The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival occurs every year in mid-April. The festival began in 1999 as a one day festival. For several years, it was a 2 day festival. Now, it is a 3 day festival and is held on two weekends in April. An estimated 100,000 people attend the festival every year. Tickets typically sell out in hours on the first day - three day tickets are priced at $349. It's held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley and features many genres of music including alternative rock, hip hop, and electronic music as well as large sculptural art. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. The main stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent, and the Sahara Tent. This year, there was a Heineken Dome and a Yuma Tent, as well. I've been to Coachella five times and it's growing resemblance to Burning Man is uncanny. I saw a couple of art cars roaming around and some Burning Man type structures. Generally the dress attire is very casual (shorts and tank tops) and not wild like Burning Man (no fur, very little neon lighting). This year, it was really windy and dusty. I'd never experienced that at Coachella before so was caught out with no bandanna. The music is great. Since I'm an EDM fan, I usually hang out in the Sahara or Mojave tents - this year, the highlights for me were Benny Benassi, Dogblood (Skrillex & Boys Noize), Thomas Gold, Moby, Paul Oakenfold, OMD, Fedde le Grand,Mimosa and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Coachella is a true test of endurance - three days of 12 hours of music, dancing, and partying. Plan on walking many miles between the stages, wear comfortable shoes, and bring warm clothes for the evening. We stayed nearby in the Indian Palms Country Club and rode bikes to the venue. Highly recommend bringing a bike so you can ride up to the entrance. Lots of food available at the venue (cash only) and you can refill your water bottles (but be prepared for huge lines at the spigots). Alternatively, you can purchase bottled water for $2. A limited amount of lockers are available (I've heard they sold out). There are a couple of beer gardens and a full bar. Definitely a must-do if you are a music head!!! read more

There are lots of well written reviews here that will run circles around anything I share, so I'm going to focus on sharing my experience and offer tips for any attendees (and offer feedback in case GV reads this). Note: my experience is that of a first-time attendee that is not a teen/20-something that attended weekend one 2019. No adult beverages or hallucinogens were consumed during my Coachella experience. We didn't camp out, but we did use the shuttle on Friday night (very organized and convenient IF you are picking up your tickets at Will Call) and stayed at an overpriced 2* hotel Saturday night. We did change our tickets from GA to VIP. Some general observations: - Friday is nowhere near as crowded as Saturday or Sunday, but I'm sure this is driven by who is headlining and who didn't have to work on Friday. - To avoid exhaustion, we arrived between 4 and 5p each day and that was good for our energy levels but trade-off is we had less time to do all the Coachella things. All the "big" acts take the main stage during evening hours. - The excitement of the Coachella app and collecting coins promptly turned into disappointment because by end of Day 1, all the redemption options were out. Wah waaahhh. - No doubt the experience is different for campers versus driving in/out each day versus saying overnight nearby. Driving from Redlands to Indio each day was not bad, and it helped I was able to drive (no impairments). If you prefer to do all the things and have a good time, hire a local driver (SO many options, check Facebook groups) or use Lyft/Uber (but be prepared to wait/walk very, very far). If you self-drive, parking is "included" in your ticket but it's a hike to the entrance (about .8 miles). If you are near a shuttle stop, use it because it's the closest approach to the entrance gate unless you have Artist passes. - Lots of port-o-potties unless you splurge for the fancy trailer restrooms in VIP. I hear there are real restrooms in the Artist area/backstage. - This entire experience is an investment--you're shelling out big bucks for any level of ticket, transportation, new festival wardrobe, souvenirs, food, beverages (bring a water bottle!), accomodations, etc. I used this as a gift for my spouse so I didn't cry every time I swiped my credit card. There is no shortage of food option, but not all options are good options and make sure you don't have the highest expectations no matter what the hype/food blog/LA Times story you read... - We skipped the Outstanding in the Field Coachella dining option because we had already paid for VIP tickets. The VIP areas provide a nice break from the larger crowds, but there are still lines and it's not closer/better viewing for the performances. If you do Outstanding in the Field, you get VIP for that day. - If you are attending Coachella for IG photo shoots, do your thing but be mindful others want to take their photo, too. There is lots of people watching and I was amused by the entourages of makeup artists and portable lighting some "Instafamous" people had in tow. - It gets hot and dusty--I took allergy meds each night to ease the sneezing but it's still intense and I believe in the Coachella cold/flu that follows... - There are freebies for Amex card holders or others depending on the sponsors--take advantage of these immediately because they don't last long. HP was giving out bags (that reminds me, this festival resulted is less freebies that others we attended). - There are so many tents, stages, performance areas that one can feel a bit overwhelmed. I resigned myself to not being able to see/do everything (I guess this is why there are people that go both weekends), and seeing at least a few items that were high on my list was good enough. Don't forget your tickets (so many options to buy after it "sold out" so don't give up hope AND no need to buy marked up tickets), sunscreen, deodorant, water bottle, sunglasses, no-limit credit card, bandana/mask, comfortable shoes, portable phone charger, and additional clothing for the evening temperature drop. read more

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Finally got my Coachella experience underway this April! I usually hate masses of people and dread waiting in endless lines but this music festival is one of the most organized that I have been to, and for that it definitely deserves 5 stars. One precaution - DUST and lots of it. Bring a bandana, scarf or something for when you are walking around and its getting kicked up into your poor lungs! There are a few beer gardens scattered around the fields and you need to get a wristband before entering, so I suggest getting that as soon as you enter to get it out of the way. You are allowed to bring in plastic water bottles for refill, but honestly looking for their filling stations is such a pain, I'd rather just pay $2 a bottle (which is a good price for a music festival). Lots of food and drinks, sometimes the atm systems aren't working so bring extra cash just in case. RIDES - avoid Uber or taxi's if possible, they hike up the prices so much.... SWERVE. Find a shuttle or personal driver, the drop off location is closer than the Uber spot, and only $10/person each way. You can't beat that. MUSIC - it's probably best to have some type of game plan each day on who you want to see as there is some walking to be done between the different stages. Getting around at night is the hardest bc there aren't many lights so have a meeting spot with your friends just in case! Recommend everyone to attend once! Stay hydrated and rock on :) read more

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Another year, another memorable experience! 2013 highlights: - FREE cell phone drop off charging station - FREE Frutare bars and lounging tent - liquor is finally allowed on campgrounds (but not in glass bottles) - Giant roaming snail on festival grounds - Tegan & Sara - Bass Nectar - Bingo Players - Passion Pit - Lumineers - Vampire Weekend - separate porta pottys for men and women on campgrounds TIPS: - get up early for showers if you car camp - everyone is friendly, sometimes too friendly which becomes creepy so be careful who you party with - no shame in hanging out at camp grounds all day then enjoy the music on festival grounds at night - bring heineken to drop off at the heineken dome for free cold storage - explore the shops/restaurants near the grocery stores - eat before going into festival grounds, the food is waaaaay too expensive - 100+ SPF sunscreen is your best friend - wear close-toe shoes when on festival grounds...unless you dont care about your precious toes - bring a towel/blanket to festival grounds so you can lay on grass and relax - EAR PLUGS! Can't wait for 2014! read more

It's THE event that you MUST go to at least once in your lifetime. Coachella is DOPE. It's like a modern day hippie movement... and not like weirdo hippie, but hippie in the best way possible. Lol. Different people all coming together to enjoy beautiful music, scenes, art, fashion... ALL shitfaced and chill at the time same time. That's the best way to describe it.. GOOD VIBES and fucking CRAY/TURNT at the same time. The music is everything... Guaranteed you will fall in love with music over and over again throughout the entire weekend. You'll get lost in your own mind and forget all worries. Seriously. Coachella did that to me. Tip: Take an extra 2 days off to recover and snap back to reality. Not kidding haha. read more

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Coachella is a pretty amazing music festival. Three days of music, music, art, music, and the insane California desert combine into an exhausting adventure. It seems that every year, Coachella manages to line up the best acts that cross so many genres. It always stays true to its roots with mostly indie bands but there is always one tent devoted to trance and electronica and in the past few years, a growing hip hop presence with a big headliner on Sunday night. Although you go for your favorites (Andrew Byrd, Feist, Radiohead), we've always stumbled upon acts that we had never heard of but are fantastic (Gary Clark Jr). I've always really enjoyed the art aspect to the festival as well. The art installations have generally been very dramatic, striking sculptures that often do dual duty by providing shade. It seems that there are fewer and fewer installations each year and frankly, I don't think that 2012's ferris wheel or decorated trash cans count at all. The festival does a pretty good job in its setup. There are plenty of water concession stands and sufficient restroom areas. Staff is constantly picking up garbage. I do wish there were more water refill stations but at $2/bottle, it's usually easier just to purchase them than wait in line. There are lots of tents to hide under during the most brutal daytime hours but even so, you really have to pace yourself and be careful so you don't become drunk and exhausted. This year, the crowds seemed extremely massive. Maybe because it was because Goldenvoice truly oversold the concert or maybe because I just happened to be at the wrong place on the polo fields at the wrong times. But man, we nearly got trampled to death by people going from the Outdoor stage to the Main stage. There are some magical moments. My favorite part is always after the sun has gone down and we lie still on the grass watching a great act. The warm desert breeze blows, you sip a frozen lemonade, the glow from a nearby piece of art sways in the distance, it's beautifully calm. read more

I was here for the 3 weekends because I lucked-out and got a "customer service/event rep" job. Long hours, but it was worth it to be here and experience all things Coachella....at least from an employees viewpoint. We had to camp out just like the concertgoers, just in a different and guarded spot. Things I Liked: -The rave vibe; all people all races, etc were having a good time (for the most part). -The music (from what I heard). Didn't see much but heard it (Youtube the concert; the copyright-ed videos are almost high def and produced/shot professionally). Things I Didn't Like: -The pot smell...not everywhere but enough that it was a hassle...concertgoers and some workers alike (ikr?). Sooooo. if you can afford the tickets, worth it...go! My bucket list was checked off. Just remember to be smart about the camping and hydration (watch the videos) and you'll be fine. read more

First timer here and of course it was a fantastic experience! Before going, people made it sound like the whole experience of Coachella would be a drag, but everything from having a shower to close access to a bathroom and good friends to experience it all made it worth it! Being from California, I think everyone should try Coachella once to understand why people enjoy it so much! This was my first and probably not my last, so cheers to more future events. read more

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Review for Weekend 2 / VIP wristband / camping: First things first - must-bring things include: car charger if you're camping, regular charger if you are not, sunscreen, cash, sunglasses, watch, sneakers or flats (comfortable shoes), hand sanitizer, empty water bottle if you're flying or gallons of water if you're driving, a scarf or small blanket to sit on, light bag, and a camera. It is pretty hot during the day and gets chilly at night. Plan accordingly. VIP wristband - I got two because my wonderful boss got me them through his Goldenvoice connections. If you don't have the money, I'd say to purchase GA for sure. VIP only gets you more space to chill in, like in the Rose Garden, more food options, and most importantly, real bathrooms. My friend and I appreciated the real bathrooms and I even brought my nightly toiletries to get ready for bed here, but otherwise, it is not worth it. We actually liked the general food much better than the VIP food. You also get mixed drinks versus just Absolut and Heineken. Camping - is a real slap in in the face for someone from NYC! There are GA showers and VIP showers. GA line is shorter (about 30-40 min total). Gives you a chance to meet some cool people on line with you. There need to be more showers!!! Get ready to be chilly while sleeping then being woken up by the intense sun early morning. There is an entire section on the campground filled with a phone charging station, a cafe, activities, arcade games, a general store, computers, and food options across the street. The cafe is extremely overpriced, so try to hit up the stands across the street for breakfast. Ask Guest Services your questions, as the port-a-potty staff don't know anything. Overall, camping is an interesting experience, especially if you've never done it before. Something of a village is created, and the atmosphere is the most relaxed atmosphere I've ever been a part of. Shows - You are basically concert hopping. There are 6 stages all around the club. I must say that everything was perfectly organized. So many things can go wrong with such an enormous event, but it was smooth sailing. Each artist was meticulous with time. Each one started and ended on the dot. No one auto-tunes or lip syncs. It's all about the music. There are so many genres covered- rap, EDM, R&B, folk, rock, pop, etc. My friend and I saw 26 concerts in 3 days! Nothing will compare to this ever again. There are several pieces of art throughout the field. Each one is thought-provoking and interesting to see, though I wish there were explanations for each one, as I don't really get the significance of some, specifically the spaceman... There is also a Ferris wheel with a gorgeous view of all of Coachella. Try to go around sunset. Crowd - all kinds of people, young and old, from CA and other states and even other countries. So many kinds of fashion to see and be inspired by. Perfect place to people watch. It's really great to see such a variety of people showing up for this event. Random tips - there was a Sephora booth with charging stations, makeup to touch up your face, free hair bands, and best of all, free spray-on sunscreen. There is an H&M booth with free lemon-infused water and outlets. There is a Samsung Galaxy booth. There is a Black Room with a game you can play to get a $5 food coupon. Do this everyday! Most importantly, look at the lineup before and make a schedule of who you want to see. All in all, for this being my first music festival ever, I had an unforgettable weekend and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. read more

Although Weekend 1 this year was my 7th coachella, it really felt like my "first"! 1. First time with my sister (Aline N. Xox) 2. First time with my bf 3. First time on the Ferris wheel (about gd time!) 4. First time with 80-something degree weather (F) 5. First time only going to the Sahara tent for one act! (David guetta ftw! ) I'm usually in this tent the most but not this year (priorities!) I'm beginning to realize that even though I go every year and people say I'm a veteran and that I know what to expect, believe me, it always feels like my first time. Yeah, the same layout and what not exists, but there's always new art installations, you're sharing the experience with a new crew with different interests, experiencing someone's first coachella with them (happened to me every year so far!), and you're always at a different stage of your life. It never gets bland and its probably the one weekend of the year that I look forward to the most. So, what are you waiting for? Did you sign up for the payment plan yet? Are you following them on Twitter to find out when the presale starts? Get them early so you don't have to worry about jacked prices! Xox P.s. Caution: watching someone perform live will definitely change how you feel about them. I was never a huge drake fan but his performance (sans Madonna) took me by surprise and yeah... He found my lovin! read more

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This year's line up was definitely better than last year, but the sand storms sucked like always! I went the 1st weekend, but I heard the 2nd weekend wasn't as bad. Might have been better actually. Anyway, loved love loved the line up and surprised guest performances. The food was always good, and so was the free ice cream. Who can forget the free photos taken at the booth. One negative thing I'd have to say about this event is some of the d-bag people in the crowd. Geez some people can be rude for lame reasons. Also, the wind can definitely dry your lips out. Make sure you bring a lot of chapstick and maybe even a bandana or something to cover your mouth with so you don't breathe in the dust or dry your lips out. I wished I had bought a bandana sooner. My lips were majorly chapped to the max. And don't forget the sunblock! The porta potty lines were long but the wait wasn't too bad. None of the toiletries were out though, which was a great thing. Getting in and out of the venue was pretty fast. We left at certain times to beat the crowd. I think my friends and I rode on those bike trolley transportation at least 4 times. It was fun. I had one of the guys blast death metal. We had so many heads turning our way, it was awesome! Can't wait to go back! read more

My friends have been making an annual pilgrimage to Indio, CA for this music and arts festival since 2014, and I was finally able to join them this year...and hopefully for years to come. Tickets start at $375, but you have to get them at the exact day and time that they go on sale. With a little luck and a lot of patience, you might be able to snag one at face value. Otherwise, you'll have to buy off of a third party, and prices can get pretty steep from there (unless you're crafty...). $375 may seem like a lot of cash to drop at once, but considering the number of artists on the line up AND the ones that show up who aren't even on the line up, I believe it's well worth the money. You are also able to pay in installments if you purchase your tickets through coachella.com when they first go on sale. Personally, I prefer to bite the bullet. A few things to be aware of: -There are a lot of rules that are indeed enforced. Make sure to read up, do your best to follow them, or do your best to hide the evidence...there are checkpoints and security guards everywhere. -Bring a bandana, or something else that covers your nose/mouth. The dust is intense. You will be blowing dirt out of your nose even after you leave :) -It will be extremely hot and crowded. Prepare yourself and stay hydrated. Water is free! -WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. I saw so many people in high heels, sandals, etc. Good lord. You WILL get stomped on. -Most people are friendly, but it can get rowdy. Make sure all your valuables are out of sight. -Port-o-potties often run out of toilet paper. Bring your own. If you go early in the morning, they tend to be much cleaner. Within the festival grounds, there are proper bathrooms with flushing toilets, sinks, etc. Hallelujah. We encountered a few road bumps over the course of our weekend, but considering that the festival attracts ~200,000 people, it's run very well. The venue is beautiful; featuring multiple stages, beer gardens, incredible food, art installations, yoga, a silent disco, etc. The list is endless. Anyway, if music festivals are your thing, I highly suggest attending Coachella at least once. There's much more I could say, but I'm completely aware that there is endless literature about attending Coachella on the internet. Do some research (or go with veterans like I did), have fun, and be safe! read more

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As Coachella 2016 draws ever closer, I am feeling some strong withdrawals from my first experience (which was last year). I am not going to be attending in 2016, alas, but I will reminisce about the lovely times I had in 2015. We went for the car camping experience, in a caravan of roughly 8-10 cars. Security was surprisingly easy to get through, but we also drove onto the grounds at about 11PM on Thursday night. Our "campground" was near one of the hand-washing/water fill stations, about a 10-15 minute slow walk from the portapotties and another 30 minute slow walk from the portable showers. Despite the oppressive heat, occasional overwhelming stench of portapotties, sweaty, dancing bodies and loud, LOUD music -- I had the time of my life. The absolute highlight of Coachella 2015 for me was seeing AC/DC close out Friday night. Unfortunately, Boyfriend and I had to leave Coachella early on Saturday night because he had a massive allergy attack (his lungs did NOT care for something in the dry, dusty, arid desert air)--even though he was on two different allergy medications, Nasacort, AND had been using a bandanna for almost the entirety of Saturday before we left. I was genuinely worried we'd end up in the emergency room otherwise if we didn't leave right away. Some tips for future festivalers -- I really would recommend the car camping experience, but only if you can handle being dusty and sweaty and waiting in some potentially long lines for showers/toilets/general bathroom activities (like brushing your teeth). Otherwise, get a hotel room or check out airbnb. Also, if you're camping, it's smart to bring some lights to light up your campsite with at night (we used some cheap, battery-powered flower string lights from Amazon) in order to identify it later when you're stumbling back to your tents. Bringing your own food will save you some money, but buying it all on the festival grounds is way more convenient. Also remember that charcoal grills are not allowed on the grounds, so it has to be gas or not at all (if you're looking for hot meals). And, most important: if you have severe allergies, definitely speak with your doctor before attending Coachella! You may need to be prescribed some stronger medication in order to make it through the weekend. Boyfriend experiences some strong allergies in arid, desert climates (we discovered this in Vegas), and he had to prepare for about a month before with stronger allergy meds and Nasacort and STILL ended up with some pretty severe breathing issues. And the first aid tents aren't equipped to really help you (they might offer you oxygen, but that's about it), so it's better to be prepared yourself! read more

Coachella - you're something special. I've yearned to visit Coachella for many years and it wasn't until a little convincing from my Coachella veteran boyfriend (that was semi-retired from the festival scene) that we opted to go. Note - this is not a cheap adventure. Tickets (if you're quick to get them) will set you back $400ish. Add in camping and Coachella for two is an easy grand. But where else can you see the likes of Beyonce, Eminem, and so many other awesome performers and up-and-comers in one place? The ticket price is well worth it. As for camping? I loved it. And I'm definitely not the camping type. Yes, it's absolutely hot, so you better come prepared with a shade canopy (or three!). In fact, we opted to bring a 10x20 and a 10x10 to completely cover our 10x30 car camping spot. We purchased these plastic orange screw stakes that held our tent and popups even with gusty winds! We added a few weights specifically made for popup tents and we were gold. Never had to worry about our tents flying away. Having our car completely covered (with side panels that blocked the morning sun) allowed us to sleep comfortably. And trust me, you'll want sleep. Don't forget earplugs and an eye mask. I personally recommend a wraparound mask to hold in your earplugs and provide additional sound control. Other things that aren't totally necessary but made the trip more enjoyable was a portable misting system. We brought 2 five-gallon buckets and just used the melted ice from our ice chests to fill them. A few minutes on and our area was cooled down by 10-15 degrees instantly. It was a savior on the hottest days. Battery operated fans are also a treat. Ice is $10 a bag and a truck comes around once in a while. Bring cash! Don't forget the necessities like baby wipes, SPF, and shower items. No, the showers were not disgusting. Mine was immaculate. However, I did hear some weren't as lucky. Bring flip-flops all the same. Porta potties are porta potties. Just take some wet wipes and hand sani and you'll be fine. There are flushing toilets inside the venue, fyi. Coachella itself was amazing. The security was nice and friendly, and getting through was a breeze. Just a quick bag check and metal detector and you were on your way. You definitely want to bring a face mask. The dust can be brutal from people simply walking. Save your sinuses and lungs and buy an inexpensive neck gaitor. Coachella isn't cheap. But most awesome things arent. Will I go back? Absolutely! read more

I saw a gang of Coachella reviews going up all day today so I'm sure that everything that happened there has been covered so I'll keep this brief. This was my first Coachella and it was AMAZING! Honestly, I can say that while the 3 day passes were a bit pricey at over $300, it was worth every single penny. The highlights for me had to be Jay Z, Muse, Faith No More, Them Crooked Vultures, Benny Benassi, and Tiesto. I've been listening to Muse non-stop since the concert, they were just that spectacular. read more

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ROCKSTAR is the only way to go here. We rented a local Condo for 4 days, VIP passes to the festival, and had Limo service to and from each day. *** Make SURE your limo driver is experienced with Coachella rules or you'll end up walking a mile to meet your driver after a long ass day because he couldn't figure out how to get to the VIP gate late at night... It's hot and sweaty and you will be walking, dancing, or standing in line to walk, dance, pee, eat, or drink all day. But? It's pretty awesome. VIP is not really VIP and thus, if you want to have a chance to enjoy the amenities... and by that I mean a CHANCE. Get the VIP pass. While I walked around those 3 days I had no idea how the "regular people" found food or water or a place to release. haha I'm not kidding. One of the cool things I saw was the line to turn in 10 empty water bottles (They are llittered EVERYWHERE and easy to claim) to get a fresh NEW COLD bottle of water for yourself. SCORE!!! I appreciated that in more ways than one. I really love the Coachella Droid APP so you can organize your MUST SEE setlist and plan your day out. That makes life so easy! Spicy Pie is a must stop for food each day... hands down. It's frickin ridiculously ridiculous! YUM Take an umbrella... Stay hydrated... Be friendly for god sakes cuz that person who bumped into you and spilled your drink earlier just MIGHT be the one in front of you for the bathrooms... or with that extra dollar that you need to get ONE MORE SOJU! Woodstock for all walks of life. I loved it! read more

I went to go check out Coachella on yelp on the shuttle ride to my hotel after Coachella. I was surprised to see that people actually review Coachella. I think thats absolutely ridiculous. If you actually consider reading reviews before purchasing a ticket to Coachella you honestly shouldn't be there in the first place. No review could possibly be comprehensive enough to fully portray what Coachella actually is. If you really wanna know you ought to just buy a ticket and go. read more

Coachella - My motto - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California

Coachella is the big hit to kick off the festival season in the music industry. Yes - after Coachella, there are a gazillion other festivals in different cities with similar line ups, BIG DEAL! Weekend 1 had the most beautiful weather in Coachella history. The partly cloudy skies, the drizzle, wind and comfortably warm days made everything easier. Of course, the nights were a bit chilly, and I didn't come prepared but once you stood with a bunch of people, you warmed up anyway. Even though this was my first time, I feel like it was very organized. With the wristbands, the beep entries, the guest viewing areas at each stage, and insane security. Every show was so much fun because those viewing areas were so easy to find a good spot! I was able to dance AND see. There were so many food trucks in the VIP Beer Garden (closest to the main stage) that made it feel like home! Coolhaus, Poutine, Kogi, etc. Those were probably the only lines I had to deal with during Coachella, and they were well worth it. It was hard to spread out time each day because some bands went on during random hours, and others all at the same time. That was a bummer on night 1, three bands I wanted to see were all on at once - and I had to pick one, or else I'd be running around with my head cut off trying to make them all. The Rose Garden was gorgeous to take photos in and was really quiet, despite being next to the Sahara tent. There were plenty of places to sit down on nice couches, and shaded areas. A few food vendors and cocktails were available for purchase too. I tried to bounce area to every spot I had access to. The artists compound had free beer, water and vita coco! There was also a pond where many sat and relaxed under trees. Traffic was the only part about this festival that upset me. Depending on what time you decided to get there, it was either really easy, no streets shut down or extremely frustrating and detours with orange cones for days. One night, the parking lots were on timer, so I had to wait in my car until the hour hit and we could all go. After that - we had to sit in traffic, going way too far North from our destination because they shut down so many streets and left/right turn lanes. Womp, womp! NBD. Coachella was by far one of the most entertaining things I've ever experienced and I am impressed by the magic and chaos this festival brings to the desert! read more

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Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me in style, Coachella! Enduring 100+ degree heat has never been this fun before. My Weekend 2 Coachella experience was absolutely fantastic. Yes, the scorching sun is grueling. Yes, the evenings are PACKED. Yes, the porta potties are intimidating. And, yes, the air is inundated with cigarette smoke and the grass is littered with cigarette butts. Surprisingly, Coachella still earns all 5 stars from me! Our group decided to skip the camping scene, which some say is the essence of Coachella. We opted to stay in a motel, and I cannot express how happy I am that we made this decision. By the end of each night, we were all so ready to hop into a nice long hot shower and sleep in a real bed. We may have missed out on a bit of the grimy camping culture, but it was an ideal situation for us. My friends and I pulled all-nighters and hightailed it to Indio from Nor Cal. After the long drive, we pulled right into the all-day parking lot, applied 70 spf sunscreen, and made our way to the Polo field. The place is a ghost town during the day, and it is easy to sneak up to the front of some wonderful acts -- I recommend getting there early before people are brave enough to face the heat. Security was no big deal for us because we got there early (around 1 p.m.) before the crowds got intense. We got through in about 5 minutes. They checked under the hat, inside rolled up clothing, inside sunscreen bottles (they shook them to make sure the contents were liquid, which is fine). Also, they really only fondled purses and didn't dig inside, and they didn't allow any full water bottles, obvi. Super simple. I think that not only was the early time helpful, but it seems like the security lines coming from the camping areas were way worse than the lines from day parking. The Weekend 2 temperatures were way hotter than Weekend 1, and we didn't even need sweatshirts or cover-ups at night. A few places had air conditioning, including the H&M refreshment tent (where they had facial wipes and "makeover stations"), the Heineken Beer Dome, and the Red Bull Speakeasy. Still, the majority of your days will be spent outside, in the direct sunlight. Shade is hard to come by and is quickly snatched up. Personally, I'd say imbibe alcohol at your own risk. My group chose to refrain for fear that we would become too lazy to enjoy the acts up front or even suffer from extreme dehydration! Speaking of dehydration, water bottles were 2 bucks and totally worth it. The line for the refill station was unfortunately way too long, and the recycling program was pretty clutch so I didn't feel too bad about downing 7+ bottles a day. We also brought sports drink powder to add to our waters instead of shelling out 4 bucks for a sports drink on site. The EDM tents were crazy, hot, stuffy, and not my scene, so I preferred to stay over at the Outdoor Stage or the Main Stage as often as possible (exceptions included Gotye and Sexy Frank Ocean). Cell phone reception is horrible in the evenings as more people start showing up. It is inevitable that you and your friends will want to see different acts. (Tough decisions in our group included Gotye and Bon Iver vs. The Weeknd and David Guetta.) A good rule of thumb is to have a meeting spot (one of the art sculptures for instance). I also saw some people with walkie talkies, which seems like an excellent idea. Most importantly, the acts were fantaaastic and everyone I met at Coachella was awesome (with 2 distinct exceptions haha). Definitely an experience of a lifetime. read more

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Coachella 2014 was a very well planned and executed festival that catered to the masses. It was my first time going and it's really left a deep imprint on me. Not sure if it's because I was away on vacation too, but everything was just so mellowed out during the 3 days there. There was no such thing as a lewd or outrageously rowdy festival goer-you could literally feel the sense of togetherness while on festival grounds...or maybe that's what the California sunshine does to ya. The lines to get into the grounds early afternoon weren't too bad, averaging at about 1 hour. I didn't mind because again, everybody in line was just too excited about the music to even care that they were waiting in the blistering heat! I appreciate that the festival had appropriate signage directing guests to specific lines to speed the process along. You're separated by the generalized male or female and bag or no bag line. Organizers of the festival did a phenomenal job with the layout of the land. Music from neighboring stages weren't bleeding into each other. Instead, the stages gently blended once you walked close enough. There are a multitude of kiosks for help as well as a neat colored map that lists the line-up with colorful dotted icons. The food at Coachella was nothing to complain about. They had some pretty darn good seafood paella! Water went for about $2 a pop and you're able to bring in empty bottles to refill the days after. The best part about Coachella is the line-up. You may be disappointed that your favorite artist isn't there, but I guarantee that they do a good job of incorporating ALL genres of music and you'll discover new artists you'll end up liking very much. Head to Coachella once, you'll find yourself going to next year's too! :0) Miscellaneous: - I nixed my ankle booties after suffering the first day and survived with toes intact all while wearing flip flops -Bring lots of cash monies -Find the jerky hut -A long sleeve for the evening is not necessary -Don't forget where you parked!! read more

Coachella - My view from a hydration station - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California

I said I would never go to a music festival because I HATE crowds, heat, stupid teenagers, & porta potties but somehow Golden Voice created some kind of magic & made me a festival believer! I heard horror stories about the Coachella Music Festival but they must have worked out all the kinks by 2013. We didn't have any problems driving on to the grounds in the afternoon or getting out late night. Parking was pretty easy & FREE!!! The festival was pretty crowded but there were always areas that you could escape and not be overwhelmed by people. Lucky enough to have VIP passes so had extra areas that I could hang out, outlets to charge phone, & deluxe trailer bathrooms with sinks & everything!! HAPPPPPPPPPY girl!! Food wasn't too bad, not great but hey i was satisfied eating Kogi tacos 3 days in a row. I loved the snail moving around the grounds painted by my favorite artists HERAKUT! This festival is a visual & sound feast. Staff were 99% super courteous & friendly. Now if i can only score artist wristbands next year I just might have to come back!! TIP: Although I loved my VIP perks, I don't think it was really worth the $450 extra $$$ for the extras that you get. read more

ok, this place was awesome. a lot of people mistook it for burning man, but it's music and art in the desert, so that's understood. This place had something for everyone (unless all you listen to is the radio). techno, indie, rock, emo, punk, spanish pop, metal, ridiculous-ness... i had a ton of fun and i didn't feel like i was being raped up the A-hole for the bare essentials (once you're in, there is no exit and re-entry). you could scour the grounds for 10 water bottles and get a free-bee. lunch was as expensive as a #5 at Burger King, sans the beverage, which you got for free anyway. Coachella was a well-organized event. no matter how big the name of your band, you got on and off on time, with very few problems. enough space and bathrooms and shade and water and music... ah the music... good times despite the presence of sour times. read more

Coachella - Dolab - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California

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Coachella is amazing, hands down, but you already knew that. You're probably reading this for some tips so I'll try to do that, especially geared torwards the noobs. I came for weekend 2 in 2014 and stayed at the Comfort Suites a few miles away. - Park in lot 14/15 off 52nd street and Monroe. It's about half a mile walk to the gates, which I heard was shorter than a lot of the other routes. It's the "blue path" and leads directly into the south entrance and right in front of the lockers. Plenty of port a potties on the way as well, and sometimes they have ID check there for all of ya'll planning to get your drink on. - Speaking of drinking, once you're in the parking lot, no one cares if you pre-game or eat a bit/hang out before going in. No one ever hassled us as we walked with open containers all the way to the entrance (including the cops). However, leave the glass containers; those are no-nos. - Rent a locker. You may think you won't need it, but it's so much easier to just leave your bags, jackets, sunblock, hats, sunglasses, bandana/mask, etc. It's not expensive at all. And you will need all those items I just mentioned. - Bring CASH. Very few vendors accept credit cards, and you will get hungry and thirsty. - Spend some time walking through the art exhibits, craft beer garden, other stages, and food tents. There are also some places that give out free samples (we got shampoo and sunblock), and this year the Fruittare tent was there giving away free ice cream bars. - Lastly, leave you inhibitions at home and have a blast!!! Don't forget to stay hydrated too because it can get HOT HOT HOT! read more

Coachella - Picturesque sunsets - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California

Coachella! Everyone should experience it at least once. The performances were awesome! The huge screens made it great for the people who were standing all the way in the back. I made sure to make it to this year's Coachella just so I can see the Queen B herself! She is amazing and put on a such a great show. I was lucky enough to get a really good spot- only because I went to the stage during the previous performer(at this point, it wasn't crowded at all- I guess this band wasn't that popular) and sat down until it was time for Beyoncé to come out. Sat there for like 1.5 hours. You do what you gotta do for your spot lol. I had such a great time but I must say I finally know why people say "I survived Coachella". It is not for the weak lol. Aside from the HOT 100 degree palm springs sun, there are a few more things you will have to prepare for. That Coachella dust is serious. Within minutes I developed a cough from all of the dust even with the bandana I brought to cover my nose and mouth. There is a lot of walking. Each stage is a good distance between them. There's a lot of standing- after a while you will find yourself sitting on the grass/dirt. The food is expensive as hell! Slice of cheese pizza was $8, a burger was $14 and if you want fries with that it was an extra $8. So $22 for a regular burger and fries! Be prepare to wait on long lines for everything! Food, drinks, bathroom/porta poties, ferris wheel etc. Oh and if you wait to leave after the last performance ends, be prepare for a long slow walk back to the shuttle buses. I hope this doesn't discourages anyone from going lol. Overall, I had a great time and love the whole festival experience. read more

There's reviews for Coachell? Hell yeah. Looooooove Coachella. I've been EVERY single year. Yup, without fail. The pros: AMAZING MUSIC friendly people spicy pie. If you've tried it, you know the wonder that is spicy pie. full bar in vip. (can also be a negative, tho.) portapotties in vip are always empty and still smell clean at the end of the weekend. The ones on the field,not so much. free parking I lost my camera and someone returned it to Lost N Found and they promptly returned it to me. Cons: some people need to shower. Badly. sometimes the police get a little overzealous. dirty, dusty traffic is slow to get there. hotels and condos/houses nearby hike their rates up to as much as 3x the price during this weekend. (this can be solved if someone's willing to camp, but I'm not.) 2010 the volunteers just didn't know what they were doing as far as tickets, etc... but with time, maybe this will be remedied for smoother sailing in the future. Overall, I've always had an amazing time with friends and have seen some awesome bands/ acts. I definitely recommend it. :) read more

Best thing that ever happened to me!!! Why did it take so long for me to go, bc I was an iiiiidiot! The pool parties, to the vip events, and the festival itself....mind-f'en-blowing. Coachella has changed my life and I want to live in a life within it and be free!! One love, Peace, and Unity! We all come for the same reasons... For the Love of Music! read more

How quickly you can leave one world and enter another? When my coworkers asked me to describe my experience at Coachella, to be honest, I didn't really know what to say. Looking through my photos and videos, I knew nothing could replicate how I felt while laying out on that green field, enjoying the music from the outdoor stages, and looking up. I didn't know what to expect, but I entered with a clear and open mind, ready for the experience to flow through me. First, the music: the EDM trend has been holding strong in most recent music festivals and Coachella was no exception. Sahara and Yuma were solely electronic and some big names even took the main stages. My favorites were definitely Martin Garrix and Galantis. Sahara stage was one of the most decked out, lit up, lasered stages I've ever been in. Lights timed perfectly with the beats and every drop, there were moments when I was more impressed by what was happening around me versus the sets themselves. The guest appearance of Kaskade at Galantis made the night even more special. The other acts we saw were also unbelievably fun, performers going all out and feeding off the energy of the crowd. Solange, Ellie Goulding, and Muse all had exceptional shows. My only complaint is that the stages, especially Sahara, weren't large enough to meet the demand. People were spilling over on the sides and unless you arrived early, you needed to be slightly aggressive to be in sight of the stage. As mentioned earlier, the environment was a whole new world. Multiple public art installations as well as lights at night helped create almost a Coachella bubble. Especially after jumping for over an hour, nothing felt better than laying out on the grass and watching everything happen around you, very surreal like. The food and amenities were decent, given that it was a festival. We found for the most part tacos were the way to go to get the bang for your buck. The beer garden was a great addition as well. If you didn't want drink Heineken, they had over 20 craft beers on tap for prices that rivaled some New York bars (seriously). Would I come back? I'd seriously consider it, although Coachella is on the upper end of music festivals and the trip out to California is no picnic. But hey, Coachella is only once a year and a chance to escape the real world for a bit. Give it a spin if you really want something different within the US. read more

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If you have ever wanted to reincarnate yourself as a piece of livestock without having to go through the whole death thing, this is the place for you. Security: Car camping security honestly just threw away a hammer, metal camping stakes, and a 3 inch Swiss army from my car. Hammer and stakes were for pinning tent to ground. It was nice to not have those essential tools that when setting up the tent in the 15 mph wind gusts that were. It was just annoying more than anything, especially because at the end of the say, people have all kinds of prohibited things at their campground that they snuck in. Also, btw the security line just off right from middle - WTF. Every line (and I'm not just saying this) was moving faster. To put it in context, a guy in our group who was thirty minutes behind us on the freeway was past security 15 minutes before our car reached the checkpoint. Scan the car briefly, and move people along. That easy. Now, I'm in the shower line. For the thousands of people camping, there are three shower trailers. Also, apparently the water is cold, so there's another plus. Add all this + the less than capable staff and you have Coachella, specifically Coachella camping. It's much better not camping and just coming in and parking daily. For as much money that Golden Voice brings in each year for this event, I would expect much higher quality amenities. And let's get down to the root of it all: I blame Beyonce. Her performance better make me spontaneously self combust to combat this awful campground experience. read more

Coachella was amazing. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that you have to do at least once in your life. You hear stories about people going to festivals and it "changes" them. It's annoying, but I get it now. There's something special about thousands of people coming together for the love of music, seeing their favorite artists perform and enjoying innovative art and delicious food in between. Go. Camp. Try all the food. Meet as many new people as you can! Have fun and enjoy the experience with a healthy group of friends willing to extend a hand. read more

Coachella is something you must experience at least once, but I'm certain you'll return again and again. Coachella is so much more than music...it's a music and arts festival. For a true experience, camp! Car camping is the way to go. Tons of food options available throughout the festival (Vegan, Raw Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Kosher Options). Coachella offers a reasonable rate to see so many amazing artists. Tips: Bring a bandana or a mask, pack a hat, download & utilize the App (so many cool features), and hydrate! Also, exchange 10 empty water bottles for 1 cold water bottle...recycle. Make sure you ride the Ferris wheel. It is the best view of Coachella; especially at night (all of the neon lights). read more

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This was my first year going and I've been to a lot of different music festivals but this is my favorite! There's so much different things to do at Coachella. Eat, explore, look at art, rides, and the music! If you're a foodie like me, coming here that was one of the things I was looking forward to the most. So much good food to choose from. Mostly all of them were very different foods I've never tasted before. Also, there was so many surprise guest performances! There was so many I couldn't even keep track anymore. Overall it was a very fun experience. Can't wait until next year! read more

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Love the VIP areas. Especially rose garden vibe during day. Chill and have a beverage between shows. read more

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Like, of course I'm going to give Coachella a solid review. IT WAS AMAZING! I lucked out and had a wonderfully, temperate weekend and yes, it was Beychella. There's a hidden tiki bar at the coconut spot so make sure you check that out. They had vegan ramen and food for pretty much anyone to eat. The beer garden was also fantastic. SO. MANY. BEERS. I opted for an IPA because those are my favorite. Buy a locker before going or you won't get one. A medium locker is large enough for you and a few friends to store your stuff. Wear comfy shoes: you have about a mile walk in-and-out of the venue. I gave it four stars for a few reasons: *They need more hydration stations. They're not easy to find and considering it could be over 100, they should have more of them and easy to spot. *This last year, they only partnered with Uber. Sorry not sorry but nah. I'm a Lyft user and that's not cool with me. I'm lucky that my Airbnb was walking distance but still, no. read more

Decided to check out Coachella for the 1st time this year with my girls after learning that our Queen 'Yonce was gonna grace the stage. Overall, I think it's a decent festival, but I probably won't go again for a few reasons. Think new age Woodstock when wondering how this festival is. Folks were: smoking weed/other hard drugs & walking around damn near bukkid naked (no lie lol). But nevertheless, everyone was still mad cool and enjoying themselves so it was a good vibe overall. A few things to note: 1. DUST/BREATHING CONDITIONS - The dust here is off the chain. Be sure to wear a bandana AND place a well ventilated face mask up under it (the bandana alone doesn't work). Otherwise, you'll be inhaling large amounts of it b/c the grounds are mostly made up of dirt/dust. It gets kicked around quite a bit by both the wind, the cars/carts, and all the festival goers. As soon as you begin walking, put your bandanna/face cover on to avoid breathing excess On that same note, be sure to wear closed toe shoes as well to avoid your feet getting extra dirty. Bring a portable light-weight blanket/towel/backpack/collapsible water bottle (they have free refills)/plenty of sunscreen for day time/jacket for night time/etc...Just be smart with what you bring to make sure you're protected. 2. STAGE CONFUSION- There's a few stages on the grounds with no signage indicating which stage you're at and some of the actual workers didn't even know which stage is which either so be sure to ask for a map or ask the people scanning wristbands. 3. WRISTBANDS - Speaking of wristbands...We purchased our 3-Day wristbands/shuttle passes online in advance, but noticed that alot of folks were soliciting/selling their wristbands in different Coachella FB groups online for specific days. This may be the cheaper route to go instead of buying directly online. Just be sure if you do buy from someone via FB that they can show you proof of purchase and that the wristband has not been altered. Although they tell you not to allow anyone with an altered wristband into the festival, absolutely NO ONE checked for this. They just wanted you to scan your band and keep it moving. We ended up selling all 4 of our Day 3 wristbands since we decided not to go and made a good fraction of our money back so win-win. 4. SHUTTLES vs VIP Parking - Even though we paid for shuttle passes with our wristband package, we learned through a Coachella FB group from previous weekend attendees that the lines were super long and taking hours to board. So we opted to spend another $150 for VIP Parking, which seemed to be the smarter route to go. (I did see that they offered Day Parking too, which was right next to VIP parking so may be a cheaper route than VIP Parking.) We were able to park our rental closer to the entrance gates and were able to get in/out of the parking lot with ease (Day 2 night was a bit longer b/c everyone on earth was there to see Beyonce - including us!). You can also hire a private driver (including Uber drivers) for the weekend - just be sure they're legit & aren't over-charging you. I will say that they only allowed Uber drop offs in a lot that was hella far from the entrance gates (we passed their lot on the way to parking in VIP). 5. FOOD - Just like any festival / event venue, expect that food is gonna be hella high. The vendors there were charging between $10-$15 for food options. I bought a veggie wrap from Strictly Vegan for $15. They gave a decent portion and the food was amazing so bring plenty of cash. They all accept cards, but seem to appreciate cash payments. 6. TRAFFIC - Most of the time, the headliner artist is going on last normally around 11pm or so. I highly suggest that you leave before their performance ends to avoid long waits in traffic. 7. FLIGHT OPTIONS / LODGING - They allow you to camp out on the grounds, but I noticed that winds were preventing them from opening up to the public on that Friday morning so keep that in mind b/c high wind is indeed a factor in Indio, CA where the festival is held. We stayed at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs in Cathedral City which was roughly 15 mins away and had no problems with traffic. Most people fly into LAX & drive over to Indio (takes 2-2.5 hrs). We flew into Ontario and it took us 1.5hrs to get to the hotel. Ontario's airport was smaller & more manageable than LAX in my opinion, but hey - your call. **Nugget - Amex Cardholders get access to a VIP lounge on the grounds along with covered seating, drinks, etc. so be sure to bring it!** Again, this was a decent experience overall and the best part was getting to see Beyonce with my friends. But I honestly don't see myself coming back to this one unless they changed location of the venue b/c that dust was just out of control. read more

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I have no complaints regarding the festival itself, this review is purely for the customer service end of Coachella before getting to the venue for the actual festival. I had not received my ticket in the mail and had no communication sent to me regarding the status of my wristband. When I went to the website to try to find a number to call for help, there was only a live chat. The live chat agent was not helpful and did not give me any options other than waiting to see if my ticket arrived and switching to will call pick up. There was no sense of understanding or trying to work with me. I was not able to attend and was trying to see if my friend could pick up the ticket for themselves at will call but was told it had to be me, which wouldn't be possible. When I asked to speak to someone in real time I was told by the agent that was not possible. I understand that there are regulations and guidelines that the festival abides by, but there are options on the website displaying the ability to transfer your tickets to friends and no options like that were given to me. Again, this is not a review on the festival, but the customer service needs to be improved as I do not plan on giving my money to this company again. read more

We have been coming for almost 8 years now and Coachella never disappoints, and only seems to get better. One thing though...... Bring DAFT PUNK back! Remember: its a marathon, not a sprint! read more

Forever in love with you Coachella. I can look past your stinky bathrooms, long food lines, excruciating heat, expensive (delicious) food, and everything else annoying about you, because you have the sweetest most welcoming and wonderful vibe - unlike any other festival I've ever been to. The desert drive from LA is gorgeous (windmills). The night time breeze is heavenly. Your lights are mesmerizing :D Music is mostly amazing. I love discovering new artists here. And even walking amongst them enjoying music together I'd like to say I'll be back in 2016.... We shall see. read more

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I've been to Coachella 2011 and 2014. Coachella 2011 we did car and tent camping which is something you don't want to do if you want to get any rest. People are partying 24/7, music blaring, people being loud, sometimes loud arguing, dust in the air, community showers and port-a-johns, and just when you do happen to fall asleep the sun rises early and the heat and light hits you like a bat outta hell, time to get up! Coachella 2014 we got rooms at Fantasy Springs Casino, pricier but hell of a lot more comfortable. The upside to camping is you can got to you camp site and get drunk then walk back in the venue, no DUI's or worrying about parking. You can do the same if you drive and park, but the lots are further away from the venue and you have cops everywhere. The events themselves were crowded, hot, expensive, and dusty. The music is very diverse so there's usually something for everyone. You can't bring alcohol into the venue but you can try sneaking it in. They have wall lockers at the entrance so you don't have to carry all sorts of crap during the event. There are plenty of food tents to try and some are good while others are bad, it's hit or miss. The event is pretty epic and should at least be experienced once in someones life if they love music. The beer garden is a cool place to escape the crowd because it's 21 and over but the prices for drinks range from $10 and up. TIPS: 1. Bring plenty of cash, they do accept cards but not when a system goes down. 2. Wear comfortable shoes! 3. Bring a sweater, something light, as it can get chilly at night. 4. Rent a wall locker if you don't feel like carrying everything, back packs are allowed and you will be searched. 5. Bring a dust mask, bandanna, scarf, or something to cover your face if dust and allergies bother you. 6. Sun screen! 7. Have the event map on hand or download the app. read more

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Coachella is a tightly run ship and it's pretty impressive all around. Sound quality was loud but not distorted at the venue. Sound quality: Some crosstalk from other stages was audible due to their close proximity. This detracts from the experience when acts who are not just a complete wall of sound are playing. The iPhone App they produced is nice. it'd be cool we we could export our timeline as a Tumblr, FaceBook or Tweet. Aside from that I don't see what Coachella could have done better. The rest of this review is more about Valley Music Travel. By trade, I'm a professional knit-picker so excuse the winging I'm about to put forward: Valley Music Travel has put a lot of effort into what they do. They are very easy to reach by phone and communication levels are high. Delivery of passengers is another situation. As many know, they sent out the wrong bus passes. Luckily, if you arrived early enough, you were able to exchange these passes for the right passes. Some people who arrived late may not have been so lucky (I don't know). Fair enough. Mistakes happen and they did their best to resolve it. Next up is the transit. It was our experience that bus drivers couldn't tell that there was a distortion in the speakers on one of the bus. On one ride the driver adjusted the preamp "Gain" instead of just the volume on the stereo. This caused the speakers to distort and he couldn't tell the difference. We had high end distortion grating on our ears for about 40 minutes of bus ride. I'm a former sound engineer for film/television so maybe I'm hyper sensitive to this type of thing. Other people on the bus did comment on it too though. OK, I'm talking to you again Valley Music Travel, if that's your real name: PLEASE advertise the bus schedules and whether the bus will be picking up from more than one hotel on the way. We missed several acts due to buses being randomly diverted to other hotels to pickup two guests. It was hard to gauge when we should leave the resort in order to get to the festival on time. Some bus rides were 40 minutes while others were fully 90 minutes. That was aggravating as we missed the first half of the main act we'd bought tickets to see. Lastly, VMT, please provide Purell antibacterial wipes at the entrance to the bus. My boyfriend and I both came back very ill and it's our thought that we might have picked up colds from sharing seats with others on the bus. Of course, rubbing elbows with 75,000 people at the festival could have had something to do with it too. Antibacterial wipes would be a nice touch and should not be all that expensive. Grocery Stores and doctors offices do it today. I do thank VMT for their efforts. It was a fun weekend and they helped make it happen. read more

I hate to admit this, but Coachella, you're getting four stars. Yes, it's hot as hell. Yes, the dust storm was freakin' nuts. Yes, your security search for car campers could be much more efficient and consistent. I mean, we arrived there before 2:00 a.m. from a long car ride only to have to wait a good (actually, horrible) two hours. Some security lines were going smoothly along, whereas others were inexplicably slow. By the time we arrived at the camp site, pitched our tent, and got ready to pass out in exhaustion, it was past 5:00 a.m. Well, that early morning bed time certainly set the stage for the remainder of the 3-day weekend. Also, more shower trailers should be devoted to females. A weekend of making females stand in long lines for the shower will not change our habits of taking longer showers than our male counterparts. We can't be fixed so don't bother trying. But you know what? I'll give you credit that this arts and music festival is well-organized. I mean, it better be considering how much tickets cost and you have everyone from A-list to H-list celebrities (H = Hasselhoff) in attendance. I had my doubts that I'd enjoy your version of a large-format music festival because I prefer seeing my favorite acts in more intimate settings where they play longer sets and not just their hit songs. However, the variety of music and performers allowed me to check out artists I otherwise would never pay separately to go see. (Krewella, I don't listen to EDM, but damn you're impressive!) Would I do Coachella again? Sure, if I can afford it and my body doesn't get too old to withstand standing for hours on end for several days. Geez, a week later, I'm still in recovery mode... read more

Coachella - View from the ferris wheel of Calvin Harris at the main stage. - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California