ULTRA Music Festival is one brand that every EDM fan knows by heart and thanks to its worldwide expansions, many international fans were able to experience the epic outdoor event without flying to Miami.
With thousands of revellers from all around the world over the 2-day festival (14th – 15th September), the sold-out 2nd edition of ULTRA Beach Bali, which was held at Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia, featured some of the biggest names in the industry including Afrojack, deadmau5, Dubfire, Martin Garrix, Galantis, Gryffin, Jauz, marshmello, and more.
But attending a music festival overseas requires a lot of planning, especially if it’s your first time. So we thought we’d compile a list of things that you need to know if you’re interested in attending ULTRA at the Island of Gods next year.
From buying festival tickets to things to do at Bali, we’ve got you covered. You can thank us later 😉
1. Tickets are available at various ticketing sites
The official website is congested and you don’t know where else to get tickets? Fret not because tickets can also be bought at various well-known ULTRA-approved ticketing websites such as viagogo, Go Tix, and Tiket.com. Prices and ticket availability may vary depending on the website, so make sure to get your tickets early.
Note: Remember to bring your e-vouchers and passport along when you redeem your ticket, which comes in the form of a wristband, at the designated ticket box.
2. Book your accommodation a walking distance away
The traffic condition in Bali is known to be very bad, no thanks to its narrow roads and overwhelming amount of cars, of course. So to ensure that you don’t spend most of your trip in a cab, make sure your accommodation is walking distance from Potato Head Beach Club, which is located at Seminyak.
If you plan your trip early, booking a snazzy hotel or private villa at a reasonable price shouldn’t be a problem as the beach resort area is filled with decent accommodation options. Though highly-concentrated with uniquely-themed cafes and fashion boutiques, the beaches in Seminyak are quiet and relaxing, making it the perfect place to chill and rejuvenate your tired body after a whole night of partying.
3. Check out the list of prohibited items before going
You’d be surprised at how strict security checks are at ULTRA Beach Bali. Before the festival, organisers will release a reminder of the event’s prohibited items via Facebook and Instagram to ensure the safety of festival goers. The list (refer to the image above) includes backpacks larger than 33 x 44 cm, weapons, drugs, and animals.
When we were queuing to get into the venue, the security guards found a pill hidden deep inside a man’s wallet. True story! Though we don’t know what kind of pill it was (the man said it was an aspirin), we’re still amazed at the guards’ thoroughgoing manner.
4. Wear whatever you want, but slippers are not recommended
The sky’s the limit when it comes to fashion and style at a music festival, especially outdoor beach parties.
If you’re tired of wearing the same old shorts-and-tee combo, then why not spice things up a little with a cute character headpiece or even better, matching swimwear with your #UltraBali squad! Beause it’s always fun to do crazy things with your friends, no?
P/S: To avoid any foot-related injuries, make sure you wear comfy covered shoes or sneakers. We had to learn that the hard way. Ouch!
5. Bring extra money for food & booze
Many of our friends asked us, “How much did you bring to Ultra Bali?” Not gonna lie, food and drinks in the event cost a bomb.
ULTRA Beach Bali featured a cashless payment system whereby partygoers are required to make payment for food and beverages via tokens. These tokens can be bought at specific counters scattered around the venue and 1 green token costs 100,000 rupiah (approximately RM31). Just in case you’re wondering, drinks are priced from 1/2 (non-alcoholic) to 2 green tokens (alcoholic) while food costs 1 to 2 green tokens. The menu this year included pork belly sate (satay), grilled cheese sandwich, hamburger, mie (mee) goreng, and more.
Note: Alcoholic drinks are only sold to revellers who are 21 and over. Once you’ve verified your age at the token counter, a special wristband will be given to you.
6. Want to party more? Head down to a local nightclub!
Though Bali is also known as the Island of Peace, it has long been a centre for partying and clubbing. The island has no enforced opening and closing times for clubs, making it easy for ULTRA-nauts to plan their after parties. Depending on your preferences, certain types of crowds and music are found in specific areas. Kuta attracts a younger, rowdier crowd with its large-scale clubs and super cheap drinks while Seminyak has better sounds, customised drinks made by skilled bartenders, and it tends to pull in a more refined group of revellers.
And who knows, you might be able to meet your favourite DJs too 😉 Our friends at Sky Garden Bali, a prominent club located at Jalan Legian, told us that Swedish electronic music duo Galantis partied at theirs on the festival’s first night. We’re so jealous!
7. When in Bali, do as the Balinese do
Voted as one of Asia’s best beaches on Lonely Planet, Bali is a very, very beautiful place. Its rich and diverse culture has captivated the hearts of many tourists, leaving them in awe.
The Indonesian island has so much to offer: You can surf wild beaches in Nusa Lembongan; savour a luxurious getaway at Bukit Peninsula; enjoy a delicious meal while looking at the most beautiful rice fields in Ubud; or take a spiritual adventure at Pura Luhur Batukau, one of the island’s estimated 10,000 temples. Truth be told, we think that everyone should visit Bali at least once in their life.
PLAY Club KL’s latest party movement, Play Day Out (PDO), allows you to experience concerts and music festivals like never before. To be eligible for PDO, all you need to do is purchase the selected twin bottle packages, as each purchase entitles one lucky draw coupon to be dropped at the dedicated box located at PLAY’s entrance for a draw during the respective closing parties.
Their next stop: It’s The Ship 2016 ?
Stay tuned to The Roof’s website and Facebook. For reservations and further inquiries, please call 013 – 2703 111 or 03 – 8605 3388.
Source: Lonely Planet.
