Dumb Mistakes Tourists Make in Los Angeles

[@paintkiller93]

LA local here. Great video. I'd like to add that the metro system here is slowly but surely growing. I would recommend waiting until 2023 or 2024 for a trip bc at that time there will be an LAX rail link, some new museums open, and more rail accessible museums/attractions.

[@jim8573]

Will visit in 2024 at that year i can enter the U.S.A. again, can’t wait!

[@joeyyamaguchi8656]

If ucla accepts me I like to migrate there from Dallas tx

[@AlexCab_49]

We should've built a heavy rail system long ago and we actually have the density for it, urban part of LA is as dense as Philly!

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH

[@webdaddy]

@@AlexCab_49 We had trams in the 40's but they got paved over for the car!

[@zyxwut321]

LA is the kind of place where you probably really want to have a good itinerary and healthy budget to have a good time. It's too spread out, too much traffic and the sites are too far away from each other and expensive to just stumble onto serendipitously. If you plan it well and locate sites near each other with enough time (and money) to enjoy everything LA can be quite special, unlike almost anywhere else on Earth. But you have to plan it. Fail to plan is planning to fail here.

[@anthonywarthold]

First visit to LA in 2012 we made the mistake of talking to 2 guys and a girl who approached us on Venice boardwalk with headphones. Listen to our music they said, then they asked us our kids names and wrote them on a CD. They gave us the CD and then said ‘we usually sell them for $30, but whatever you can afford’. Because they wrote our kids names on the CD we felt obligated to buy them. Beware of this scam !

[@TheSjuris]

@@anthonywarthold every city in the world has them

[@Free_BossmanJACK]

how could u fall for this lol. also this is everywhere not just at venice

[@anthonywarthold]

@@Free_BossmanJACK easy in your first visit to America

[@Free_BossmanJACK]

@@anthonywarthold i live here lmao

[@anthonywarthold]

@@Free_BossmanJACK I don’t ;)

[@LeeEverett1]

A few points to add on you somewhat covered: -Do NOT jaywalk here, cops heavily enforce it. Even if there's literally no traffic and your signal is taking forever, avoid the temptation if you can. Some fines can be as high as $200. -Don't text and drive. Everyone does it these days but again it's heavily enforced by police and you'll get one hell of a fine. -Regarding the buskers/street performers, don't ask, take, or agree to be in a picture with them if you don't have any cash on you. I've seen fights breakout over just a few dollars because a tourist didn't want to pay. To add to this, don't accept "gifts" from bystanders either. You'll have people try to "give" you a necklace or something but it's really not free. You're 100% expected to pay them or else they'll start something with you.

[@mercedeswilkins5566]

Same here in lv

[@pcofranc]

@fredm.7145 Thanks! Most important thing is safety but *I did not know this* and I found this online: "The change comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed "The Freedom To Walk Act" on Friday, assembly member Phil Ting, who sponsored the bill, announced. The new law, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, says *police can only ticket someone jaywalking when there is an immediate danger of a collision*

[@kevinwilt3918]

This isn't 2003 anymore. The subways are rolling mental institutions it's best to avoid them

[@502Aviation]

One thing I learned from my first trip to L.A.- if you're gonna be spending any time in or near downtown, make sure you use the restroom BEFORE you get there, or otherwise you may have some issues. In our case we spent an evening in Little Tokyo, which bumps right up against Skid Row. Literally every place that had a restroom, had it closed off to everyone due to vandalism and the nefarious activities of the homeless. We covered several blocks, and my wife was in agony trying not to have an accident on herself before we finally found a public restroom that required a code for the door to get in. And those restrooms were in pretty bad shape, so you will only want to use them when you absolutely HAVE to.

[@T1C45]

Just Poop on the sidewalk . That's what they do there. It's ok, just do it.

[@gabrieljohn4512]

@@T1C45 omg! 🤣😂

[@briand5083]

This is the case in all big cities. Find a Starbucks and ask for a small coffee along with the bathroom code. I do this throughout downtown of every big city I visit, including LA.

[@xvnstylez]

@@briand5083 that’s not true... I had no problem finding a clean toilet in Tokyo, Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Verona etc.

[@danielmorton9003]

As someone that lives in LA I actually have to disagree with your stance on renting cars. The trains are still really limited and Uber and Lyft are waaaaaaay overpriced right now. You could probably end up spending more on Uber and Lyft to places than you would just renting the car, even with the exorbitant rental car prices these days. Not to mention it's really hard to get lyft and uber these days anyways

[@mats7492]

I got everywhere I wanted with light rail and bus though… 3 weeks and only used Lyft about 5-6 times I would not want to drive in LA even if I had a license, it’s horrible

[@bostonphotographer20]

I'm local too and have taken the Red Line from DTLA to NoHo and saw some scary cats on that train.

[@danielmorton9003]

@@bostonphotographer20 I used to take the orange and redline to get to downtown from the valley. Definitely not recommended for tourists. Hell I don't even recommend it for locals

[@jamesparson]

@@danielmorton9003 I avoid the Blue Line for similar reasons.

[@AlexCab_49]

@@bostonphotographer20 Pffffft, they got nothing on the Bay Area homeless who will scream at passangers while waiting for BART. Ps. This is in response to OP but it depends where in LA you are, in Central LA you can get around without a car more easily since buses run more frequently and have better coverage almost on par with SFMTA.

[@andyroldan3898]

My first time to LA alone with friends (i was about 19) drove down to LA from Sacramento in 2015 (very little money) and looked for the cheapest hotel. Ended up staying in El Monte. To find out it was way too far for anything we would end up doing in LA. Very important tip, look at the map and look at distance. A 6 mile long drive can last an hour or more with traffic .

[@ninamc6116]

El Monte is a dump

[@simon990055]

@@andyroldan3898 then i would walk if its that distance thats about same time but no fuel cost

[@teddysnyder]

I have lived in L.A. for 30 years. The first time I came here, I stayed at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills and fell in love with the city. Very nice central location for everywhere in L.A. you would want to go. Yes, traffic is terrible, but you will waste a lot more time trying to use public transportation. L.A is too big and attractions too spread out to make this feasible. Note: Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm are not in Los Angeles city, or even Los Angeles county. Good advice to stay in Orange County for that part of your trip. Generally unsafe to walk around Downtown L.A. at night.

[@sm3675]

The LA busses are slow, the trains lead to nowhere, and the cars are stuck in traffic. The size of LA is why a great metro system would be fantastic.

[@danmur2797]

Disneyland is not in LA County, but it's a part of the larger LA metro so it's a doable one day trip

[@danmur2797]

@@sm3675 The trains lead to a lot of places, but LA is huge. Fun fact the combined LA metro light rail lines, subway lines, and commuter Metrolink rail lines now form the 3rd most extensive public rail system in the U.S. The closer you live to downtown LA the more options you have. The San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys are served by both light rail lines and Metrolink. You can even get to Santa Monica by light rail. You can get to Hollywood/West Hollywood via subway from downtown. The least well served area in terms of public rail is the Westside and that's historical--they also don't have a lot of highways. Land there is also expensive aside from NIMBYism--so not a lot of public rail to say Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, etc.

[@ramirezj7267]

Downtown at night is actually pretty nice sadly to walk around from a restaurant to a bar and such. But this is only for the main tourist areas and on the main streets. Do not go east of Los Angeles st on foot at night. I’ve lived here all my life and they are really dangerous but more unstable. But I would not recommend people that are not from the area to be there at night. Broadway, the “Staples” center, la live, and 7&fig are great for people wanting to experience a bit of the night life and go to bars restaurants or entertainment venues.

[@BillyBob_McSanchez]

....I think I'll just stick to GTA 5 and pretend I been to LA. At least there, I can cut through traffic or use a helicopter lol

[@christopherhood7763]

One thing I learned not just from visiting LA but all of the states, is to carry some “real” money on you for tipping. This may be hard to get used to for countries where tipping is not a thing- like my home country of Australia- but you WILL need to carry cash.

[@maryannemalandrinos5504]

I love the fact that you brought up the nature because one of my favorite parts about living in the area is the proximity to nature and beautiful hikes! Everyone treats LA like its just a bunch of fake influencers when in reality its made up of so much more than that! Also I have to say that as a local Downtown LA is seriously underappreciated. Yes, there are sketchy parks to avoid but everything from south park and LA Live and up on grand to the Broad and concert halls is a beautiful city walk. If anyone ever visits I definitely recommend scoping out that area if you want to appreciate the lights and high rises at night.

[@danmur2797]

@Patrick Dolan what's haha funny?

[@wolfgangengel4835]

One mistake we made as german tourists was to blindly explore random areas of LA by foot. Until cops came and checked on us, and told us, that it might be dangerous for us around here. ^^

[@eugenebarretto5686]

Why is it dangerous? Which area in LA were you guys in? There's always safe and dangerous areas in every city

[@techknowshaman]

As a former Los Angeles and OC Uber driver I am going to point out that scheduling a pickup does not schedule a driver to be at a place at a time. It pings a driver to show up when they would arrive at that time. Drivers will only ever wait 5 minutes for you then cancel for a fee. Better tactic is to check the app as you head to the gate, order the Uber so it will arrive when you do. Move the pin to an area the driver can actually get to and stop at. And check the plate to be sure it's the correct one. This is easy in CA since we have to have front and back plates. Great tips other than this.

[@mountainman0522]

One thing worth mentioning in LA are public restrooms. Don’t think you can just walk in off the street to a business or restaurant, expect to use a public restroom without purchasing something, and then walk out. Some businesses don’t offer public restrooms at all. Some restrooms even require you to pay like a vending machine before the stall door will open. I’m not from LA but I have come across this numerous times while traveling there for work.

[@bevbayb3029]

As someone who always needs to know where restrooms are, thank you for this!

[@chrizykproductions5805]

If you ever come to Germany, it's the same way. A lot of European countries are like that.

[@trekswithnick]

@@chrizykproductions5805 but at least they're toilets you can find without going into a restaurant

[@chrizykproductions5805]

​@@trekswithnick Ya true! I just came back from my L.A. and it's definitely not the best type of bathroom, but it works. I Was very happy to find these public bathrooms on the beaches we went to!

[@trekswithnick]

@@chrizykproductions5805 the only reason I know that parts of USA and Europe don't implement many free public bathrooms is because councils don't want to pay for the up keep of them, which is super scummy but here in Australia it's rarely an issue

[@daniellilly7591]

Former Valley Guy here. 100% agreed with all the points made. Especially "You don't HAVE to have a car" and "Check all SoCal Airports". For those unawares, LAX=Biggest airport, all Int'l airlines, west side BUR=Burbank, north side, San Fernando valley, Magic Mountain, Pasadena ONT=Ontario, east side, San Bernardino Riverside, desert LGB=Long Beach, south side, Palos Verdes, Port of L.A. SNA=Orange County, Disneyland, Knott's, halfway to San Diego.

[@mariachacon5420]

I was born and grew up (until my teens) in Santa Monica, moved to Oklahoma, and returned to Southern California as an adult and lived in Long Beach. I’m back in Oklahoma but although I’m Mexican American, I really miss the variety of Asian food! I also miss being surrounded by Latin American and Asian-Latino Fusion food and culture. From Kimchi street tacos to Kosher Mexican restaurants, it’s all there. Your advice on not driving and staying in hubs is spot on!

[@slvnyc2824]

Diversity is a good thing.

[@mentonerodominicano]

Some mistakes I made were: trusting Google maps regarding the Subway and Metro Bus, going to Venice Beach instead of Santa Monica, thinking the clubs opened till morning (2AM is a very lame closing time), going very late to take my departure flight (thankfully my friend is an amazing driver so I made it right on time), not going to West Hollywood. Thankfully my friends were kind enough to take me to Griffith Observatory, which was a great adventure.

[@willthornwillthorn85]

Wow Volter you’re right about traffic. And not just traffic it self but the intense puls on the freeways. I’m starting week 2 now and I’m just ready to go from the most right lanes to the middle. And yeah bring the warm clothing. One day of sun. LA can be rainy for a week. But still a fantastic city. Now moving on to Las Vegas. Best regards from the Swedish Thornander Family

[@LedoylinatorCh69]

If you want the real thing when it comes to asian food, LA and cali in general is the place to BE!! Some of the best ramen in my life i have had in LA

[@therealdeal3854]

“Cali”?....🤣 LMAO! NO!

[@smeagscientist]

Not Asia?

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@herranton]

Any place that has a large Korean population is going to have good Korean food. That's how _immigrants work._ Although I hear there are a few spots in Seoul that have decent Korean food too.

[@rrmartin128]

I've lived here in California all my life and you definitely have to rent a car to get a round. Ride-sharing companies will definitely be too expensive.

[@joemartines3545]

Pre-Covid I took public transportation everywhere...

[@AlexCab_49]

Depends where in CA you are. If you're in SF, Oaktown, and Central LA you don't need one but outside you do although in some places like Santa Barbara you can rent a bike instead.

[@erika8214]

Yes! I live in O.C. and my car died and I spent $300 on Uber/Lyft for 1 month.

[@amvin234]

gotta disagree. with rental rates + gas + parking + driving stress, I'd recommend a tourist just rideshare. In my opinion, it'd even likely be cheaper, unless you're trip is really far afield (in which case, you can consider the rental car for just that region transfer, or consider train if feasible). And even if it's not cheaper, any small premium you'd pay is worth it for someone not used to driving and parking in LA.

[@amvin234]

@@erika8214 only $300 for a month? that's way cheaper than what you'd pay to rent a car for a month. that's even cheaper than most people pay for car payment + insurance + gas for their own car for a month.

[@theshywanderlust5691]

I just came back from LA yesterday and had a great time as a first time visitor. It was a solo trip and I lodged in downtown Santa Monica. I didn’t rent a car and I got around just fine. Renting a car would have been pretty expensive and that expense doesn’t include the $20+ a day parking fee I would have had to pay while lodging in downtown Santa Monica. I used Uber/Lyft only twice (to get to and from LAX). I mostly walked around while in Santa Monica. I took a tour of the city that lasted the whole day with a company that picked the tour guests up in Santa Monica (and various hotels around the city) and dropped us off back in Santa Monica when the tour was over. I utilized the Metro express train. I also spent a day with some cousins that live in Pasadena/Altadena (they picked me up). It was a fun trip. I agree that renting a car is unnecessary. I also agree about paying attention to parking signs. I saw meter-maids handing out tickets left and right in Beverly Hills. Great video!

[@markythelarky6948]

Who's Greta?

[@Sebastián8844]

Hi how long did you stay in LA?

[@theshywanderlust5691]

@@Sebastián8844 Hello. I was there for 4 days.

[@EzeAsuoha]

Thx for this i was just in Miami and I am thinking of going to LA one day. Idk when tho. How much u pay for lodging?

[@theshywanderlust5691]

@@EzeAsuoha I lodged at a hostel in Santa Monica. It was $118 total for 3 nights.

[@currypablo]

If you're staying close to Disney then it's best to fly in and out of Santa Ana Airport. I love the cold water in the oceans. The drive 2 hours down the coast to San Diego is a must do!

[@elephant615]

Really agree on the nature part. Catalina is great. Also try Malibu Creek State Park, Nicholas Canyon, Hermit Falls, even Palos Verdes and beaches in OC. Venice and SM are a headache with lots of homeless though, so Manhattan (as I saw in ur video) or Hermosa/Redondo are good alternatives. The water gets warmer in the summer and early fall but you could rent/buy a wetsuit to keep warm in the winter

[@philg7528]

Hermit Falls and Chantry Flats is closed to the public, it was destroyed by the Bobcat Fire.

[@jamesagnew6512]

My family’s biggest mistake in San Diego/ Santa Monica was not spending enough time in and on the trails. I never had an idea there are so many wonderful trails in SoCal. Next time we will spend half of our time on the trails.

[@gumerzambrano]

It's our culture to go hiking on the weekends. We love being outdoors

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@TheCritter001]

There's some nice trails in Palos Verdes, that most transplants don't know about.

[@frenchustube]

When you come back hike Temescal Canyon. I go there all the time. Easy free parking on Sunset blvd . Views of Catalina Islands, the whole santa monica bay. Just dont come in may june or early July. Fog every day. Santa Monica resident here!

[@diggingmystyle]

If you like trails with actual views, you should visit national parks. I would not waste time on any trail in SoCal unless you just like to walk.

[@justintime4408]

Glad he made this video. In his other video, he made our public transit sound atrocious (maybe in comparison to Europe). But I have used public transit from all over SoCal to get around with no car. Went from the high desert area of Socal to San Diego to LA, all on public transit. With zero major incidents of violence or crime. if you come to SoCal please skip Del Taco. So much worthier spots to eat. Definitely cheap though if you get some coupons. Recommend it if you're on EXTREME budget lol. We have all been there.

[@MovieJustin]

Hes talking to a certain demographic. You can take transit and trains and have a fabulous time.

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@sm3675]

The public transit is garbage in LA, and that's coming from an Albanian 🤣😭😭

[@justintime4408]

@@sm3675 Pretty decent by American standards lol. Trust me I know, are countries infrastructure is atrocious.

[@lisarivas9817]

I’ve lived here all my life. Terrific advice! Forget renting a car & moving hotels would make it much easier 😃

[@12poppie12]

I would agree with most but a couple of points I’d like to address. Please DO rent a car. I know there is traffic but there are so many places to go and Uber and Lyft are extremely expensive right now. You will definitely spend more on Uber than just renting a car. Also please don’t go to Del Taco as recommended. In N Out, yes! King Taco, yes. There are so many places to eat. Any type of food you want they have it here. We have some of the best restaurants and food trucks in the world. One more thing, if you love nature I recommend going hiking in Altadena or Monrovia.

[@maddiesanabria5047]

That thing about the weather fluctuation is SO TRUE. You can have as much as a 15 degree difference from the beaches to the valleys

[@Ubersaur]

As a local, I don't usually swim in the ocean until late August to early October. That's when the water finally warms up a bit and the weather is still plenty hot to enjoy the swim. Maybe worth mentioning our summers sometimes don't heat up until mid July. We have a period of "May Gray" and "June Gloom" where we get cool cloudy days most of those months. So if you're coming for the sunshine, maybe skip May and June

[@jamesparson]

Here are my takes on the Los Angeles train system 1. As I write this in December 2021, I can't wait until the train to LAX and the Regional Connector is completed. If by the time you read this, both are done, the train system will be much more usable 2. Having said that, 80% of the things you might want to visit are still hard to get to by train. One would have to plan around the system. All kinds of things will be missing 3. There are strange people on the train. If you can handle NYC, you can handle LA 4. 460 bus to Disneyland is not worth it. Rent a car 5. Metrolink is NOT Metro. They have separate tickets. But if you start on Metrolink and you get a day pass, it does have a Metro ticket. But the think is, Metrolink has very little reverse peak, mid-day, or weekend service.

[@Igal-b5i]

There are guys that hang out in tourist areas (eg the beach or Hollywood Blvd) and hand you their CDs. Do not let them hand you the CD under any circumstances, because then they'll say that you bought their CD and owe them money. Watch out for these crooks!

[@mats7492]

They are everywhere.. The ones on Times Square in NYC are especially annoying.. They drop them in font of you and then demand compensation.. For a CD they themselves dropped.. and I always suspect that the cds are actually empty

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@fawfulfan]

Having lived in L.A. before, one thing I adamantly disagree with you on is your claim that the buses "aren't helpful". L.A. has one of the best, most reliable bus networks anywhere in the country. It's not the most comfortable way to travel, but you can get just about anywhere in the city if you know what line to take (especially if you can mix the buses and trains). Your overall point though, you don't need to rent a car, is valid. You just really have to plan it out beforehand and make sure you know how long your trips are going to be.

[@twaiter]

Hey, i am flying into lax in June and staying in La Quinta with my daughter for our first ever trip from Scotland, we are planning on lots of traveling etc and i just wanted to say i found you're video very helpful and inspiring. thanks very much

[@BonelishOfficial]

"Buses aren't that helpful," said someone who apparently hasn't figured out LA's extensive and reliable bus system, including LA natives who have never had to rely on transit. But dear travelers, LA's rail transit build-out is only about 65% complete and will continue for decades (until you can get from central LA to Anaheim in less than 90 minutes). Buses are really more ubiquitous and practical than rail in LA County at this point. The bus system services most destinations adequately, from Malibu to Orange County to West Hollywood. In my experience, car travel only shaved 10-15 minutes off a typical one-hour transit trip. Moving around the city like a car-less native, requires mastering the extensive bus network, supplemented by the improving rail build out (which is obsoleting major bus routes in LA County). Many reasonable one-way transit options to and from LAX for the price of a $1.75 fare, plus a few more costlier airport shuttles to/from a few limited locations elsewhere in the city. Don't be brainwashed into thinking you need to spend $50 on a ride share to or from the airport when you can supplement your travel dining budget with the savings. Currently, the weekly transit pass is discounted (until December 2022) to $12.50, one of the great travel bargains of any densely populated US city I can think of. If you don't have the TAP app on your phone (or just prefer the TAP card), you can buy it with a weekly pass at a fare machine at Aviation/LAX rail station (free 20 minute shuttle to/from the actual airport), or any other Metro rail station. Probably easier to download the TAP app before you arrive at LAX and load the weekly pass in advance onto a smart phone so you could theoretically depart from LAX City Bus Center to your hotel on bus paid with the new pass. (Free shuttle to LAX City Bus Ctr from the LAX terminals.) At this writing, the LAX terminals don't have fare card machines, which is ridiculous and probably intentional. (Guessing the Metro agency is trying to force people to use the phone app so Metro doesn't have to provide one single vending machine for the airport terminal. Don't know what these transit planners are thinking.) By this fall, the K Line light rail will be operational, giving direct connections in proximity of the airport to two lines of the existing rail network, the nearest operational station (Aviation/Century) being about 1 - 1¼ miles away. (Eventually, a stop serving LAX itself with a convenient people mover to the terminal will be added to the K line in 2024.) Until then, you may find the LAX City Bus Center, or Aviation/LAX rail station a better option to get to your hotel than hauling rolling luggage the mile on foot to board at Aviation/Century. You've got to be determined in order to first a) obtain a TAP card (versus the phone app), and b) use it on a bus from LAX City Bus Center. Things are slowly shaping up for transit riders coming into LAX, but clearly you must prepare in advance if you don't want to be forced into an expensive ride share, cab, or one-day car rental. It helps to be comfortable installing a fare app on your smart phone if you don't already possess a physical TAP card (and _why_ would you on your first visit?). Sitting in a car rental on an LA freeway is _not_ the way to experience this city.

[@thehighcommunity247]

Thanks for the advice Man. You are very informative and the inflection on your voice makes it so that we don't get bored throughout the video. Great Video!! ✌️💯🤙

[@larrydavid6852]

The tram from downtown to long beach, at night, is like an immersive experience of the Michael Jackson 'Thriller' video

[@joethomas2354]

I haven't rented a car in L.A. in over 15 years. I use the transit system--successfully. It's so much less stressful (and less expensive) than renting a car, paying for parking at the hotel, finding parking where you're going, paying again, avoiding accidents, etc. And the buses are just fine. There are a bunch of express buses, that combined with the trains can get you many places very efficiently.

[@desirayarmstrong2025]

As someone that lives in LA, I highly recommend tourist to explore other areas as well. I personally don’t care to be downtown. There’s beautiful hiking trails along the coast of Palos Verdes (this is closer to where I live). The area is a lot more nicer and far less congested. Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach are also great to visit. Long Beach has some great areas for restaurants especially along 2nd street. I also highly recommend renting a car if that’s an option for you.

[@unclemayhem6696]

We enjoyed Knott’s Berry Farm more than Disneyland. Less crowded, shorter lines, more relaxed and more fun.

[@skylinegtr4045]

Knotts is more of a classic theme park and I love it. Also the prices are way cheaper compared to Disneyland

[@gumerzambrano]

Knott's is only for for Scary Farm imo. It's nice and cool in the evening and lines are shorter

[@elephant615]

Gotta hit 6 flags 😈

[@imagesinla8575]

I enjoy the LA County Fair or the OC County Fair in the summer.

[@cmccracken5976]

I normally drive to LA but in October I was taking a Cruise out of LA and flew into LAX and had forgotten what a cluster mess LAX is. The construction right now is horrible and getting in and out of the airport is insane.

[@kays749]

They have been doing "improvement" construction since they opened the thing.

[@tammystreasures8766]

When cruising out of Long Beach, I always fly into Orange County Airport. When I go with my husband, we take the bus to the cruise terminal. I’m going with my daughter in the spring and we will probably use an Uber or get a shuttle from the cruise company.

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@danmur2797]

People need to plan at least 3 hours to get to and through LAX. Most people don't know--LAX is the second busiest airport in the U.S. after Atlanta (and Atlanta is only busier because it's a hub for connecting layovers whereas LAX is the top final destination airport). LAX was in 2019 the 4th busiest airport globally. The airport is also undergoing renovations as well as constructing it's people mover to connect to public rail transit--to open in 2023. Almost any other airport in the area is faster to get through. Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, Santa Ana/OC John Wayne.

[@huffers3111]

I'm based in London and I specify Burbank airport even though it means a transfer somewhere like Phoenix or Dallas, simply because I usually stay in the valley and I don't want to sit in an uber for an hour to get down to LAX. Burbank is a tiny airport, but it's so fast to get through. Ideal.

[@samwynne5257]

Taking a Lyft from LAX the first time and not going on the FlyAway bus.

[@BenGarrott]

If you think the water is cold in California, try Washington

[@AStupidTourist]

I asked a lifeguard near Santa Monica Beach " If David Hasselhoff was working today ? ".... He was not amused 🙃

[@gumerzambrano]

Who?

[@KrzNena]

Lol I think when they filmed it was in Zuma beach.

[@imagesinla8575]

I've never found beach lifeguards to be very friendly.

[@KenronTheGamer]

Been to LA in 2018 and again in 2019. 2018 was the weekend when it was over 110 degrees lol. 2019 was the earthquake.

[@BillGreenAZ]

Bring a jacket or sweatshirt if you're going to the beach at night! I used to live in Huntington Beach. One August, the warmest time of the year, I met some friends during the day and we all wore shorts and t-shirts and changed into swimming attire. We decided to meet back at the beach later that night. I came in shorts and a t-shirt. Bad idea! I froze my ass off...in August!

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@blueyechevy]

Great to know all these things, I'm planning a family trip in March. First timers.

[@alphafort]

Best wishes for the season, professor. Hope u and the family have a great New Year! Thx for all the wonderful videos. :)

[@jm5390]

I love that you mentioned the travel time since that was something I had to get better at once I was there. GPS says it'll take 25-30 minutes? Better plan for 45-60 just to be safe. Also your note about the cooler weather, especially at night, is so true. Once the sun goes down, the temps fall quickly, especially nearer to the coast.

[@joemartines3545]

I took public transportation everywhere and met many friendly people including some Swedish punk rockers...

[@mr.kojack1295]

*TIP* I agree you should try the food trucks BUT make sure if you do that it is a busy food truck. If you see a long line that means that people are loving the food. If you stumble across a taco truck with no line and no customers outside stay away. Nobody is eating there for a reason.

[@dvdscds9539]

I just got back from LA for Christmas and let me tell you, upset tourists who didn’t prepare for the rainy weather we’re everywhere. LA is colder and rainier in the winter and sweatshirts are necessary. If your from a really warm climate, bring a full coat.

[@TheCritter001]

Yeah that was like the second storm we've had in year. LA drivers had so much fun lol

[@ninamc6116]

The beaches in LA like Zuma & Huntington were beautiful

[@gumerzambrano]

People are really missing out not eating the street food! Way better than any restaurant

[@jenjencannon3224]

Good info, very friendly presentation. But when talking about the size of L.A. you showed a graphic that highlighted the entire STATE of California, not L.A.

[@jennscudericrafts3633]

LA local here - it's going to be 38 degrees tonight and it hasn't been above 60 for the last week or two. Bring more than one light jacket!

[@gumerzambrano]

I'm loving it. Feels good to wear hoodies

[@kikeruiz539]

As a local the subway and bus system suck specially at night when the zombies come out

[@gabrielhernandez-vo3if]

LA local here. for parking you can check the parking meters and make sure you go on a sunday they give you free parking!

[@BrianKitching-wv5nh]

I went to L.A in 1996 we had a great time from the UK.We stayed 14 days and used shuttles and bought bus tours to various attractions. We went to,Sea Word on bus from L.A and back,we also went to Universal studios took a trip to Venice and Santa Monica used complimentey shuttles to Disney land.

[@pocketmayo]

Awesome video and great tips! Took a trip to LA back in March and currently interviewing for some jobs in the area. Wish I would have seen this vid beforehand! Luckily my partner and I had a great time but definitely learned a lot of these things the hard way, especially when it came to the traffic. We decided not to rent a car and I was sooooo happy that we didn't. A rental for the 10 days we were there was around $1000, so $20 Ubers twice a day ended up being way more economical. Not to mention the rentable scooters and e-bikes which are another great travel alternative within the different neighborhoods. Tried to avoid the tourist traps and spend some time enjoying the nature and it was very much worth it.

[@ChosenOne6666]

I live in Hollywood. We are a tourist economy. You cant hide being a tourist. We can recognize you in a hot second.

[@tammystreasures8766]

I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Californians tend to be friendly and helpful. Sure there are some bad apples, but less than a lot of other places. I don’t try to hide that I’m new to an area.

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@SimakSantana]

Ya cuz the locals are all cracked out leopard pants wearing freaks

[@ChosenOne6666]

@@SimakSantana Nah bruh...

[@shadow.banned]

I never got to see the Venice pits before it was covered with sand. It's such a bizarre city feature. I don't think the city expected homeless people to stay. I remember when they filled the Venice Skatepark during COVID. Absolute insanity. An outdoor skatepark at the beach.

[@shannonchristie7640]

Tip: You won’t see any celebrities hanging around Hollywood Blvd. Make reservations ahead of time to restaurant “hot spots” like Nobu or the Ivy where you are more likely to encounter one.

[@imagesinla8575]

As a lifelong LA resident the places of seen celebrities are the market, the mall, the gym or residential streets. Although I did see David Lee Roth in a convertible on Sunset Blvd, and I saw Warren Beatty walking down Rodeo Dr.

[@jamesdean9943]

Hollywood is not the same as it was in 2019. I was there two weeks ago. Hollywood is now a shell of itself. Covid hit the area hard.

[@TheCritter001]

I saw Keanu Reeves on Melrose couple years ago and my cousin went to school Cameron Diaz at Hughes JH , met her back in the day pre The Mask. Check out Los Cerritos in LBC you might be surprised.

[@briandavis6898]

I've seen a few at the Grove, a shopping center and Disneyland makes it easy to spot since they have guides wearing plaid outfits. Over the years I've seen dozens from Adam Sandler to Gina Davis.

[@corycarpenter977]

If there’s someone on selling stuff don’t look at it unless you want to buy people are very rude if your not buying and looking. Also when people try to give you things just say your good no matter what it is because they’re very shysty

[@cookingartguy2170]

All great advice and really enjoy your videos. Went to LA couple of years ago for a week, first time I had been out there since I lived out there when I was a kid which was a very long time ago, let's put it this way, Marilyn Monroe was still alive and I remember clearly meeting Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at their Ranch in Chatsworth and also going to the Hollywood Boulevard Christmas parade and going berserk when I saw Dennis the Menace in a red convertible right in front of me LOL. Our trip several years ago was absolutely amazing, yes there are negative things in LA ( where aren't there??) but I barely saw them, everybody that waited on us or we asked for directions was great, we did not rent a car but took Uber everywhere and did not have one problem and it was so efficient and fast and reasonable. Had dinner at The Chateau Marmont and Musso & Franks, it was my dream trip because I love love love Los Angeles. It's really where my heart is and feels like home.

[@BobDiaz123]

Tip: If you're going to ride on Metro Rail, get a Day Pass for $7. You can get on and off as much as you want. If you plan on being in LA a longer time, there are several options on multi-day passes.

[@Geotpf]

The day pass is now only $5 and is automatic if you use a Tap card. IE, if you use the bus or rail four or more times in a day, it will charge $1.75, then $1.75, then $1.50 (total hits $5), then free from then on.

[@DJShire_ATL]

What you said about traffic I think a lot of that could apply to any major city. If you visit any city expect traffic. I live in Atlanta and this afternoon after work I had to drive across town to pick up a bicycle I was buying from someone and it took me 90 minutes to drive from one end of North ATL to the other side of north ATL. I usually try to avoid driving anywhere around this city on weekday afternoons.

[@BKrispy1]

LA local here. Parking tickets are actually like $92 now lol

[@tobiojo9454]

Los Angeles is an amazing city and the Sports teams there are awesome

[@erika8214]

From a Orange County resident. In the winter, the nights do get cold here. Enjoy your stay!

[@Latexhandske]

Great video! I went in November 1995 and did not make one single mistake!! I did use all my points to bring a local friend to stay at the hotel for 14 days. That gave her an opportunity to be a tourist in her own city. We used the subway and busses and did see some parts of LA that you "normally" don´t go to. We did some hiking and it was treat to be out there! And the food.......oh man! Shit, shit and holy shit again! Taste like heaven and it´s huge! I think you can live a whole life there and try new food everyday, so try it, taste it! Embrace life! Opa!

[@sams3015]

For cities like LA, I like to book a car service or else get an airport hotel. It actually improves your entire holiday, your not spending your last night worrying about what time the taxi needs to be called etc. Having that confirmation just takes stress away

[@corryandrew2357]

Just use Uber, no worries, always quick, not expensive like airport shuttles

[@mats7492]

Airport shuttles are a scam

[@martensdcm]

The stars are aligning --- yes, I can park here. Smile.

[@TravelAdventureswithEricB]

I love Venice Beach ⛱️ such a fun spot

[@MahareyS]

First time in went to California drove from Houston to L.A.... driving in L.A took forever! The second time i took the the train and bus which were convenient. I went to Malibu, Carpinteria, Montecito, Santa Barbara. The bus back took us through ventura, Camarillo, thousand Oaks etc. I left early in the morning to beat traffic. Some buses were free. I visited 14 cities and 6 beaches. Had 3 airbnb to explore different areas every other day. Oh and I was out there for 6 days.

[@webdaddy]

It's a desert climate. Even in the summer, it might be warm/hot during the day, but the nights are 20-30 degrees F colder than the day. Not like much of the rest of the country where the night temps stay warm.

[@nasidctg]

Me and my wife used to target a specific area and then used to take a lyft to the center of that place. Then we walked and explored the entire area and went back to our airbnb in WeHo in another lyft. It was the best solution for us during our year long stay.

[@JVShred]

Getting an uber or lyft late at night from LAX is a nightmare experience after a long day of traveling. Combine that with the construction and congestion outside the airport, senses up.

[@linus1703]

The jaywalking was such good advice as where I am cars move so slowly or are so infrequent you just sort of ignore it half the time

[@ZhangtheGreat]

If you're a foodie, the best places to eat in LA are _not_ near the tourist traps. They're in the suburbs. Examples: - The San Gabriel Valley has the best Chinese food outside of Asia (no, Flushing, you're nowhere near the best). - Little Ethiopia is full of amazing Ethiopian restaurants. - Glendale has incredible Armenian cuisine. - The San Fernando Valley has tasty Salvadorean delights. - Head down to the Orange County cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Fountain Valley for some amazing Vietnamese food.

[@swicheroo1]

Not a good idea to go carless. I live 2 blocks away from a metro line. But I don't recommend using it as a primary source of transport. It is good for some things. But have a car. I do recommend changing hotels. But for the most part, I would book an Airbnb in West LA, which will get you everywhere in 15 minutes. And keeps you out of the crazy traffic.

[@israelcarrasco1397]

Disneyland is not in L.A county. It's in Orange County

[@ViniSocramSaint]

Funny thing is that I was thinking about traveling around someday whenever I get the cash - mostly because of your videos. Whenever visiting USA, to get acclimated and ease the culture shock I'd start with LA because is so similar to where I am from, Brasilia, Brazil. It's a melting pot with people from all around the coutry and other countries, it's a culture center with lots of art, diverse neighborhoods with different "survival strategies" for each, many academic spots, nice tourist traps, many monuments... Even the traffic is just as horrible ^_^ Even the houses and blocks are adressed with number and letter codes while street names are just names - very different from other cities, even from other brazilian cities, where a common "code" for adresses is basically "house (unique characteristic), in the (weird plant name) street, crossing with (politician name) street in the (another politician name) neighborhood" in the (weird activity) city; while here in the capital the houses have sequential numbers, blocks have sequential letters, streets have their own sequential codes. Everyone from outside find it so weird that to find a house you can just count numbers and know the alphabet, and I find so weird how they do not get lost in their cities without logical codes ^_^

[@tammystreasures8766]

You should try to find addresses in the cities in utah. It is so easy. An address is sequential like 100 West 300 South. People think it’s weird, but so easy. When you get out to the newer areas where they are subdividing all the farm land, then you get the streets that wind around and have weird names. I love the grid systems with straight, wide streets that were originally set up when the pioneers first moved in.

[@thetruepatriot7733]

Your comparing Brazil to L.A? Lol...no. be prepared for a culture shock!

[@sminthian]

Mark tends to focus on the positives of every city. There are many, MANY negatives that he has never touched on.

[@gumerzambrano]

Local Angeleno here. You'd love it here. There is food from all over the world here

[@ViniSocramSaint]

Thanks for the tips, peeps ^_^ Forgot to mention that even LA's climate is the same as Brasilia's. That thing about almost having a heatstroke at midday and the sun hitting brightly almost all day while being chilly at night, and there having a dry season and a rainy season instead of the classic winter, fall, summer and spring. Also, having to get off the house with both sunglasses, sunscreen and light clothes but at the same time jackets, umbrella and thick clothes is so true ^_^. The climate is a mess at the transition from dry to wet seasons, we never know when it's gonna rain, you can wake up to a clean and sunny sky and go to sleep on a tropical storm, then wake up the next day on antarctica but without snow, then have lunch at the Sahara desert, not necessarily in that sequence :P The thing that never changes is that humidity is always critical, between 12% and 20%, even when it's raining. We even have some internal jokes that we experience all seasons, all day, every day and everyone has a cold everyday, yet nobody has asthma. Semi-deserts, ammmaright?

[@dorothysue1]

I drove from my house to Northridge, which was 33 miles and it took almost 3 hours!

[@shadow.banned]

A lot of valid complaints. Parking and bus routes could be simplified. Very confusing. 5:56 The subway is simpler, look at this map, omg. It looks so good.

[@Oeg925]

Agreed.. we never realized how big LA was.. we thought that we could do Santa Monica and Warner brothers studio in the same day😢.. a mistake of note.. everything is really spread out and quite far apart especially if you’re using public transport or ubering..would love to go back and have a more concise plan.. otherwise,,a great city with loads to see

[@daisymichellevlogs]

Small correction :) Disneyland is in Orange County in Anaheim, not in Los Angeles County or the city of LA 😁

[@bostonphotographer20]

True, but it is generally considered part of the LA area, especially for tourism.

[@Perfectly_Cromulent351]

The whole Greater LA megapolis includes all of LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties.

[@tammystreasures8766]

I agree with you. When I go to LA on a vacation, I go to LA. When I go to So Cal, I go to Disneyland, Orange County beaches etc. For me, there’s a world of difference between LA and the surrounding counties.

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@Rebel-Forces-Earth-007]

LA has traffic jams at 3 in the morning, it is truly that crazy how bad the traffic congestion is. It never ends

[@MrFuggleGuggle]

1. If you plan to drive a lot to explore, I definitely recommend renting a car (if you can drive). Uber/Lyft can get pricey, public transportation is inefficient and often filled with people that you wouldn't want to sit next to for very long. 2. Plan ahead. Use sites and apps like Parkopedia to find cheap(er) vehicle parking, whenever possible. Check the times and schedules of the businesses, museums, and restaurants you want to go, and make reservations at the hotter spots. If you have to use public transportation like buses or the few subway trains we have, use apps like Citymapper to find the right bus or LA's Metro system trains to get where you need to go. 3. West LA or The Valley (San Fernando Valley) are the best hotels and Airbnbs to stay at for a more reasonable price - especially if slightly closer to the 405 or 101 freeways, so you can more easily get on the road to whatever place you want to drive or be driven to. 4. Venice Beach and Hollywood Walk of Fame are cool, but, they are definitely 'touristy' and I wouldn't recommend spending all day at either. Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier, The Grove, Griffith Observatory, Koreatown (K-town) and Malibu are cooler and better 'all day' place to visit, outside of Disneyland (which is in Anaheim, not LA) or Universal Studios Hollywood. 5. Avoid places like Wholesale District - Skid Row whenever possible. Some places in Downtown and Hollywood get pretty sketchy at night. Inglewood, parts of East LA, West Adams, Compton, and South (Central) Los Angeles are typically not for tourists or most locals because of the high crime rate. You have been warned. 6. The Valley might have more extreme weather and not the famous landmarks to visit, but, it has a lot more free/cheap parking, plenty of good food, and plenty of interesting things to shop for. You're also more likely to catch a celebrity siting in North Hollywood (NoHo), Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Calabasas than in Beverly Hills or Hollywood! 7. Food trucks here tend to serve safe, high quality and even gourmet food - but they can also demand a fairly higher price than you'd think!...

[@DonGivani]

Thanks for posting!!!

[@Hajduk-Kralj]

Having multiple dollar notes for tips etc is a good one. That one is for the whole USA.

[@davidzagrodny9486]

hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains are incredible

[@crazycatlady312]

Yea LA gets so cold at night 😩 luckily I had packed a jacket when I went

[@sanbruno6010]

CLEAN, SOBER, SAFE, HONEST, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS CALIFORNIA 🌧 RAIN IN CALIFORNIA🌧 LOVE ONE ANOTHER FREE THINKING OPTIMISM GOOD HEALTH PROSPERITY BONANZA

[@marblox9300]

I used to live near Walt Disneys original house in Chicago. :)

[@ravenchaos9216]

Thank you so much for your advice!!! I'm literally taking notes as my brother and I are going in about a week. I don't wana be uneducated and want to prepare myself, also everyone in the comments, thank you!!

[@MbisonBalrog]

Once I drove from Chinatown up to Hollywood Blvd, then down Santa Monica Blvd all the way to Santa Monica. Then from Santa Monica south through Pac Coast Hwy. There was traffic so I cut out at Sepulveda Blvd headed east passed the Del Amo Fashion Center. Eventually made my way south to Long Beach, continued onto OC from there back to my hotel in Dana Point. Next time I wanna drive through South Central, Compton, Inglewood, Florence Firestone etc. I have not hit the ghetto yet.

[@zzzzyzxman]

I grew up in New York and live in Atlanta now! LA is nothing compared to those.

[@antoniescargo1529]

In a library in the Netherlands I talked to a retired woman teacher. She told me that she went to the USA ever now and then to drive RV's from the Westcoast to the East coast. Tourists rent a RV and go West. She drives them back.

[@jotravel7603]

Taking the metro alone with my daughters and walking in downtown LA. Skid Row has expanded. The homeless we encountered were mentally ill and angry, no security in the metro. So many weirdos, it felt like the twilight zone!

[@joethomas2354]

Yeah? And what about the crazies on the freeways? I think they're a lot more dangerous than homeless people on the train.

[@UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart]

I always rent a car. But one of my fav things to do there is drive around neighborhoods. I love it. I just suggest. It renting a car at the airport. Higher fees.