Travel & Holidays Los Angeles where to stay

Just bring some cookies back for me n the bros in blood alley.

 

Never went to either place.

I'm not much of a restaurant/cafe passionado. I go to them in various places, but never remember many.

I remember Bubba Gump on Santa Monica pier, PF Chang chinese franchise, and having a clam chowder in a bread bowl on the Pier in San Fran, that's about it.

We went to loads of those little no-name, nondescript Mexican cafes all over Cal - run by Mexicans, full of Mexicans eating...you KNOW the food was excellent.

 

Update

I got the 72 hour hop on hop off pass. It was good to get around the main sights, it took a while to get around but good fun.

In LA it would be easier with a car as everything is so far away from everything

 

Thanks coastal. Looks like we need to check hop on hop off. Trip in Dec.

 

Best place to stay in LA is anywhere but LA . We stayed at Santa Monica last time we were there. Will be staying at Anaheim this Nov, close to Disneyland for the cousin-in-laws kids.

 

Do NOT stay in 'downtown'... First of all.. there is nothing there... Second of all it is dodgey as all hell! I am lucky that I can walk in a dodgey area without being jumpy (aka not draw attention) but a friend I was travelling with gave off some extremely nervous vibes which was very awkward. Thankfully we were okay but it is clearly not a safe area!

If I went again I would spend the bigger bucks and stay in Santa Monica...

 

Oh I agree with @Bayview .. The Getty is a must! I also loved the farmers market is Hollywood... Golden raspberries were awesome!

 

Dec would be a good time to go. It is very hot in their summer.

If your checking out the theme parks I recommend you go when they open and leave when they close in the summer they are open late at night, otherwise the lines for the rides can be up to 2 hours long.

La is a fun place to visit. Although it does look like a city from a 3rd world country.

I stayed in Westwood which is a top location very safe lots of restuarants and grocery stores.

Be advised USA is very expensive. With the exchange rate. I would say apart from a few things it is the same or more expensive compared to australia.

Tipping is also ***** and they expect it as well. It shouldn't be the responsibility of the customer to pay employee wages ..f that. I recommend 5 - 10% at the most. Don't get suckered in. It's crap because the food is more exxy than a aus and you have to pay a tip on top. The restaurant or business owner pockets the tips not the staff in most cases.

 

Possibly a day tour of la would be good. You will see the sights in a day

 

I agree there is nothing in downtown so I would skip that part of the hop on hop bus tour unless you want to check out the staples centre

 

Our friends stayed in Santa Monica because of the same comments. Thanks.

 

Does downtown feel like Harlem? I have a 7 yo and 9 yo. Driving through Harlem in the middle of night made me nervous.

 

Thanks. American schools resume in Jan so it's for us tourists. I just have to be prepared to tip, oh well it's customary. Did you tip by card or just notes? Kids are super excited to see their friends there. We will be spending a week in Lake Tahoe skiing prior to LA etc. Hawaii last stop.

 

Tipping is necessary but use it for how it was designed. I don't tip bad service but I will tip more for good service. Forget the political argument Coastal is making, that won't help you. For your everyday stuff like porters, cabs, shuttles I tip cash. Restaurants etc by card since I am paying by card. Remember they may include the gratuity as part of your bill especially if you're a group.

It's more expensive but Santa Monica is a nice place to stay, got shopping, the Pier, transport etc.

 

I've cautioned my Mrs that her spending may be capped.

 

Parts of downtown can probably be worse than modern Harlem. Not necessarily dangerous, but there are lots of sketchy bums around, like the tenderloin in SF. But it's Ok where there are people around. Not much to see there anyway.

 

Counting down. A 49ers game to come.

 

Awesome! Very jealous, have fun.

 

And a tour of Google HQ.Would be a very good break for all of us.

 

Damn the dollar! but the outlets still provide good shopping.