Tansy Kaschak

Tent Hotel

  • Where:
  • Why:To rave
  • When:August 2022
  • Who:All — and I mean ALL — the magical animales

"An ephemeral rave hotel in the Polish forest"

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Tent Hotel Found my gal Olivia Steele who is a fixture around these parts

Found my gal Olivia Steele who is a fixture around these parts

Tent Hotel The Tent Hotel reception at Garbicz Festival

The Tent Hotel reception at Garbicz Festival

Tent Hotel There was even help to take our bags and find our tent. After hauling our belongings for a mile — as no cars allowed here — these were proper angels in disguise

There was even help to take our bags and find our tent. After hauling our belongings for a mile — as no cars allowed here — these were proper angels in disguise

Tent Hotel There she is, our tent for three

There she is, our tent for three

Tent Hotel And she's a beauty!

And she's a beauty!

Tent Hotel Room service

Room service

Tent Hotel First things first: look for Simba

First things first: look for Simba

Tent Hotel I booked myself a massage and no decision was ever more appropriate. I went back and booked sessions for my friends too

I booked myself a massage and no decision was ever more appropriate. I went back and booked sessions for my friends too

Tent Hotel Off to the woods we go...

Off to the woods we go...

Tent Hotel There are several stages at Garbicz, playing everything good electronic music — sometimes cotton candy, sometimes techno poetry — but, as we say around here, when in doubt, go to Juicy

There are several stages at Garbicz, playing everything good electronic music — sometimes cotton candy, sometimes techno poetry — but, as we say around here, when in doubt, go to Juicy

Tent Hotel New DJ crush: Jimeno Arnaud playing a morning set at Juicy

New DJ crush: Jimeno Arnaud playing a morning set at Juicy

Tent Hotel The stages are built of branches and twigs like you're inside a twisted — in the best possible way — fairytale. As it got a bit fragile overtime, this space was turned into the Transformation Station, where we could rent, swap, or acquire fun outfits and accessories

The stages are built of branches and twigs like you're inside a twisted — in the best possible way — fairytale. As it got a bit fragile overtime, this space was turned into the Transformation Station, where we could rent, swap, or acquire fun outfits and accessories

Tent Hotel My Polish friends Paulina and Aga who have been coming to Garbicz since year one and are always ready to teach me all the party tricks

My Polish friends Paulina and Aga who have been coming to Garbicz since year one and are always ready to teach me all the party tricks

Tent Hotel Food vendors know what's up

Food vendors know what's up

Tent Hotel Jeff and Spyros on the quest for the perfect broth. Real broth, this isn't code for anything

Jeff and Spyros on the quest for the perfect broth. Real broth, this isn't code for anything

Tent Hotel The lake. The crisp, perfect, refreshing, glacial water lake

The lake. The crisp, perfect, refreshing, glacial water lake

Tent Hotel At the lake pier with Duncan (aka DJ Unders), who brought me to Garbicz for the first time a few years back, and Pati Hot Cakes

At the lake pier with Duncan (aka DJ Unders), who brought me to Garbicz for the first time a few years back, and Pati Hot Cakes

Tent Hotel Back home to my rave sisters to get ready to bend time and space

Back home to my rave sisters to get ready to bend time and space

Tent Hotel And a huge thank you to the legendary Rameet Chawla for making this stay happen and always wearing the best outfits with such grace

And a huge thank you to the legendary Rameet Chawla for making this stay happen and always wearing the best outfits with such grace

Tent Hotel Until next time...

Until next time...

Highs & Lows

  • I attended Garbicz Festival before and stayed at different camping situations — camper van and then in a tent — and must say the Tent Hotel is the most convenient and fun arrangement. It delivers the comfort of staying in a spacious tent without the hassle of setting it up, especially for those traveling from afar

  • The team was amazing. It’s not every day that your dancing friends are also the front desk, GM, bell boy… Everybody was a professional raver that also did their best to ensure all newcomers were well informed and educated on both the hotel and dance floor etiquette

  • Speaking of dance floor etiquette, partying in Berlin — or, in this case, in a festival in Poland but put up by a Berlin crew — is a one-of-a-kind experience. There’s so much respect for the party and for everyone that makes part of it. Everybody looks after each other and after the space we share. So, so cool

  • The lake! Waking up and jumping on the lake is a ritual I wish I could keep for life

  • Ok, I am not going to lie. The shared shower room situation at the hotel was a bit of a disaster. I know it is super tricky to keep things neat in a muddy forest, but perhaps next time we can find a system that also makes each guest a bit more accountable for tidying up after ourselves

  • This is not about what happened at the hotel but more about the rest of the festival grounds: despite the gift of refillable bottles (and we should all already travel with our own ones, right?), there was a lot of plastic waste. Also here, is a great opportunity to find a solution for next year. Perhaps bring your own cup or no drinks? Just saying...

The Barometer

  • Design
  • Location
  • Future Forward
  • Night's Sleep
  • Service
  • Amenities
  • Takeable Treats
  • Refer a Friend
  • Overall Value
  • Life Changing
Total: 50/50

Important Bits

  • Type

    Tent hotel, as the name says

  • Vibe

    As magical as it gets

  • Location

    On the festival grounds, under the shade of beautiful tall trees. Close to all the action but still calm enough for when rest calls. It couldn't be better

  • Rooms

    That's a very good question... I think I counted about 100 tents but then the numbers were a bit confusing... Which makes total sense

  • Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience

    The Tent Hotel was sold out since 2020, when the festival didn't happen due to the pandemic but those who booked kept their reservations for whenever Garbicz was going to be back. In a true act to prove my enormous luck, our legendary friend Rameet Chawla had booked three of them and invited me to stay. From my side, effortless and epic this time, but I know I'll have to play my cards right to secure a tent for next year

  • Future Forward

    The bell tents cause low impact on the environment, with a small footprint that once the festival wraps up, is easily removed to let the ground breath again. Water is supplied locally — we're by a glacial lake — and each guest is gifted a refillable bottle and a portable ashtray on arrival, which is a good effort to reduce waste

  • Music

    On the several stages that grace the festival, you can go from disco, house and minimal to techno poetry. At the hotel, peace and quiet where the tents are, and always a fun tune playing at the reception. On the last night I got back to some unexpected Shakira and danced my Latin ass off with the hotel crew

  • Year Opened

    2018

  • Designed By

    The Garbicz Team

  • Health & Wellness

    Waking up and jumping on the lake is one of the most heavenly experiences a dancing creature can hope for. Especially after taking more than 68 thousand steps in 24h — which, I'd say, can count as the gym? And there's a spa in the forest too, with wood-fired sauna and massage sessions you'll remember forever...

  • Food

    The food vendors at Garbicz are no joke. From curries and pizzas to healing broths, schnitzel and 3D printed meat (!!!), the options abound

  • Bar, Events & Nightlife

    We come here to rave, to dance our sins away, to get covered in dirt and dust and kisses from friends and strangers. But, if a chic, civilized glass of vino also floats your floatie, there's a wine bar too

  • Minibar & Retail

    Bring your own supplies but also expect impromptu visits from special vendors...

  • Accessibility

    Unfortunately, neither Garbicz Festival or the Tent Hotel are suitable for those with reduced mobility

  • Pet Friendly

    Not officially, but I met a girl being walked by her cat Ian

  • Children

    Yes. Bring noise controlling headsets and teach them young

  • Price

    On the lux side of glamping but, considering how easy it makes your rave life, it is a total deal

  • Website

    Visit website

Tent Hotel

Tent Hotel

Garbicz Festival, Poland

Transformation Station

Transformation Station

Garbicz Festival, Poland

Swim in the lake

Swim in the lake

Jezioro Garbicz, Poland

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The ultimate reset at Vabali

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