Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the 8th largest city in the world with 14 million residents and 81 miles of beaches. It  is divided into 6 suburbs; The Westside, The Beaches, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Downtown and Hollywood and is a thriving city filled with museums, music, food, architecture and hidden gems. Elaine Barnes visited Los Angeles in October 2006 and found there was more to Los Angeles than the call of fame and fortune. Read her report to find out more, or call 0121 250 2211 or 01543 412768 to book your holiday to LA.

Flight
My 10 hour flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles pleasant, with plenty of empty seats to spread out on and excellent in-flight entertainment and selection of meals. I would recommend checking in online prior to arriving at Heathrow as it is a great way to beat the queues. All you have to do is drop off your bags and collect your boarding pass an hour before you go. Upon landing, immigration was quick and efficient – unlike may US arrival ports. 

Hotel
My tour of Los Angeles started at the Marina De Rey hotel, which is only 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel is situated in the Marina of the same name which is the largest constructed small yacht harbour in the world and is within easy walking distance to Venice beach and less than 10 minutes drive to Santa Monica. The rooms are huge and most offer great views of the Marina – you almost feel like you are holidaying in the south of France!

The breakfast menu was so vast that by the time you had chosen it was time for lunch! You could choose from a traditional American breakfast of sausages, bacon, ham, hash brown, eggs, tomatoes, toast, orange juice and coffee; or the Bel Air breakfast of smoked salmon, tomatoes and onion quiche. Plus there are omelettes, sticky pastries and even an Hispanic breakfast with tortillas. It was fun choosing and all options are available on room service – heaven!

Westside
The Westside area of LA includes Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Brentwood (Warner Bros Studios). I began the day with a visit to the Farmers Market which is a hidden treasure and easy to miss. It is bursting with grocery stalls selling fresh produce of meats, poultry, fruit and vegetables of every kind, bread, nuts and candy. There are also 30 places to eat from Texas style beef to Chinese dishes – and the portions, as ever, are huge!

It is also worth visiting the Grove which is a shopping area beside the Farmers Market – so it you can’t find what you’re looking for in the Market (which would be very difficult) then you can shop till you drop at the Grove.

Next I visited Rodeo Drive, famous for its designer shops and the famous Beverly Wiltshire Hotel (Pretty Woman) which screams of opulence and grandeur. Be warned that Jaywalking is an offence carries a fine of $150, so wait for the green man – or green hand in LA’s case.

Venice Beach
I spent a pleasant afternoon on Venice Beach, a very hippie, new age kind of attraction and home of ‘muscle beach’ (an outdoor gym where celebrities pump iron). The beach itself is so wide it takes 5 minutes to walk to the waters edge. It has a separate bike bath that stretches for miles and the pedestrian walkway is full of street sellers, tattoo shops and of course roller bladders. I found Venice Beach to be quite a surprise as I expected to see blonde babes and six pack hunks in lycra shorts weaving in and out of the crowds, however all I saw were 50 year old business men badly roller blading –  not an attractive sight.

Santa Monica
Having recovered by the sights of Venice Beach I then headed to Santa Monica pier (Pacific Park) and enjoyed a ride on the solar powered Ferris wheel, which gives you great views of the city, neighbouring beaches and even Catalina Island. Try and time is so you board the wheel at sunset and enjoy an amazing skyline!

My last stop for the day was 3rd St Promenade, which was one of my favourite places in Santa Monica. It is a pedestrian area flanked with shops, trees with fairy lights, a tram that runs down the centre and plenty of outdoor bars and restaurants that run along both sides of the street. It is purpose built and a little like Main St USA at Disney, but a haven for people watchers.

Hollywood
This was a place I was very excited to see. I started by taking a tour of the Kodak Theatre which is home of the Academy Awards and inspired by the elegance of a European opera house. You can see an Oscar statuette (not solid gold by the way, only gold plated), find where your favourite celebrity sat during this year’s ceremony and see images from previous Academy Award ceremonies. Tickets cost $15 per adult and $10 per child under 12. There is strictly no photography allowed inside.

Onward to the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, an amazing construction built by the master showman Sid Grauman. It opened in 1927 and U.S. government authorisation had to be obtained at the time to import temple bells, pagoda, stone heaven dogs and other artefacts from China. It is now the most sought after theatre in Hollywood for studio premiers and of course it is famous for the cement hand and footprints in the forecourt. This is a must see for movie star fans of the bygone age.

Over the past 6 years downtown Hollywood has been rejuvenated and security measures have been put into place so it is no longer perceived as an unsafe area where crime is prevalent.

A recommended hotel for a stay in this area is the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, which although 3 star offers a 5* service, food and wine. With 1354 guest rooms it lacks the personal touch of a small boutique hotel; however, the guest facilities are impressive. I enjoyed dinner in a restaurant on the 34th floor which offered spectacular views.

The following morning was spent breakfasting at the Ritz Carlton. I have been in some beautiful hotels all over the world; however, this has got to be in the top 10! It is a 5 star hotel situated in marina Del Rey which houses 304 guest rooms all with Juliet balconies. The hotel has private docks and slips for personal yachts, spa services and bike rentals, 2 tennis courts and a nanny service. What impressed me most were the chandeliers in the lifts! Our breakfast consisted of smoked salmon, quiche, tomatoes and onions, muffins, fresh fruit, croissant, pastries, yoghurts, ham, eggs, fresh orange juice and coffee. As expected of the Ritz Carlton the décor is luxurious with wood panelling, silk-lined walls and crystal chandeliers, comfortable couches, reading lamps and an abundance of fresh flowers. It is a really impressive hotel.

Summary
Los Angeles suits a whole spectrum of people from families, couples, honeymooners, culture seekers, movie goers and singles. You will find music and theatre, movies and television, arts and museums, family amusements, outdoor sports, shopping, cultural and ethnic attractions and much more. There is something for everyone in Los Angeles. What I once thought of as stopover destination on a round the world trip or a part of a 2 to 3 day west coast holiday, is now a must for a 10 to 14 night holiday destination. There is so much to see in LA, a couple of days are just not enough, plus the exchange rate it makes it an affordable holiday option.