For PIQF, a 4 day festival, a friend and I went 3 days. We planned 2-3 hours with a snack break, lunch break & rest at the hotel, then 2-3 hours at the festival with another snack break. With our medical problems we needed snack breaks, amazing hour 1-2 hours of walking affects the blood sugar. Candy bars are not an option, we had granola bars. The first day was vendors, we should have marked the agenda for which we might want to return to. The second was vendors and some of the quilts. The third was quilts and return to some specific vendors.
We both made a list of what we wanted to hunt for. She wanted to look at LA and I was game to see what the latest features are. I wanted thread, as did she, so we went to all the thread locations. I should have taken my color charts with ones I have marked. I did get a spool of some new brands to try on my machines. Then since I've been many times, there were my favorite spots. She liked those too. Then it's just look around for what's new. There's a hand dye place I always want to go, but didn't have anything in mind.
I take cash. When it's gone, I'm finished shopping. If there's a big ticket item I want, there are great deals at the big shows. I plan to charge that item. This is my method of staying on a budget. If I charge things, the top is unreachable. Then I pay for the purchases I got because it was just so exciting and I lost control.
Since we plan a back-to-hotel break every 2-3 hours, I take a big bag I can carry and drop in purchases. It has a small pocked to put my cash, way down to the bottom. I don't carry my purse, just my essentials; water, snack, meds, drivers license, cell phone, cash and coin purse. Most places don't allow rolling carts, too dangerous in crowded building.
Some hotels offer free shuttle. I really like not having to deal with parking. Another option is to stay in the host hotel.