So you’ve snagged tickets to Coachella…. A bucket-lister for music lovers, you’ll want to make the most of your three days. Here are some tips I picked up at the world’s #1 music festival.
#1 Arrive early It’s the best way to avoid the queues to get in and it will give you enough time to familiarise yourself with the layout, which is important if you are rushing between stages. All the newest most exciting acts are on early too. Plus nothing beats basking in the rays on a blanket with an ice cream in one hand and great music wafting through the hot desert air.
#2 Get the app I missed Flume because I was jetlagged, hungry and didn’t do a great job of flicking through the free Coachella booklet they passed out. I am still kicking myself. If I had the app it would have alerted me to where I needed to be to not miss a thing. If you come from outside of the US, hit up the neighbourhood telco store and get a SIM card. Shouldn’t cost you more than USD70 for unlimited data.
#3 Come prepared for the heat Pack sunblock, drink lots of water and carry a bag that can either be slung across you or worn as a backpack. You need both hands to be free when you’re throwing shapes and demanding encores from your favourite act.
#4 Pack sensible shoes No high heels obviously. Pumps aren’t great either, as sand will get in them and won’t get out. Boots, sandals and slippers are best. Bring two pairs, just in case. I did a lot of walking and had to toss my sandals.
#5 Dress for it Despite what you may have watched on E! or red in fashion mags, Coachella is not a competition, so wear what you want as long as its up to the job. The festival site is hot, sandy and if you’re there for any length of time you will want to take a load off by lying down on the grass. Keep that in mind when choosing your duds. California is a very accepting place too so you needn’t stress about being on-point and following trends. Most of all, screw the Coachella diet.
#6 Eat, drink, be merry Coachella takes its F & B seriously. No limp hotdogs in cardboard buns here. Their food trucks have been curated from as far a field as San Diego and Portland, and some of the bars feature star mixologists, so make time for meals. I had the most amazing vegan lunch here ever; I’m still fantasizing about it.
#7 Get your souvenirs first The merch store has amazing band tees, dresses and even bandanas (to keep off the desert sand) but everyone hits it up on Sunday evening, which entails long waits that often end in disappointment and ‘sold out’ signs. The store also does customisable screen print tees for something completely unique. Get to it Friday and beat the crowd.
#8 Go it alone Not everyone likes the same music. And no one wants to get dragged to something they’re not into at the expense of something that they are, so be prepared to split up with the group and hit the stages by yourself. You will make new friends there, I promise. Just look for the people that are having fun. Oh wait – that’s everyone!
#9 Have an escape plan Everyone exits at the same time so you need a plan. The Uber and taxi stands are a distant galaxy away and the shuttle bus queues are epic. Rent a bicycle or organize a limo and agree a meeting point and time and make darned sure your phone is charged up just in case plans change. I didn’t and ended up on my own at 3am in a taxi queue in desperate need for the loo. If you’re driving, get ready for the jam.
#10 Take down the address It sounds elementary but you’ll be surprised how often it is overlooked when you are travelling in a pair or group. Bring a card from your hotel or take a picture of your home and the street it is on. I spotted lots of kids separated from their friends who had no idea where their hotel or Air BnB was and were at a loss as to what to do next. Had I not snapped a photo of the estate we were putting up in, I would have been one of them. I didn’t even remember what town I was in. Foreign names are hard to remember.
#11 Leave late On Monday morning, there’s a mass exodus out of Indio and it causes massive tailbacks that can add hours to your return journey. Stay a little longer and see the sights. Check out the mid-century modern architecture in Palm Springs, take the tramway up into the heights of San Jacinto Park or venture out for adventure to Joshua Tree National Park. The towns of La Quinta and Indian Wells are lovely places too.
Coachella takes place every year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio California across two separate weekends in April. More at www.coachella.com
POKOK KELAPA 