My Tips To Visit Los Angeles, California
The do's and don't's of visiting Los Angeles.
Last
time I visited my boyfriend, we dedicated two days to vising L.A. The
trip was only supposed to be a visit of the Aquarium of the Pacific, which was my
Valentine's day present for my boyfriend, but we extended it into a
two-day adventure to see different parts of the city.
However,
Los Angeles is intense. I don't know what people who live
there think, but as an outsider, the city can feel quite
overwhelming, because of how big and busy it gets if you stick to
popular areas. So if any of you plans on visiting L.A. in the future,
read on! Here are my tips and thoughts about travelling to L.A.
LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL GUIDES ABOUT THE US? CHECK THESE OUT:
A WEEK IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA: FIVE REASONS TO VISIT SAN DIEGO INSTEAD OF LA
SAN DIEGO: EXPLORING BALBOA PARK
A DAY AT THE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
NEW YORK: REVIEW OF THE NEWYORK CITYPASS
NYC TRAVEL GUIDE: MANHATTAN & BROOKLYN
FACT N.1: LOS ANGELES IS BIG.
Do: dedicate a half day to each area
Don't: plan to do it all in one day
When
you research what to do and see in Los Angeles, it's easy to get
overwhelmed. There are so many cool places, must-see museums,
restaurants, cafés, beaches, hikes, shops... And it would truly take days and days, in my opinion, to make the most of the city if you
want to see it all. However most people don't always have a lot of time, so
if you have a short trip planned to L.A., my advice is to pick
carefully the places you want to see, and organise your days by
location. For example, for a nice beach day I suggest exploring
Santa Monica and Venice beach in one morning or afternoon, and
then head more inland for the rest of the day. Break down your day in
two chunks, and in each chunk, plan two or three main sites that are
close to each other. That way, you spend more time exploring, and
less time driving around.
FACT N.2: TOURIST HOT SPOTS WILL BE CROWDED.
Do: get up early and book tickets ahead when possible
Don't: turn up to popular areas in the afternoon if you know you don't have a lot of time to explore
Luckily,
we did not experience this so much this time, but generally speaking,
expect a lot of people in the tourist areas like Santa Monica (I've
seen it twice, and both times it was crowded as hell), Hollywood
Boulevard or the Griffith Observatory. It's easy to know which are
the most popular spots, and whenever possible, visit them early. If
you visit a museum which charges an entrance fee (some museums are
free, so have a look at those first!) check if you can book tickets
online to avoid queues. Booking for restaurants is also a good idea.
You can never be organised enough!
FACT N.3: L.A. IS EXPENSIVE! BRING ON THE $$
Do: Decide what you are willing to spend on and how much you need to save up.
Also do: Compare prices before you arrive (aka research the coffee shops where you won't pay $6 for a latte.)
I
find the US incredibly expensive in general. Everything from petrol
to groceries cost so much more than the European capitals I've lived
in. And in the middle of a hype city like L.A., you can expect costs
to be even more considerable. There are so many temptations, like
cool coffee and donut places, but I'd advise to be reasonable and
don't spend it all on little things. Depending on where you go,
parking can already eat up a good part of your budget, so be mindful
of the types of expenses that you'll have. Whenever possible,
calculate how much money you can dedicate for different things: food,
attractions/museums, petrol, parking, and so on. I know holidays are
a time to splurge a little bit, but always be prepared for the true
cost of things to avoid unecessary stress and do the most with what
you have!
FACT N.4: TRAFFIC IS MAD. PLAN AHEAD TO FIND THE BEST ROUTES.
Do: Travel early in the morning to get there.
Don't: Travel long distances or busy areas during the day.
This
one's from my boyfriend! As the designated driver for the whole trip
(I don't have a driving licence) he was very conscious of traffic.
Especially because he lives around there and knows how bad it can
get! So if you're driving around L.A., make sure to always use a GPS
app to find out what the best route is for each destination. The city
is crammed all day, and it is rare to have smooth traffic at certain
peak times. Remembering this when you plan your days will help you
out, so that you don't make too many plans for one day and realise
that travelling between places is making you late for certain things.
Although we have not done it ourselves, if I were to stay in L.A. for
a good few days I would probably look into hiring a bike (for short
distances) or use public transport to go from one place to another.
That way, you don't spend all your petrol slowing down in traffic.
And it helps with pollution too, so that's a double win!
WHAT WE DID - FUN THINGS TO SEE IN L.A.
THE BASIC INSTAGRAM SPOTS: VENICE BEACH (& SANTA MONICA)
One
spot I definitely wanted to see in Los Angeles was Venice Beach. I
won't lie, I mostly picked it because I saw pictures of the area on
Instagram, and it looked awesome. Not that I would workout on the
beach or eat overpriced avocado toast (although the latter, maybe...).
Finding
parking around Venice is a bit tricky. You do have quite a few
parking areas, but they are small and fill up quickly (and you also
have to pay for them) so it's something to keep in mind when
visiting. Once you're all set, it's easy to find the main hub of the
area, with its little cafes (special mention to Eggslut, which was
unfortunately closed the day we went.) and shops. The beach promenade
is a must-see, and quite a sight to behold. The tourists mix up with
the locals: people working out, dog-owners having a walk, loud shops selling questionable clothing and ice cream parlours. I feel like it's the kind of place where it would be hard to fit in if you don't relate to the whole vibe, but it's a fun spot to watch from an outside perspective!
IF YOU LOVE FISH: AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, LONG BEACH
Granted
this is pretty niche, but it's one of those places, a bit like
Universal Studios or Disneyland, which you visit if you really like
the experience. I've been to a few aquariums in my life, and this is
one of my favourite. The species are very diverse, and I love the
life size whale in the main hall. They have an incredible variety of jellyfish. Like, really impressing. One tip I would have is to bring
your own snacks for the visit, as food there is super expensive and
not really appealing.
OLD-FASHIONED L.A.: THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Ever
since I first visited my boyfriend, I've always wanted to see the
Hollywood Sign. It may be cliché, but it is a dreamy sight! This
time, my wish was finally granted and we drove to the Park Hollywood
viewpoint. Our original plan was to hike to the sign (although it is
forbidden to go near the sign, there are multiple walks that take you
on top of the hill all around it.) However, my boyfriend had a
terrible flu while we were in L.A., so we took the car and got as
close as we could.
The
Park Hollywood viewpoint is accessible via car. You will meander
through dozens of uphill streets filled with beautiful houses and
villas, probably belonging to those lucky people who made it in the
cinema industry. There is a street to park right across the park from
which you can see the sign, but make sure to go early as it can get
crowded. We headed there at around 11am and found a spot. There is a
big green space overlooking the hill and the sign, so plenty of
opportunities to take photos that will remind you forever of that
iconic moment!
Have you ever been to L.A.? Or is it on your bucket list?
Lots of love,
Julia x
Lots of love,
Julia x
18 commentaires
It definitely is on my travel list - I have never been to the US, with the exception of stopping at an air port once for two hours on our flight to Mexico.
ReplyDeleteWhere in the US would you like to visit the most? xx
Deletewow Julia what a trip!!
ReplyDeletehow long have you stayed? I'd stay at least two weeks in my mind. I love the graffiti scenes in Venice beach and i remember my American friends in college saying how huge was LA.
Thanks for the pics, I really enjoyed scrolling through them<3
Cate ღ 35mm in Style
We stayed for only two days, because my boyfriend lives down in San Diego. We'll definitely go again, but two weeks seems like a really good time if you want to see everything in one go. I'm glad you enjoyed! xx
DeleteOh wow it looks amazing, I'd love to visit one day xx
ReplyDeleteGemma • GemmaEtc.com ❤️
It really is amazing there, no matter how overwhelming it can be in some areas! xx
DeleteOh gosh wow, what a magical place! It looks like everything I thought it might be and more, I love your photos Julia :D often I just travel to a place and attempt to be spontaneous ie see it as I go but it sounds like it is definitely useful to have a plan in place, especially travelling here, as there is so much to see!! It looks an incredible adventure, I love the aquarium and the snap of you standing next to all the fish and turtles, it looks magical there :D xx
ReplyDeleteelizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara
Traveliing to an entirely new place, and especially a place you won't get a chance to visit often, definitely needs some planning so that you make the most of it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the post Elizabeth, thank you for reading! xx
Deletei'd like to visit LA one day ! it looks so nice!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.clairetalksbeauty.com/
It really is a place worth visiting at least once! xx
DeleteWow, the pictures are amazing. I liked reading about your trip as well. I imagine the prices and the traffic is very annoying. Anyway, it's obvious that you've had a great time and that's the most important thing. x
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you enjoyed Anca! There are definitely some downsides to L.A., but how could it be otherwise in such a big and bustling city? It still is fantastic to explore! Thank you for reading! xx
DeleteIt looks as though you had such a fabulous time there Julia, I'm so happy for you! Totally with you on wanting to see the Hollywood sign by the way haha, cliché or not! Hope you have a fabulous weekend :)
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.com x
Thank you for the lovely thoughts Gabrielle! Seeing the sign was amazing, a bucket list item ticked off! xx
DeleteHi Julia,
ReplyDeleteWhere are you from Spanish maybe?
I,m Spanish and some relatives have visited LA and say the same as you.
What about the kodack theatre?
Did you see the Walk of Fame?
Anything about lodgin? Amy particular área ti avoid either for being very expensive or dangerous?
Thanks and keep It Up!!!
María José
Hi Maria Jose! I'm French/Portuguese :)
DeleteDidn't see the Kodak Theatre, however we drove through the Walk of Fame, it's a busy street but there's lot to do, it's worth stopping by at least once! And for accommodation we stayed in a hotel in West Hollywood, I would recommend an area like Santa Monica or Venice - I'm sure there are lots of airbnbs in that area! Thanks for reading! xx
I've heard so many bad things about LA traffic haha - I still definitely want to visit at some point though!
ReplyDeleteJasmine xx
Jasmine Talks Beauty
You are looking beautiful in all outfits. Love your earrings.
ReplyDeleteWHOLESALE GEMSTONES JEWELRY