7x why you don't need to have FOMO for Coachella

Coachella is already in full swing, and while you are sitting on the terrace in the heart of Amsterdam enjoying this lovely weather (also nice), there are more than 200,000 people in California (Indio) for the festival of the year: Coachella. Are you already feeling FOMO at the thought? No matter how fun it sounds and how ). But if you can handle a hefty dose of demonic possession, then The Rite is what you want. Based on true events from the book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist. this festival looks, there is also a downside. I will cure your FOMO: 7 reasons why you don't need to have FOMO for Coachella.

1. Food and drinks: “Lemonade for 17 dollars? You could do your weekly groceries with that!’

A lemonade costs as much as your groceries for a week: I initially thought it was a joke. But no, $17 for a cup of lemonade is serious. And there’s also half an iceberg of ice cubes in it. Hydration is important, but your bank account dries up even faster this way than the town of Indio. 17 dollars is about 15 euros—say what? Sorry, but if you go to a festival in the Netherlands, you might pay 5 euros for a lemonade—which I personally still overpriced think is a lot. And I haven't even mentioned the price of the food. Influencers share: “For two small meals and three drinks, I spent a total of $124.”

2. The tickets cost a fortune

Next: For a festival in the Netherlands, you quickly pay 100 euros for a regular festival ticket. A ticket to Coachella? $599 for two days. There are no single day tickets available; tickets are sold per weekend. Say no more, the price for a ticket is already a reason for me not to go. Fun fact: More than half of the visitors pay for their ticket in installments. So don't feel guilty if Coachella is outside your budget – you are not alone. According to Billboard over 60% of the visitors pay for the ticket in parts. And on top of that, there’s a $41 fee. Guilt-free FOMO is totally 2025.

3. Say what? 100 dollars for a bus ride

I won't even mention the price of the plane tickets, but once you arrive in California, you also need to get to the festival. If you buy tickets including shuttle, you quickly spend more than 700 dollars. This shuttle runs past well-known resorts or easily accessible places, so you don't have to hassle to get there. But you do have to shell out a hundred euros for it.

4. The hygiene: Toilets and showers, you don't want to know how it is

Hold your nose: At festivals, hygiene is often a secondary concern: the toilets are often too dirty for words. Since 2015, Coachella has permanent toilets, so they are not those dirty port-a-potties. In total, there are 324 private stalls. The so-called porta-potties fill up quickly, especially towards the end of the day, and are often without toilet paper. Read here about the state of the toilets. Some visitors recommend bringing your own roll to the festival. Coachella also offers free showers, and the showers are divided into free and paid options. Free showers are available from Thursday to Sunday, but with limited opening hours and often long waiting times. Paid ‘Super Duper Showers’ have shorter lines, mirrors, and outlets for hair dryers, but cost $10 each time.

5. The stage for influencers

You guessed it, but Coachella is now good for over 5.4 million hashtags and sometimes feels more like a fashion show in the desert than a music event. Take Leonie Hanne for example: she had more outfit changes than there were mainstage acts were. Despite everything looking fantastic—there is still a lack of the vibe of “sweat on your back, beer in your hand, dancing until your legs give out.” This vibe has somewhat been lost at the festival. The music seems to some more like background noise for the next Insta-story. And honestly? That's a shame. You go to a festival to enjoy the music and dance until you can't anymore?

6. The fashion evolution: From boho chic to glamour

Coachella's fashion is just not what it used to be. In the early 2010s, the festival was known for the bohemian chic style: maxi dresses and flower crowns were really in. And although this fashion trend seems to be making a comeback, festival-goers forget that the style is actually about this. This style showed that the festival is about a free spirit. Since 2018, the fashion at the festival has started to shift towards maximalism: glitter, bright colors, and bold outfits were very visible, and people forgot that the festival is actually about free spirit and a boho chic style. Again this year, people went over the top, and it is just not how it was anymore.

7. The desert vibes are scorching hot (literally)

With temperatures up to 38 degrees, it is basically just hot girl summer meets meltdown. Fashion = important. But melting = reality. You will definitely see most non-influencers with water bottles, fans, and a sweaty back. It is important that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30, but preferably SPF 50. Read here about the best SPFs. Throughout the weekend, you could easily go through about 3 bottles of sunscreen, as you need to reapply every 2 hours.

Still: the line-up is everything

Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, and Charli XCX in one weekend? You suddenly understand why people go through all this for Coachella. The stages are secretly really a once in a lifetime thing. No matter how sweaty, burned, and broke you have to stand among the influencers, somewhere it is also mega cool. Are you still feeling FOMO for a lovely festival? For example during King's Day? Here you will find the best.