/me waits for Teresa to spot this thread

In the meantime I'd say that the Build A Bear workshop on Hollywood Bvd is fantastic! Its inbetween the Kodak Theatre and Mann's Chinese and is fab - you get to make your own teddy and dress it up!! *giggle* We spent a fortune in there (that we couldn't really afford ) and at least 3 hours in total over 2 days

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by Jola
What works out cheaper - booking a "package" holiday or going for flights and booking say a motel instead seperately?

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When I've looked for holidays over there I've found that the packages work out more expensive than doing it seperately. I've also found that hotels are cheaper online than at travel agents while flights are generally about the same, although you tend to find the odd special fare online and you can find out what's available much quicker.

www.expedia.co.uk and www.opodo.co.uk are pretty much the best general sites for flights and hotels. Individual airline and hotel websites probably do good deals too

As for things to do. If you've got a spare 3 or 4 days you could try Vegas. It's a short flight away and the big hotel casinos are dirt cheap midweek

Totally unrealted to LA but since you're so close, i recomend you take a drive up to San francisco, passing throuhg Carmel, Monteray (?) and 17 mile drive.

You could fly inot LA and out of San Fran. it really is worth the trip up, the scenery along the coast road is fantastic and 17 mile drive is supposidly the one of prettiest anywhere.

as for staying, i dont know about LA but for California in general, Travlelodge are pretty good and reasonable.

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by DJ Billy
(quotes)
As for things to do. If you've got a spare 3 or 4 days you could try Vegas. It's a short flight away and the big hotel casinos are dirt cheap midweek

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Yay, Vegas!

Sin City is a fabulous place, though you tend to get a bit Vegased-out after three days or so. It is very cheap, but you'll still spend a lot.

I'd also back Cat's suggestion of SF - gorgeous town, a lot more laid back than LA, that said you go to LA 'cos it's LA

Oooooohhh!!!!! My favourite subject *Takes deep breathe*

First off L.A. is bigger than you can imagine. It’s not just Hollywood. Book everything online it’s so much cheaper. Don’t bother going for a package ‘cos it works out a lot more expensive. I booked mine & Ys flight through expedia. Accommodation prices vary greatly as you can imagine from the world class hotels to cheap B&Bs and hostels. Me and Y stayed in a hostel (even ‘tho it was fun at the time I wouldn’t again) for about $15 per night. Your best bet would be something like Holiday Inns or Best Westerns and they’re about $30/$40 per night, again search online.

We managed without a car ‘cos the bus & metro system is pretty good and easy to understand. However we did have our friend who drove us to places like Malibu, San Fernando Valley, round Beverley Hills and right up to the top of the Hollywood Hills. You will need a car for this and car hire is relativeley cheap. Holiday Autos which can be booked through expedia is the cheapest I found.

As for places to visit, where do I start. What I did was make a list of all the places I’d seen on the TV and took it from there. I wanted to see things from Pretty Woman, Clueless, Buffy/Angel, 90210 etc. A good site to find out exactly where they are is Seeing Stars. Also Griffith Park is a great place (need a car to see it properly, ‘tho you can do it on horseback) and going up to the observatory (some of “Rebel Without a Cause” was filmed there) is a must. Was disappointed when I went with Y ‘cos it was closed for refurbishment. There is a great view point up from the top of Mullholland drive where you can see out over the whole of downtown L.A, Hollywood etc. Santa Monica/Veneice Beach are other must dos too. Go onto Santa Monica Pier and the merry-go-round (The Lost Boys, Angel) Hire a bike and cycle up to Muscle Beach where they have the basketball courts (White Men Can’t Jump) and of course the outdoor gym. I tell ya, if you thought hubby was big you ain’t seen nothing yet Then of course you have Disneyland, Universal Studios , Magic Mountain (worth the drive) & Knotts Berry Farm if you like that sort of thing.

Your best bet would be to book onto a couple of the city tours (outside Manns Chinese Theater). There is one that takes you all round the city and out to the beach and the stars homes tours are great fun.

Best areas to stay are West L.A (’tho a little costly) and central Hollywood isn’t too bad, but it can be a little seedy at night. Next time I go I’m booking hotels all over the place ’cos as I said it’s such a vast place and it’s a pain to be based in one place and have to get back everynight.

Other points to remember are you’ll be lucky to find anywhere indoors that will allow you to smoke, only cross the roads at the junctions and only when the lights say you can (even if the road is clear ) and they add (I think) 8% tax on all prices (inc hotel rooms). You also have to tip everyone. Have a Johnny Rocketts burger for me too

2 Other good sites are:

http://losangeles.citysearch.com
& http://www.roughguides.com

"The Rough Guide to Los Angeles was my bible". Bought it a few months before I went out there and it was the best investment I had.

Thank you sooooo much everyone and Teresa for such an in-depth outlook to it all.

I'm not sure if we're taking Georgia yet or not (depends on when Aunty Sue wants to take her on holidays) and there is NO way I'm driving out there - I'll need to persuade Len to do it

But I don't mind trapsing around using the transport system - heck that's half the fun

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by Jola
I'm not sure if we're taking Georgia yet or not (depends on when Aunty Sue wants to take her on holidays)

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In all honesty I wouldn't take my two. As much as I miss them when I go (I usually cry a few times ) I know that I wouldn't be able to see/do 1/2 the things I did out there with two little ones in tow.

well HOOTERS for a start, i've been to LA twice now and each time have been unable to go in due to party poopers although they were happy for me to buy them a top but it looks like a fun bar from what i did see.
14BELOW is a place to check out with James Marsters having performed there (we missed out on it the first time) Four*Mary play there occasionally along with other big names.
HOTTOPIC is a store that rocks.
and as Yvonne said the Build-A-Bear Factory me and a mate spent hours in there.
we didnt really go clubbing...well i didnt the only cool place i went to was SLOANE's which was an english themed pub and its where Jeremy Renner took us a couple of times it's also where he would sing weekly and do kareoke.....sadly it's closed now. i was well upset when i heard, that place rocked! (also the likes of Jerry O'Connell would go there.....damn getting drunk and going home early)

i cant think of anymore places though T is the best person for this really.


(Edited by EvilWillow 15/08/2002 14:06)

I think Georgia will be staying home *sniff* but as you say it'll give me and Len a chance to tour about and have time to ourselves as well......

Now all we have to do is decided when we're going

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by Jola
Now all we have to do is decided when we're going

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Decided - YAY - February 2003 here we come
*bounce* *bounce*