hello,

my boyfriend and i are going to be travelling to valencia spain for the FIB festival in Benicassim. Does anyone have any experience going there? Other than getting a general impression of the area, i am specifically looking for lodging recommendations. any info is really appreciated.

thanks!

Good luck for this year!

(I'm already putting things in motion for next year to be in with a chance of getting some local accomodation.)

Everything I know about in Benicassim is booked solid. As it is the first year where the festival is in July ('historically' it's always been in August - when the whole of Spain is on holiday), there might possibly be some options available this year, but I haven't a clue as to how you'd go about find finding them. Everyone I know goes as bands (where they have their accommodation laid out for them - they have courtesy buses to take them to Castellon) or they camp there - which is hell as it involves trying to sleep when the sun's out.

The real budget option is to go camping, which is what most people will be doing - but be wary of theft!

One year I stayed at a friend's friend's apartment in Castellon and got a regular bus to and from Benicassim. However, I don't remember much about the details (you don't when you're having a great time) as I scored back stage passes and found some other friends who were performing or doing sound and got to crash out at their A/C'd hotels. So I still wound up going to and from Castellon, but in a dedicated mini-bus rather than playing a squashed sardine on the public one.

If you get to Castellon by train/bus etc, you'll find plenty of people going to the FIB, don't worry too much about finding the venue.

I don't rate your chances of finding budget accommodation in Benicassim, I'd suggest looking in Castellon - and trying to sort something out as soon as you can - even if it's just one night before the festival starts - it would be great if the place you stayed at would agree to hold on to anything you'd be scared of losing there.

Anyway, have a great time! Drink lots of water, look after small and short strangers, and share drinks with anyone who looks like they need some water - you'll make a lot of friends this way!

(And I've come across loads of tourists - both in the crowd and backstage, who have got into difficulties from taking 'recreational medicine' - the same story for all of them is that the stuff was way stronger than they expected. If you are tempted, don't take more than a fraction of what you anticipate the dosage should be and wait for at LEAST an hour to suss out the effects. If you don't, not only will you spoil your experience of the event, you'll also bum someone like me out who'll feel compelled to help/translate your gibberings.)

P.S. A tee-total friend stayed in a Parador in Castellon and two other (non-teetotal) friends stayed with him - he used a hire car to get to and from the venue. Not a budget option by any means, but it does mean that it was feasible to rent a car to get to and from the festival.

Good luck for this year!

(I'm already putting things in motion for next year to be in with a chance of getting some local accomodation.)

Everything I know about in Benicassim is booked solid. As it is the first year where the festival is in July ('historically' it's always been in August - when the whole of Spain is on holiday), there might possibly be some options available this year, but I haven't a clue as to how you'd go about find finding them. Everyone I know goes as bands (where they have their accommodation laid out for them - they have courtesy buses to take them to Castellon) or they camp there - which is hell as it involves trying to sleep when the sun's out.

The real budget option is to go camping, which is what most people will be doing - but be wary of theft!

One year I stayed at a friend's friend's apartment in Castellon and got a regular bus to and from Benicassim. However, I don't remember much about the details (you don't when you're having a great time) as I scored back stage passes and found some other friends who were performing or doing sound and got to crash out at their A/C'd hotels. So I still wound up going to and from Castellon, but in a dedicated mini-bus rather than playing a squashed sardine on the public one.

If you get to Castellon by train/bus etc, you'll find plenty of people going to the FIB, don't worry too much about finding the venue.

I don't rate your chances of finding budget accommodation in Benicassim, I'd suggest looking in Castellon - and trying to sort something out as soon as you can - even if it's just one night before the festival starts - it would be great if the place you stayed at would agree to hold on to anything you'd be scared of losing there.

Anyway, have a great time! Drink lots of water, look after small and short strangers, and share drinks with anyone who looks like they need some water - you'll make a lot of friends this way!

(And I've come across loads of tourists - both in the crowd and backstage, who have got into difficulties from taking 'recreational medicine' - the same story for all of them is that the stuff was way stronger than they expected. If you are tempted, don't take more than a fraction of what you anticipate the dosage should be and wait for at LEAST an hour to suss out the effects. If you don't, not only will you spoil your experience of the event, you'll also bum someone like me out who'll feel compelled to help/translate your gibberings.)

P.S. A tee-total friend stayed in a Parador in Castellon and two other (non-teetotal) friends stayed with him - he used a hire car to get to and from the venue. Not a budget option by any means, but it does mean that it was feasible to rent a car to get to and from the festival.


hi there,

ha thanks for the thorough advice. i'll check castellon out. we'll have a car with us while we are there, so it shouldn't be too hard to get back n forth (hopefully not anyway).

/s

hi there,

ha thanks for the thorough advice. i'll check castellon out. we'll have a car with us while we are there, so it shouldn't be too hard to get back n forth (hopefully not anyway).

/s

Castellon is only 13kms south of Benicassim (about 9 miles) but be prepared for a strong 'road police' presence at Benicassim. Not only can the Guardia Civil be commendably stern on anyone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they also have little tolerance for drivers unfamiliar with the area making wrong turns and infringing the highway code in any way at all.

My point is that you/your driver should have all your vehicle's paperwork sorted out and with you, and don't even think of driving unless you're sober. Personally, I'm happy to see the authorities out in force on the local roads, but it can be a bit intimidating - so best to expect it. And be on your best behaviour.

I'm sure you'll have great time. It's a marvellous festival!

For anyone interested, I’ve just booked my hotel at the Intur Bonaire for Benicassim next year (Jul 19-22). Not exactly a budget option, but reasonable considering it’s the nearest 4* to the festival site. In fact the price is less than what many of the lower star hotels will be charging. Main downside is that they only accept bookings of 5 nights or longer (I wanted 4, so I’m paying a 25% mark up on the peak rate) - double room per night (no meals) €107 + 7% tax.

Intur Orange might be cheaper as it’s a 3*. The only way to book at any of the Intur Hotels is by phone.

Otherwise, many of the cheaper hotels in the area won’t be accepting bookings until December/January. It’s pot luck as to when exactly, every hotel seems to have a different policy.

There are some hotels who get repeat bookings year after year from guests who are unrelated to the festival, and I’ve gotten a few snotty replies from these saying they aren’t interested in my custom as I’m not a ‘regular’ – so don’t even think of trying the Voramar - Hotel Montreal (in July) only accepts reservations for one week or two weeks starting on a Saturday.

Press ‘mostrar hoteles’ on this map and zoom in (FiberFib is the grey area marked ‘area de conciertos’)
http://www.benicassim.org/es/Callejero.asp link now obsolete, alas.
to see which hotels are in the area.

www.planigo.com seems to offer the best deals for benicasim and is cheaper than booking with the hotel direct (even allowing you to stay less than 5 days)

The room only option I booked at the Bonaire is no longer available (seems I was lucky to get it - Servicor tried ot retract it but the hotel is honouring it as it is a 'guaranteed' reservation)