Europcar enlists the help of seasoned festival-goer, Ed McCambridge, to provide tips on how to make your car ready for the festival season.
Garden sheds across the nation are being raided and tents are getting the once-over. It’s official: Festival season is upon us once more! To mark the occasion, Europcar, the leader in car hire services in Europe, has enlisted the help of seasoned festival-goer, Ed McCambridge, to provide a list of handy tips for festival-goers and their cars. So whether you’re more Bear Grylls or Paris Hilton when it comes to the great outdoors, you can be ready for whatever the campsite throws at you!
From Glastonbury to Bestival, V Fest to T in the Park, festivals have become a staple of British Summertime as much as strawberries and cream. But as any festival-goer will tell you, preparing yourself for the madness that awaits doesn’t just mean packing a rain mac and remembering to bring a pump for the airbed! For that truly enjoyable festival experience, all things must be considered. And, as Ed explains, that even includes your car.
“As a festival goer with more than ten festivals under my belt already, I’ve learnt that when it comes to camping, a little preparation goes a long way”, explained Ed, 23, from Kingston-Upon-Thames. “And getting your car festival-ready can make a big difference to the whole experience.
“First of all, does the car have enough boot space for all of the festival essentials? Plus, think about the car as a good ‘backup’ if the tent falls down or the weather gets just too bad to sleep under canvas. Do the seats recline to comfortable sleeping levels and are the heating and air-con in working order? The latest cars also have plenty of other added extras that only the shrewdest of festival goers will think to exploit.
“For instance, a car’s lighter socket can provide the energy supply for a whole host of appliances with the right adapter – from phone charger to hair straighteners and, of course, a mini kettle! And investigate storage space in the car. I once went to the Isle of Wight Festival with a friend whose car had a cavity under the boot – so drinks were ice-cold all weekend!
“Four-wheel drive is always a good shout given the UK climate. I’ve certainly seen my fair share of mud baths down the years and, trust me, you don’t want to be pushing your car out of the mud, bleary-eyed on the Monday morning after the closing party. Plus, needless to say, a good sound system will postpone the post-festival blues for the journey home.”
Whatever your festival needs are this summer, Europcar has the right car to ensure that the weekend is as hassle-free and comfortable as it can be, with over 250 locations across the UK with a great choice of vehicles. Customers can also benefit from Europcar’s free delivery and collection service*, making life even easier. Plus, Europcar vehicles are fully covered by 24 hour roadside assistance at no extra cost, as well as a damage liability and theft waiver, for added peace of mind.
Getting your car festival-ready, the Europcar checklist:
- A large boot for all festival essentials
- Seats that are comfy enough to sleep in if the tent collapses
- Working air-con and heating
- An adaptable lighter socket for added luxuries, such as a kettle or hair-straighteners
- A cool place to store food and drink – to help avoid unnecessary supermarket runs
- Four-wheel drive – as crucial as wellies
- A good sound system for the journey home.
