CITY
Los Angeles
STATE
California
COUNTRY
United States of America
CONTINENT
North America
LANGUAGE
English
CURRENCY
US Dollar
BEST TIME TO VISIT
March to May & September to November
NEAREST RAILWAY STATION
Union Station in downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
NEAREST AIRPORT
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER
911
INTERNET ACCESS
Cybercafes are a dying breed in LA, though free public wi-fi is proliferating, with hot spots including LAX, Pershing Sq and Grand Central Market in Downtown, Echo Park Lake, the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood & Highland mall, Beverly Canon Gardens in Beverly Hills, Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier. Free wi-fi is common in coffee shops and public libraries, and numerous restaurants, bars and museums also offer free wi-fi. Although most hotels and hostels have wi-fi, some places charge for the service, or only offer it free in common areas such as the lobby.
VISA
Generally not required for stays of 90 days or less for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries with ESTA approval (apply online at least 72 hours in advance).
Depending on your country of origin, the rules for entering the USA keep changing. Double-check current visa and passport requirements before coming to the USA.
Currently, under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visas are not required for citizens of 38 countries for stays up to 90 days (no extensions) as long as you have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that’s valid for six months beyond your intended stay.
Citizens of VWP countries must still register online with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) at least 72 hours before travel. Once approved, ESTA registration ($14) is valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
For most Canadian citizens traveling with Canadian passports that meet current US standards, a visa for short-term visits (usually up to six months) and ESTA registration aren’t required.
Citizens from all other countries or whose passports don’t meet current US standards need to apply for a temporary visitor visa. Best done in your home country, the process costs a non-refundable fee (minimum $160), involves a personal interview and can take several weeks, so apply as early as possible.
For up-to-date information about entry requirements and eligibility, check the visa section of the US Department of State website (http://usvisas.state.gov) or contact the nearest US embassy or consulate in your home country (for a complete list, visit www.usembassy.gov).
HOTEL
Sunny Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is a constellation of many different neighborhoods, each with its own personality and style. If you’re wondering where to stay in Los Angeles, ideally you should choose a hotel as close as possible to your points of interest, as the city fans out over a large area, and traffic can be heavy at any time of day.
First-time visitors usually stay in hip and happening Hollywood, near attractions like the Walk of Fame and Universal Studios, or posh Beverly Hills, home to the designer shops of Rodeo Drive. Young couples and travelers love West Hollywood (WeHo) for its funky bohemian style and eclectic shops. Families flock to Anaheim for Disneyland fun, and if you’re wondering where to stay near the beach, stylish Santa Monica or Venice Beach offer sun, sand, and sea, as well as fabulous shopping.
More and more tourists are choosing hotels near downtown Los Angeles as a sightseeing base, and the city now seems to be finding its soul. Hip new galleries, museums, and restaurants beckon between the high-rises, and huge entertainment venues, such as LA Live and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, lure waves of excited sports fans and concert-goers. Wherever you choose to stay in LA, it’s easy to find a hotel to match your itinerary, budget, and style.
LUXURY
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
MID-RANGE
Hollywood Orchid Suites
The Georgian Hotel
Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground
BUDGET
Friendship Motor Inn
Super 8 by Wyndham-Los Angeles-Culver City Area
COST OF LIVING
Los Angeles can be done on almost any budget, though of course your experience will reflect what you are able to spend. As long as you don’t plan on multiple theme park visits then you can keep costs under control by taking advantage of doing free things at the beaches or elsewhere. If you do plan on one or more theme park or studio tour visits, you should probably see if the Go Los Angeles Card is a good deal for you. The Go San Diego Card is another one to consider if you are coming as a family, as it covers Legoland and the San Diego Zoo.
If you have access to a car then you’ll be able to do and see much more in far less time, and a cheap rental might save you money in other ways since it’ll allow you are greater choice of food and drink options. Trying to visit using only public transportation means moving slowly or limiting yourself to just a few neighborhoods.
Hotel prices don’t change drastically throughout the year in Los Angeles, though generally they follow a predictable pattern. Prices and occupancy are highest from June through September as well as during the winter holiday period, and lowest from mid January through March.
Hotels along the beach are unsurprisingly cheaper during the winter months, but that’s because the beach is too cold to do anything more than just walk along in those months.
You’ll likely need a car so location might not matter too much, but be careful of specifics anyway since there are hotels literally spread out over the huge metro area, and some neighborhoods are far better than others for out of town visitors.
Food is relatively cheap in Los Angeles, and there are plenty of great budget choices among the various ethnic cuisines you’ll find in most areas. Some of the local fast food chains (like In’N’Out Burger and Tommy’s Burgers) are both cheap and very worth trying, and prepared food and ingredients are easy to find at the many supermarkets spread all over the city.
