What I am about to tell you, which you won’t understand until you see it, is that LA is HUGE. The map makes it looks so compacted and easy to travel around…but it really isn’t, trust me. My name is Hannah, and I’m the resident travel expert at Official-Esta.com. In this travel feature, I’m going to be explore how you get on, and off the tourist trail in Los Angeles, so that you can really maximise your trip.
Let’s get started.
Plan to stay in LA for a while if you’re going to visit. There is so much to do, you won’t pack it in to one visit though, so be warned, you may have to book another trip as soon as you get home. Obviously you have to go and see the walk of fame! Like my opening warning, it’s bigger than you expect, stretching for 2 or 3 blocks. While on the subject of film and TV, if you have a car then you need to make your way into the hills for the tourist shot in front of the Hollywood sign, it isn’t very well signposted (ironically) so you may want to ask the hotel desk to give you some pointers.
Naturally there are star maps and tours, but sometimes it’s more fun to drive around and explore on your own schedule, so you can spend as much time as you like checking out your favourite stars (usually gated) house.
For those who love to (window) shop, a trip to Rodeo Drive is in order, but unless you have a bulging bank account you may find it hard to buy very much. Even a thin scarf is likely to set you back a sum into hundreds of pounds.
Naturally in a city this size, there are a LOT of places to eat, so be picky! A great meal can be had, and prices are not too unreasonable when you take into account what a similar meal in a UK city would cost.
The nightlife in LA is non-stop, and you will find the best nightclubs are in West Hollywood, but be warned, expect long queues to gain entrance unless you book ahead which doesn’t come cheap. Groups of men, you really will struggle to get past the door staff. For those of you not willing to watch your life disappear as you queue, the bars and both lively and plentiful and I suggest they are a good place to spend the evening. Make sure you have your proof of age to hand, even if you are a good decade (or two) past 21, they will probably still ask to see it.
If you are still looking for more to do, then take your pick! Open air concerts, sports games, more museums than you can shake a stick at (the space museum houses one of the now retired shuttles), or try and get into a TV filming – The Late Show might see you mingling with a couple of celebrities, and its free! Although you will need to apply for tickets a good few weeks in advance of the trip.
By this point, I am sure you are thoroughly exhausted, entertained and over excited, so perhaps a day at the beach is an idea. Or there is always Universal Studios theme park…
