Discussion
Petrus1983 said:
123DWA said:
A timely thread for me also, Are there any benefits to an EV in LA? I've been looking on Turo and a lot of the Tesla's are cheap (i'm guessing because there is so many on there) and I could live with charging it if there was discounted parking or EV only parking spaces. The only thing I can see online is being able to use the carpool lane with a single occupant.
Before anybody says anything about a Tesla, I've already got a 3 day hire booked on a Challenger Scat Pack
Fuel is dirt cheap so I can't see any bonus. Before anybody says anything about a Tesla, I've already got a 3 day hire booked on a Challenger Scat Pack
Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
h0b0 said:
£1.10/L currently in LA. The days of dirt cheap fuel are long gone.
Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
Wow - that's a massive difference to my experience. And even when I was there last my ex had a fuel card supplied by her fathers oil and gas (mainly oil) company. But a big shift from my days. Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
I think with LA you will if staying long enough get adjusted to how hard knocks it can be and have your wits about you. Did a conference in Downtown at the civic centre in 2006, my first trip to the US and what an experience.
Other years we stayed in Culver City to keep hotel costs down and it was fine, at the time it was a bit run down but seemed fine.
I've walked back on late nights up and down Sunset Boulevard after dinner (with the missus not Hugh Grant types) and just used my nouse. It can be dead as everyone drives in LA with any money.
On the subject of Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood end has a Train Carriage cafe and then a bit further up Mel's Diner (near the Viper Room).
Other years we stayed in Culver City to keep hotel costs down and it was fine, at the time it was a bit run down but seemed fine.
I've walked back on late nights up and down Sunset Boulevard after dinner (with the missus not Hugh Grant types) and just used my nouse. It can be dead as everyone drives in LA with any money.
On the subject of Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood end has a Train Carriage cafe and then a bit further up Mel's Diner (near the Viper Room).
The G Kid said:
75Black said:
In terms of NFL, LA has 2 teams now, the LA Chargers and LA Rams, previously San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams. The NFL schedule is due to release at the beginning of May so there's a good chance you'll get a home game for either team. Tickets are easily accessible on the Ticketmaster US site. Rams and Chargers share SoFi stadium as well.
9th or 10th of May, so not too long to wait!Petrus1983 said:
Sounds lovely - but the drive to Santa Monica has the potential to be a ball ache - but could be ok. Where are you staying?
https://www.hotelcelebrity.comTrying to find somewhere that has a two bed suite at a reasonable price was difficult - almost went for a glam AirBnB up on the hill with a pool and views but the girls won the argument. So we have a 2 bedroomed suite and the owners have been pretty good in comms so far etc.
2 nights - should be fun!!
Yep am concerned about the drive to SM - but it will be what it is. Last stop of the epic trip.
Done nothing else but read reviews here there and everywhere - a place we are unlikely to revisit so we have boxes to tick.
Petrus1983 said:
h0b0 said:
£1.10/L currently in LA. The days of dirt cheap fuel are long gone.
Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
Wow - that's a massive difference to my experience. And even when I was there last my ex had a fuel card supplied by her fathers oil and gas (mainly oil) company. But a big shift from my days. Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
£1.10/litre is a crazy hike! And do the Yanks now use litres?
Stop the world, I wanna get off
croyde said:
Petrus1983 said:
h0b0 said:
£1.10/L currently in LA. The days of dirt cheap fuel are long gone.
Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
Wow - that's a massive difference to my experience. And even when I was there last my ex had a fuel card supplied by her fathers oil and gas (mainly oil) company. But a big shift from my days. Probably little saving on electric though with high costs to charge. I was in AVIS in LA this time last year and the guy ahead of me had booked a Tesla. His kids was full of enthusiasm but when the guy asked about range the desk told him to get a gas car.
I am no fan of LA and can tell you Hollywood is a crap hole to avoid. Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills hotel were nice. II much preferred Palm Sprigs and Joshua Tree national park.
Vegas was a good 2 day trip if you have not been before.
£1.10/litre is a crazy hike! And do the Yanks now use litres?
Stop the world, I wanna get off
When I moved to the US in 2004 "gas" was around $2.gallon. When I told people it was $5+ in the UK they would tell me that was the price of the commie NHS and it would never happen in the US.
It should be noted that gas prices vary a lot. I do not look at the price here in NJ as my car has a drinking problem. I do have a receipt from Arizona in front of me where it was $3.799/gallon
Nurburgsingh said:
Peterson motor museum - the best thing about LA.
Do the tour of the warehouse too. They have some SPECTACULAR cars hidden down there
Like most things in the USA now, it’s pretty expensive. Nearly $200 for a family of 4 including the vault. I didn’t think the vault was worth the extra. Do the tour of the warehouse too. They have some SPECTACULAR cars hidden down there
I went a long time ago on a conference trip. Rented a car for a few days. did Santa Barbara. Also Chinese Mann's Theatre; MI2 was premiering. Got there, and saw the line, but then figured out (even in 2000), there were ticket machines so I didn't understand why the losers were queuing. Biut a terrible place to watch a movie; too many people jumping on stage and whoops every 5 minutes during the movie/
I went when we couldn't get much in the way of MX5 bits in the UK, besides Moss. My MX5 had just been stolen and torched. I got a replacement but had nearly £800 left over from the settlement to spendon stuff. So spent time in LA loading up the rental Escort with bits and bobs. But the highlight was the drive to Anaheim, to go to Racing Beat, who do a lot of stuff with MX5s and RX7s. I wanted a chunky Style Bar, and RB just had one made for a RHD car returned from Japan unsold. These things cost at the time $400, and a RHD version was basically worthless in the US. I drove out and bid them $60 for it, which they happily accepted, plus threw in the t-shirts and "merch" and gave me the tour, which I found fascinating, reeing the boss's Bonneville spaceframe Mk2 RX7, a then new Mk2 MX5 bodykit being made, meetng the guys making the 4-branch headers, and the wirey 90 year old who's job was to test every ignition lead they made.
I went back with the style bar as excess luggage, plus new roof, strut brace and other bits. BA promptly lost my luggage, and eventually it turned up at Belfast airpirt, but a helpful customs officer did me a deal on the duty.
I went when we couldn't get much in the way of MX5 bits in the UK, besides Moss. My MX5 had just been stolen and torched. I got a replacement but had nearly £800 left over from the settlement to spendon stuff. So spent time in LA loading up the rental Escort with bits and bobs. But the highlight was the drive to Anaheim, to go to Racing Beat, who do a lot of stuff with MX5s and RX7s. I wanted a chunky Style Bar, and RB just had one made for a RHD car returned from Japan unsold. These things cost at the time $400, and a RHD version was basically worthless in the US. I drove out and bid them $60 for it, which they happily accepted, plus threw in the t-shirts and "merch" and gave me the tour, which I found fascinating, reeing the boss's Bonneville spaceframe Mk2 RX7, a then new Mk2 MX5 bodykit being made, meetng the guys making the 4-branch headers, and the wirey 90 year old who's job was to test every ignition lead they made.
I went back with the style bar as excess luggage, plus new roof, strut brace and other bits. BA promptly lost my luggage, and eventually it turned up at Belfast airpirt, but a helpful customs officer did me a deal on the duty.
I’ve been there for work quite a lot in the last couple of years - I’ve spent about 6 weeks there in total, 90% of it in the office. I don’t recognise the unsafe status applied in the posts above; I’ve walked extensively around downtown and Inglewood and it was no worse than London. Plenty of homeless people but mostly harmless. I’ve walked around Downtown, Rodeo Drive, Skid Row, Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard and on the bridges over the LA River too. In total I’ve only had a couple of days off, but I enjoyed the Observatory, the SoFi stadium, The Broad (modern art museum), the Angels Flight (which is next to my office) and various places to eat including Cole’s French Dip, which is in what many would consider a dodgy place. Chinatown is pretty cool too. There is a great food market at the bottom of the Angels Flight. The whole city is, however, frigging expensive! The only place that I was a bit wary of was the Walk of Fame, which had Leicester Square vibes. Next time I’m there I’ll go hiking in the hills surrounding the city, where there are some incredible trail hikes. I’d avoid the LA Metro, which seemed to be like a 24 hour sleeper train for the homeless but Ubers are cheap. Hope you enjoy it. The people are much more friendly than those in NYC.
mattyn1 said:
Petrus1983 said:
Sounds lovely - but the drive to Santa Monica has the potential to be a ball ache - but could be ok. Where are you staying?
https://www.hotelcelebrity.comTrying to find somewhere that has a two bed suite at a reasonable price was difficult - almost went for a glam AirBnB up on the hill with a pool and views but the girls won the argument. So we have a 2 bedroomed suite and the owners have been pretty good in comms so far etc.
2 nights - should be fun!!
Yep am concerned about the drive to SM - but it will be what it is. Last stop of the epic trip.
Done nothing else but read reviews here there and everywhere - a place we are unlikely to revisit so we have boxes to tick.
mattyn1 said:
We have two days in LA in August - plan is:
Drive into LA from San Simeon...
Horse ride to see the Hollywood sign late afternoon (Sunset Ranch).
Evening walk and dinner in and about Hollywood. Hotel is in Hollywood.
Day at Universal. Evening, who knows?
Day doing Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard (if for any reason we have not done it at night), the Observatory perhaps, then drive onto Santa Monica Pier to say we have done most of Route 66.
Then to LAX for the flight home.
Thanks for this info, the horse ride sounds good.Drive into LA from San Simeon...
Horse ride to see the Hollywood sign late afternoon (Sunset Ranch).
Evening walk and dinner in and about Hollywood. Hotel is in Hollywood.
Day at Universal. Evening, who knows?
Day doing Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard (if for any reason we have not done it at night), the Observatory perhaps, then drive onto Santa Monica Pier to say we have done most of Route 66.
Then to LAX for the flight home.
Santa Monica is great, we found Venice Beach very weird-feeling, especially after sunset. We stayed in Manhattan Beach, just south of LAX, which was great and so chilled out and friendly.
The Science Museum with the Shuttle is really good, and soon they’ll be displaying it in a new hall as a “full stack”, they also have the only un-flown external fuel tank.
<<edit>> the Shuttle is currently being moved and the display is not yet open - more info here:
https://californiasciencecenter.org/about-us/samue...
The Petersen is ok, but other than the vault I found it a bit underwhelming. The vault is well worth the extra though and despite what others have said it was fine to take pictures for us.
We went to the Chinese theatre and Walk of Fame but (a) a lot of it was fenced off for a premier and (b) the level of begging and general hassling was pretty annoying. Nice to see though and some of the souvenir shops are huge.
Rodeo drive is pretty cool and you’re near the Pretty Woman hotel.
Definitely go up to the Hollywood sign in the park area. The chilli fruit drinks are awesome!
We ran out of time but if there’s a next time I’d like to go to the Greenwich Observatory.
A couple of hours south is San Clemente, parts are very pretty and we found a great bar…
The Science Museum with the Shuttle is really good, and soon they’ll be displaying it in a new hall as a “full stack”, they also have the only un-flown external fuel tank.
<<edit>> the Shuttle is currently being moved and the display is not yet open - more info here:
https://californiasciencecenter.org/about-us/samue...
The Petersen is ok, but other than the vault I found it a bit underwhelming. The vault is well worth the extra though and despite what others have said it was fine to take pictures for us.
We went to the Chinese theatre and Walk of Fame but (a) a lot of it was fenced off for a premier and (b) the level of begging and general hassling was pretty annoying. Nice to see though and some of the souvenir shops are huge.
Rodeo drive is pretty cool and you’re near the Pretty Woman hotel.
Definitely go up to the Hollywood sign in the park area. The chilli fruit drinks are awesome!
We ran out of time but if there’s a next time I’d like to go to the Greenwich Observatory.
A couple of hours south is San Clemente, parts are very pretty and we found a great bar…
Edited by generationx on Tuesday 9th April 10:25
Edited by generationx on Tuesday 9th April 10:30
generationx said:
Santa Monica is great, we found Venice Beach very weird-feeling, especially after sunset. We stayed in Manhattan Beach, just south of LAX, which was great and so chilled out and friendly.
The Science Museum with the Shuttle is really good, and soon they’ll be displaying it in a new hall as a “full stack”, they also have the only un-flown external fuel tank.
<<edit>> the Shuttle is currently being moved and the display is not yet open - more info here:
https://californiasciencecenter.org/about-us/samue...
The Petersen is ok, but other than the vault I found it a bit underwhelming. The vault is well worth the extra though and despite what others have said it was fine to take pictures for us.
We went to the Chinese theatre and Walk of Fame but (a) a lot of it was fenced off for a premier and (b) the level of begging and general hassling was pretty annoying. Nice to see though and some of the souvenir shops are huge.
Rodeo drive is pretty cool and you’re near the Pretty Woman hotel.
Definitely go up to the Hollywood sign in the park area. The chilli fruit drinks are awesome!
We ran out of time but if there’s a next time I’d like to go to the Greenwich Observatory.
A couple of hours south is San Clemente, parts are very pretty and we found a great bar…
They had the Premiere of the Muppets going on when we went, it was quite low key tbh as let's face it the cast are hardly going to have a big entourage. The Science Museum with the Shuttle is really good, and soon they’ll be displaying it in a new hall as a “full stack”, they also have the only un-flown external fuel tank.
<<edit>> the Shuttle is currently being moved and the display is not yet open - more info here:
https://californiasciencecenter.org/about-us/samue...
The Petersen is ok, but other than the vault I found it a bit underwhelming. The vault is well worth the extra though and despite what others have said it was fine to take pictures for us.
We went to the Chinese theatre and Walk of Fame but (a) a lot of it was fenced off for a premier and (b) the level of begging and general hassling was pretty annoying. Nice to see though and some of the souvenir shops are huge.
Rodeo drive is pretty cool and you’re near the Pretty Woman hotel.
Definitely go up to the Hollywood sign in the park area. The chilli fruit drinks are awesome!
We ran out of time but if there’s a next time I’d like to go to the Greenwich Observatory.
A couple of hours south is San Clemente, parts are very pretty and we found a great bar…
Edited by generationx on Tuesday 9th April 10:25
Edited by generationx on Tuesday 9th April 10:30
Corey from The Goonies was main human in it and he was there!
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the California and LA in particular is full of some of the most incredible architecture:
When we were there last year I managed to see Lautner's Chemosphere (the flying saucer house in GTA) , previous trips have included most of FLW's buildings and if you venture out to Palm Springs there are two more incredible Lautner houses: Bob Hope's and the "Thunderball house"
Sometimes just driving along and taking it all in is a great way to spend some time, you'll be amazed at the cars you'll see being used on a daily basis and there are iconic and unexpected sights seemingly at every turn: a car lot of old Mustangs in all sorts of repair, the same but with Broncos or a Cobra parked outside a house on the PCH.
Just enjoy being there, accept that the traffic may be horrendous, but, if you're in something fun, who cares? you're in a traffic jam in LA in a Camaro / Mustang/ 'Vette / whatever *
Easy tasty food is always available at Whole Foods - they often have parking too - if you get bored of burgers.
It's a mental insanely huge place, more akin to several Londons but with motorways joining it together.
Just enjoy being there.
Have a great trip.
When we were there last year I managed to see Lautner's Chemosphere (the flying saucer house in GTA) , previous trips have included most of FLW's buildings and if you venture out to Palm Springs there are two more incredible Lautner houses: Bob Hope's and the "Thunderball house"
Sometimes just driving along and taking it all in is a great way to spend some time, you'll be amazed at the cars you'll see being used on a daily basis and there are iconic and unexpected sights seemingly at every turn: a car lot of old Mustangs in all sorts of repair, the same but with Broncos or a Cobra parked outside a house on the PCH.
Just enjoy being there, accept that the traffic may be horrendous, but, if you're in something fun, who cares? you're in a traffic jam in LA in a Camaro / Mustang/ 'Vette / whatever *
Easy tasty food is always available at Whole Foods - they often have parking too - if you get bored of burgers.
It's a mental insanely huge place, more akin to several Londons but with motorways joining it together.
Just enjoy being there.
Have a great trip.
- Other family members may not feel the same
I've been a few times and stayed in different locations - hard to say you don't like L.A. as it's so big there's a chance you may have just stayed in the wrong location...
Walk of fame, chinese theatre and Hollywood in general - Leicester Square/Times Square vibes for me - a tourist trap not worth visiting. When I went Billy Zane was selling autographs under a gazebo outside the chinese theatre, a bit sad really.
Griffith Observatory worth a visit inside and out especually for the rooftop views, and take time to walk around the park as well. Recommend a drive up and down the canyon roads - go along Mulholland Drive and drop down a canyon road into the top end of Beverly Hills to combine with a trip to Rodeo Drive. The Grove is a decent place to visit for food, drinks and a movie and is close to the Peterson - the Ken Block collection was a highlight for me there.
Personally liked Santa Monica and stayed at the Georgian which was very old school cool, walk along Abbot Kinney through Venice Beach, then snake back along the Venice canals onto the beach boardwalk, and back along to SM past muscle beach and the skate park.
Didn't feel unsafe, we have homeless, junkies and alkies in the UK, didn't feel much different to Glasgow, Manchester or London in that respect!
Walk of fame, chinese theatre and Hollywood in general - Leicester Square/Times Square vibes for me - a tourist trap not worth visiting. When I went Billy Zane was selling autographs under a gazebo outside the chinese theatre, a bit sad really.
Griffith Observatory worth a visit inside and out especually for the rooftop views, and take time to walk around the park as well. Recommend a drive up and down the canyon roads - go along Mulholland Drive and drop down a canyon road into the top end of Beverly Hills to combine with a trip to Rodeo Drive. The Grove is a decent place to visit for food, drinks and a movie and is close to the Peterson - the Ken Block collection was a highlight for me there.
Personally liked Santa Monica and stayed at the Georgian which was very old school cool, walk along Abbot Kinney through Venice Beach, then snake back along the Venice canals onto the beach boardwalk, and back along to SM past muscle beach and the skate park.
Didn't feel unsafe, we have homeless, junkies and alkies in the UK, didn't feel much different to Glasgow, Manchester or London in that respect!
I walked through LAX when landing thinking um is Eddie Murphy going to run through here shooting Beverley Hills Cop 5 it was that similar.
It certainly grips you and brings back the memories picked up over the years of cinema you've watched.
It aint that bad if a lot of UK celebs choose to holiday/live there.
Enjoy one of the greatest cities in the world.
It certainly grips you and brings back the memories picked up over the years of cinema you've watched.
It aint that bad if a lot of UK celebs choose to holiday/live there.
Enjoy one of the greatest cities in the world.
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