Coachella VIP: Very Isolated Places

Coachella is a time when all that is beautiful decides to come together for two weekends and share their art, creativity and passion. From grade A celebrities to your 14-year-old sister, 75 year old bands to up-and-coming artists, After's Ice Cream to papusas, Coachella has something for everyone. But when it comes to VIP tickets, are they really worth it?

Let me start by saying this will be the best weekend of your life, hands down. Literally everything can go wrong, and your overall experience at the Empire Polo Grounds will be the most memorable part of your year, until you go again that is. This year, I was offered VIP tickets for Weekend 2, and Amanda could only go weekend 1. On top of that, all my friends were going weekend to, so I ended up making the decision to go weekend 2 with the free VIP ticket.

Sahara tent after Dillon Francis

Coachella is a visual and auditory experience that you will never forget. The artists are amazing, and the artwork is just as engaging in my architectural opinion. But VIP does add a new element. There are several areas designated for VIP guests only, which provide a serene recluse from the insanity elsewhere. The problem I have with VIP at Coachella is that the insanity is what makes it so amazing. The VIP area disconnects their guests from what makes Coachella so great in my opinion, as it physically and demographically separates itself from the genuine vibe of the festival.

Coachella has more than just music, the artwork is here is some of the best in the nation

Marshmello killed his set, arguably one of the best from Weekend 2 2017

Generally speaking, I would say that the VIP tickets are not worth it because of that reason. You WANT to be out and about. But with that said, had I been with Amanda, or any other girlfriend for that reason, VIP may have been worth it. One of my buddies also had VIP tickets, but spending time with him in there was not what I wanted to do, and I'm sure he would agree. Had I been with Amanda on the other hand, the secluded areas would have made the extra money totally worth it. Plus, the food is amazing in the VIP area (Kazunori is my one of my favorite LA sushi places, and they had a full bar set up here). Plus, having easy access to nicer bathrooms without massive lines was a MAJOR plus.

If the VIP tickets would have included a special area at a couple stages, like the artist pass does, then I would say it would absolutely be worth it, without question. Instead the VIP areas are removed from the stages, essentially in complete isolation.

Best part of the weekend was definitely getting back stage at the Heineken House for NGHTMRE and Slander. How we got there will remain a secret 😜

All in all, if you are going to Coachella with friends, VIP is definitely not worth it because it removes you from what Coachella is all about. In fact, going through my phone now, I don't even have any photos from the VIP area (although I did snap it a few times). If you are going with your significant other, the seclusion, food and bathrooms are probably worth the extra money, but definitely not for certain. It depends on how you want to experience the festival as well. Frankly, if you have extra money to splurge with, I would definitely recommend an artist's pass, that way you get access to all the VIP areas along with access to designated areas at the biggest stages. But hey, if you get offered VIP for free, absolutely take it.