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MISC points regarding which weekend to attend

Weekend 1 Pros

There is grass
Everything is new
Easier to sneak stuff in(?)
More excitement overall
More surprise guests(?)
Sat is Neon Carnival so less influencers Sat night
Given data weather is better

Weekend 1 “Neutrals”

Younger Crowd(?)
Doesn’t get crowded until sundown

Weekend 1 Cons

More influencers/”clout chasers”
Tech/Sound issues
More people(?)

Weekend 2 Pros

More Music Lovers
Runs Smoother
Less People(?)
Get to have info from Reddit
Know who to see
Falls on 4/20
Crowd is livelier
Easier to get tickets for

Weekend 2 “Neutrals”

Older Crowd(?)
“Stricter” Security

Weekend 2 Cons

More Dust
Very little is "new"
Less surprise guests
More crowded during the day than W1 Due to more music lovers going
Given data weather is worse

Car/Tent Camping Pros

Overall this is the cheapest option for lodging because it also includes transport (unless you use pedi cabs to and from your tent)
- Cheapest is Tent/General Car camping at around 150 + fees
- Next is Preferred car camping at 375 + fees
- After that Lake Eldorado is priced at:
  - $3,198 for 2 with GA passes, $4,196 for 4 with GA passes
  - $4,338 for 2 with VIP passes, $6,476 for 4 with VIP passes
- The prices of the most expensive camping options range from 9k + fees to 20k+ with fees
No wasted time with Ubers or Parking
It’s a PARTY, you can make friends with your neighbors regardless of if you came together or not.
Lots of events in the campgrounds (silent disco, games, crafts, yoga, etc.)
Once the festival is done you can be at your “bed” in 30 minutes MAX

Car/Tent Camping Cons

It gets hot during the day making it hard to sleep in past 10am at the latest
It gets cold at night (this can be combated by bringing more blankets or pocket hand warmers)
Showering can be annoying, if you chose to use the showers provided by the festival (more information on showers in Info Center page)
Sleeping can be harder if you are a light sleeper
The bathrooms are porta-potties on the campgrounds, no “normal” bathroom options

Hotel/AirBnB Pros

Clean showers
A/C ALL DAY
Better rest
Better meals since you have a kitchen/outlets available
If you know you don’t like camping/glamping then that just isn’t an option for you.

Hotel/AirBnB Cons

More expensive than car/tent camping (prices can differ when comparing to Lake Eldorado, Safari and Yurt camping - more info on Info Center page)
- Depending on when you book your hotel/AirBnB it can be WAY more $$ than camping options
Ubers can be EXPENSIVE
- Shuttle passes are available for travel between the festival and select hotels
Day Parking is free but they can fill up toward the later parts of the day (Sunday W2 2023 sold out by 2pm)
The majority of the dust that people talk about is found in the walk to and from parking
Traffic can be an hour or two for places that are normally only a couple minutes away.
AirBnB’s can cancel on you last minute to make more money closer to the festival

Lodging Ranked (in my opinion)

Camping
1. Lake El Dorado and higher if you can comfortably afford it otherwise skip it.
2. Preferred Car Camping
3. Regular Car Camping
4. Tent Camping
Hotels/Motels
AirBnBs

WEATHER MOVED TO DATA TAB

Is Coachella worth it?

Coachella can be very expensive and it depends on how much you chose to spend, but it can be a very high “return on investment” metaphorically.

If you were to break down the price to see the amount of artists you will get to see at Coachella it can really quickly surpass that of the GA pass (even VIP passes).
- The headliners alone could add up to the cost of the festival, if you were to see them separately on their own tours.
I strongly believe that if you live within driving distance (4-6 hours) from Coachella then you should go at least once in your life.
- I am fortunate enough to live 4 hours away (without traffic) from Coachella and from about the age of 5 or so until 17 I lived there every summer with my family. So for me it was like visiting my home away from home for a music festival.
  - This being said I am very biased in saying it’s worth it and can understand people who have to travel by plane and do a ton more prep but overall the experience cannot be beat.
Coachella is not just a music festival.
- Yes the biggest aspect of it is the music festival but the food there is amazing.
- The art there is magnificent and on a scale that is hard to have in a typical museum/gallery.
- The community aspect is something of wonder. While it is not the same as a community based experience on the same level as Burning Man, it can be a very impactful time for some (me, I’m some)
It can be a very big force in your career if you are trying to grow your online presence.
- Now, Coachella does get a lot of shit for how influencer heavy it is but that comes with the territory and I promise no one actually cares if you are making TikToks or video clips for a vlog.
- Coachella media has been known to generate a lot of clicks and views.
The experience as a whole, regardless of how you chose to spend it, will be memorable!
- My first year going was with people I didn’t really know and even the not so good memories I had were still a fun time. I would not change it for the world.

If you aren’t going for the live music then I do not think you will enjoy the festival overall. Sure the factors of the festival that aren’t live music are cool they do not make up for the cost alone. I will say if you do not care too much about the music then skip until you find a lineup that is great. If you think Coachella is overrated then I’d day spend it elsewhere to a festival more your speed!

All in all the decision to attend Coachella is very heavily weighed by the monetary constraints of being a normal person (unless you are a billionaire/celebrity). If it is something you want to do but don’t have a lot of money you can always save up, do payments plans, camp and or find a way to work the festival. Where there is a will there is a way.

Overall I would say to manage your expectations so that they can at the very least be met and, in most cases, surpassed. If you go in knowing the downsides of the festival then, in my opinion, you are prepared for what could go “wrong” and it won’t taint the experience as much as if they were news to you in the moment.

Dust, heat, crowds, cost, etc.

If you do end up going to Coachella I hope this guide helps in that journey and that you have SO MUCH FUN!!