By Cassidy B (Find her on Twitter and Instagram)
Bassnectar told us to hop on planes and fly down to Mexico for a week full of sun, sand, and incredible music. So what did we do? Well when the long-haired wizard tells you to do something, you listen of course! Despite the first year skepticism and people questioning if enough tickets would sell for the event to actually take place,
DEJA VOOM
Deja Voom wasn’t initially on my list of festivals to hit in 2019, but when an opportunity to grab a ticket came up in November, I immediately jumped on it. And WOW am I glad I did! I was a little nervous about the process of getting from the airport to the resort. But, as soon as we exited the airport, we were greeted by someone holding a Deja Voom sign who directed us to our shuttle and from there it was smooth sailing. Have you ever been to a festival where upon check in they hand you a complimentary drink? Neither had I …until now! Merch bags were also given to all attendees that included a beach bag, a beach towel, a pin, and ear plugs. I’m not sure if this event will take place at the same resort next year, but if it does, I definitely recommend doing the premium upgrade for your room. Free room service, higher quality alcohol, free bottles of champagne, and unlimited a la carte dining options made it completely worth the extra cost. I also highly recommend the 5 or even 6-day packages. Getting there Tuesday and having Tuesday night and the entirety of Wednesday to spend how I wanted
THE EXTRAS
A 24-hour bowling alley that was also a sports bar and late-night buffet, a shopping center, a casino, night clubs, and not to mention
THE MUSIC
Anyone who has ever been to a Bassnectar curated event knows that there is never a shortage of amazing music between all of the supporting acts and the man himself. There were seven different stages spread throughout the resort and deciding where to go each night for late night sets was so difficult because the talent booked was so top notch. Bassnectar did not disappoint and completely threw down each set he played.
Night 2 was my personal favorite (Empathy into Skin on the Drum!!! I cried!!!!!), but honestly, all 3 were incredible. Plus, we were on a beach with waiters bringing us frozen margaritas to us in the crowd so we didn’t have to leave our spot. There was enough space to dance and even run over and jump in the ocean and easily get back to your spot if you wanted to.
Day 3 was a great day for music, starting with the Dirtybird pool party which was one of the most fun times I think I’ve ever had at a festival. Digital Mysticz also played night 3, as well as Conrank late night and those were two of my top sets of the weekend. There was also a water park party, but it was at the same time as the Dirtybird pool party where there were capacity issues so unfortunately, I didn’t make it over to that one. I’m sure it was a blast as well!
FASHION IN PARADISE?
If you know me at all, you know I’m big on fest fits. I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to go all out festival wear for this considering it took place on a beach, but that definitely didn’t stop me. My worries were completely invalid anyway, and there were so many kings and queens in paradise rocking amazing looks. If you decide to go next year, have fun with your outfits and rock whatever you feel most comfortable in! I decided to overcome my insecurities night 2 and rock just pasties (when in Mexico right?) with my one look and the fact that I can now say I saw Bassnectar topless on a beach in Mexico??? Amazing. PSA to any of my fellow platform queens who want to bring their platforms with them next year (or to any festival that requires flying honestly): take your shoes out of your bag before sending it through the airport scanner! They ran my bag three times because of the boots, and even when you’re not traveling with any contraband that’s still a nerve-wracking experience.
Unrelated to festival fashion, but at the resort, if you want to eat at any of the nicer restaurants there are dress codes. Men had to wear pants and closed toed shoes and a collared shirt, and women had to dress nice, but it was more lenient. I brought one dress that I wore both nights we went out to eat.
THE FOOD/DRINKS
A festival where you can eat at different buffets 24/7 and drink as much as you want for free? How about one where they deliver drinks to you in the crowd so you don’t have to leave your spot? I heard some complaints about the food at the buffets in the resort itself, but even being a picky eater, I never once had an issue finding something tasty to eat. There was Mexican food galore, and each night the buffets had different themes and the food they put out would go along with the themes. The food quality at the a la carte restaurants was better, but my favorite meals were inside of the venue. The tacos inside the venue were amazing and I kind of wish we could’ve just eaten all of our meals there.
The cherry on top? They made churros fresh on the beach each night. At what other festivals can you get down to Bassnectar with a churro in one hand, a frozen margarita in the other, and your toes in the sand? None, that’s where! After the beach stage closed each night, you couldn’t walk by any of the late-night rooms without a staff member sticking a drink in your hand. We did not have to ask for anything there, if anything, they asked for us or just handed us what we didn’t even know we wanted. Night 2 we sat down to eat outside of Strikers (the bowling alley) after the beach sets, and right after we got done talking about how you didn’t have to ask for anything at the resort a staff member walked up and asked “dos cheese pizzas?” out of nowhere and at first we were like no thanks, but one girl in our group said “si!” to see what happened. I kid you not within five minutes two cheese pizzas were brought to the table. I really don’t know how I’ll ever go back to another festival where I have to pay for my food and drinks again because the all-inclusive aspect really is a nice touch.
SHOULD YOU GO?
The short answer? Absolutely – start putting money aside now. I went into this not knowing what to expect, and due to personal circumstances traveled to Mexico without even having a group to stay with. I ended up staying with the most amazing group of people who I’m so lucky to now call my friends, met so many other incredible people while I was there, and honestly had the best week of my life. I would give up every single festival I attend every year, including Big Dub, to go back every year for as long as they continue to hold it. I had such an amazing time and raved about it so much when I got home that my mom wants to go with me next year.
My trip was filled with so many little moments that made my time there so special, including meeting the man himself, Lorin (I blew him a kiss and he caught it and put it on his cheek and told me he loved me so basically I kissed him on the cheek and basically we are dating now don’t be too jealous!!). Everywhere you looked was extremely picturesque, like a postcard.
A few last things to keep in mind if you do go? Take the time to explore the resort and all it has to offer. Try new foods. Remember that you do not need to pay for anything besides tip, and most places on the resort only accept cards, so you do not need to bring excess amounts of cash. See a set you normally wouldn’t see somewhere else. Take some time after the Bassnectar sets to lay on the beach and listen to the ocean waves while you gather your thoughts before heading into the late night. And lastly, don’t stress too much about the little details because 90% of everything is handled by CID, just go and have the time of your life!! You will not regret it!!
Leave a Reply