zamaj Jovina’ street and taking in the..... ‘sites’ ;)

    A little word of warning, do not remove the big currency from Serbia.
    You will not be able to spend/exchange it outside of Serbia.
    Spend or exchange it before you cross the border.

    I brought 8500RSD (Approx €90 Euro+) out, only to find I could not exchange it!
    If anyone is interested they can have it for €50?
    The money came direct from an ATM and totally legitimate.
    My boards account should highlight that I’m not some scammer/spammer, there really is just no other way to get rid of this cash unless someone is travelling to the country.

    If interested you can PM me and I will call you to discuss.
    Any issues what-so-ever, I will take it back on your return.
    Check rates @ http://www.xe.com/ucc/full/

    Moderator:
    If there is an issue with this offer I apologise. Please edit my post.

    Regards,
    Tom.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22 wratch


    ill give you €65? whenever you want :)....Im in dublin


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Hello all, I was at Exit 2008 myself and it was pretty good.
    I would highly recommend paying a visit to ‘Zamaj Jovina’ street and taking in the..... ‘sites’ ;)

    A little word of warning, do not remove the big currency from Serbia.
    You will not be able to spend/exchange it outside of Serbia.
    Spend or exchange it before you cross the border.

    I brought 8500RSD (Approx €90 Euro+) out, only to find I could not exchange it!
    If anyone is interested they can have it for €50?
    The money came direct from an ATM and totally legitimate.
    My boards account should highlight that I’m not some scammer/spammer, there really is just no other way to get rid of this cash unless someone is travelling to the country.

    If interested you can PM me and I will call you to discuss.
    Any issues what-so-ever, I will take it back on your return.
    Check rates @ http://www.xe.com/ucc/full/

    Moderator:
    If there is an issue with this offer I apologise. Please edit my post.

    Regards,
    Tom.

    Will give you €60 for this if you want?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 540 ✭✭✭Catmologen


    Hey Camilla, quick question for u. Are they strict on showing ID to get your wristbands, and on entering and exiting the Fortress?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Catmologen wrote: »
    Hey Camilla, quick question for u. Are they strict on showing ID to get your wristbands, and on entering and exiting the Fortress?

    Just from what i've read up on you can only enter the fortress once in one day. I presume this is to stop people getting mates passes and going back out and in with other people if ya know what I mean.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 42 FestivalFox


    They are very strict on this. You dont get a wristband when enterting the fortress. You get a credit card which is scanned so they know if you have already been in. It stops people bringing back out tickets and letting other people in.

    I'm not going this year becuase the line up is crap. I'm feeling bad about it now though.... :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 144 ✭✭SPACE COWBOY


    Access:
    Yes they are pretty strict on ID with the ticket.
    They are very strict on one access per 'card' per day!
    IF you leave, you will NOT get back in.

    Driving:
    If driving around/near Novi Sad during the festival, don't speed or violate traffic rules.
    The place will be crawling with cops, they will stop you and give you an "On the Spot" fine.....

    Tents:
    I would bring my own, don't recall any on sale.
    You will need stamina for the campsite, with the heat etc...

    Dubrovnik:
    Definatly check it out if you can. Beautifull place.
    Bear in mind, it is quiet a distance from Novi Sad. (Bad roads and Border Crossings) I forget how many hours it took us down through Bosnia.
    I have no idea about transport down there, I doubt there is a noraml bus service. It's probably chartered only.
    I'm sure if you camp at Exit, camping in DBK would be paradise.....wash the festival off in the Adriatic.

    Festival Fox:
    I'm the same now... Actually feeling a bit enviuos of the guys.....

    Money:
    I've PM'd you guys.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Just though i'd share my thoughts on Exit and the way we done it for anyone interested or searching about the festival next year.

    So our journey started in Dublin Airport. Flight to Budapest was about 3 hours. From Budapest airport a taxi will cost around the 20 euro mark to the train station. Theres no direct bus or rail link so this was the handiest although there are cheaper alternatives if your trying to scrape by.

    Had a 2 hour wait in Budapest airport so went downstairs to a shop come bar type place. Around 1 euro for a large bottle of Stella so happy days. Drank with a few locals and let out every song I knew. Look out for a tall long haired bearded guy. He's a bit of craic although very strange.....

    Train down to Novi Sad was quiet enough people wise as the festival had started that day already. Got a bag of cans and then more of the same getting pissed and talking ****e to others on the way down. Only €24 return to Novi Sad which was a bargain and compartments on train are pretty cool. Border crossings were fine. Quick check of passport and no bag checking or anything.

    Arrived in Novi Sad around 5am. Got the first taxi we seen and ended up ripping us off. By ripping off I mean charging us 15 euro for a 2 euro taxi drive. Talk to drivers and agree a price before going. The taxis with the meters on mirrors are the best to get as they can't fiddle their meters. Most taxi drives should cost under 200 Dinar (about €2!) although a lot of them will try to charge you more. Look out for white cabs with 300 300 on the roof. Their generally the best.

    Stayed in a place called Vila Vigor. Was advertised as a hostel but was more like a 3 star hotel. Would recommend it to anyone looking next year. Only complaint would be curtains let a lot of light in.

    Ok so the festival itself. Don't go over expecting an Oxegen type festival i.e. chilling out drinking all day drinking etc. at the festival. Gates don't open until 5pm but its around 10 or 11 before it really gets going. We drank in the town centre from around 1am each day which is a bad idea really as we crashed around 3 or 4ish each night when everything was still in full swing.

    The whole not being able to get in and out only once thing wasn't an issue as when your leaving it'll be to crash for the night not like Oxegen etc. going back to chill out before the main acts etc.

    On the last day we got the hang of it a bit better, stayed off the booze down on the beach during the day. Weather every day was around the 30 mark.

    I'd recommend not drinking during the day and waiting until the run down to the festival which is covered in stalls selling cheap beer, vodka etc. and the local poitin Rakia which is some good juice.

    Inside the fortress you can only get beer and wine to drink but its not hard to smuggle in small bottles of vodka etc. and then get juice in there. You get searched on the way in but all they seemed to check was cigarette packets on us.

    Theres around 8 or 9 stages in the place and only managed to catch around 3 or 4. Spent most of our time at the main stage. Main stage is a bit of a bottleneck so if you don't get there early you'll end up way back.

    Would also recommend bringing a light rain jacket as it got chilly enough a couple of nights and in case it rains obviously.

    The crowd there is generally a mish mash of serbians then people from all over Europe. Quite a few brits there but not your Majorca lager lout types so not too bad.

    Serbian women are generally like women anywhere (except their twice as good looking!). Some will talk away to you to you etc. etc. ;) and some will look at you like you've got the swine flu. People going around with swine flu masks everywhere was quite funny actually.

    The town itself is pretty cool. Full of outside covered beer gardens, stalls and everything is cheap as hell. 5 of us drinking beer, cocktails, Jagerbombs, shots and food only managed to put together a bill of under 30quid each over around 7 hours. Pints are generally under a euro so are cigarettes. Pizzas and other meals around 2euro or so.

    Never seen any trouble at all over there although some english guy died after falling from the fortress walls.

    Oh and don't forget to bring ID when collecting your tickets. Num nuts and the gang happy out after getting there had to turn around and go back to the hotel on the first night.

    Don't buy t-shirts inside either. They charge around 15 when the same t-shirts can be got for around a fiver on the way in/out

    Train back to Budapest was pretty **** but i've been through worse. Over packed and sweaty so try leg it on to grab a seat fast.

    Holy **** just realised how much i've wrote........

    Moral of the story though is I will be back!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 540 ✭✭✭Catmologen


    Good post man, similar experience to me, great festival indeed. We got the bus to and from Budapest, nightmare 7hr journey each way. But it was worth it in the end.

    So many highlights from the festival, one of which was these guys playing the fusion stage on the Friday in the lashing rain, we really couldn't believe what we were seeing.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Catmologen wrote: »
    Good post man, similar experience to me, great festival indeed. We got the bus to and from Budapest, nightmare 7hr journey each way. But it was worth it in the end.

    So many highlights from the festival, one of which was these guys playing the fusion stage on the Friday in the lashing rain, we really couldn't believe what we were seeing.

    Thanks. You've sickened me now. We were on he way over to them then one of the girls threw a strop because she thought we'd miss Korn. Knew i'd regret it! Ahh well might catch them next year.

    Thanks to CamillaRhodes and Space Cowboy for the advice etc. too!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Westdogg


    Hey guys. Do you know if it's possible to get the cheaper tickets if you are not a Serbian resident? Any websites that sell 'em? Also, if a man were to wait to leave till the Tuesday and stay an extra night in Novi Sad, would the train journey back to Budapest be less hellish? I was at Sziget this year which was awesome to the max but think I'll try Exit next summer. Any advice greatly appreciated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Westdogg wrote: »
    Hey guys. Do you know if it's possible to get the cheaper tickets if you are not a Serbian resident? Any websites that sell 'em? Also, if a man were to wait to leave till the Tuesday and stay an extra night in Novi Sad, would the train journey back to Budapest be less hellish? I was at Sziget this year which was awesome to the max but think I'll try Exit next summer. Any advice greatly appreciated.

    Hey man. Think the cheaper tickets are only for Serbians. Had a look myself but couldn't find them. Can't really go wrong though for around 80 quid.

    I'd say you'd have to stay until the Wednesday if you wanted a decent journey back up. Probably would be a bit better seeing as you wouldn't have just left the place a few hours before getting the train though alright. I've been through worse though to be honest so wouldn't be put off by it.

    Might be able to pick up cheap flights straight to Belgrade if you book early anyway. Think Manchester is meant to be good to fly from. Unfortunately no direct flights from Ireland.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Westdogg


    Thanks discombobulate. Do you know if it's handy enough to pick up an apartment in Novi Sad? I saw there are some websites alright but I looked on one of them and it is still talking about Exit '08. Also, from reading these threads here, it seems like the Festival is a lot stricter than Sziget. Does this detract in any way from general rocking out at all?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Westdogg


    Also, do you know who flies to Belgrade? I just checked Aer Lingus and Ryanair and can't find anything. I checked Ryanair from Manchester but no go either. The closest I can get with Ryanair is Osijek, which is quite close but you can only get there from Frankfurt Hahn and God knows how much it would cost to get from there to Novi Sad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,585 ✭✭✭honru


    Best bet is to fly to Budapest in Hungary and train it down. Otherwise, check out flights to/from Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Westdogg wrote: »
    Also, do you know who flies to Belgrade? I just checked Aer Lingus and Ryanair and can't find anything. I checked Ryanair from Manchester but no go either. The closest I can get with Ryanair is Osijek, which is quite close but you can only get there from Frankfurt Hahn and God knows how much it would cost to get from there to Novi Sad.

    Don't go near Hahn anyway. Its over an hour even from Frankfurt by bus then you'd probably have to get a train after that. I think its easyjet that go to Belgrade from Manchester / England.

    As for apartments i'd say it'll be the new year anyway before their up. Their not mainly serviced apartments but more locals just renting out their places for the week to make some money. We got a hotel for about 20 a night sharing and was perfect. I know I wouldn't physically last the week in a tent.

    As for seeming strict didn't see any trouble whatsoever and didn't get in any either not for lack of trying at some stages! Did bump into an English guy that spent 16 hours in a cell and €500 fine though for being caught with the end of a joint.

    Absolutely mental how cheap everything is over there though. WOrking in Belgrade next month so reckon i'm going to stock up big time on booze and fags! You could nearly make your money back just on he savings there (as long as you don't get them confiscated in customs)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Westdogg


    Thanks freak and discombobulate. I will probably have more questions as the thing gets closer. Gotta set this all out for the troops who are still recovering from Sziget and probably don't want to think about planning for a new festival already! Oh well, it's better to plan these things early so you don't have to worry about them at all. By the way, when you say you spent €20 a night sharing, I assume you mean a double bed in a room in a hotel? That would probably be perfect. Too much to assume you get AC and brekkie at that price? Also, I'm assuming (if they are anything like this country) that those prices are more expensive than the rest of the year because of Exit? So €20 would be the increased festival price?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Was €20 each 3 of us sharing a room with a double and a single and 2 sharing with a single and a double. Air con and breakfast included!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Westdogg


    Hmmmm..that sounds like the way to go rather than living in someone's apartment....Is Novi Sad big i.e. are there a lot of hotels/guesthouses etc. there?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭discombobulate


    Westdogg wrote: »
    Hmmmm..that sounds like the way to go rather than living in someone's apartment....Is Novi Sad big i.e. are there a lot of hotels/guesthouses etc. there?

    Yeah i'd say theres quite a few. We only booked ours a few weeks in advance so probably better deals to be had early on too. Its quite big but a taxi shouldn't take longer than 15 mins anywhere and shouldn't cost more than€2 or €3 max.


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