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Table of Contents
Things to know before going to Los Angeles
LA is massive, so plan by neighbourhood (or you’ll live in traffic)
The best way to do LA without feeling like you need a spreadsheet is to plan your days by area. You’ll have a Hollywood/Griffith day, a beach day in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, a Downtown day and then anything big like Universal or a studio tour gets its own day.
If you try to do Beverly Hills in the morning, Venice at lunch, and Griffith at sunset because they’re all in LA, you’ll probably spend more time in the car than actually enjoying the trip.
Getting around Los Angeles
Yes you can use LA Metro and buses, and there are routes where it genuinely makes sense. But here’s the reality most visitors feel, the rail network only covers part of the city, and buses can be slow because they stop frequently and routes take time. Even LA locals on travel forums will say the fastest public transport is rail, but it only covers a small portion of the city and buses are the main option and can be slow.
Even Metro’s own customer experience survey has flagged reliability and frequency as key areas riders want improved. So if you want freedom to bounce around, do early starts, stay out late, or hit multiple neighbourhoods easily, hiring a car (I usually use KLOOK to hire cars from and find it to be super reliable) is usually the least stressful option.
eSIM and data when you land
If you’re coming from outside the US sort your data before you arrive because LA is the kind of place where you’ll need maps and Ubers straight away. I always use Airalo or Klook for an eSIM because it’s quick to set up and you can activate it as soon as you land without hunting for airport WiFi. Just make sure your phone is eSIM compatible and unlocked and download it before you fly so you’re not doing it tired at baggage claim.
Tax is added at checkout
In LA the price you see usually isn’t the final price because sales tax gets added at checkout and it’s normally around 9%-10% depending on the exact area so if something says $20 you’re realistically paying closer to $22. A lot of visitors get caught out by this at first because menus and price tags don’t include tax so I always keep a little buffer in my head when I’m adding things up especially if you’re doing lots of small spends like coffees snacks and quick Ubers.
Tipping is part of the cost
Tipping is part of the cost in LA and for sit down meals you’ll usually tip 15%-20% with a lot of people doing around 18%-20% unless service is genuinely bad and it adds up quickly if you’re eating out a lot. You’ll also tip in bars if you’re ordering drinks and it’s normal to tip for things like hair nails beauty treatments and sometimes even delivery drivers plus hotel staff where it’s usually just a few dollars for small help like bags. If you’re budgeting for the trip just treat tipping like a standard extra on top of the bill so you’re not surprised when every meal ends up slightly higher than you planned.
How much it costs to hire a car in LA
I’m going to say this loudly because it’s the biggest “hidden cost” of LA, car hire is not the expensive part, parking is.
A lot of hotels charge overnight valet parking and if you want in-and-out privileges (which you will definitely need) it’s often mandatory valet. When I was looking at hotels and where to stay with free parking in Los Angeles it was usually the really expensive hotels or the 2-3 star hotels that didn’t fit the girls’ trip look and feel.
So when you’re budgeting, don’t just look at the rental price of the car. Build in the reality that you might be paying $40-$70 PER NIGHT (yes per night) just to park your car at the hotel, and some hotels also add tax on top of that too which is worth noting and not to forget the resort fee per night you will probably also have at your hotel to pay).
Then add the day to day extras that pile up:
- Petrol – distances are bigger than they look on a map and you’ll drive more than you think.
- You will be likely be paying for parking everywhere you go
- Parking can also be genuinely difficult as a lot of places fill up, so you can end up circling (which is also petrol + time).
I know this sounds intense but I’m sharing it because most people don’t talk about the full cost of “hiring a car in LA,” and then you’re surprised when the trip ends up being way more expensive than planned. Hopefully this helps you budget properly from day one.
Parking tips you need in LA
If you are planning to drive in LA here are a couple of things I wish I knew about parking:
Firstly ALWAYS read the signs properly. They can look chaotic, but they matter and it’s worth taking your time to understand them so you don’t get a parking charge.
Secondly if you’re street parking, remember you generally need to park in the direction of traffic.
If you’re trying to keep parking costs down, apps can really help:
- SpotAngels can help you identify cheaper or potentially free street parking options, but it’s never guaranteed because availability changes by the minute.
- If you want less stress, booking a spot ahead via a parking platform can be worth it, especially around busy attractions (Parking.com is one example that supports hotel/overnight parking searches).
What to expect with LA traffic
The biggest thing to know is that LA is a car city and you should expect to spend time driving.
Here is what I would recommend when it comes to dealing with the LA traffic:
- Do anything popular early – Griffith, Hollywood Sign hikes, and beach parking are all easier before late morning.
- Avoid zig-zag itineraries – group activities by area so you’re not crossing the city multiple times a day.
- Build buffer time into plans – if you have a dinner reservation, assume traffic will try to ruin your life and leave earlier than feels necessary.
Where to stay in LA
Best hotels in Koreatown
Beverly Hills (if you want the pretty LA experience)
Best Hotel’s in Hollywood
Best hotel’s in DTLA
Best hotel’s in Venice Beach
Things to do in LA
I’ve written a whole new long and detailed blog post on things to do in LA which you can read here, but here’s a snapshot of some of my favourite things to add to your list:
Top things to do in Los Angeles
- Griffith Observatory
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- The Hollywood Sign viewpoints
- Venice Beach
- Abbot Kinney Blvd
- Beverly Hills Sign
- Rodeo Drive
- Hollywood Open-Top Bus Tour
- Helicopter tour over LA
- Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
- Santa Monica Pier and beach
- Paul Smith Pink Wall
- Celebrity homes tour
- Runyon Canyon Park
- City Hall Observation Deck
- The Broad
How to get to LA
If you’re coming from the UK, the easiest way to get to LA is flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It’s the main airport and it’s the one most international flights land at, so it’s usually the best option for price and flight times. LAX can feel a bit chaotic when you arrive, especially if it’s your first time, but once you’re through immigration it’s pretty straightforward.
If you’re staying on the Westside (Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood) LAX is super convenient because you’re already on the right side of the city. If you’re staying more around Downtown or somewhere like Pasadena, the drive is longer so just keep that in mind when you’re planning your base. If you don’t want to rent a car straight away, Uber and Lyft are easy to use from LAX, but the price can jump up depending on the time of day and traffic.
How long do you need in LA
LA depends on what kind of trip you want, but it also depends on how far you’re travelling. If you’re not travelling internationally and you just want to do the main areas like Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica then 4 days is enough. You can hit the highlights, do a studio day if you want, fit in a hike and still have time for a proper beach afternoon without trying to squeeze everything into one day.
For me though, the sweet spot is 8 to 10 days. LA is so spread out that if you only have a week, you end up cutting corners and spending too much time trying to do everything back to back. With 8 to 10 days you can actually explore areas properly, have slower days and still do the big tourist spots without it feeling like a checklist.
It also gives you space for day trips which is the bit people forget when they plan LA. Palm Springs, Laguna Beach and Manhattan Beach are all such good add ons, but you probably won’t have time if you’re only in LA for a week because your days will already be full. With 8 to 10 days you can build those in without sacrificing the things you came to LA for in the first place.
Best times to visit LA
If you want LA at its most enjoyable, spring and autumn are usually the sweet spot. You get great weather without peak summer crowds and prices, and it’s easier to do the big sights without everything feeling like a queue.
One thing people don’t always know is that late spring/early summer can bring coastal cloud cover known as “June Gloom.” It often clears later in the day, but mornings near the beach can be grey and cooler than expected.
In short:
- March-May: bright, comfortable, and a really solid time to do LA properly
- June-August: peak summer energy, but also peak prices and crowds (and you might get June Gloom near the coast)
- September-November: still warm, often calmer and one of the best times for a girls trip
- Winter – milder and can be great for a cheaper trip but evenings can be cooler
Where to eat in LA
Coffee spots in LA
- Community Goods
- Chamberlain Coffee
- Alfred Coffee
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Comet over Delphi
- La La Land Kind Cafe
- Maru Espresso Bar
- Olive and James Cafe Tea
- Cha Cha Matcha
- Yala Coffee
- Cafe Knotted
- Cafe Nido
- Malou Coffee
- SERIES A COFFEE
- Le cafe de la plage Malibu
Brunch spots in LA
- Urth Caffe
- Eggslut
- PopUp Bagels
- Great White
- Faregrounds
- First Of All
- Great White
- Beethoven Market
- Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe
- The Butcher’s Daughter
- Dialog Cafe
- The Maybourne Café
- MOOD.
- Du-par’s
- Bub and Grandma’s Restaurant
Quick Eats
- Erewhon
- The Original Farmers Market
- Philippe The Original
- In-N-Out Burger
- Mel’s Dive-In
- The Apple Pan
- Grand Central Market
- Sonoratown
- Chill Since ’93
- Chuy’s Tacos Dorados
- Pollo A La Brasa
- Ramen Nagi
- WAKE AND LATE
- Doughbrik’s Pizza
Restaurants in LA
- TAO
- Catch
- The Polo Lounge
- Il Pastaio
- Market
- Laya Restaurant
- CENTO Pasta Bar
- Mrs. Fish
- Alba Los Angeles
- Chez Mia
- Bianca
Rooftop Restaurants in LA
- Cara Cara
- Harriet’s Rooftop
- Lemon Grove
- The Roof at EDITION
- The Rooftop Beverly Hills
- Casa Madera West Hollywood
- Hollywood Volume Rooftop Bar
- Terra at Eataly L.A.
- Kassi Rooftop Venice Beach
I hope this Los Angeles travel guide has helped you plan your trip and gave you a few new ideas to add to your itinerary. Feel free to check out the rest of my guides here to help plan your next girls’ trip! Also don’t forget to use my discount code THEGIRLSTRIPTOKLOOK if you are booking any of your experiences through Klook.
