Whether you’re traveling to Paris, Atlanta, or New Orleans, a Beyoncé concert is not to be missed. Like many pop supernovas before her, including her mentor Prince, the Houston-born superstar gives a different show each night. At any given tour stop, you can expect to see totally unique outfits, a new song incorporated into the set list, or even a location-specific dancing trend. It’s become such lore among fans that they’ll cite on social media what she changed each night, from a revised prop to a surprise guest appearance. What this means is it’s worth it to see multiple shows — and when you can, hit the road. I was able to see three stops on the “Cowboy Carter” Tour — two in New Jersey, where I’m from, and one in Atlanta — and each night brought a totally different yet equally magical experience. But there’s an art to seeing a concert while traveling to a new city, which includes knowing exactly what to pack for a Beyoncé concert in transit.
For my last show in Atlanta, I traveled with Marriott Bonvoy and found myself immersed in a “Cowboy Carter”-themed oasis. I stayed at the W Hotel in downtown Atlanta, which transformed for the occasion, from a lobby with Cécred hair products and Cé Lumière perfume to a Sir Davis happy hour replete with a cowboy-hat covered step and repeat. From my stay at the hotel to my Glam Squad makeover before the show, it was a quintessential Marriott Bonvoy moment, in which members can redeem points for memorable experiences. And it gave me plenty of opportunities to embrace the Western-themed dress code, taking my cue from Beyoncé’s own wardrobe this era.
My outfit featured red and brown printed cowboy boots, a fringe skirt, and a Western button-down shirt from Stetson paired with a red cowboy hat from Boot Barn, the colors a nod to Beyoncé’s masterful reclamation of the Americana fashion trend. More practically, I packed a battery-powered fan, a compact clothing steamer, and a portable charger (for capturing content, of course). I also threw in some comfortable insoles from Boot Barn to spare my feet since I knew I’d be dancing all night — if you’re going to learn the choreography and cosplay a Beyoncé backup dancer all night, you need to be comfortable.
For beauty products, I brought my favorite ice roller and undereye patches for the morning after the concert. And I packed lip gloss from The Lip Bar for touch-ups after getting my makeup done by Glam Squad the day of the show. Lastly, because Beyoncé does stadium tours, I brought a clear bag that complies with the Mercedes-Benz stadium requirements; I carried a transparent Melissa x Telfar mini bag, but there are also plenty of options that fit regulations.
Keep scrolling for everything to pack if you’re traveling to see Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” concert.