My friend and I rented a minivan for the weekend and basically made it our home, the back seats folded into the floor so we set up beds back there and had a little hang out area. Before the gates would open we just sat in the parking lot with the van on and air conditioning going, it didn't use up that much gas and the van was practically brand new so it didn't overheat or anything. It was pretty cheap compared to a hotel and we'd just park at a Dennys or something and sleep in the van, it got a little hot in the mornings but it wasn't unbearable.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEER: WHERE TO PEE. There are good number of port-o-potties grouped throughout the festival grounds, but for whatever reason, people seem to want to use the bathroom immediately after entering the park. So, the bathrooms near the entrance gates are almost always the dirtiest and have the longest lines. If you walk past this group and walk a little further (usually near the theater or the two tents, but I recall one year where they were located elsewhere), you'll find other groups of porto-o-potties that hopefully will have shorter lines. In any case, these will be closer to the action, so you can at least hear something while you're waiting. Of course, the bathrooms at the park will become nastier as the days go on no matter what bathroom you use, so definitely bring some Purell and/or travel-sized wet wipes.

You can trade 10 used plastic bottles you find on the ground for a fresh bottle of water. Good for you body, and good for the earth!

Refill your empty water bottle at water fountains inside the grounds. Buying water over and over is unnecessary and can get spendy.

Refill water bottles with water. You know, actual water. Not beer. Beer is for later, when you're not going to pass out from heatstroke.

The biggest tip I can give is have all your friend bring Walkie Talkies... Honestly as many temporary towers as Sprint, Verizon, and ATT put up it still won't be enough and you will be dropping calls left and right. So hit up best buy and spend the $40 on a pair of them, you'll be glad you did.

get an ice cooling vest. numerous stores in K-town carry them. you slip icepacks in the vest and wear it under your shirt. it keeps your core temperature cool so you won't get the beloved heatstroke...

Don't get too overloaded with caffeine - it will dehydrate you and you'll pass out. Bring a safely-refillable water bottle (like a Klean Kanteen) and drink as much as possible. Be patient in the traffic and save your energy for your favorite bands.

...I'm a huge Portishead fan who can't go to Coachella so this would be amazing. Thanks.

Take a rally towel (or one similar in size) with you. When it's really hot, you can go over to the water booth and ask to dunk them into the melted ice. Then you can take a little shower, or toss the towel over your head, around your neck, etc. It's a life saver.

If you're driving from LA take the 60 (not the 10), and use the third Coachella exit (Jackson, I think). It seems counterintuitive to drive to the farthest exit, but it's saved us every time we've done it. Sadly, I can't go this year...

Camping! Is the best way to go! Not only was it super convenient, I met people from all over the country and at least 7 different countries. Such a good time and not expensive at all! You can leave food/water in your car and its a really close walk!

1) Prior to arriving to the grounds, stop off at the Viceroy for some poolside cocktails, snacks. Yes, you'll be incredibly grateful you did and it'll give you perspective and a feel for the Coachella vibe. You also might be able to hitch a ride to the grounds with ???: VICEROY PALM SPRINGS 415 South Belardo Road Palm Springs. Alternatively, you're tailgating with people who started drinking at 10 a.m. which is probably not your crowd.

2) Cocktails for the VIPless-It's Portishead and if you're not enjoying a cocktail during their set it's not the Portishead live experience!!! Afterall, do you think they'll be performing without a drip? Bring a few airplane size Grey Goose or other vodka bottles and stick 'em in your bra, tighty whiteys or elsewhere. There are plenty of stands that sell perfectly mixable fluids to go with these. Purpose, you will HATE drinking bad $7 8 oz cups of beer all day/night. Nobody ever gets caught at the gate and if you do, you just have to forfeit them.

You can also try and hit people up who are wearing VIP bracelets for extra bracelets as they often have them. This gives you access to full bar. I'm four for seven here and not particularly overtly attractive or charming.

-Have fun, drive safely.

as someone who's been 7 of 8 years, i have a little experience...

get there early. i know, i know. it's hot. but if you show up at 4 thinking you've outsmarted the sweaty masses already inside, you'll likely be stuck in line for an hour or more in the same heat, sans music and mist tents. trust.

and one more thing which may garner much hatred from other Coachella vets, but because i REALLY want to see this Portishead show...

stay off of Monroe when driving in AT ALL COSTS. i won't go so far as to give you the preferred "secret" routes that aren't nearly as clogged, but do the research and you'll be better off for it.

don't hate, congratulate.

For people getting tickets at the last minute, there's no way you'll find a hotel at this point, unless you know someone with a room who's willing to let you crash on the floor. If you have an SUV, you're pretty much set, provided it's only 2 or 3 of you (more than that will be crowded and smelly). Pack an ice chest or two with lots of ice for drinking water and food (lunch meat is best) to last the weekend, bring extra gallon containers of water and some handsoap (you will be thankful for the handsoap) so you can clean up at the end of the day (bring wash cloths). Now, the venue states that there will be no parking overnight, but at the end of each night, getting out of the parking lot is a flustercuck and generally takes a few hours to empty out. Many people that are just too tired from a long day in the heat, or too drunk or high to drive, usually pass out in the car anyway. No one is going to tow your car, at least they haven't in the past. I've done this twice now with no repercussions so I guess the risk is yours to take. Of course, if you do try this, don't draw attention to yourself. Don't tailgate, don't have the lights on, don't blare you music or hang out with the doors all open, etc. Once most of the cars have emptied, move your car to a darker part of the lot with less foot traffic, as not to draw attention to yourself. Park in a different spot each night. If you need to use the bathroom, walk to the campgrounds and use the outhouses there. On Saturday night or Sunday morning, park close to the exit to ensure a quick exit as you will be quite sick of spending any more time in that parking lot. If the venue gets their game together and hires all-night security to hassle all stragglers to leave, the next best option is not try and find a motel with some place to park and just camp there (good idea to google some maps/addresses before hand, just in case). Don't try this in any random parking lot though, because it's not safe, and I've been told that the Indio police sweep all parking lots regularly during the evenings for Coachella weekend.

Bring a small "first-aid" kit with a few doses of over-the-counter drugs like antacid (store brand Pepcid/Zantac/etc,) Immodium, and ibuprofin or asprin. Put it somewhere where the security folks won't find it and mistake it for under-the-counter drugs.

Like the Boy Scouts say, "Why are you touching me there, Scoutmaster Bob?" Wait . . . no, it's "Be Prepared." Yeah . . . that's the one.

Don't tell people to meet you at the car and then move the car.

Seriously.

Obviously, stay hydrated (especially if you're drinking booze). About 12 oz of water every 90 min or so should keep you in good shape.

Also, accept the fact that you won't see EVERY band you want to see. It's much better to see all or most of a set than to try and catch one or two songs of a bunch of different sets.

Don't worry, you'll still get your fill of great music.

be patient.

play well with others.

open your ears and your mind and check out some bands you've never heard of.

sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.

Find or make shade. Most tents turn into ovens in the AM, so you're probably not gonna want to sleep in.

It sounds common-sense, but trust me, remember where you park your car. There's nothing worse than getting out at the end of the night and wandering the grounds for a couple hours trying to remember which lot you parked in. I'd recommend a breadcrumb trail.

Oh, and I always leave before the first encore of the last band. That extra 15 minutes you save by leaving before everyone else will save you a couple hours of traffic gridlock. Of course in the case of Portishead, forget this strategy.

oh my god, something tells me god is on my side for this. I'm meant to be there, it's true.

Wear light, natural fibers. A hat and comfy sandles are great. Turmeric is great natural muscle pain reliever and bring moist wipes!

Parking is always a clusterf**k on day one. nobody really knows what they are doing or how to handle the huge influx of people that bombard their town. so be sure and come early.

by day two, the staff has learned the errors of their early ways and figured out how to make things easier.

day three should be a piece of caking coming and going.

Make sure to tell Prince that he needs to play "When Doves Cry," and if he doesn't, pelt him with pee filled water bottles and mud.

Wear light clothing, like the work out clothes that wick away sweat. Nothing worse than standing next to some sweaty douchebag.