Los Angeles - 5 days

james1983

Hey lads,

Im looking for some serious help and advice regarding LA.

Apparently it is a disaster to get around via public transport.

Im staying in Santa Monica or Venice Beach for 5 days (can only afford to stay here as they are where the hostels are). However they are very far out apparently. A good 30 mins by car i hear?

I presume even though the transport is poor they must be some sort of a bus that can get me to the likes of Hollywood,Rodeo Drive,etc?

Renting a car is not an option as i can't afford it by myself.

Any advice on how to best tackle LA? Any other major sites to see?

Any other major sites to see folks?

paulieeye

Public transport is indeed a disaster. Buses are available and useable its just not ideal. From Santa Monica there is a reasonably good bus service called Big Blue Bus. AFAIK these would serve most places of interest...hollywood etc. Although Hollywood is actually pretty crap, way more craic to be had down venice way.

U should concentrate more on checkin out Santa Monica / Venice area. Its not really like there are really far out..the whole city is so spread out there is no real centre. LA itself is just a collection of a few sky scrapers with nothing much to do there. Santa Monica/ Venice is where its all happening. Bikes are readily available to rent, some hostels have them for free. There is miles and miles of beach to cycle along with paths the entire way. Place is mobbed on saturdays, everyone out playing vollyball...the women oh my god the women!

Venice is also hopping on the wknd, loads of strange folk about, buskers, street performers, stalls, markets, tattoist. Good music around too, every sunday they have a doors tribute band in a beach bar down venice (cant remember the name)..they're pretty good.

My advice is if you only have 5 days, stick to Santa Monica/Venice. Check out what there is to do in lonely planet..etc. Other attractions (DisneyLand, 6 Flags, Getty Museme, Sea World) are all a car ride away.

Theres also boat rides down from venice out to Catalina Island which I hear is nice, havent been tho.

LA is a hole, the most uninspring and over-rated city in the world.

james1983

Deleted User wrote: »

LA is a hole, the most uninspring and over-rated city in the world.

I think that is Dublin!

BuffyBot

No, definitely LA..

SheroN

5 days in LA is about 4 days too many. There's very little of interst to see and do there.

paulieeye

While the wise words from our moderators are brief and lack information, they do have a point, its not the best city on the world. But spending 5 days there is worth it to, at the very least, create ur own opinion. so pay no heed to their negative vibes.

Theres a great buzz around santa monica and venice. But once u venture outside these it does get grubby.

Leprachaun

LA is deadly as long as you don't treat it as a vacation spot. You've got to 'live' it to enjoy it properly. The nightlife is great too. I'm probably in the minority,but I love LA.

Is the nightlife really that good?Heard its ridiculously expensive.LA bus station is dodgy as fook too.

Leprachaun

Deleted User wrote: »

Is the nightlife really that good?Heard its ridiculously expensive.LA bus station is dodgy as fook too.

Yeh it's kind of expensive,but that's in american terms. Wouldn't be hugely different to some of the clubs in dublin. The entrance fee can be a bit pricey in some of the more classy nightclubs but the 'normal' drinks (not bottles of champagne :P ) wouldn't be much more than in say....club 21 in dublin.