Travel Guide Los Angeles
Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills... So many names that make you dream and are gathered in the biggest conurbation of theWest of the United States. So many small worlds that you can cross by taking the same boulevard for several dozen kilometers, as Los Angeles is so vast. The demographic diversity of L.A. is one of its great assets, as evidenced by the existence of cities within the city, such as Koreatown, Little Armenia, Chinatown, Little Ethiopia and El Pueblo, to name a few. The seventh art and the presence of Hollywood production studios also maintain the legend. Today, Hollywood cinema is above all a story of big money, special effects and a star system that cultivates an exaggerated concern for appearance. But this California city is far from being just a concentrate of glamour and glitter. Flipping through the pages of a Los Angeles travel guide will allow you to understand that art and culture are here on conquered ground and can be found in the great museums of the Miracle Mile, in the rich galleries of Beverly Hills and in the more modest (but no less surprising) ones of the Hispanic neighborhoods to the east, as well as on the walls of Downtown. Los Angeles is also the cradle of surf rock, of which the Beach Boys were the ambassadors. Their light songs about the sea, the surf and the blond hairs have not aged a bit...
What to visit Los Angeles?
Suggested addresses Los Angeles
When to go to Los Angeles?
Like all major American cities, especially its neighbour San Francisco, Los Angeles is open all year round. On the Californian coast, temperatures remain pleasant, even in winter, and the city's activity does not weaken. However, depending on your wishes, it will be wise to choose your stay period. Here are some tips on when to go to Los Angeles.
The high tourist season is summer in Los Angeles. Southern California attracts many international travellers, who take their holidays in July-August. You will see many Europeans at this time of year. The Christmas holidays and the Thanksgiving Bridge are also very busy, with many Americans returning to their families. The period between March and May is also busy enough for spring break.
The low season begins in September/October and ends in March (excluding end-of-year holidays). You can try to negotiate prices for your hotels, especially outside Los Angeles. Visit the deserts in autumn or spring. Outside the summer months, national parks are subject to very low temperatures (snow is often still seen in the spring): check before you go!
Weather at the moment
Los Angeles is sunny 320 days a year. Los Angeles has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate, which is conducive to mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature is 19.3°C year-round, but the thermometer actually varies by several degrees between the coast and the interior. Rainfall is moderate with an annual total of 305.3 mm: the rainy season is in winter and spring.
A stay in Los Angeles requires a big budget. Everything is expensive: accommodation, restaurants, cabs. You should expect to pay between 80 and 200 US$ for a mid-range hotel and between 20 and 40 US$ per meal and per person, and 2 US$ for a transport ticket. This is about the same price as in France, but gasoline is cheaper here than in Europe.
Two types of passports are valid in the United States. The biometric passports, issued since 2009, and the electronic passports which replace the machine-readable passport. Both types of passports must be accompanied by an ESTA. France is still part of the Visa Waiver Pilot program, which allows all French nationals to enter the United States without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. In addition to the passport, the traveler must be in possession of a non-refundable round-trip ticket to the United States and not intend to extend his or her stay. It is necessary to have filled out the ESTA form on the Internet at least 72 hours before departure and to have paid the US$14 fee that accompanies this form(https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov). For more information on the types of visas that exist and the steps to follow, consult the website of the U.S. Embassy in France .
Traveling to Los Angeles does not present any major health risks, but there are a few things you should be aware of to avoid health problems during your trip.
Water. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the Los Angeles area and does not require any special precautions. If you have any doubts, especially outside of the city, you should use mineral water bottles and make sure they are well sealed.
Sea and beaches. The beaches are beautiful but not all of them are authorized for swimming. Ask about the tide times and the direction of the currents, which can be dangerous.
Sun. Beware of burns! The desert near the city is very hot and the sun's rays can be aggressive and dangerous. It is therefore necessary to be extremely careful and to avoid long and repetitive exposures. Use a high factor sunscreen and wear a hat and glasses.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to Los Angeles? Our advice & tips
Los Angeles is a common destination for tour operators, who often include it in a Southern California tour that includes one or more national parks, sometimes a visit to a Hollywood studio and another coastal city. On a tour package, you'll be able to rest during the long drives and take advantage of negotiated hotel rates.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationLos Angeles may seem daunting to Europeans, as the city is so sprawling. You should know that you can get around almost exclusively by car - public transportation is quite slow and distances are very long. Apart from this, it is a city with a welcoming population, very much oriented towards tourism and therefore easy to approach - whether you speak English or not.
Renting a car is undoubtedly the ideal solution when traveling with two or more people. It is the most flexible way to visit Los Angeles. Autonomous, the traveler can get off the beaten track and reach the points not served by public transportation. Rental rates are generally lower than in Europe, toll roads are rare and fuel is about four times cheaper than in Europe.
