Ultra Music Festival Hotels & Vacation Rentals

The coolest way (literally) to get to the festival is the boat ride from South Beach to Bayside, which is close to Bayfront Park.

The Miami-Dade Metrorail can be an easy mode of transport between Ultra Music Festival hotels and the festival itself. Miami International Airport is well connected with the city center via Metrorail and trains extend their operating hours during the festival to cater for the increased demand on services.

Buses stop intermittently along Biscayne Boulevard and the Metromover is also a good option if you are travelling about Downtown. The service winds along the oceanfront, connecting the north and the south of the Downtown area. Even better, the service is free! Avoid services like Uber if at all possible, as surcharges soar during the festival and, with fifty thousand people buzzing about the city center, traffic can be gridlocked.

PVC, plastic and mesh bags are the only ones allowed within the festival. Other prohibited items (besides the obvious) include glow sticks, stuffed animals, spray paint and pens and frisbees. In case you were planning to dress in costume for the event, beware that 'totem' poles, masks and large jewellery are also prohibited. Glowing jewellery and other costumes are allowed.

Dancing for hours on end in the Miami sizzle is going to make you thirsty. Since the festival forbids bringing liquids in with you, your best option is an empty container. Water-filling stations are situated throughout the festival at Bayfront Park and 301 Biscayne Boulevard. Port-o-potties are positioned throughout the park grounds too. The southwest corner of the park has the largest concentration of restrooms available. Use the least convenient, as they will also be the cleanest.

Hat, sun glasses and suncream are essentials at this outdoor festival. There is little shade and the acts hot up at precisely the same time that the sun does. Equally, bring a cover-up for the evenings, just in case that sea breeze gets a little chill after the sun sets.

Fresh seafood is sold on the waterside at the Surf and Turf Truck, while Sparky's Roadside BBQ sells smoked meat. Ultra Music Festival hotels enjoy proximity to the excellent, if modest-sounding, Joe's Takeaway, a local institution. Late night options include a 24 hour Cuban cafe, Manolo y Rene, and the celebrated diner on 11th Street.

It is a good idea to come prepared with a loose itinerary, to make sure that you catch your favorite acts. The schedule is normally released a few days before the festival. Persuade your most agreeable friend to make a spreadsheet to help you rank the programming conflicts. Arrive early to get the most out of your tickets and avoid lines at the entrance. This said, diverging from your schedule is one of the best ways of discovering new favorite performers and one of the best parts of live music festivals.

There is a reason that this DJ gets his own tent every year. Bringing the party spirit without fail, sets from this techno giant is one of the most memorable features of Ultra Festival. You are guaranteed an upbeat atmosphere in this tent so if you are in doubt about what to do next the Carl Cox tent is always a strong choice.