how ?
Festival and Travel Planner 2026
- Thread starter azana
- Start date
It was some other poster who was planning to visit Istanbul. Not me.
I think it's the law in most states in the USA to give free water where alcohol is served and in UK as well. Which totally makes sense and I approve - opposed to Europe where they try to charge huge money for bottled water, which often is worse than tap water. On another side US people should learn than in most EU cities tap water is potable, thus free of charge. But bartenders might not serve that to you unless you ask. This is changing.
(Note to Offbeat: Europe and EU are different things in this regard as well)
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Too late, now you have to go
EU as in Europe is different from EU as in European Union. In here EU is mostly a shorthand for Europe or the other side of the pond.
Went to the saturday night party of the small "Steps on2" festival in Bern, the swiss capital. It's just a dance school venue which draws a national crowd, about 100-150 people: but what a fantastic night I had! I can say the dance level amongst followers was similar to the one at Budapest Live2mambo recently: a handful improvers but mostly really good or even excellent dancers. Jacopo & Linda where there, having given workshop in the afternoon, but no need to hunt for Linda as the others were great as well. Music was also great.
Funfact: DJ playing "Marcelo" from YenJuan everybody left the floor at 2:38 thinking the song was over - instead after half a second silence the piano solo starts and the song continues, but this half a second was enough for most to say thank you and quit. When I realized the song actually continued I shazamed it: hearing it now I can't understand how we all terminated so fast, but that's the way it was. I guess the space-time continuum is different on the floor. The DJ also had an astonished face.
Fred Dancefloor was there and seeing him dance chacha is a blast. I was fascinated seeing him in a video years back, and seeing him live on the floor is not different. He once shook my hand for welcome, and I felt honored like a teenager meeting his pop star.
Last year I only visited the sunday afternoon party, which was great as well. I fancy paying an expensive swiss hotel next year to visit both saturday and sunday party.
Funfact: DJ playing "Marcelo" from YenJuan everybody left the floor at 2:38 thinking the song was over - instead after half a second silence the piano solo starts and the song continues, but this half a second was enough for most to say thank you and quit. When I realized the song actually continued I shazamed it: hearing it now I can't understand how we all terminated so fast, but that's the way it was. I guess the space-time continuum is different on the floor. The DJ also had an astonished face.
Fred Dancefloor was there and seeing him dance chacha is a blast. I was fascinated seeing him in a video years back, and seeing him live on the floor is not different. He once shook my hand for welcome, and I felt honored like a teenager meeting his pop star.
Last year I only visited the sunday afternoon party, which was great as well. I fancy paying an expensive swiss hotel next year to visit both saturday and sunday party.
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I just saw Porto Salsa Weekend in october indeed changed his afternoon venue! Last year there was trouble with the small afternoon venue inside a hostel (see my review linked below), but even without trouble it just was too small to enjoy for me. But now they move the afternoon party into the evening venue, which is great news. With this it is well worth considering going again for me.
Actually taking flights is a hassle compared to just jumping into a train, so I'm reducing flights. I decided against Rome and Madrid festivals from dancehouse as both together would cost me 1000 euros altogether - too much given the fact that I find great dancing also nearer by.
Actually taking flights is a hassle compared to just jumping into a train, so I'm reducing flights. I decided against Rome and Madrid festivals from dancehouse as both together would cost me 1000 euros altogether - too much given the fact that I find great dancing also nearer by.
As in water quality is different.
Yeah, I agree. I was going to comment about the Istanbul and the Fujairah festivals. But in the grand scheme of things, you are right there could be bigger worries on the horizon than salsa.
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Istanbul is on the periphery of the conflict region and unaffected. The flights are still operating at the airport.
My first experience at a Congress in Amsterdam was many, many years ago. I remember being surprised when there was no drinking water and more surprised when I went to take a leak and saw people drinking from the faucets in the bathroom. I was new to the Euro scene and quickly after that understood how things work. One reason I avoid Berlin is because they not only don't supply drinking water but make people leave their own water bottles/thermos at the door.
I didn't see the video and don't follow Miguel on Insta. That being said, I agree with a lot of the feedback I see being posted here. Miguel is new to the Euro scene so I give him some grace on that. However, as an influencer I think he is always looking for content and this situation provided an opportunity for him to exploit it for clicks.
The thing that kinda puzzles me is 1) why would he purchase a duplicate ticket? Were all avenues exhausted to find his original purchase? I typically take a screenshot of my congress online purchases, but that's me.
2) Why would you go all the way to Europe and go so hard when you seem to have some of the culpability? Based on this site, the fact that he immediately posted about it leads me to believe he was more interested in creating content that his refund.
3) Exactly why was he issued a refund, besides the social media pressure? Was the event at fault?
RandomBeat
Changui
He gave the wrong email to the front desk so his original ticket could not be located. Organisers couldn't verify anything with the thirdparty ticketing provider over the weekend. When he finally provided the email address with which he purchased the original ticket they refunded him for that ticket after getting in touch with the ticketing company during the week.
In short, he created the whole drama.
RandomBeat
Changui
From a contact I heard he sent an email around 2am wanting a refund and then posted video a few hours later as no one had got back to him.
A ok, got it. He was fortunate. Organizers in the USA might have done something like given him a credit for next year, but I don't think they would have returned money to him.
You're saying the event didn't have a list of names where he could show his ID.
WellHelloThere
Changui
Latest news
What a terrible “plinky plonky” song. Started to get interesting at the instrumental part.
RandomBeat
Changui
My understanding is (which might be incorrect) is they needed to search for the original email address which was given when purchasing the ticket. He would have received a QR code which is scanned at the front desk and wristband given. Once successfully scanned, that QR code can't be used again. People can buy tickets for other people so the name may not necessarily appear on the booking so maybe that's why they search on the email. Looking at their Dusseldorf festival you can buy any number of tickets under your own name.
My guess is he then purchased a new ticket on the spot to get in and then subsequently realised he'd used a different email address originally and then demanded an almost instant refund for the original ticket.
Like I said, good luck with that in NYC. They will tell you that they will honor the unused ticket for next year lol