It’s that time of year again! That time of year when thousands of lovely ladies descend on Palm Springs, CA, for a weekend of fun, sun, drinks and debauchery. It’s the 30th anniversary of the event, and it’s sure to be the biggest one yet! I am pumped to be going back to my third Dinah weekend and I’ve revived my Survival Guide to make sure all you baby dykes are well prepared!
2017 I broke my Dinah virginity in the best way possible, with a crowd of some of the best people I’ve had the privilege of meeting. 2018 I decided to go alone and booked VIP at the Hilton. Met a whole bunch of other solo strangers who quickly became friends. 2020 is the big Dinah 30th, and I’m going again as a 30th birthday present to myself.
I’m a seasoned party traveller, with 3 Contiki tours under my belt and various other trips (domestic and international) where I’ve put my liver, body and soul to the test and come out on top, shaking my head as the sun rises at the sheer antics of it all. Would not trade my experiences for anything in the world. I’ve been clubbing until 6am in Patong, Phuket, Thailand, and then gone on a breakfast date. I know what it means to be in it for the long haul and how to survive the night and next day while having the best time of your life.
So here’s my advice to maximise your enjoyment from Wednesday’s pre-party to the closing party on Sunday night!
PACKING TIPS
Last time I packed an outfit for every party, plus a day outfit and what I was travelling back in. I don’t think I’ll have time for laundry so I’ll be doing the same thing again this year. But clothes are negotiable, some people take more, some people less, the real packing tips are here:
- Lighter and bottle opener – because at every party/pre party/gathering, someone will need one. Giving that cute girl a light or popping her beer cap is the perfect ice breaker. Also I nearly lost my eyebrows because I didn’t have a lighter on me but that is a story for another day.
- Advil/paracetamol/etc – your go-to headache cure. Take one or two before passing out for the night and again as needed in the morning.
- Hydralyte – an electrolyte-based supplement. I like the dissoluble tablets and mix a bottle up before I head out. Helps with the rehydration the morning after.
- Sunscreen – you get badly burnt day 1, you will hurt for the rest of the weekend. Be sensible, be sunsmart. Also, wear a hat. Lesbians love hats.
- Portable charger – *new 2020* if you’re like me and burn the battery down on your phone constantly, having a slim, lightweight charger in your pocket/bag could be a lifesaver
- International Sim – *new 2020* for the out of towners. Stay in touch with people without needing WiFi with an international sim or a prepaid USA sim. Majority of phones these days are unlocked, as soon as you land in country you can pick up a fresh sim for a few dollars that’ll get you through the weekend without having to find a Wifi hotspot. I used T mobile last time I was in the states and paid about $30USD for a sim that lasted a month with data included.
PARTY TIME
With 3 pool parties, 1 comedy show and 4 night parties (not including the Wednesday night pre-party), Dinah Shore really is a packed weekend. Want to make sure you make it to every event? Here’s some tips.
- Nutrition – make sure you eat something. Palm Springs has a range of food places from the iconic west coast In N Out to fancier restaurants. Feed yourself pre party, even just a sandwich will help. Your body cannot survive on alcohol alone. Feed that girl the carbs she needs to dance all night!
- Hydrate – drink water! It gets hot during the pool parties, and drinking, dancing and the sun is the perfect combination for heat exhaustion and its deadlier cousin heat stroke. People recommend a glass of water for every 2 drinks. This will also help you pace yourself. Add your hydralyte/electrolyte of choice every 4 hours or so to put some salt back in your body after the diuretic alcohol has kicked in.
- It’s a marathon, not a sprint – don’t be that girl at 1pm stumbling around the pool having lost all of her senses. Take it slow, enjoy what you’re drinking, converse with the people around you, and take it all in.
- Know your limits – tequila makes you throw up? Can’t handle vodka? Dinah is not the time to be testing new alcoholic intakes – stick to what you know and stick to your own limits. I can drink all day on rum and beer but vodka hits me harder and faster so I’ll stay away if I want to make it all night. I can handle a few shots of tequila but maybe you can’t, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s all about maximising your time and enjoyment and you can’t do that with your head in the toilet.
HANGOVERS
Ah, shit, you overdid it at the White and Black Party, and now you don’t think you can make it to the Saturday pool party (IMO the best party)? Here’s my go-to hangover helpers.
- Water and hydralyte – hydrate! Hydrate quick! As much as I’d love to cannulate you and give you a litre of IV fluid, you’re going to have to take in as much fluid as possible orally.
- Sleep as you need – there’s absolutely no need to get to every party when it starts. It’s cool to be late, right? In my experience, it takes a few hours for parties to hit their stride anyway, so rock up when you can stand light and music and feel like being social again.
- Eat – again, give your body nutrients. My go-to hangover feed includes eggs, fatty food and spice. A bloody mary and eggs benedict? Yes please. Dinah Shore is a once a year event – if you need a dirty, greasy take-away burger, do it and don’t stress about it. You’ve been on the #DinahDiet leading up to this event, treat yo’ self.
- Caffeinate – but don’t overdo it. Caffeine can have you feeling awake, but dehydrate you even more. Drink water with your coffee/red bull.
- Mentality – *new 2020* I’ve powered through more than one hangover just by repeatedly telling myself that I felt fine. Have a few Coronas (they’re basically water) and think positive thoughts, and you’ll soon be back in the middle of the party.
PALM SPRINGS AND SURROUNDS
If you don’t want to make it to every party, why not explore what else Palm Springs has to offer?
In the desert you’ll find things like Salvation Mountain, Slab City and East Jesus, an art installation. 2017 I went there instead of doing the Friday pool party, and it was such an experience it would be remiss of me not to mention it. If you do go, be respectful – the people that live off the grid here are not living here for show but are happy to share their art and world views if you ask.
Palm Springs also has a zoo and jeep tours out to the San Andreas fault for the more adventurous. Consider dropping a pool party for some more cultural adventures to really round out a weekend here at Dinah.
FINAL NOTES
Dinah Shore weekend is what you make it. If you want to set a new weekend record for sleeping with as many people as possible, do it. If you want to drink yourself stupid, do it. If you want to make as many new friends as you can find, do it. If you want to chill on a balcony overlooking the pool and do tequila shots, do it. If you want to stay sober and dance everyday, do it.
The only thing I recommend is, if you want to actually get in the pool at one of the pool parties, do it early, because after a few hours there’s a a layer of sunscreen, sweat, booze and god knows what else that settles on the surface and presumably permeates the pool water.
Finally, be open-minded. Yes, that girl is only wearing nipple stickers. Yes, those girls are having sex by the pool (in the pool, on the balcony, in the bathroom…). Dinah welcomes all of our LGBT family despite being marketed towards queer girls, so make those gay dudes feel welcome and say hi to our trans buddies. In the current political climate it’s more important than ever to support each other.
See you at Dinah 2020!!! Hit me up on instagram at @ajalex1989 if you’re a solo traveller that needs a buddy to hang out with or just wants to talk the Dinah experience.
Just Your Average Alex 