Associate
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 1,486
Go to Vegas instead. It's still a ****hole but the hookers are cheaper.
Anyone been to LA ?
- Thread starter 86JR
- Start date
Soldato
That's if you keep it simple
3x3 Animal style with chopped chillis and extra-crispy fries for the epic win
Soldato
[TW]Fox;17725552 said:
Actually you're right
, I'd completely forgotten a place! 
Before heading south from San Francisco we went eastwards and stayed at Lake Tahoe for a few days
. Given that we named one of the cats after it I probably should remember it!
Associate
I go to LA several times a year. There's a lot to see and do - Compton's a no-go. Take the tours of Hollywood etc and you'll only do it once. A day for Disneyland in Anaheim (WAAAAAY better than the Florida one) (just outside LA), Santa Barbara and other beaches are good to see, a day trip coach tour to Universal Studios good and cheap. You can do a day trip to San Diego zoo which is must-see.
You can go to Mexico for a day or two (cheesey but something different). A great place to be out and about, try and catch something at the Hollywood bowl while you're there.
You need a return flight defo - and it should be cheaper the £1000 return. I'm 6 foot 10 and never fly economy, but I do know that Air NZ has decent legroom in economy an they have twice daily flights to LA (although recently they code share with Virgin so you may need to check).
You can go to Mexico for a day or two (cheesey but something different). A great place to be out and about, try and catch something at the Hollywood bowl while you're there.
You need a return flight defo - and it should be cheaper the £1000 return. I'm 6 foot 10 and never fly economy, but I do know that Air NZ has decent legroom in economy an they have twice daily flights to LA (although recently they code share with Virgin so you may need to check).
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
http://www.statravel.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/uk_division_web_live/hs.xsl/virgin-atlantic-flights.htm
£385 return if your still classify as a student.
£385 return if your still classify as a student.
[TW]Fox;17724792 said:I went to LA in September.
You'll easily get a better deal on your flights, I paid £470 return.
LA itself is dissapointing. Like you I was excited to see LA. After 1 day there, I realised that once you've ticked the boxes, its pretty rubbish.
Happily, though, there are so many great places to visit around LA.
San Diego, Las Vegas, Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco, etc etc. All within driving distance.
Fly into LA. See it for a day. Then go to better places.
And you'll be in agony in a Virgin Atlantic economy seat - I only just fit and I am not as tall as you.
It is not, however, a cheap destination. You will spend a considerable amount of money staying there for a month or more. There isn't quite the backpacking scene you'll find in somewhere like Australia. And relying on kipping over in girls houses is a bit weird
If you want to do the after uni random roaming thing with cheap hostels, Australia might be better for you.
Thanks mate
Aus really doesnt do anything for me...
I need a car so i can get out of LA, I should have probably said California with LA being one of the attractions tbh. I know some people over there from forums who I will probably end up meeting up with (exotic car owners) but im mainly going for tourism and photography
Soldato
LA is a hole. 2 weeks was too long. Avoid.
San Francisco isn't much better. None of the cities are. The beauty of California is in the outlying areas. Highway 1 to Santa Cruz, Monterey or up north to the Trinity River were unforgettable trips for me.
Honestly though, you could do both LA and SF in a day each. Maybe 2 if you drag it out. I have family in Marin County and have been like 100 times, and each trip into SF is worse than the previous one. I stick to Santa Cruz, San Rafael, Stinson Beach and Trinity River up past Redding.
San Francisco isn't much better. None of the cities are. The beauty of California is in the outlying areas. Highway 1 to Santa Cruz, Monterey or up north to the Trinity River were unforgettable trips for me.
Honestly though, you could do both LA and SF in a day each. Maybe 2 if you drag it out. I have family in Marin County and have been like 100 times, and each trip into SF is worse than the previous one. I stick to Santa Cruz, San Rafael, Stinson Beach and Trinity River up past Redding.
Soldato
L.A is a complete dump. Avoid at all costs!!!
Soldato
I'd agree, go so you can say you've been but then exit rapidly and visit some of the nice areas that surround it.
It is a dirty polluted hole. I hated every minute there.
It is a dirty polluted hole. I hated every minute there.
Soldato
I really liked LA. Spent a few days there as part of a road trip in the Summer.
We stayed in Santa Monica, had a great time on the 3rd St promenade, did a bus tour of all the tourist spots- The Grove and Farmers Market were very cool as was Melrose Ave. for shopping. Best part was hiring bikes and cruising along the beach from Santa Monica to Venice and back one afternoon. Venice was a horrible place though....
3 days were enough though, as has been said- once you have done the tourist spots there is very little left there and some far better places to spend your time in California or Nevada...
We stayed in Santa Monica, had a great time on the 3rd St promenade, did a bus tour of all the tourist spots- The Grove and Farmers Market were very cool as was Melrose Ave. for shopping. Best part was hiring bikes and cruising along the beach from Santa Monica to Venice and back one afternoon. Venice was a horrible place though....
3 days were enough though, as has been said- once you have done the tourist spots there is very little left there and some far better places to spend your time in California or Nevada...
I spent a month in LA and thoroughly enjoyed it, as others have said it is an absolutely huge place. I even had the added bonus of an earthquake while I was there (only a small one, 3.7 on the richter scale). I adore the US and have been to many places all over the country, whilst I enjoyed my time in LA , I do agree with some others on here that there are much better places in the US to go (and no..I dont mean Florida, which is hands down the worst state I've been to)
I need a car so i can get out of LA, I should have probably said California with LA being one of the attractions tbh. I know some people over there from forums who I will probably end up meeting up with (exotic car owners) but im mainly going for tourism and photography
You can hire a car quite cheaply as you are over 25.
I recommend Hertz - the online prices from the UK include ALL insurance you need with ZERO excess, so even if you have a crash it wont cost you any more.
California is an absolutely fantastic place - LA just isnt the highlight. It's what everyone thinks the highlight is until they get there.
There are simply epic and breathtaking things to photograph in the area.
If you want amazing photos, make sure you visit:
a) The Pacific Coast Highway
b) The Mojave Desert
c) Las Vegas
d) Death Valley
e) Yosemite National Park
f) San Francisco
Just brilliant. I'd love to live in CA but not LA, for sure.
Can only reiterate what has been said about LA. It is a dump.
I spent 3 weeks travelling around California, managed to do LA itself, San Diego (with a little trip over to Tijuana, Mexico for a night) then back up to LA and over to Vegas for a few days (did the Grand Canyon whilst out there).
Then back to LA again and up the Pacific Coast Highway which is just absolutely amazing and onto San Francisco where I flew home from.
Only regret is not being able to go to Death Valley and Yosemite
But alas gives me a reason to go back!
There isn't much to do in LA really apart from see the usual ****e in Hollywood which can be done in a morning easily, then maybe a day to do the Universal theme park etc. It really is a dump though outside of Hollywood imo!
We hired a car for it all it is ridiculous if you are under 25! We still managed to get a good deal but deffo search around EVERYWHERE as some of the prices they give you online are stupid!
I spent 3 weeks travelling around California, managed to do LA itself, San Diego (with a little trip over to Tijuana, Mexico for a night) then back up to LA and over to Vegas for a few days (did the Grand Canyon whilst out there).
Then back to LA again and up the Pacific Coast Highway which is just absolutely amazing and onto San Francisco where I flew home from.
Only regret is not being able to go to Death Valley and Yosemite
But alas gives me a reason to go back!There isn't much to do in LA really apart from see the usual ****e in Hollywood which can be done in a morning easily, then maybe a day to do the Universal theme park etc. It really is a dump though outside of Hollywood imo!
We hired a car for it all it is ridiculous if you are under 25! We still managed to get a good deal but deffo search around EVERYWHERE as some of the prices they give you online are stupid!
Last edited: