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Tell me about LA!!! - Los Angeles Forum

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Tell me about LA!!!

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So the question is..what to do in LA...

walk of fame - yeah probably will

Disney world - is it worth going..we have both done all the theme parks in Australia etc and not really disney fans as such (no kids yet) so do we go?

Where to stay in the huge city? we don't plan to drive or rent a car , so public transport is where its at. probably around US $120 ish night for accommodation?

Any other thoughts will be greatly appreciated..if you have any thoughts/advice on San Diego or Vegas, throw them at me too. Cheers!!

Its also relatively easy to get from Hollywood to San Diego without a car - Metro Red Line subway ( http://www.metro.net ) from Hollywood to Union Station in downtown LA, then Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train from Union Station to San Diego ( http://www.amtrak.com )

Otherwise, if you can raise your budget a bit, and if you can come up with a specific list of what you want to see and do in LA, there may be other, nicer areas that you can stay in besides Hollywood that might work better for bus routes, etc. for your specific itinerary. But most other parts of the city $120/nt is not going to be enough to get decent accommodations, unfortunately.

Agreed. Your budget is unrealistic, unless you plan on staying at a youth hostel. I've observed rates creeping up at all properties. Even places like the Orchid and Celebrity are now pushing over $150/night.

Look for places that are along the Red and Purple subway lines and the Expo Line in Culver City. This B&B provides excellent value.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32272-d1784957-Reviews-Craftsman_House_Bed_and_Breakfast_Los_Angeles-Culver_City_California.html

If using mass transit, Hollywood and downtown LA are the easiest.

For your itinerary, please look at the right side of this page (and other forum pages, too). It's full of good information, especially for the first-time visitor. In addition, the tab at the top of the page, in green, has more. Start with Things to Do. The tab marked Hotels is a good place to start to check hotel prices, too.

In such a large city, it's easiest if you have a rough itinerary, fly it past us, and we can help you decide on the best place to stay for your activities and budget. We can provide tips on how to group your activities, too.

Happy planning!

Hollywood , while a well-known destination in the city of L.A., constitutes a tiny part of our city. There is so much more to the city of L.A. than Hollywood (just as there is so much more to Sydney than the Opera House). And, when you include neighboring cities and districts like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica , Burbank, etc, you're talking about a massive metropolitan area that you could spend weeks (or months) in, easily.

We've amassed a lot of info about our city and environs and, as stated, it appears in our TOP QUESTIONS BOX at the right side of this page and along the top of this page under the green horizontal bar where you'll find a link labeled 'Things to Do'.

Can you see these areas? If not, you're using the MOBILE version of Trip Advisor. In order to see the above content, you'll need to use a computer or tablet that's running the FULL SITE of tripadvisor.com. If that's not possible, here are shortcuts to these areas: (link and SCROLL DOWN for the content)

The TOP QUESTIONS aka FAQs area:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k5063087-L_A_FAQs_Where_to_Stay_and_other_Questions_and_Answers-Los_Angeles_California.html

The THINGS TO DO area:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g32655-Activities-Los_Angeles_California.html

Ok wow, great information everyone. I realised after I wrote out the first comment my mistake with Disney world vs. Disney land. Apologies!

The main problem with creating an itinerary is that yes, you're right, LA is soo big, so its tricky to get our heads around it from NZ!

Any tips, options, thoughts are more than invited here. Now is our chance to be changing, deciding, booking things : )

Some ideas:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g45963-s410/Las-Vegas:Nevada:Museums.And.Attractions.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g45963-s403/Las-Vegas:Nevada:Off.The.Beaten.Path.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g45963-c5253/Las-Vegas:Nevada:Things.To.Do.Besides.Gamble.html

Grand Canyon from LV is about 5 hours one way.

>>we don't plan to drive or rent a car <<

That makes it more difficlut as the LA area is so car -centric. If you're not really Disney fans, I wouldn't bother. It's very expensive, and out of the way from where you will be.

I'm from NZ too and we're doing our west coast trip in less than 4 weeks, yay!

I think if you're not gambling or clubbing (like us), you should set some money aside for shopping, they have the most amazing outlets and it's so cheap you'll kick yourself for not budgeting for it. Vegas has really great shopping and restaurants. Our plan is mostly walk around, shop and eat! Catch a show if you really want but most are too expensive or the cheap ones look lame.

In LA we've decided to spend a day at six flags magic mountain theme park, they are supposed to have some excellent rides. A day doing the usual touristy stuff like hollywood blv and the rest of the time just exploring.. we wanted to do universal studios too but not sure if it's worth doing 2 theme parks within 4 days.

Good luck and have fun with your trip :)

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Los Angeles Hotels and Places to Stay

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• What to do during a short layover
• How do I visit or photograph the Hollywood sign?
• Where can I see celebrities?
• Which Movie Studio Tour should I take?
• What clubs and restaurants (expensive and otherwise) should we go to?
• What are the celebrity home tours like?
• Where can I get a whale watching tour in Southern California?
• Gardens in and around Los Angeles
• Dodger Stadium Shuttle Usage
• Trip Reports -- Descriptions of Visits from Travelers
• Using Mobile Phones and Tablets in Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Swallow your preconceived notions with a shot of wheatgrass: Los Angeles is a cocktail of culture. Sure, there are the over-the-top poolside parties, but the real L.A. is a diverse blend of characters that drive pop culture, inspire counterculture, and embrace all ethnicities. Nestled between the mountains, the desert, and the sea, L.A. beckons locals and travelers alike to engage in an active and healthy lifestyle. Avocado is always on the menu, a yoga class is always about to start, and a celebrity sighting is just around the corner. But truly the best way to learn is to listen: Getting to know L.A. can take years, so insider knowledge is invaluable.

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When’s the best time to go to Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has a moderate temperature year-round, so any time is a good time to visit. If you’re looking for warm nights, wait until August or September, because “June Gloom” delays the start of summer with overcast skies. L.A. may not experience much seasonal change, but the temperatures can fluctuate over the course of each day—so be prepared to bring some light layers just in case things do cool down.

How to get around Los Angeles

If a road trip is possible, drive into Los Angeles. That way, you’ll have transportation while visiting and can easily go on excursions. If that’s not an option, then you’ll probably fly into LAX, the main international airport. Rent a car at the airport, as a cab will cost at least $46.50, and fares will add up fast unless you have a friend to play chauffeur.

With a city as large as Los Angeles, a car is essential, which means that shortcuts, side streets, and parking secrets are common topics of conversation. Traffic is notoriously heavy and unpredictable, so download the mobile app Waze to find the fastest route. GPS may direct you onto Santa Monica Boulevard, but cut through on side streets instead to circumvent a perennial traffic jam. To avoid credit card machine malfunctions or cabbies with attitude—both of which seem to crop up rather often—download and use the Uber or Lyft ridesharing apps. L.A. is a car city at its core, but walking and biking are possible in some of the neighborhoods and almost always more relaxing than sitting behind the wheel. Public transportation is improving, but make sure to look up the route ahead of time, as even locals might not know which bus goes to your destination.

Can’t miss things to do in Los Angeles

If there’s one thing you should do in L.A., it’s get up above the city. The easy hike to Griffith Observatory ends in panoramic views of the L.A. skyline, landscape, and landmarks, which helps to put the sprawling city in perspective. Snap a photo of the Hollywood sign from there or do the famous Hollywood sign hike. (If you want a photo of the front of the sign, though, your best choice is the former; the Hollywood sign hike takes you up and behind the letters.) Finish your Griffith hike with a picnic, or head to neighboring Los Feliz or Silver Lake for coffee, juice, and a bite to eat.

Food and drink to try in Los Angeles

The best way to experience the diversity of Los Angeles is to through your taste buds. You can eat curry that will make you sweat in Thai Town (try Jitlada), flavorful Korean BBQ in Koreatown (try Palsaik BBQ), and mouth-watering dumplings in Little Osaka (try ROC Kitchen). Find flavorful tacos in food trucks throughout the city, or opt for one of the many Italian delis that dot the city. The locavore movement is strong here in L.A., and eco-conscious foodies will find no shortage of farm-to-table restaurants and fresh-made cocktails. For a quintessential L.A. experience, nothing beats brunch by the beach or a drink overlooking the ocean. If you’re traveling with a group, the multiple restaurant options to Grand Central Market or one of the farmers’ markets can satisfy a bunch of different desires.

Culture in Los Angeles

Major museums include the Getty Center , which is just as much about art as about architecture; LACMA , which takes you through the history of art; MOCA , which curates an eclectic selection of modern art; and the Broad, which specializes in contemporary art. The Broad , the Hammer Museum, Skirball Center, and Annenberg Space for Photography also offer striking installations and great events. For a look at local art, check out gallery openings and art walks in Downtown and Culver City, or simply pay attention to your surroundings to discover some of the best street art in the world.

Every day is a festival on the Venice Boardwalk and Sunset Strip, but summertime is especially lively. Free concerts are a tradition on Thursday nights at the Santa Monica Pier, and nostalgic movie screenings commandeer the Hollywood Cemetery on Saturdays. The Coachella Music Festival in nearby Palm Springs is an L.A. rite of passage, and the L.A.-based FYF Fest has recently gained enough popularity to earn the title of the former’s urban counterpart. Farmers markets and food truck meetups rotate among neighborhoods each day of the week, and in August the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival gives attendees the chance to sample delicacies from all over the city. Flea markets, art walks, and group bike rides are also regular rituals among the communities in the city.

Local travel tips for Los Angeles

Avoid the crowded center. The best and freshest parts of L.A. are on the fringes: Venice, Santa Monica, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Echo Park. Exceptions may be made for unique spots in other neighborhoods like West Hollywood, Downtown, and Culver City, but for those who like to wander and discover, the border neighborhoods are your best bets. Start the week off right with free concerts on Mondays at Hollywood’s Bardot. Or, head to popular east side music venues like the Satellite, which hosts monthly residency nights for the indie elite.

Local Resources

• Oh My Rockness
• L.A. Weekly

Guide Editor

Susan Mason

Combined Shape .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} SMS Main navigation Things to Do Attractions & Tours Arts & Culture Outdoors & Wellness Shopping Budget Family Hidden Gems Luxury Pet-Friendly Eat & Drink Bars Clubs Dine LA Restaurant Week Restaurants Business Spotlight Find Events Itineraries Where to Stay Celebrate LA Heritage AAPI Heritage Black LA Latino Heritage LGBTQ+ Tourist Information Meetings About LA Tourism Travel Trade Membership Business Spotlight Media Research Careers Today's must read Hidden Gems of Los Angeles Log in Select your language English 中國的 日本語 한국어 Español Français Deutsch Português Search Search Find Events Couple hiking in Griffith Park  |  Photo: Yuri Hasegawa It's Spring in LA Find your favorite park for a picnic, a bike ride, a concert, a movie, or just a zen moment. So many parks, so much fun!

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LTA’s Leadership Forum is for top executives and leadership throughout Louisiana’s travel industry. This educational event will provide inspiration, as well as the opportunity to build a reliable network of other industry leaders for knowledge sharing.

May 13-15, 2024 | Golden Nugget Lake Charles

Visit the Leadership Forum event site for more info.

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Mayor LaToya Cantrell attending Qatar economic forum

T he New Orleans mayor traveled to Doha, Qatar, to participate in the Qatar Economic forum, according to a news release issued by her administration.

The news release was issued Saturday morning and stated that Mayor LaToya Cantrell would participate in the Qatar Economic Forum.

According to Cantrell's administration, Mayor Cantrell will meet with Timmy Davis, the U.S. Ambassador to the State of Qatar, and recognize the importance of the socioeconomics connection between New Orleans and Qatar.

The administration says Ambassador Davis has an important role in fostering cultural exchange by introducing New Orleans tradition to Qatar, most notably hosting Qatar's first Mardi Gras celebration in 2023.

Mayor Cantrell will also attend a meeting with His Excellency Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Mayor Cantrell was just in Canada for a Climate Summit.

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READ THE FULL STORY: Mayor LaToya Cantrell attending Qatar economic forum

CHECK OUT WDSU: Get all the New Orleans news you need. With the latest New Orleans weather, sports and stories from around the state, WDSU is your news leader.

Travelers is the latest California insurer to raise rates. How to find coverage in your area

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Travelers Insurance, one of California’s largest home and auto insurers, is set to increase its rates by an average of 15%, the latest in a string of rate increases and policy limitations that major insurers say is caused by wildfire risks, reinsurance costs and inflation.

Given the go-ahead by the California Department of Insurance this week, Travelers will update its rates for more than 320,000 homeowners starting June 24. It’s not immediately clear what areas in the state will see higher rates.

Michael Soller, the state Department of Insurance’s deputy commissioner for communications, said the shortage of information is “frustrating across the board.”

The department, he said, is doing its best to make sure consumers don’t pay more than they’re required. Travelers’ premium increases, he said, are completely legal under Proposition 103, the 1988 ballot measure that regulated property and casualty insurance pricing.

The average cost of homeowners insurance in the state is $1,250 per year, or about $104 per month. That’s less than the national average of $1,915, according to Nerdwallet . The average cost for a homeowner in the city of Los Angeles is $1,485 a year, or about $124 a month.

Travelers is the latest major insurer to increase rates, limit the number of new policies issued or pull out of the California market altogether — all actions that are straining the market.

In April, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co. and Trans Pacific Insurance Co. notified the insurance department that they will not renew 12,556 homeowners policies with a premium value of $11.3 million, starting July 1.

State Farm, Farmers and Allstate have limited their offerings in California by cutting back on the new policies issued or tightening underwriting standards. State Farm, for example, announced in March that it would not renew 72,000 policies. Allstate, however, has stated that once the industry-favored insurance reforms that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara proposed go into effect, it will begin writing new homeowner insurance policies in the state, Soller said.

Last year, Geico removed all its in-person offices in the state and is offering policies only through the company’s website or app.

To make insurance rates “more predictable and insurance more available” in the state, Soller said the department is continuing its progress in updating its regulations.

That update could let insurers use algorithms to predict the future risk that properties face from wildfires. Lara is proposing to let insurers use catastrophe modeling when setting the price of policies. Currently, premiums are based on an insurance company’s past losses. This is one of several proposals Lara advanced in a Sustainable Insurance Strategy announced last year.

Even though insurers are making significant changes to their coverage offerings, many are still issuing new policies in California. Here is a partial list:

Farmers Insurance Group offers limited homeowners insurance policies in California, with a monthly cap at 7,000 new business policies.

Mercury is not only offering new policies and renewing existing ones, it’s also taking on customers from Tokio Marina America and its subsidiary, Trans Pacific Insurance Co. — both agencies that pulled out of the California market.

Chubb and its subsidaries, which include Federal Insurance Co., Vigilant Insurance Co. and Pacific Indemnity Co., offer and renew home policies, but with two limitations. It stopped writing high-value homes with higher wildfire risk and isn’t renewing some high-value homes.

USAA is offering new policies if the homes meet its underwriting criteria, which confine the insurer to low-risk properties.

Other insurers that continue to renew or issue new policies in the state are Auto Club of Southern California, Liberty Mutual and American Family.

When a prospective or current homeowner is having trouble finding a policy in their area, the last resort is the California FAIR Plan Assn. A state-established program funded by insurers doing business in California, its mission is to provide homeowners with an affordable policy option when the traditional market fails them.

To find which insurers are offering policies in your area, the California Department of Insurance has a “Home Insurance Finder” tool that will help you locate a provider within 5 to 75 miles of your property.

More to Read

Gov. Newsom seeks faster review of insurance rate hikes. What to know

May 13, 2024

Amid homeowner insurance crisis, consumer advocates and industry clash at hearing

April 24, 2024

California exodus of home insurance companies continues

April 19, 2024

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Karen Garcia is a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, the team that has a pulse on breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. She was previously a reporter on the Utility Journalism Team, which focused on service journalism. Her previous stints include reporting for the San Luis Obispo New Times and KCBX Central Coast Public Radio.

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Mayor Cantrell jets off to Qatar for ‘various meetings,’ City Hall says

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s overseas journeys continue, as her communications office revealed Saturday (May 11) she has traveled to the Qatari capital of Doha to participate in the Qatar Economic Forum and other “various meetings” with officials from the United States and the Middle Eastern country.

City Hall did not detail when Cantrell will return from her latest trip, nor say whether it is being funded exclusively by taxpayers.

The press release said Cantrell “will be accompanied by mayors from the states of Michigan and Florida,” but did not identify them. Cantrell is not among the listed speakers for the Qatar Economic Forum.

The release said she will meet with New Orleans native Timmy Davis, the US ambassador to Qatar, and tour the country’s Education City, an international campus hosting branches of “some of the world’s leading educational institutes.”

The release says Cantrell also will meet with Qatar’s minister of environment and climate change to “share expertise and resources on disaster preparedness” and infrastructure.

She also will attend the opening session of the Qatar Economic Forum, which runs next Tuesday through Thursday (May 14-16).

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The press release says that since Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup and New Orleans is to host Super Bowl LIX next February, “we will share best practices on how to capitalize on these major events to the benefit of our local economies.”

Cantrell’s office sent a press release last Tuesday (May 7) at 1 a.m. to say the mayor had left to attend a two-day international climate summit in Montreal, Canada. It was unclear whether she returned to New Orleans before her trip to Qatar.

In March, Cantrell traveled to Washington D.C. for an election-themed event and to Miami Beach for a climate conference.

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