How to Plan a Trip to Los Angeles

How to Plan a Trip to Los Angeles What are best things to do in Los Angeles ?

Planning a trip to Los Angeles involves the same elements that you consider when preparing for any great vacation: deciding when to go, what to see, where to stay, and how much to spend on the journey. Spontaneity is great in vacations, but you need to plan enough to make the trip comfortable and convenient for everyone. This may seem easy on the surface, but the city of the stars can be overwhelming with all the options you can choose from. To help you plan a trip to Los Angeles, read on and find out what you need to know, to settle the details of your vacation.

Decide when to go Los Angeles:

Los Angeles has relatively comfortable weather all year-round, but each season has its advantages and disadvantages. When to go largely depends on what type of weather suits the kind of activities you intend to do during your trip.

  • Fall and wintertime are a welcome break from large crowds in tourist attractions and higher hotel rates. It is not too cold to take leisurely strolls outdoors, with temperatures averaging historically at mid-60s. Tickets to popular shows are easier to get by and less expensive, and fall and Christmas season are jam-packed with festivities. The downside to going to a trip in Los Angeles in winter is that there is little chance of sampling the city’s famous beaches. Rain is always a looming possibility, and theme parks shorten their open hours.
  • Spring offers clear skies in Los Angeles. Temperatures average at mid-70s, with a little chance of rain. The throngs of tourists are still absent, flights are still discounted, and hotel rates are still off-season. The greatest thing about going on a trip to Los Angeles in spring is that it is season of festivals. Catch the Cinco de Mayo, the Strawberry Festival, and the Long Beach Grand Prix among many others.
  • Summertime in Los Angeles is the most crowded season. Temperatures can get really high as well. But if the main agenda of your trip is to experience the city’s famous beaches, this is the best time for you. Have fun swimming, kayaking, sailing, and engaging in tons of other water sports. Theme and water parks are open for longer hours. Summer festivals and fairs, such as the Orange Country Fair and Laguna Beach festival, are also in full swing.

Where to stay in Los Angeles:

The first question that comes in mind is where to put up in Los Angeles. Well !! it all depends upon what is your budget? Will you be travelling with kids? Do you like partying? and very important  do you have a car in Los Angeles.

The best way to find a budget hotel in Los Angeles is through Priceline.com. You can request a 3- or 4-star hotel according to your place of stay. But again, it’s very important to have a car in L.A if you have a tight travelling schedule.

What to see in Los Angeles/Attractions in Los Angeles: 

1. Agree on the focus of your trip- Los Angeles is a city where you will never run out of things to see and do, regardless of your personality and preferences in activities. Mix and match these vacation themes depending on your budget and length of stay in Los Angeles.

2. Tinseltown- Take a tour of LA and visit its famous landmarks. The most celebrated landmark is the Hollywood sign in Griffith Park. You can also take a stroll on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, visit the Kodak Theater, and spend a day shopping, eating, and partying at the Universal Studios CityWalk.

3. Nature- Visit the Big Bear Lake and Village, or you can go camping at Lake Arrowhead.

4. Shopping- Just go to downtown LA and visit Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, where you can stroll along the city’s famed jewelry and fashion boutiques. Not the fancy, high-fashion type of shopper? Take a quick tour just south of the border to Tijuana, Mexico for the greatest buys. You can also visit the many outlet malls of LA.

5. Art and history- Are you an art buff or a museum fanatic? Visit the many art galleries in Laguna Beach. If your trip is in the summer, attend the Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts. Be sure to stop by these museums:

  • Getty Museum in Malibu
  • Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena
  • Huntington Library and Museum
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art

6. Beaches- Enjoy miles and miles of Southern California’s coastline and famous beaches. Choose one depending on your type of water activity:

  • Malibu Beach, arguably the most famous, and the longest
  • Santa Monica Beach, which has on the Palisades Park on the pier
  • Venice Beach, dubbed as the “home of the wild and weird”
  • Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches, LA’s beach volleyball hotspot
  • Redondo Beach, which features a marina and pier lined with shops and dining establishments
  • Huntington Beach for surfing and other water sports headquarters
  • Newport Beach, home of the rich and glitzy
  • Laguna Beach, an art colony
  • Doheny Beach at Dana Point, a haven for beach camping
  • San Onofre Beach, a very famous beach.

7. Theme parks- Take time to visit and enjoy at least one of these major theme parks:

  • Six Flags Magic Mountain
  • Knott’s Berry Farm
  • Disney’s California Adventure
  • Disneyland Park
  • Legoland California
  • SeaWorld San Diego
  • Universal Studios Hollywood