Hi all,
 
I really need some help for next year if possible?
I have missed the last two downloads due to various illnesses after 2010 when I ended up in hospital and us missing pretty much all of the festival so it has very much put me off going back.

However, I would like to go next year and maybe hotel rather than camp but I wondered what hotels people book and how early you should do it? What is the cheapest option and is it easy to get back to the hotel from the arena at any time should I need a break/rest.

I am epileptic and have problems with my knee, back and sciatic nerve which are meaning camping is out of the question. If anyone could help that would be great :-)

Thanks xxx

Hi - we camped this year - but didn't sleep at all due to the wind mainly but also the planes and rain - so next year we plan to go back into a hotel. We booked yesterday the Radisson Blu at East Midlands airport - £89 per night, payable next year when we are there - you need to get in quick though - once people realise the dates for next years DL rooms will go and prices will go up!!!!

The Radisson is a good call, as the Skylink buses do a stop in the Pegasus Business Park, where the hotel is located, so you can get a ride there, and back.
A Hotel in Derby, right by the Shuttle Bus might also work, but getting from the arena to the bus stop can be a 20-25 min walk.
This year the shuttles picked up from the back of the station due to some buliding work, but assuming its back to normal for 2013, then The Midland Hotel, on Midland Road is the nearest, as it backs onto the pickup point. But any hotel on Midland Road is close.
If it's still out the back, then the Holiday Inn on Pride Park is very close.
 

We stayed in the Holiday Inn last year cost £180 for 3 nights, we stayed at the Travelodge at the Moto services this year booked it last year and it was £137 for 3 nights.

Is the Raddison within walking distance from the arena?

SNARFF

Is the Raddison within walking distance from the arena?

 
No, its in a business park, between airport, and the M1. Bus as I said above, it is on the skylink bus route, (and the hotel offers a shuttle bus to the airport, which is more walkable)

 
Do these buses run all day or is their like a morning one and an evening one!?
 
Thanks for all your answers btw I need to look into it a bit and try to convince my other half that nothing could be as bad as Download this year. (he went and camped and came back early injured and defeated and has vowed never to go again!)

I would highly recommend getting something booked now that is fully changeable/refundable - you've then got nothing to lose and your options are there! 

nettie1xoxo

I would highly recommend getting something booked now that is fully changeable/refundable - you've then got nothing to lose and your options are there! 

 
Be aware you pay more for cancellable rooms

We need to keep our options open due to my daughters A levels next year, so and extra potential £10 a night is fine, presumable as it gets closer to the event it will get dearer anyway, also still cheaper than RIP even once you've added hospitality (if you choose to do so - we will if available)

I just booked a family room at the Travelodge at the Moto services for next years festival. 4 nights for £134, split 3 ways between me and my mates works out at just over £11 per night each.
 
I would advise anyone thinking of staying in a hotel rather than camping to book now because if you leave it the prices go through the roof.

Glad to see you going this year! bumped into Kieran at the BBBQ this year and was gutted you did not come!
 
Hope you get a hotel sorted xxx

I booked a hotelroom in Nottingham and will be taking the Skylink busses every day. The bus takes an hour each way, probably a bit longer in the period right after the Download Day ends because of traffic congestion. The busstop closest to the festival is on the road between Donington Park and Donington Castle, but i doubt services will be running smoothly on that road, also i think it's the Loughborough - EMA skylink bus that stops there. There is also the DHL stop of Skylink on (seen from the arena) the far side of Download's shuttlebus and taxistand (Longstay 7 parkinglot next to DHL). I might not be wholy up to date about the skylink busroutes since it's 2009 since we last took them, but the website still lists the DHL stop for both Loughborough and Nottingham routes.
I think, if you stay at one of the airport hotels, a taxi (shared) would be easiest and quickest. Download sets fixed prices and most licensed taxis will show the prices. If you can't agree on a price beforehand, don't get in! from the arena to the taxistand will be about 20 minute walk.
To the busstop at DHL it's faster to walk around Longstay 7 instead of going over it, because there's always massive queues of ppl already outside the parkinglot waiting to get to the shuttlebusses and taxis. For the busstop, follow the mass of ppl toward the footbridge to the south carpark, but before the bridge go left, crossing the road leading towards Castle Donington and then head uphill at the roundabout past the south entrance of longstay 7. Nottingham bus stops opposite the DHL, bus to the airport and businesspark stops right in front of DHL if i'm not mistaken.
I'm afraid there's no such thing as cheap options, except for when sharing with lots of people (big hotel / hostel room, taxis, etc).

Douglass

Glad to see you going this year! bumped into Kieran at the BBBQ this year and was gutted you did not come!

Hope you get a hotel sorted xxx

 
Yeah Hotel ala Trish! She's staying with us by the looks of it