Here’s a general rule to avoid disappointment: when it’s really crowded, such as on the weekends and weekdays after 4pm – don’t go to Oktoberfest in a group of more than 10 people without a beer tent reservation. There’s a good chance the beer tents are packed and you won’t find a table for your group.

HOWEVER, if you can’t be bothered following this advice, don’t despair, because when there’s a will, there’s a way.

So if you find that you and your friends are in front of a closed beer tent door, one good idea is to always be friendly, and sometimes, security will let you in. If they’re stubborn and unswayed, just respect that, because there is always a valid reason. They don’t like turning away guests, so don’t take it personally, they’re just complying with safety precautions.

Try getting entry to this!

Another tip is that if you have a friend already in the tent, you can text or call him or her to come over and convincingly prove to security that there is room at his or her table, and security may let you in. Though this strategy usually involves a lot of charm, so just make sure your insider is a good mate/lass.

Persistence pays off sometimes, so occasionally if you wait long enough in front of a tactically promising (not mobbed) entrance, or you go around the tent until the opportunity presents itself, you could get in. Seeing the doors open is a good sign that something good may happen for you. If the opportunity does not present itself, you can always visit a smaller, less crowded tent for a while or try again to get a spot in the beer garden.

If none of the above works, there’s one other opportune tactic: in many tents, wristbands are given out with a reservation that allow automatic entrance to the tent. So while you’re outside waiting to be let in, just ask people with reservations who are not waiting to be let in if everyone in their party is there. If not, there have to be extra wristbands that you could potentially buy from them. This method is highly effective and totally legit.

If it all pays off and you get into a tent without a reservation, you may still have difficulty finding a seat. In this situation, you should ask a waiter or security guard where the unreserved area is.

Oktoberfest beer tables are almost always standard beer garden tables with room for ten average-sized people. For example, if ten stunning beauties are at the table, there’s sure to be room for two more slender men. But if ten full-bellied tradesmen are sitting there, there’s no chance of getting a spot. When asking to sit, be sure to use manners and don’t be shy! Oktoberfest is all about socializing, camaraderie and getting to know strangers.

But, as said at the beginning, the best tip for getting into a tip is to either get there early or make a reservation. Treat Oktoberfest like Christmas shopping (unless you’re one of those last-minute gift finders), it comes around every year, so you have plenty of time available to get clued up and ensure you secure a reservation.