Coachella has been on my travel bucket list foreeeever and I have finally checked it off! The pandemic became an huge influence in my wanting to get back and experience life. I had missed festivals a great deal during the shutdown and decided to go big for my first music festival post COVID. I’m going to share my experience as a first time Coachella goer. I went weekend 2, April 22-25, 2022.
Buying Tickets
I subscribed to Coachella emails so I will be notified when advanced tickets were going on sale. I bought my tickets when they were released back in June, 2021. I was able to see all the ticket and package options so I can be ready to buy on day one. I decided to do weekend 2 because of my work schedule and that I felt I would have a better chance at getting tickets. Since it was my first time going, I opted to purchase VIP tickets + hotel package. I wanted to ease of not having to research hotels and they offered free shuttle to and from your hotel to the festival. The package was about $1,500 per person for two people. I used their payment plan to pay $99 deposit and 8 monthly payments. I also bought the airport transportation. Due to American changing my flight, I wasn’t able to use the shuttle to the hotel, but I did take the shuttle to the airport. I would suggest arriving a day before the festival so if transportation is delayed, you won’t miss out on any shows.
Lodging
I stayed at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa and it did not disappoint! The resort was beautiful and our room had an amazing view of the pool with desert mountains in the background. The staff were super friendly and I loved my room. I felt at peace every time I woke up and looked out my window. The hotel had freebies (water hydration) available for you when you checked in. There were several restaurants and Starbucks on property. The pool offered poolside dining service, towels, and a DJ.
Coachella Checkin & Shuttle
The checkin process was quick and seamless. They had a cute welcome package for you that included your wristbands and freebies.
The shuttles to the festival were really good. There was hardly any wait time for using the shuttle. They had shuttles coming back to back.
What to Bring
Plastic water bottle (free water stations throughout the festival).
Coat for the night. It gets cold!
Blanket if you want to sit down and enjoy the concert.
Change of clothes if you plan to be there all day without leaving.
Shower wipes. During the day, it’s hot!
Hand sanitizer.
Portable fan.
Comfy shoes you don’t mind getting dusty from all the sand.
Paper to write down your crew’s numbers just in case your phone dies or you lose your phone.
Charging block.
The Festival
My overall experience was great. Be prepared for a lot of walking! The walk from the shuttle drop off to the entrance was about a 5ish minute walk. There were bicyclist with carts ready to pedal you to the entrance and shuttle drop off for $20/person. The Coachella app was my best friend. It had an interactive map to help you navigate through the festival grounds. There were about 5 different stages. There were lockers to rent (buy before you go because they sell out fast). I liked this option because I could leave my jacket and blanket and any other essentials I may need without having to carry everything all day.
VIP. VIP had its own separate entrance to the festival. I didn’t have to use it because there was not a wait to get in. The VIP area was pretty big and right next to the main stage. There was a big open area for you to stand and watch the show, its own dedicated restrooms, food vendors, bar, merchandise, and a lounge area with shade, tables and chairs. If I went to Coachella again, I would definitely do VIP again.
Food. I only got food the first day I was there. It was pricey and not good. The rest of the time there, I ate before I went at the hotel, and for dinner I left and went to restaurants in the area, then came back to the festival for the night time shows.
Concerts. The lineup had several artists performing at one time, so you had to pick to see who you really wanted to see. I didn’t like that most of the R&B and Hip Hop artists performed at the same time because there were not a lot of artists in that genre of music. If most of the artists you want to see were on the main stage, there were like an hour breaks in between. You could walk across the grounds to see another performance or kill time on the ferris wheel, AMEX lounge, get food, etc. Planning is definitely key here.
If the lineup is right, I would attend Coachella again.I would fly in a day early, bring a thicker coat for the night, and lodge with JW Marriott.
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