Los Angeles holiday

[Zizi444]

We are going to LA in just under a month. We are staying a week in LA and a week in Palm Springs. 2 adults and 2 kids 16 and 11 - one who is ft wheelchair user. I've booked Kimpton Everly in Hollywood and just trying to sort itinerary out. We hope to do walk of fame hollywood boulevard as within walking distance and celeb bus tours which i will book in advance. I'm still not sure if the hotel is the right area for us?? We also want to go to Warner and/ or Universal, Getty and Griffith Observatory. Hollywood sign would be nice but I dont think its accessible do might miss. I'm wondering about Disney? And also Santa Monica? We will have a car. Although booked hotel I can cancel hotel and book another if need be.
Any advice welcome

Nb.. I always book late. wing it and plan last minute

Thanks ducks

Agree with the above suggestions - in central LA, I would check out The Grove and the Farmer’s Market, Griffith Observatory and have a drive around Rodeo Drive and Beverley Hills. There’s a ‘witch’s house’ called Spadena House in Beverley Hills which is fun.

You can see the Hollywood Sign as you drive around - we got good photos from Griffith observatory.

We enjoyed grabbing a coffee/drink during the day in some of the well-known hotels for people watching and photos - Chateau Marmont, Beverley Hills Hotel.

Just outside LA - Santa Monica and Malibu are nice to visit and accessible. I’d recommend Paradise Cove near Malibu - it has a family friendly cafe/restaurant on a private beach. From memory, it’s accessible. I remember there was a ‘mile high chocolate cake’ which lots of families were sharing!

American sports are family-friendly and make a great experience for the atmosphere even if you’re not a huge fan of the sports - we’ve visited the LA baseball stadiums but I think it’s basketball and football season in October.

Santa Barbara is lovely too (further north).

Have a fantastic trip!

A couple of casual food suggestions - Malibu Seafood Cafe is on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and has various fish and chips / seafood options.

Also, In N Out Burger is a burger chain in California, so there are various locations dotted around. The burgers are decent and there’s a ‘secret menu’ if you Google it!

How exciting. I love California and have been visiting for many years. Re the Hollywood sign you can drive halfway up - we did two years ago but it is VERY limited parking / mostly private - then it’s a very steep hill to the sign. The last time I went, I felt the strain as I wasn’t as fit as I’d been in the past. Alternatively, there’s an area called Beachwood Canyon or visit Lake Hollywood Park and you’ll get some good close up photos of the sign. Santa Monica beach is lovely - it’s where I got engaged so I always revisit.

We stayed at a hotel in Marina del Ray, which is nice and quiet. It's a short drive from LAX and walking distance from Venice Beach, which was fun. I agree with PPs about Santa Monica and also with PPs who say Hollywood is filthy and tacky - although I still do think it's worth visiting. We all enjoyed the bus tour of the celebs homes.

When we went to Disneyland, we stayed in a hotel that was walking distance from there. You say you have a disabled DC. That may mean that you can get a disability pass for Disneyland. You go onto their website 30 days in advance (I think) of your visit and tell them why your DC can't queue. I got one for my ME/CFS (a fatiguing illness) which meant the whole family didn't have to queue. It was truly brilliant!

The homeless in West Coast cities in the US are often on opiates and fentanyl, it can make them very scary - zombie like - and not the same as how we might think of homeless people in the UK.

I am quite concerned about you staying in Hollywood as it's a really horrible area. The addiction is quite scary and like nothing I've seen before (I've backpacked the world). Its fun to do the tours etc and then leave. We stayed in Santa Monica, which did have a lot of homeless, but was really nice. I haven't been lately so don't know if it's changed. This isn't really about homeless people like we have here, as a pp said, these people are very mentally ill/addicts. Its shocking. I don't want to sound like a knob and uncompassionate but when I stayed in backpacker hostels they were full of these addicts who would be shouting and twitching etc. I was completely unprepared.

@Deeprug ? The mentally ill are here on the streets too! Plus lots of other places where they aren’t rounded up. How have you not noticed?! Who stays in a hostel in the USA and doesn’t expect this?

@Zizi444 I’d look at Santa Monica! If you want theme parks, stay near them! Otherwise don’t spend much time in central LA. Just not worth it when compared to everything else you can do and see.

OP I have travelled around Cali so many times I have lost count. Love Palm springs but LA nope. So many beautiful places to stay in Cali but LA is not one. I’d be doing a couple of days there max if you really want to tick it off, and universal is brilliant. As others have said stay elsewhere.

We did three nights pre cruise in LA in April. I was really worried I hate after all the “it’s a dump” comments but but we loved it!

We stayed at the Garmond hotel Near universal and this is a great hotel. We didn’t have a car and could walk to a supermarket/ walgreen/marshals and there was a free trolley to universal and nice pool bar and fire place etc.

we did the holly wood walk for fame and it’s tacky for sure but it’s like saying to someone going to London don’t go to Leicester Square- you kind if want to. We went in the tat shops and bought some tat and clothes in Marshalls there and target. (Clothes are much cheaper there than the UK).
We then went to in and out burger on Hollywood Blvd.

we loved the grove and the farmers market, trader Joe’s and the hotel pool and then we got on a cruise ship.

would I go again yes!

did I feel safe - mostly- the idea people have guns is disturbing and it does feel gritty in some area. We would walk a bit and then get Ubers and metro to cut cost. Ubers are expensive as it’s so vast. £50 from the hotel to Santa Monica.

Our main thing was universal. And that was so much fun and we did rope drop and a full day there. Our trip was cut shorter by 2 day dues to a flight change but we spend more time in Madrid instead as our flight were paid in air miles.

would do a stars tour and Griffith one and Hollywood sign, raising canes, Santa Monica ans so on. It took 2 hours to get to hotel after landing as the traffic IS horrendous

Homelessness- massive issue. I was prepared for it after San Francisco and the airline chose a hotel in the middle of an encampment. Homeless people in America generally about more intimidating as there is obviously lost of MH and addiction issues. And no benefit system. However I never really felt threatened, I just fell a bit uneasy and would cross the road avoid. It’s just very sad to see. The encampments are horrible if you see them.

I would check the kimpton location carefully as one of the Hollywood Walk of fame area hotels is set away and under a huge underpass to walk anywhere. I would avoid any underpass area.

I would never suggest anyone did Leicester Square in London! Why would you?

The airline chose a hotel? Did you have no choice? I often book city hotels with BA, but there’s wide choice.

People need to be discerning and not stay in central LA near tacky places. The homeless people want tourist money.

@TizerorFizz
Please re read it says don’t go - and tourists do despite this.

Sorry if the clarity was poor

No matter how many time people report Leicester sq/times sq/ Hollywood walk of fame are awful and to avoid them, tourists still flock there. Including me!

As for the hotel, the sarcastic tone was not clear?

I’m sure the guy from airline in slough did not know that the Hampton hotel in SF was I the middle of an encampment. I didn’t book it my husband sorted it and they packagd it to flights in case of a delay. I it was close to shops and food and we arrived at 6pm and left at 8am- I wasn’t over invested in reading trip adviser 🤷‍♀️

my post was pretty long though and had more interesting things in it that what you pick upon. I’ll try to get my tone and clarity more precise.

@cinnamonbunlover I just choose from the online list offered and check check check numerous reviews! You do find out what the issues might be!

Of course tourists go to over hyped rubbish things! But it’s not obligatory in LA or London. Most cities have great alternatives and LA is no exception.

One of the best views of the sign is from Lake Hollywood Park, we were there in March.