Located in the southwest of California, Los Angeles is a huge conurbation of 88 cities and is labelled the Entertainment Capital of the World, through the successes of film-makers Paramount, Universal, Fox and Warner Brothers. Disneyland, movie stars, TV, fast-food and hype – it’s all here in overdrive, and car rental is essential to see it all during your vacation.
Getting there
Los Angeles International Airport receives flights from all over the world, with scores of carriers servicing the airport. Those flying domestic would be better off using one of the other, less busy LA airports. Shuttles, buses and taxis are all available for downtown transfers. Amtrak trains run the length of the west coast and points east, including Phoenix, New Orleans and beyond; while Greyhound buses are also popular. National travel deals on your rental car can be arranged at the airport and the rail station.
I-5 connects Los Angeles with Seattle in the north and San Diego in the south. The Pacific Coast Highway is a scenic route along the California coast to Santa Barbara and San Francisco. Los Angeles is linked to Phoenix by I-10, to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City by I-15, and to Oklahoma City and Memphis by I-40. Driving outside the city is fun with a rental car and gives you the freedom to change routes at will, and checking with National travel deals gets you the cheapest price.
Key attractions
Highlights of the City of Angels include the Hollywood Walk of Fame, passing the famous Chinese Theater. It is a 3.5 mile trail of bronze stars embedded in the paving stones in honour of music, TV and film artists. Also worth seeing are the exclusive shopping boulevard of Rodeo Drive and the opulent Beverly Hills and even more exclusive Bel Air districts.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles (and Olvera street) is the birthplace of Los Angeles and is now a state historic park with 27 historic adobe buildings dating from the early 19th century. They include the Avila Adobe а the cityеs oldest home.
Out and about
Car rental is essential for exploring more of the city and around. Disneyland and Universal Studios should not be missed, especially if you are travelling with children. The former features Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, with some truly awesome rides; while the latter gives a behind-the-scenes look at the movie world.
The beaches are also a real draw, with Santa Monica Beach, its pier and Third street promenade a lovely area to spend an afternoon; while Venice Beach lies to the south and features golden sands, along with miles of cycle and biking paths. Pasadena and Palm Springs are also interesting and lie farther afield.
Leisure options
The county has more than 200 miles of bike trails, and water sports opportunities on the city beaches are endless. Shopping, star-spotting and rollercoaster screaming are prime LA activities, and the music scene has something to satisfy any musical fancy.
Safety
If you’re driving, never leave your car unlocked or parked on city streets at night, and take regular breaks on long drives. Pickpockets are prevalent throughout the city as are muggers in certain areas. Missing travel connections is also a potential hassle. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family when visiting LA.