Los Angeles in general

Advantages: Great to see the stars and Hollywood sign
Disadvantages: Only need a fewdays, not safe at night

On my recent round the world trip LA was my first destination, I have always wanted to go to LA and walk down the star studded Hollywood Walk of Fame and this was my perfect opportunity! I spent a week in LA although I would say that is probably too long, you only really need a few days to see the main attractions and it is a good place to visit as part of a road trip in the USA, maybe adding a stop or two in Vegas or San Francisco as well. Being ...
...the Hollywood Boulevard but accommodation is available for all budgets. I was told that unless you have a car it is very hard to get around LA but I have to say thanks to the helpful staff at our hostel we managed just fine by public transport. Trains and buses run daily and are cheap and easy to use as long as you know where you are headed. The main attractions in Hollywood are: Universal Studios (which I have already reviewed in great detail) ... Read review

Advantages: See op.
Disadvantages: See op.

LOS ANGELES This op is more of an account of the areas of LA that I visited during my recent holiday there. I also spent the consecutive week in San Francisco but that will have to be another op! ~ GENERAL INFO As you may, may not be aware Los Angeles (“City of Angels”) is America’s second (to New York) largest city with a population of around 16 million people. Hence why my 1-week visit only covered a small part of this huge urban sprawl. The ...
...for many other racial communities. Los Angeles was originally a settlement founded by Mexicans in the 18th century (I think). Like most large cities LA is divided up into areas, here are a few: · Downtown – the business district, a whole lot a skyscrapers. · Hollywood – as you know this is where you will find all the movie studios. · Beverly Hills / Bel Air – These places are near to Hollywood. · Orange County – this is on the east side of LA ... Read review

Advantages: Wild
Disadvantages: Wild

...in the hills between Glendale, Los Feliz and Downtown LA). The names of the places in L.A are just so pretty (Ventura, Topanga, Lauryl Canyon, Arcadia etc) and evocative. On my first trip, I just kinda lived the life and didn't do any of the tourist stuff like Disney or Universal studios (although I have since been and enjoyed it). I mostly spent my time driving around (I hired a white mustand convertable for next to nothing compared to an equivalent ...
...Ana etc just chilling out with friends and enjoying the beautiful climate. Personally, I love the place, I love the people and I like the madness of it all, it is a city on the edge. La La Land. You taste so many diferent flavours of culture just going from one block to the next. My favourite haunts both then and now are Dublins on Sunset Blvd and Miyagis over the road although there are quite a few shady joints round Hollywood Blvd that I got to ... Read review

Advantages: It's great. Weather is hot.
Disadvantages: Smog, quakes, crime - but not if you take your brain with you!

...And that's the thing with Los Angeles - it does match up to the stereotypes people have of it. However there is so much more to this vibrant sprawl of suburbia. Los Angeles doesn't have a city centre. The first time I landed there, I had this wonderfully quaint British idea to hunt down a 'high street'. There are about five hundred 'high streets' not by name, but merely by the array of shops. Turn off them, and you'll soon find yourself in a nondescript ...
...those. CONCLUSION Los Angeles is my home from homes. It's an eclectic, vibrant city, where people are always welcoming to me. The weather is wonderful. I've never spent a dull moment there - and if you chance upon a dull moment, do visit the City of Angels, and make your own opinion. I’d be happy to hear from you if you want any advice or tips or whatever on the city so come sniff me out on Dooyou or here on Ciao and I'll be honoured to help. ... Read review

Advantages: Didn't stay long enough to find out...
Disadvantages: Intimidating for first time visitors.

...We emerged into a pastel Los Angeles morning. We were the only people out walking on the streets. The only other people who go by foot in LA are other Europeans and the joggers. It's an incredibly vain city - every other shop is a gym or tanning parlour. Our trip round a fashion mall left us miserable. These shiny LA types all seemed to have extra money to blow on designer goods, while we could barely afford a pair of socks. This made us feel like ...
...wasn't. It was just like London with palm trees. The next morning, after a great breakfast in a Happy Days-style diner, we duelled our way out of LA and out across the desert towards Vegas. Some people love Los Angeles, but I'll avoid it if I possibly can... ... Read review

Advantages: total relaxation, luxury and service
Disadvantages: this one attracted an older crowd

...there are generally tables of upto 12, it was wonderful to be the babies of the group, I'm 44, my husband 46. Two of our co diners were able to tell us all about a world cruise, although they like us were disembarking in Los Angeles. They had done many cruise's with Holland America, and although the service was generally good, we were assured that it was not upto the usual standard, I personally did not have any issue with any of the service I received but we were told that the new members of crew would have to do much better by the time they set sail from Los Angeles, as the world Passengers were extremily demanding. I suppose I would be if I'd paid the vast amounts they had. We had a great Itinery, but i'm only going to list the places we stopped as i'm not including a review of the ports of call, we sailed down to San Andreas Island, onto San Blas... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Gorgeous beaches, sights, shopping, culture
Disadvantages: Pricey in places

...Beautiful, breathtaking Santa Barbara! Santa Barbara is a Southern California coastal city located approximately 80 or so miles up the coast from Los Angeles. In my opinion it is one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It is often called the "American Riviera" because of its beautiful year round Mediterranean climate. It is generally always sunny, hot without being too hot and very enjoyable. Santa Barbara is accessible from the 101 freeway and the drive up there on the is lovely as you can look out to the coast for a good part of the journey. With lots of bends in the freeway too you can see the coastline sprawled out in front of you for miles and it is gorgeous. Alternatively take the train which also allows beautiful views. Santa Barbara in my opinion is the quintesential small beach town/community. Unfortunately... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good food, great entertainment, added perks
Disadvantages: None- though if I'm going to be really petty, the toothpaste tasted gross

...I'm a pretty frequent flier- having been going hither and thither since I was a tiny tot. The general airline experience has been pretty unmemorable until the day I tried Virgin- on a long haul flight from London to Los Angeles. They started off by passing out sweet Werther's Originals before the plan had even taken off. Then over the next 12 hours, I received drinks - mmm, nice choice of californian wines, a killer bloody mary, a post-dinner shot of Bailey's, a lovely dinner (something pasta with asparagus if I remember correctly) and plenty of chocolate from chocolate cake to a dairy milk on the tray, followed by a tasty breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, and a croissant. All served on a very cool colour coordinated tray with coloured blue plastic accessories- none of the gloom of 70's style airplane trays. The entertainment... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful