The Coachella 2019 Survival Guide. What you should know and bring before traveling to the biggest desert party.

Well you if you are like me, you survived the epic running man ticket purchase. You celebrated and groaned when the rumored lineup became official and now commences the preparations for your epic weekend. After two years of Coachella, here is my comprehensive list of what you should bring, expect and prepare for that I myself will be doing.

Lockers, Lockers, Lockers!!!
Not the first thing people tend to think about but boy does it help! Right when you walk in you see a large sign that directs you to the on-site locker section but here’s the thing: they are already sold out. Why do I add lockers to my list? WEATHER. When you first arrive the temp. is hot and dry. By sundown the temp. drops and you have cold winds. Lucky you because you have your jacket, socks, change of shoes and other necessities just steps away on-site. Hassle free. Even those that are camping have to walk and waste 45min minimum because of the long lines at the entrance.
Bring a face mask, scarf or bandana.
You may have seen this piece of advice which I think is important. Bring something to cover you nose. The festival grounds get really dusty. From the minute you start walking to the entrance you are enveloped in a dust bowl. There are hundreds of people walking around which only contributes to more dust. “It doesn’t go with my outfit.” Take it off for all your social media events, trust me you lungs will appreciate it after three days. Prepare and bring your anti-allergy medicine because the dry dust and grass on the festival grounds irritates most people’s eyes and throat.

The water situation.
The first thing to do is look at your Coachella map and identify where the water stations will be at. Generally there are only two stations. Another thing to keep in mind is these stations will be packed and the water is room temp (so it will be warm!!). So waiting in line to refill your hydro-flasks, bottles or camel packs may take a while. If you find yourself in need of cold water, there are many water bottle carts for purchase . They sell ice cold water bottles for $2 each but it’s CASH ONLY. So remember to bring a couple of bills each day. Cold water is hard to find.

Transportation to the festival.
If you are camping, make sure you get there early on Thursday to get the best/closest’s spots. I have personally never camped because I prefer my own shower and bed to recover for the next day. The shuttle pass is the way to go, in my opinion. They allow you to bring your drinks on the bus. Make sure you leave early for the shuttle. Lines can get long while you wait.
- Palm Springs Shuttle line: This is the longest route/stop to the festival. At peak hours with traffic the ride can take almost 1 hour to reach the destination. Keep in mind that the wait times to get on the bus can also be long going and leaving the festival. So plan ahead, bring your favorite alcoholic beverages and have a good time on the bus! For the return trip, its a great way to nap.
- La Quinta Resort & Club Shuttle line: This will be your shortest shuttle ride. If you are able to stay at La Quinta or Airbnb nearby and you prefer to have few wait times at the bus waiting area and the route, this is your best option!
- If you are Driving/parking for the day or Ubering they have allocated areas for you. Keep in mind that traffic will be bad, Uber prices skyrocket and please don’t drink and drive

Establish a meeting place.
Cell reception is extremely spotty. Most times you will find yourself having no reception whatsoever for long periods of time. Sorry to those who love to update their social media constantly, this place forces you to live without reception. This is where a good meet up spot comes in handy. That way you can feel confident and everyone can enjoy their separate music experience while knowing the will find each other again.

Essential Items to bring.
So you have the place, the clothes and its time to pack for the essentials on all three days. This is where lockers come in handy but backpack or fanny packs also get the job done.
- Sunscreen: You will get burned. You are going to the middle of the desert where temps. can reach almost 110 degrees. Do yourself a favor and protect your skin and reapply constantly.
- Chapstick with SPF: Your lips will be very happy.
- USB battery pack: Must have if you will be using your phone all day. Pictures, videos or social media updates will quickly drain your battery.
- Bring a fan: Girls, there is no breeze at the grounds during the day. Add to the fact that you will be surrounded by hundreds of bodies with little air ventilation.
- Sunglasses: Fashion statement and much needed eye protection.
- Bring a small flashlight: Another useful tool. At night it gets pitch dark. Festival goers enjoy lying down in the middle of the field which can make walking tricky. Flashlight is the better option than you cell phone light.
- Print/Screenshot the setlist and map: Coachella is not Disneyland. They don’t give handouts. So to avoid missing an act or knowing when to leave a stage, this tip helps immensely.

Get to the Merch Booth first thing on Friday.
This is something I wish I had known my first time. I chose to postpone buying a jacket I wanted for a later time. By the afternoon, all Small sizes were gone and they were running out of Mediums. You may thin that they restock for the next day but the truth is they don’t. They bring one large shipment and once it sells out, it’s gone. If small sizes or merch aren’t your thing then this is one less item off your checklist.
Undercover cops.
Don’t buy or sell drugs while at the festival. There are undercover cops blending through the crowd and the last thing you need is your whole weekend to be ruined buy an ugly situation. Instead enjoy the music and the time you have. Discover new music and drink and eat till your hearts content.
Stay positive and have fun!
My personal thoughts:
Make the best memories and enjoy the weekend ride. For some like me, this will be their last Coachella. I won’t say never but for now I am happy to experience it one last time. Three years of Coachella have left me satisfied but I wish to experience new music festivals, new places and make new memories. I’m a weekend 2 goer, and with each passing year the Coachella vibe of weekend 2 drifts. What started as a weekend for people who go for the music, is slowly turning into a weekend 1 vibe. There is now more people, more importance on social presence and less about being fully immersed in music and discovering new genres but those are my opinions. It’s only a small past of my decision, another being the price increase each year. So as I join you all on Weekend 2 one last time I wish everyone happy time. Be safe and lets have an amazing Coachella 2019!