We usually go to Irvine, Ca. or Vegas. I prefer Irvine because of the parking lot party.
Yes, it is worth every dime! We have a great time.
The way to do Bubba is plan in advance, fly somewhere where there aren't quite as many Parrotheads, stay in a hotel and make it a four-day weekend.
Get lawn tickets for a Thursday show, and you'll be out only a few hundred. Done it many times: best show of his I saw was in Northern Virginia in 2000.
All the action and most of the fun is in the tailgating, anyway.