It can often be difficult to decide what tier of tickets you want to get for your next event. I personally always struggle to decide, especially when the options all seem to have so much going for them. First, let’s break down the different options and what they include.

GA

This is the most basic tier of tickets which basically grants you entry to the festival and not much else. It is going to be the least expensive option at every festival and if you buy super early (like I do) can end up being really reasonably priced.

GA+

Not much changes from GA to GA+ except that you get expedited entry and often get special bathrooms. It is a pretty steep price bump, but there is something to be said for private, air-conditioned bathrooms when it's a million degrees outside.

VIP

This tier of tickets boasts the most expensive price tag as well as the longest list of features that come with it. It often comes with expedited entry, special amenities, and experiences. Some large festivals have special viewing areas near the stages to give you a less crowded place to watch sets or relax.

So, now that we’ve broken down exactly what you are getting from each of the different options, I think it’s important to talk about the price difference compared to what you are actually getting for your money.

I will always recommend that you save your money and go with GA over VIP. The reason for this is really simple: yeah it’s nice to have the extra features, but are you really going to use all of them enough for it to be worth the sharp increase in price? In my case, I have NEVER used the VIP features to the extent that I feel I got my money’s worth.

This isn’t to say that some of the VIP areas at festivals aren’t awesome, but if you are someone who knows they are going to spend the whole night in the middle of the crowd, dancing to the music, then it makes zero sense to shell out one or maybe even two hundred more dollars for tickets you are going to take full advantage of.

At the end of the day choosing what tickets to go with is a very personal thing. If you are thinking about your budget, then I would definitely suggest that you stick with GA. You really won’t be missing anything from VIP, and you will be doing you’re bank account a favor. I can’t say that VIP doesn't have its benefits, but I would say that you don’t need it to have a good time.

So, if you are a first-time festival goer, go ahead and do GA. If at the festival you look longingly at the VIP section then next time you can think about it with a better sense of what the experience is going to be like, and with a better understanding of how you enjoy yourself.