Los Angeles

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Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in the United States.

Getting Here

Many airline companies fly into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Once you've collected your baggage, walk outside to the curb and select one of the many forms of transportation available at the airport (taxis, shared vans, car-rental shuttles, etc.). A taxi to Downtown L.A. can cost $45 and take 30 minutes in good traffic, but can be far slower (and more expensive) in heavy traffic. The FlyAway bus is a good alternative way to get Downtown. For $7.00 (cash only and paid at the Kiosk at Union Station), it can make the trip to Union train staion in less than 45 minutes. The FlyAway bus runs 24 hours a day (every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.; every hour from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.). Just look for the green signs indicating "FlyAway, Buses and Long-Distance Vans" and wait for the bus going to Union Station (the FlyAway to Van Nuys will take you to the San Fernando Valley). The FlyAway also has a Westwood route which services the areas of Westwood (UCLA), Santa Monica, and West Los Angeles. These buses feature cushioned seats, luggage bays, and wheelchair lifts.

Travel Guide

Orientation

Finding A Couch

Los Angeles is fairly large and quite spread out, with numerous districts and neighborhoods, causing confusion and frustration to the first-time visitor. When looking for a host to surf with, you may want to clarify exactly where he/she is located and how easily you can access public transportation during daytime work hours. There are many hosts throughout Los Angeles and you should contact several people directly two weeks before your intended arrival. Mass emailing is not appreciated and may not receive any replies. Try to personalize your request and take some time to read up on your host. If you still cannot find a host, contact the city ambassador or post an emergency couch request on the Los Angeles Couchsearch board. As a general rule for Couchsurfers, no matter which country you are in, it is highly recommended that you have a hostel/hotel in mind as a backup plan in case your host cannot accommodate you or a problem arises. Use common sense and be prepared as you would be if on your own.

Getting Around

Public transportation in Los Angeles is a bit hard to figure out since each district has its own bus system. Metro is the main system for downtown Los Angeles but reaches out into the surrounding neighborhoods. On the Metro website, you can search for bus routes by entering your current location (i.e main intersection) and your destination. Bus drivers do not carry change, so you should have the exact cash fare when you board. A Day Pass costs $6. If you do not want to use public transportation, car rentals are recommended since taxis can be fairly expensive, especially during rush hour or high traffic.

Tips

If you plan on staying in L.A. for at least a month, consider buying a SIM card or a pay-as-you-go phone. You can purchase one at Target for as cheap as $20 USD which includes a SIM card, a charger and the phone.

Events

Couchsurfing

Check the Los Angeles County Group on CS to keep up to date with L.A. CouchSurfer activities. It is a good idea to contact one or two active members personally to know if there is anything going on. At the end of the summer, the L.A. CouchSurfing community has a big bonfire and party.

Monthly Events

  • ArtWalk - second Thursday each month

Festivals and Holidays

April - Thai New Year

May - Cinco de Mayo

June - LA Pride

July - Independence Day

Listings


Things to do

L.A. In 24 Hours

When CouchSurfers have only one or two days to spend touring Los Angeles, it's usually recommended to them that they select from the landmarks on this list:

  • Olvera Street (El Pueblo)
  • Venice Beach Boardwalk
  • Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade
  • LACMA - LA County Museum of Art, and the La Brea Tar Pits
  • Melrose Blvd. for shopping and people watching (daytime).
  • The Getty Center
  • Universal Studios
  • Griffith Observatory
  • Corner of Hollywood and Highland, and the Chinese Theater


Sightseeing

L.A. has some interesting places to hang out and get to know other people:

Hiking

There are lots of hiking trails around Los Angeles. North of Santa Monica near the Pacific Coastal Highway, Topanga State Park (parking $6) has an easy 3.5 mile loop with an outlook at Eagle Rock. Will Rogers State Park and Temescal Canyon are also located nearby. For the best view of the city, Runyon Canyon is an off-leash dog park that is popular amongst screenwriters and actors. It is only a 45-minute hike and the entrance is located two blocks west of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Another place of interest is Catalina Island, which is great for camping or you can visit it for a full-day trip.

Museums

There are many interesting museums located around Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is quite popular and is open every day except Wednesday. Conveniently located next to LACMA are the La Brea Tar Pits. The Getty Center is another popular art museum located near Westwood off the 405 freeway. The Center is open every day except Monday and admission is free. The Getty Villa in Malibu, however, requires reservation but is also free to the public. Parking at both facilities costs $15.

Theme Parks

Six Flags California/Magic Mountain, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm are popular theme parks for tourists.

Volunteering

  • Food Not Bombs - Serving healthy, vegan meals to the homeless every Thursday and Sunday at Pershing Square
  • Food On Foot - Feeding the homeless around Hollywood every Sunday
  • Tree People
  • Habitat Work - Weekend backpacking trips mainly involving the removal of invasive plants on the Wind Wolves Preserve in Los Padres National Forest.

Places to Eat

Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants

Here are some of the Los Angeles Couch Surfers' favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurants...

San Fernando Valley:

  • Vegetable Delight (vegetarian "mock meat" Chinese) - 17823 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, CA 91344

Westside:

  • Real Food Daily (organic vegan) - 514 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

West Hollywood:

  • Real Food Daily (organic vegan) - 414 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048
  • Veggie Grill (vegan) - 8000 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Silverlake:

  • Cru (vegan and raw food) - 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Los Angeles:

  • Pure Luck (vegetarian) - 707 N Heliotrope Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90029
  • Mani's Bakery (vegetarian and vegan options) - 519 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

El Segundo:

  • Veggie Grill (vegan) - Plaza El Segundo 720 Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245

Redondo Beach:

  • Happy Veggie (Asian vegetarian) - 709 N. Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, CA 90277


Late Night Eats: Open All Night or 24 hours

Hollywood:

  • Kitchen 24 (diner, open late) - 1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
  • Fred 62 (diner, always open) - 1850 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Silverlake:

Los Angeles:

Downtown:

  • The Pantry Cafe (diner, always open) - 877 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017

Manhattan Beach:

  • The Kettle (diner, always open) - 1138 Highland Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266


Resturant Reviews


Getting Away

Transportation

Flights to San Francisco or San Diego can easily be purchased online from SouthWest Airlines or use BookingBuddy to compare prices. Trains and connecting buses on Amtrak or Bus lines such as Greyhound are also options. You can also check the Craigslist Rideshare page or post a request on the CS California Ride Share Group.

Destinations Near Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a great launch pad for your next destination. There are lots of places to visit within a 200-mile radius in every direction. Palm Springs, Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park are east of Los Angeles and can be reached via Highway 10. Towards the northwest, Santa Barbara and Solvang can be reached via Pacific Coastal Highway 1. Also known as Highway 1, it is a famous scenic seaside route that extends into and through The Big Sur. In the southeast, Temecula is a great place to go wine tasting. From there, you can visit the Salton Sea and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, close to San Diego. To reach San Diego directly from Los Angeles, you can drive south for two hours via Highway 5. Tijuana, a small city on the border of Mexico, is also popular with tourists.

Emergency Services

Info-Line(Information & Assistance) 24-hours/day - 7 days/week 1 800 339 6993
Fire/Police/Ambulance (Emergency) 911
Rape Treatment Center – Santa Monica, UCLA Medical Center (24-hour) 310 319 4000
Los Angeles County Disaster Hotline 800 980 4990

Non-Emergency & Advisory Services

Embassies & Consulates

Use Embassy Homepage for full listings of all embassies and consulates in Los Angeles.

Last-minute Accomodation

Hostels & Hotels

Agencies Unlike small compact cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles is a large sprawling metropolitan area that blends into surrounding cities and counties. Even by car, it can take two hours to get from one end to the other. When selecting a hostel, check that it's in the area you want to explore.

http://www.twizi.com/losangeleshostels.htm Includes an over all map of where all their hostels are located.

http://www.lahostels.org/ They have hostels in three areas of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, South Bay and Fullerton (Orange County). There also have a "Travel Store" with classes for new travelers, Eurorail and Amtrak passes, and shuttles around the southwest.

http://www.hostels.com/los-angeles/usa

http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/usa/los-angeles/

http://www.usahostels.com/hollywood/

Many hostels listed with an agnecy may also have there own website. You may wish to check the individual website to see if the price is any better.

Individual Hostels

Hosteling International Santa Monica Good location in Santa Monica and close to Venice Beach. Lots of shops, pubs and is next to the beach. Third Street Promenade is also close.

The LA Adventurer Not in a prime location but have clean and spacious rooms. Living room, small kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Dorm options available as well. Free 24-hour shuttle from airport, free wireless. Access to pool and restaurant, including free continental breakfast and afternoon tea. Free champagne and appetizers from 5-6 pm.

Vibe Hotel Situated on Hollywood and Vine, close to Hollywood attractions. Very modern and clean.

Orbit Hotel/Hostel Rooms are not impressive but are typically dorms. Free parking. The staff is friendly and helpful. The location is quite nice, especially for people who travel alone or are more concerned with general safety. Good walk to various destinations. Located at Melrose and Fairfax.

Venice Beach Hotel The location is close to the beach and Venice boardwalk.

Surf City Hostel Prime location but noisy and busy neighborhood espeically during weekends. Artsy atmosphere and sits above a local bar/club. Right next to the beach and the Hermosa Beach Pier. Live music, DJs in the surrounding area.

Orange Manor Hollywood Quiet, great location for Hollywood sightseeing and close to Metro.

Local CS City Ambassadors

You can contact the City Ambassadors for more information:


What are Ambassadors?

Local links

Couchsurfing group - Wikipedia - Wikitravel

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