Category: America

Travel information, tips and advice various destinations in America

Las Vegas

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Las Vegas is well known for its gambling, shopping and nightlife.

Las Vegas is said to be the entertainment capital of the world.

Travelling to Las Vegas

In the month of September we had been to a few destinations in America. On our final destination we flew to Las Vegas from San Diego via American Airlines. This was an extremely short flight. Many people who had stayed in our hotel in San Diego hired a car and drove to Las Vegas as it was only a 4 hour drive. Our flight cost £25 each which was cheaper than renting a car.

Accommodation

We stayed at Caesars Palace which looked impressive from the moment we arrived. When we arrived we were offered an up grade for approximately £20 a night. We were in Las Vegas for 5 nights so we agreed to the £100 upgrade. We were than given a £50 voucher to spend in Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant which meant we had only paid £10 per night for the upgrade.

The room

When we got to our room we absolutely gob smacked by the shear size of the room. It had two extra large king sized beds in it. There was also a dinning and seating area. The widows were from floor to ceiling and over looked the Bellagio fountain. We would watch the formation of the fountain most days whilst having a cocktail or a drink in our room.

View from room

The Bathroom

The bathroom was equally impressive with a jacuzzi bath that was the biggest we had ever seen. There was also a 60 inch TV on the wall in the bathroom. The bathroom was actually bigger than a lot of hotel rooms we had stayed in.

Shopping Mall

Shopping Mall

Caesar’s Palace also has a shopping mall that appears to be open air but is actually under cover. The ceiling of the shopping mall is lit up and designed to look like the sky which does look very nice. It is a decent sized Mall with lots of designer shops

Pool Scene

The pool seen at Ceasar’s Palace is also impressive with several pools to choose from. However we found the drinks round the pool a bit pricey but it is to be expected in hotels of this standard. The Bali beds around the pool were chargeable but you did get your own butler. We did not see many people using this service. It was quite busy when we were at Ceasar’s Palace and if you were not round the pool early enough all the sun beds were taken.

Pool Scene

Hotel grounds

Outside of the hotel there is a replica of the Trevi Fountain of Rome. When we were there a duck had nested with her chicks in the fountain they were so cute.

Casino’s

One of the main reason people go to Las Vegas is to gamble. Although we are not big gamblers ourselves we did go round a lot of the Casino’s to see what they were like and have a small gamble. The Casino are very interesting to go to and most of a theme and the decor and surroundings are in keeping with that theme. There are so many to see and all are very big inside so it is difficult in one stay in Vegas to actually see them all. Many of the Casino’s offer free food and drink if you are gambling.

We never were offered a free drink or food but we were told by others that this does happen. We didn’t mind as we did not stay in one Casino very long. Just walking down the street in Las Vegas you get the feel that it is the entrainment capital of the world.

There are so many Casino’s to choose from. One of the Casino’s had a diamond covered car belonging to Liberace which was very impressive. Las Vegas is so unique with the style of the hotels that you could mistake for being in other countries. From the Luxor (Egypt) to the Venetian (Italy). If we were to visit Las Vegas again which we are sure we will we are not sure how we would choose which hotel to stay in as they are all spectacular.

New York Casino

Dick’s Last Stand Bar

We went to the Excalibur Hotel and to Dick’s Last Stand Bar. If you are easily insulted then this is not the bar for you. We had been to the bar that they have in San Diego so we were aware of what to expect. The staff at the bar are very rude on purpose. They even make hats for you and put rude comments on them eg “I rub more balls than a gypsy”. It is a very fun bar to have a drink in. As we had spent time in the San Diego Dick’s Last Stand the jokes were not new to us.

Fremont Street

We caught a bus to the famous Fremont Street which is where the original Casino’s of Las Vegas are. Fremont Street is mainly undercover and has light shows each evening. There are a lot of other shows as well from Tribute acts to DJ’s. It wouldn’t be Vegas if we didn’t watch an Elvis tribute act. There are also many people in fancy dress who charge $1 dollar for you to take your photo with them. Some of them were dressed with nothing more than tape over there intimate parts. Fremont Street is not somewhere I would recommend for families to go to. It sure was an eye opener for us.

Fremont Street

Zip Liner

There is a zip linner that shoots you out of a trap door and you fly down the full length of Fremont Street. They put your harness on and then you lay on a bed and are attached to the wires. The bed then lowers down and you are fired out of the door. It was a great experience and felt like you were actually flying.

Grand Canyon and Hoover Damn

One of the places we wanted to go see is the Grand Canyon . Previously we had spoken to some friends who had flown over the Grand Canyon in an helicopter which sounded very excited. We were told that this would cost £350 each to do this. For a once in life time experience this did not seem a bad price. As we like to travel a lot we are often on a bit of a budget therefore this was more than what we wanted to pay. We found an excursion via coach to Hoover Damn and Gran Canyon which cost £75 each. We were picked up at the hotel at around 6am and taken to a small place for breakfast (not included in the price).

Hoover Damn

The journey is quite long by coach but we stopped several times along the way. When we got to the Hoover Damn we had to go through security similar to at an airport. We were informed by our tour guide that the Hoover Damn is a big terrorist target as it is the biggest reservoir in the United States. The Dam’s generator’s provide power to Nevada, Arizona and California. We were given a short time to wander around the Dam and take photo’s before heading back to the coach. The Hoover Dam is a big tourist attraction it attracts over a million visitors each year.

Hoover Damn

Grand Canyon

We then return to the coach to the Grand Canyon stopping along the way at a little village for lunch. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon we were given time to walk round and take photo’s. Due to the size of the Grand Canyon we were driven to various viewing points. At each point there is opportunity to get food, drinks and visit bathroom. We went in September to the Grand Canyon and it was very hot so you need to drink plenty of water. The Grand Canyon is spectacular and even more impressive than seen on TV.

One of the things we were surprised to see is that there was actually houses at the bottom of the Canyon. Not only did we see house we even noticed a couple of cars (not sure how they got there). We did see people white water rafting in parts of the Canyon. If we had had enough time we would have liked to have done this. At the viewing points there is also native Indians who dance and request payment for photo opportunities. We had our photo with them and paid the small amount they were requesting.

Grand Canyon

Tipping

It was a very long day approximately 12 hours but definitely worth doing. There was so much to see and although we were given plenty of time for photo opportunities etc the time seemed to go so quickly. Our guide was very humorous and informative which made the whole experience better. When we were dropped off at the drop off point we were told by the tour operator that we should give $15 each to the Driver/Guide. Although he was great we thought that we should have had an option as to how much we should give considering we had already paid for the tour.

Summary

We had such a great time in Las Vegas but did not do everything that we wanted to do. We will definitely be going back there in the too distant future.

  • View from hotel room
  • Pool scene Ceasars Palace
  • Pool Ceasars Palace
  • Trevi Fountain replica Ceasars Palace
  • Ducklings in Trevi Fountain replica
  • Bellagio Fountain
  • Bellagio Fountain
  • Luxor hotel
  • New York, New York hotel
  • Freemont Street
  • Harnessed up ready for Zip linner
  • Hoover Dam
  • Grand Canyon
  • Grand Canyon

Things to do

  • Try your look in the Casino’s
  • Even if you don’t want to gamble go and have a look round.
  • Visit Freemont Street
  • Visit the Hoover Dam
  • Visit the Grand Canyon
  • Go to Dick’s Last Stand bar in the Excalibur

Top Tips

  • Take water, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses when going to Grand Canyon if going in hot months.
  • Visit Fremont Street.
  • Have a look round other hotels and Casino’s
  • Shop around for tours as they vary so much in price.
  • Research your hotel before booking to ensure it meet you/families needs.
  • See chart below for best time to visit Las Vegas.
  • Check out other places in America we have visited Washington DC , Miami , Los Angeles , New York
  • Check out safety and security advice when visiting America https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa
Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 141721263138413935281914
Low Temp1471116212323191261
Rainfall131110555111486118
Number of days665333563354
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

New York

Posted on by Debs and Mike

New York is the most populous city in the United States.

It is also the most popular destination in America for tourism.

Travelling to New York

In the month of September we travelled to New York. We were due to flyvia Norwegian airlines which we had not flown with before. As we had got a cheap flight costing £200 one one way so we did not expect much. At the airport we were told that we had been changed to another airline but when we went to board the plane in Manchester it was Norwegian airlines. We were very impressed with the plane as we expected a budget airline with no inflight entertainment but instead we got a new plane with the entertainment.

The plane had dimmer switches for the windows and all inflight service was done electronically. You went on the screen in the front of your seat and decided what you wanted to eat or drink. You then chose this and swiped your credit card/debit card for payment. Within a few minutes the drink and or food was brought to your seat. This was a lot more efficient than the trollies on other airlines.

Transfer

We booked a private transfer from the airport to the hotel which was quick and easy. Our driver was waiting for us in the airport with a sign with our names on it. The driver was very friendly and made polite conversation on our way to the hotel. We booked the transfer with Hoppa (not sure of cost but was very reasonable)

Accommodation

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt which is directly next door to Grand Central Station therefore the location is ideal. The hotel is lovely 4 star hotel with very big rooms. The hotel looks impressive from the moment you pull up to the door. You are met by the Concierge who takes you to check in. The hotel has a lovely bar over looking the streets of New York. Everything in the hotel is of an high standard. The rooms are extremely clean and have all the toiletries you need for your stay. The best thing we liked about this hotel was its location. The cost of staying at the Grand Hyatt is quite high at around £330 per night for September. There are many other hotels in the same district at lower cost but of equal standard.

Statue of Liberty

On our first day in New York we decided to go to the Statue of Liberty. We got the tube to Battery Park and then the ferry across to the Statue of Liberty. On the walk to the ferry there is the dome that was outside the World Trade Centre. Although it is damaged considering it was there when the World Trade Centre collapse it is in remarkable condition and a constant reminder of all the people who lost their lives that day. The Statue of Liberty looked different in real life to what we had seen on TV. It seemed smaller than we expected but still very impressive and worth a visit.

Statue of liberty

Brooklyn Bridge

On our second day which was a lovely sunny day we caught the tube to Brooklyn Bridge. As it was a nice sunny day it was quite busy on the bridge with lots of tourists doing the exact same as us and walking the length of the bridge. The bridge first opened in May 1883 and is approximately 486m long. The Brooklyn bridge connects Manhattan with Long Island. It does not take long to walk both ways as it is not too long. We wanted to see as many sights as possible in New York during the 3 days we were there Brooklyn Bridge being one of them.

Brooklyn Bridge

Ground Zero

We decided to walk to Ground Zero which was a bit of a walk but we found that we managed to see more of New York this way as apposed to getting the tube. Ground Zero is one of the strangest experiences we have ever encountered. There were 1000’s of people there yet it was eerily silent. Words can not explain the feeling you have whilst being there and how somewhere so busy can be so quiet. Looking around at other people everyone has a somber look on their faces. The size of Ground Zero is enormous and much bigger than we anticipated it looking.

There is a famous bronze statue that was outside the World Trade Centre when it collapse and is still there to this day. The Statue does not look much different now as it did prior 911. The Statue looks basically un scaived by the events of 911. It is amazing how it has lasted through it.

There are several other monuments/buildings etc. around Ground Zero that played a vital part during 911 including St Paul’s Chapel. St Paul’s Chapel is Manhattan’s oldest public building in continuous use.

Ground Zero

Time Square

During our stay in New York we tried to cram as much as we could in to the time we were in New York. We went to Time Square on more than one occasion as it was with in walking distance from our hotel and a great place to visit especially in the evenings when all the bars and restaurants were open. Also we did frequent an Irish Bar (O’Briens) whilst we were there. The bar had a great atmosphere and had a mix of tourists and locals each evening. The drinks were the usual price for New York which is a bit more than the UK. Not sure what time this bar was supposed to close but were often in there until the early hours. Fortunately our hotel was not too far away to get to after consuming a quite a bit of alcohol lol.

Central Park

Central Park was also within walking distance to our hotel. We had another bright sunny day and decided to have a walk round Central Park. The Park is lovely with lots to see see and do. If we had had more time it would have been lovely to just sit and have a picnic. The Park is well kept and there are people cleaning it constantly. There are a number of cafe’s, ice cream stalls etc to get a drink and a bite to eat which was very pleasant sat there just watching the world go round. There are also some beautiful horse and carts that will take you round Central Park. We saw a number of squirrels in the park that were very tame and almost ate out of our hands.

Central Park

Summary

New York is an exciting and interesting place to visit with so much to see and do. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to do all the things we wanted to. Although we found some of the New Yorkers quite rude the majority were polite and helpful. We will definitely have another visit to New York in the not too distant future.

Images

  • Statue of Liberty
  • View over looking Central Park
  • View of Manhattan
  • Time Square
  • Time Square
  • Time Square
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • The Sphere in Battery Park
  • Squirrel at Battery Park
  • Ground Zero
  • St Paul’s Chapel
  • The Double Check Business Man Bronze Statue

Things to do

  • Visit the Statue of Liberty
  • Go to Central Park
  • Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Visit Grand Central Station
  • Go to time square
  • Watch a show
  • Go to the viewing platform at the Empire State Building

Top tips

  • Do you research regarding hotel standard, location and price.
  • New York can get very cold in the winter months therefore ensure you have appropriate clothing.
  • If limited for time plan your itinerary to get the most out of your stay.
  • Tube is a good way to get around if going long distance or have mobility issues.
  • Check out the chart below for best time to visit New York.
  • Check out other destinations we have visited in America Washington DC , Las Vegas , Miami , Los Angeles
  • Check out government safety advice before travelling to New York
Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 679162027292824181213
Low Temp-3-316121720201610504
Rainfall855790961149810187104946985
Number of days10912151513131210101212
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Washington DC

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Washington the U.S capital was formerly known as the District of Columbia.

Washington was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Travelling to Washington

We flew to Washington in the month from Miami. Unfortunately all the flights from Miami were over booked and we were not able to get on our original flight even though our luggage was already on the plane and heading to Washington. We decided to check out flights to Washington from Fort Lauderdale and there was flights available which we then booked. We got a taxi to Fort Lauderdale airport with cost around £45 which we thought was good value.

The flight was to take us to Washington via Cincinnati. We boarded our plane in plenty of time for allocated take off time. We were informed several times by the captain that there is a storm coming and that we would have to wait to be cleared for take off. After almost 3 hours sat on the runway the captain announced that he would be getting extra fuel and fly around the storm. There was a lot of turbulence but not too bad.

When we changed places in Cincinnati that was a completely different story. Throughout the journey nobody was allowed to leave their seats not even the cabin crew. The plane was a smaller plane and appeared to been blown about. We noticed people on the plane in tears and the look of fear was seen in many passenger faces. This was the worst flight we have ever experienced. Fortunately we landed safely and were able to continue our travels.

Accommodation

Although we pre booked a transfer from the airport to the hotel but unfortunately our driver got lost and had to call someone to direct him to the hotel even though we had sent full postal address when we booked. Finally we got to our hotel which was “West End part of Georgetown Collection”. We arrived 9 hours later than we had expected but nobody can be to blame for acts of god. The hotel room was very large and comfortable and within easy walk of all sightseeing attractions. As we had arrived late on a wet evening we decided to plan our sightseeing for the next day and get a good nights sleep.

Site Seeing

We were lucky that the following day the rain had stopped and we had the occasional bought of sunshine which made sightseeing a lot more enjoyable. There are so many places to visit in Washington you do need several days. Unfortunately we did not have several days therefore we tried to cram it all in in the time we had in Washington.

Fortunately most of the attractions are with walking distance from each other. Whitehouse, Washington Monument, The U.S Capitol Building, Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, National Air and Space Museum, World War II Memorial to name a few. All of them are free of charge to visit.

Where most of the attractions are there are several food vans selling everything from ice cream to American hot dogs. These vans are excellent value with so much choice. Ideal if you want a bite to eat on the move especially if time is of the essence like us.

Food and Drink

On the evening with ventured in to the area of shops, bars and restaurants. Unfortunately we did not find many bars that where you could go for a drink only. Not sure if we had gone to the wrong area but all we found were small eating restaurants or the big chains like Nando’s. Nando’s being one our favorite chain restaurant we decided to eat in. We were served by the rudest waiter we had ever experienced. Practically throwing cutlery at us. We don’t usually complain but the service was so appalling we asked to see the manager who was very polite and offered us 3 desert. We know it is compulsory to tip in America but with the service we received we didn’t tip. Only tip we offered was “get some manners” lol.

Summary

Washington is definitely worth a visit. So much to see and do for all ages. Unfortunately we did not have as much time as we had hoped to see everything so may be return to ensure we do.

Images

  • White House
  • White House
  • United States Capitol
  • United States Capitol
  • Lincoln Memorial
  • Washington Monument
  • Air and Space Museum

Things to do

  • Visit the Whitehouse
  • Visit United States Capitol
  • Visit Library of Congress
  • Visit Air and Space Museum
  • Visit Lincoln Memorial
  • Visit Washington Monument

Top Tips

  • Try and stay near the Whitehouse etc..
  • Allow plenty of time to see everything.
  • Take appropriate clothing depending on the time of year. Check out chart below for temperatures and rainfall.
  • In peak seasons allow time for queueing.
  • Food from the vans near the attractions are very reasonably price and not bad for food on the go.
  • Check out other destinations we have visited in America.
  • Check out the UK government website for travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 9101519242931302720159
Low Temp-2-13514192221171080
Rainfall7070707010080808080708080
Number of days12913141514141211111111
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Miami

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world.

Miami is also the second most popular tourist destination in the United States. New York being the first.

Travelling to Miami

We flew to Miami after spending 5 days in Cancun. The flight from Cancun was approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with American Airlines. At the airport our private transfer was waiting for us with a sign with our name on it. Our accommodation for the 3 nights we were staying in Miami was The Whitelaw hotel which is on Collins Street. The journey to our hotel was approximately 20 minutes.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at our destination hotel which cost approximately £110 per night. The Whitelaw hotel is a small hotel which is ideally situated within walking distance to the beach, bars shops ect. Check in was quick and easy with friendly staff. Although The rooms are considered to be Art Decor which was not apparent to us but they were clean and sufficient for our needs. However the lobby area does have an Art Decor feel to it. The hotel does have a small lift which was great for us as we were on the 3rd floor which helped with our heavy cases. Along with the other facilities the hotel provides beach towels and also has an ATM which was great.

Beach

Miami beach was what you would expect and what is portrait in films and also in documentaries. The beach is lovely with white sand and very clean. Even the sea was nice, clean and warm unlike the sea in the UK. As you would expect there are a lot of men and women flexing their muscles on the beach and working out. Miami beach is definitely a posers paradise. Suppose if you have got it flaunt it lol.

Miami beach

There are so many bars and restaurants to choose from directly facing Miami beach which is great if you like to people watch. You also witness people driving up and down the front in their expensive cars. Miami beach does seem to be the place to be. Unfortunately the prices of drinks and food reflect this in many of the bars and restaurants. Of course you can find cheaper places to eat and drink but if you want the location you have to pay the price.

Food and Drink

Drinks on Ocean Drive

On our first day we found a lovely bar Icon On Ocean on the front of Miami Beach On one occasion we decided to get a cocktail called “A Bulldog” which is a margarita with 2 bottles of Corona resting on the glass. Undoubtedly this seemed a never ending drink as as soon as you drank some of the margarita it was topped up with the Corona. After one each we felt a bit tipsy but still decided to have another one each lol. Although they were £35 each but during happy hour you got 2 for £35 considering the prices at Miami beach it was a good price. On an evening the bars were very busy even though there is a lot to choose from.

Bull Dog cocktail

As we liked the location of the Icon On The Ocean we ate there on more than one occasion. The food and service was excellent. Starters are from $9-$17. As we like spicey food we opted for the Firecracker Chicken Wings. Burgers and Sandwiches range from $11 – $17. Additionally there are a range of Pizza, Fish and meat dishes. Considering the location it was extremely good value.

Ocean Drive

Excursion to Everglades

On our second day we booked an excursion to the Everglades on line which cost around £42 and was around 4 1/2 long. We are so glad we booked it. Firstly we were picked up outside our hotel mid morning by coach and taken to the Everglades. We were split into groups and boarded the boat accordingly. The boat is what you would expect to be flying up and down the waters. Although we drove at quite some speed there were times when we drove slow to ensure no harm came to wildlife etc

Everglade Safari

Conservation Site

The Everglades are a conservation site and everything is done to try and protect the wildlife and the environment. Our guide was very informative and humorous which made the whole experience great fun. We sat at the very front of the boat which was great on occasions we were able to stand up. I (Debbie) wore a sun hat which was a bad idea when travelling at such speed.

We did see a few Crocodiles/Alligators along the way. Although as they were very still it was often difficult to see them at times. Our guide had a keen eye for spotting them and would point them out. Crocodiles can live in freshwater and seawater. Alligators prefer freshwater. The Everglades is the only place where Crocodiles and Alligators coexist.

Free time at the Everglades

Finally after the Airboat we were allowed to wander round and take photo’s of some of the crocodiles/alligators that were in captivity for rehabilitation before being release back into the wild. Afterwards there was an opportunity to hold one of the babies which we did. Although we was not too sure if this was the right thing to do as it had its mouth taped up. I am sure these animals were very well taken care of as the staff and guides were so passionate about protecting them.

Shopping in Miami

In Miami there are many designer shops and high street shops which are often a lot cheaper than in the UK. Considering the low cost of some goods in Miami we bought some Converse which were at least 1/3 cheaper than in the UK. On most of the streets around Miami Beach you will find the designer shops and some highstreet stores which are also a cheaper than in England

Summary

If anyone is considering to go to Miami we would strongly recommend doing it. It is an amazing place with lovely beaches, greaqt restaurants and bars. There are also many things to do in Miami which we didnt have enough time to do. Because it is an amazing place and we were limited for time we will definitely go back to Miami.

Images

  • Miami Beach
  • Ocean Drive
  • Drinks on Ocean Drive
  • Bull Dog
  • Friendly Miami Police
  • Everglades National Park
  • Everglades National Park
  • Everglades National Park
  • Everglades
  • Everglades
  • Snake Skin
  • Tour Guide
  • Million’s of Dollars Property
  • Miami Harbour

Things to do

  • Visit Miami Beach
  • Visit Everglades National Park
  • Have a drink on Ocean Drive and people watch.
  • Visit little Havana
  • Shop for Branded goods.

Top tips

  • Check out hotels near the beach.
  • Happy Hour is a great time to go out for drinks and food.
  • Do the Everglade excursion it is well worth the time and money.
  • Check out the shops for branded goods.
  • The beach is lovely and is definitely worth spending time there.
  • Check out weather below for best time to visit Miami.
  • Check out UK government advice when travelling to America.https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 232426272930313131282624
Low Temp161618192223242424221917
Rainfall715364811731781551602032347151
Number of days9677121315151816107
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Los Angeles

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Los Angeles home to Hollywood

The film industry has had a large impact on Los Angeles since the early 20th century. Hollywood is considered the oldest film studio.

Travelling to Los Angeles

We started our journey at Leeds Bradford Airport on the 6th April 2019 and spent a couple of hours in the executive lounge which is well worth the price as you can get into the holiday spirit in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoying breakfast overlooking the runway accompanied for Debbie by a rhubarb gin and ginger while I stuck to the beer!  As I was using my BA travel concessions we flew in Business Class down to London, a very comfortable journey made all the better as it was accompanied by a couple of bottles of Champagne!

Night before flight

We arrived in London just after lunch, and ordered an Uber to pick us up and take us to an Airbnb we had booked in Stanwell nearby, as our flight to LA was not departing until the next day.  Never take a black cab from Heathrow as they are extortionately expensive and if you are not going very far they will be extremely unhappy as they really want fares into Central London.  Our Airbnb was pleasant and well equipped, and in a nice quiet location.  We decided to take a trip into nearby Staines, made famous by Ali G.  There are a couple of nice bars overlooking the River Thames and we had a pleasant afternoon.  We headed back to the Airbnb in the evening and got a good night’s sleep before heading back to the airport for our flight to LA.

Flight

The flight was full so as we were on staff travel we had to wait to see if we could get on the flight which is always a bit nerve-wracking but all turned out very well indeed as we were lucky enough to get seats in First Class!  It is always a pleasure to travel in First Class with BA, and no sooner had we sat down then we were offered a glass of very tasty Champagne!  For the next 11 hours we enjoyed excellent food, drinks (not much for me as I had to drive at the other end) and a nice relax watching films and a quick snooze.

Accommodation

Hire Car

We landed at LA in the afternoon, and once through immigration we took the bus to pick up our hire car, a sporty white Mustang.  It was only a 30 minute drive to the Airbnb we had booked near Manhattan Beach and we found it quite easily.  We parked up and were greeted by the owner who came out to us with a cold bottle of water and a warm welcome. 

Air bnb

The Airbnb was a room separate to the house, which was well equipped and you could sit out in the garden and use the BBQ facilities.  We unloaded our cases and decided to take a drive up to Venice Beach.  We had a walk around and called into the Venice Beach Bar which did very tasty looking Mexican food and appetising cocktails.  Debbie decided to make full use of the 2 for 1 offer on cocktails and had a couple of Margueritas.  We ordered some food which as often in America is way more than you can actually eat, but it was tasty and good value.  The bar has a chilled, fun vibe and if I hadn’t been driving we would have probably spent a good few hours there!

Venice Beach

Venice beach is a lively town with lots of interesting shops, cafes and bars to explore and we enjoyed a nice walk along the famous boardwalk.  It is a great place to people-watch as the place attracts all kinds of different people.  However by this time we were tired after the journey and the time difference and so we headed back to Manhattan Beach for a good sleep.

Hollywood

The next day we were up nice and early (as is typical for the first day after travelling from the UK) and decided that we would drive across LA to Hollywood for a bit of sight-seeing.  It felt good driving around with the roof down on the Mustang and eventually parked up in the Hollywood and Highland shopping centre, right in the centre of Hollywood.  We had a walk along Hollywood Boulevard, checking out all of the stars on the Walk of Fame.  We paid $5 for Debbie to have a star of her own, at least for 5 minutes! 

Tour Bus

We decided to take a tour of the famous stars houses which is a good way to tour around Hollywood and Beverly Hills while having a nosey at how some of the rich and famous live.  We were also taking to see a shop which is allegedly the most expensive shop in the world where you can only go in via appointment. The tour takes you into the hills and along Mulholland Drive from where you get a great view of both the Hollywood sign and over the whole of the LA area and the Hollywood Bowl.

Summary

Los Angeles is an amazing place with lots to see and do. We will definitely go back as we did not get to see everything we wanted to. Not sure if it is hard to get in to Vipers Room but we would have loved to have gone.

Images

  • Walk of Fame lol
  • Walk of Fame
  • Walk of Fame
  • Beverly Hillls
  • Rich and Famous house
  • Most expensive shop – Rodeo Drive
  • Viper Rooms
  • Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
  • Santa Monica State Beach
  • Start of Route 66
  • Hollywood Sign

Things to do

  • Visit the Beach
  • Take a tour of Hollywood and see the homes of the rich and famous
  • See LA from Mount Wilson Observatory
  • Visit Venice Beach
  • Visit Warner Brother’s Studio
  • Visit the walk of fame
  • Visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
  • Drive down Rodeo Drive
  • Visit Universal Studio’s

Top tips

  • Airbnb is a great way to stay in LA at a low cost.
  • Car hire is very reasonable and a good way to get around LA
  • Tour bus was a good way to see the houses of the rich and famous with the tour guide providing you with all the information you need.
  • Food is very reasonably priced. When ordering be aware that they are often big portions.
  • Allow enough time to see all the things you want to see.
  • Check out the weather below for best time to visit LA.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 181819212224272827242319
Low Temp88910121316161412108
Rainfall79767125103005153166
Number of days666421001236
Average daily temperatures and rainfall