Happy New Year to everyone!

The new year will bring a fresh crop of first timers at festivals as it does every season. If you’re one of these lucky festival virgins you are probably excited about the bands and nervous about the other aspects. You’re having visions of drinking cider, sleeping in a soggy tent and wishing you’d booked a b&b. Luckily, there are a lot of options for where to lay your head when it festival season rolls around. Here are just a few:

Can’t be bothered to pitch your own tent? Chip in with some mates and book with Tangerine Fields for a stress less Camping experience. www.tangerinefields.co.uk Tents, sleeping bags and cooking facilities will be ready and waiting for you, just bring your essentials. If you’re off to any festivals on the continent see if Quest for the Fest (a Camping club that offers a similar service) is there too – they went to Pink Pop, Benicassim and Rock Werchter in 2008. www.questforthefest.com

For a more funky and sturdy option, check out Podpads – a brightly coloured sort of mini cottage. There are Podpad villages at many major festivals and there are two variations on the standard podpad – the double and the twin bed options complete with air mattress. For groups of four they have also introduced a ‘bellepad’ which sleeps four. www.podpads.co.uk

Myhab offers a durable recycled sleeping compartment built for two, complete with a small safe for your valuables. You can personalise Myhab (so you can spot it among the other Myhabs) and the whole thing is recycled once the festival is over. Very tidy and civilised! www.myhab.co.uk

At the steeper end of the market (and only available to Glastonbury enthusiasts) Camp Kerala beckons from a hill overlooking Worthy Farm. Campers will enjoy luxury Camping facilities, private shower block and impeccable toilets. Buffet gourmet food will be on offer for 20 hours each day. Hurry up and book if you’ve got money to burn and this sounds like your kind of Camping – only 75 places are available for Glastonbury 2009. www.campkerala.com

So good luck with your purchases and get prepared for the music festivals in 2009.’s hope it’s a lot drier than 2008 was!

This article was written by Jill Dixon from www.theultimatefestivalkit.co.uk Visit her site for more good ideas about what to take to festivals.