Los Angeles, San Diego & Las Vegas Tips...

Baz_2

I didn't realise the extent of it until I did some searching tonight. Even highway 1 has been closed due to fires this last week or so.

Blue264

I'm reading some negative stuff about L.A. here...
I liked it, but it's a personal thing as has been said.

One of the spookiest things was a taxi ride through south central L.A. Even in broad daylight, that was damned scary! We saw the bandanas tied to lamp posts to mark gang's turf, etc.

Bearing in mind your ages, if you're into your music do Sunset Strip, House Of Blues, Viper Rooms, the legendary Chateau Marmont, etc. The locals will actually get a taxi a matter of yards from one bar to another rather than risk walking down the Strip at night so be aware of that.
Don't miss Venice and be prepared to buy a lot of T shirts there. I could have spent a small fortune there.
Santa Monica beach is exactly like you see on Bay Watch. It's a lovely beach.

If you are intent on driving over to Vegas be aware that there are regulations for how much fuel you have and how much water you carry with you in case you break down. I have known people take the precaution of phoning their destination hotel with their car reg and estimated arrival time just in case something goes wrong. I'd definately recommend checking out the experiences of other drivers with that.

Most importantly, don't be afraid. Be cautious and take appropriate precautions, but don't be afraid. Study your map before you set out anywhere and try not to consult it in the street.
If you do hear of local shootings, you're in America. It's part of the deal.
I was once in Vegas when the rapper gangs were kicking off ( a matter of days after Tupac was murdered there) and there was a murder outside my hotel but I didn't know anything til the next morning.
Don't let it affect you.

caravanshaker

gotta say I love San Diego, I spent 3 weeks living there in 1992 in the summer as a teenager and didn't go back until 2003 when we went on our honeymoon and it was every bit as cool as I remember. Obviously do the day trip into Tijuana, park at the outlet stores at the border get the bus over, usual story excersise caution especially with the hagglers in Tijuana. Theres a Cheesecake Factory on the outskirts, um can't remember the name of the mall now but its just off one of the freeways, does amazing food and you can sit outside at night. La Jolla as someone else posted is amazing, you can also do snorkelling here. Coronado is nice, the bridge over is class, do a tour of the bay.

LA as some have posted isn't what you think. when we went in 2003 we landed on a Sunday and were staying in Holywood, my wife wantedto leave immediately there were that many weirdos about lol! But once we got over the initial shock (and I'm by no means a prude or anything I'm into metal music, Holywood and LA is my Heaven as such, Motley Crue, Poison Guns n Roses history etc) it was fine, we loved Santa Monica and 3rd St Promenade. Theres a Cheesecake Factory on Rodeo Drive which is good for food and you can sit outside and people watch, isn't expensive either. The tour of houses etc is good too, was fun doing Ozzys house at the height of The Osbournes TV series! Infact I'd love to sell up and move to Santa Monica!lol!

Be prepared for lots of driving especially if you do spend so much time in LA, its not a "centralised" city as such, but most of all have a ball!

misscomickat

Go to In and Out burger, and Coldstone Ice cream.

I worked on a summer camp not far from San Diego. I really liked it. I saw a dolphin, and there's a British shop on Coranado (sp?) island.

DKLS

Baz wrote: »

Did you not bother researching the place before going?
quote]

No didnt have time, as the boss gave me two days notice to go, Its not somewhere I would have chosen to go for a holiday.

I love big cities, but SD didnt hit the spot for me, I enjoyed La Jolla, but to be honest I foudn the rest to be a bit of a dump.

Luckily the conference will never be held there again, and now has a permanent base in New York.

I have frinds who live in Northern California, and that was great.

seatzie

there is also a Cheesecake Factory in Vegas in Caesars Palace if you really want to do the full Cheesecake Factory tour lol!! great place, nice dinners wonderful cheesecake! http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

Also in Vegas if you like Chinese Venetian has Panda Express which is like a chinese buffet takeaway, was something like 3 main courses for $5 or something

Murphy_The_Cat

Blue264 wrote: »

I'm reading some negative stuff about L.A. here...
I liked it, but it's a personal thing as has been said.

One of the spookiest things was a taxi ride through south central L.A. Even in broad daylight, that was damned scary! We saw the bandanas tied to lamp posts to mark gang's turf, etc.

Most importantly, don't be afraid. Be cautious and take appropriate precautions, but don't be afraid. Study your map before you set out anywhere and try not to consult it in the street.
If you do hear of local shootings, you're in America. It's part of the deal.

Don't let it affect you.

Thank you for pointing out so well some of the prime reasons that I dislike LA so much.

I don't go on holiday anywhere (or specifically America) to get involved in any of the stuff that you have detailed above -- I recently had a 3000 mile+ trip around NV, AZ & CA and didn't come across even the merest snifter of anything that you describe, but I did take a WIDE detour to the North of LA to avoid the place completely (but the smog that sits above it didn't look to special).

A complete Marmite place.

BTW, like a lot / most / nearly all people, I really enjoyed SD - but I am a bit of a military nut that gets off on ships, planes etc

seatzie

Blue264 wrote: »

Study your map before you set out anywhere and try not to consult it in the street.

I have to say this is one of the best bits of advice on this thread, if you think you'll need directions, take a small notepad with you and write the route down on a sheet in your hotel room before you leave it, don't be afraid just be aware of your surroundings

tux130582

is it seriosuly that bad? you cant look at a map?? what exactly do you mean? cos you look like an outsider for mugging?

its funny but not at any point when i wrote the 1st thread did i feel worried about the trip but the more people talk about the guns etc lol!! i never once even thought about it travelling from new york to florida does LA have a bigger gun scene?

We have now changed the itinerary slightly we now do 3 full days in LA. (4nights) 4 days in san diego (5 nights) and 3 days in vegas (4 nights) and 2 days (two are half days travelling) in Palm Springs.

probably do one day site seeing in la/ one day universal / one day in santa monica / beach areas, will also visit orange county huntingdon newport etc aswell on the drive to san diego the same day/ early evening.

we are staying in the following... in LA Four Points by sheraton

5990 Green Valley Circle, Culver City, CA, United States - (310) 641-7740‎

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1257

is this location ok/safe? we have a car, is it ok to drive into places like Hollywood and Beverly hills and park? We have a sat nav so shouldnt be too much of a problem.

We are staying in the Luxor in Vegas and Holiday Inn in palm springs, we just need to find places in San diego preferably near a beach though this might be out of our budget, can anyone recommend any?

tux130582

blue

"If you are intent on driving over to Vegas be aware that there are regulations for how much fuel you have and how much water you carry with you in case you break down. I have known people take the precaution of phoning their destination hotel with their car reg and estimated arrival time just in case something goes wrong. I'd definately recommend checking out the experiences of other drivers with that"

What do you mean by the above?