Planning to come to Byron Bay's East Coast Blues & Roots Festival in '08? If it's  for the first time - or even if you’ve a seasoned BluesFest goer, there are a some things you should keep in mind as you’re looking for your 'ideal' place to stay.

Byron Bay is a really just a seaside village - the larger annual festivals  attract far more people than the town can comfortably accommodate… particularly when you take into account that the festival’s may artists and crew are also staying here also at that time. Also, many people who religiously attend every year - re-book the same place each year.

Here are some tips to booking accommodation for the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival;

1. People : You need to know how many people are staying with you. Because of pressure on accommodation in Byron, most are very strict on maximum numbers… sneaking a few extra friends in to sleep on the floor won’t be tolerated and could result in loss of bond &/or eviction. There are places to stay that sleep one to a limited number of places that sleep up to 10 people. Most places have 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms.

2. Duration : It’s a five day festival, most of the accommodation has a minimum stay of 5 or 7 nights. There are a few properties with 3 or less minimum night stay - if you can only come for a few nights, grab one of these ASAP.

3. Location : For 2008, the Festival has moved back to Belongil Fields - which is located on Ewingsdale Rd (the road you take from the highway into Byron Bay) about 2.5 km from the centre of town. Shirley St and Belongil offer a 2-3 km walk to and from the festival, all of Byron Bay is serviced by shuttle buses, with accommodation in the hinterland and nearby villages offering their own charms.

4. Price : The Easter long weekend is just about the most expensive time of year to stay in Byron Bay. As a rule of thumb the closer to the festival or Beach and the shorter you stay - the more expensive it will be. In Byron Bay expect to pay $75-$125 per person per night - more for luxury, less if you stay out of town.

5. How to Book : The sooner you start the wider choice you’ll have. You will have to secure your booking with a deposit (often 50%), and you may loose it for a late cancellation.

Check out the GuideToByron.com accommodation section for a start.