First Trip To LA and Tips For Days Out Needed

Natasha1987

Are there any con artist tricks about in these big cities that we should keep an eye out for or avoid?

John259

Natasha1987 wrote: »

Are there any con artist tricks about in these big cities that we should keep an eye out for or avoid?

I can't think of anything specific but I don't spend much time in cities. Just take the usual precautions that you would anywhere and you should be fine.

C_Mababejive

Natasha1987 wrote: »

Are there any con artist tricks about in these big cities that we should keep an eye out for or avoid?

I never came across any and ive done 2 big off the beaten track (and back on it !) road trips in the USA. Generally i found Americans really decent honest people.

phatbear

Natasha1987 wrote: »

Are there any con artist tricks about in these big cities that we should keep an eye out for or avoid?

its the same as any big city that tourists visit.

on a trip a couple of years ago i only experienced a couple of incidents which was people trying to shove cd's on to you, whist explaining its them singing and they want you to support an up and coming artiste, 99% of the times these cd's will be blank.

Also just as we were taking the car back to LAX we parked up to get food and was approached by a quite well dressed chap who claimed his car had been clamped and he needed another $5 dollars to get it released and he had to pick his kids up etc etc, oddly when we filled the car up just before returning it the same fate had beset another chap at the petrol/gas station too.

John259

This is worth five minutes of your time I think. The advice it offers about a California road trip is pretty good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8MB8P0Zh0

Natasha1987

Ok and I guess the last question is what areas are quite rough/dangerous should we avoid in:

1. Los Angeles
2. Las Vegas
3. San Francisco

Thanks Everyone x

Natasha1987

I've just got back from my holiday and wanted to thank each and everyone of you who posted on this thread. Your advice was super helpful and I wanted to thank you by letting you know how we did our trip and what we saw.

Ok, so over the course of 2 weeks we drove over 2,500 miles!

The first three days we stayed in Anaheim/LA area and went to Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Disneyland & Universal Studios. Then on Day 4 we drove to Las Vegas and stayed at the Palazzo Hotel, we spent the day/night exploring the strip and the next day we drove to the Grand Canyon in Arizona and went on the sky walk. On the way back to vegas we stopped off at the Hoover Dam and then headed back for our final night in Las Vegas. The next day we headed back to our hotel in Anaheim and took a detour and drove for a while on the historic route 66. The following day we took a day off of driving and took a tour of Hollywood (Walk of fame), Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and back down to venice beach/santa monica pier. The next day we started our drive up the pacific coast highway towards san francisco. We stopped overnight half way up at the Moonstone Landing Inn and continued up to san francisco the next day, stopping off on the way at Monterey Aquarium and then finally arriving at our Hotel (The Pick Wick) in San Francisco. The next morning we headed off early and visited Alcatraz Island. Then we went to Pier 39 and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and down the famour lombard street and visited the painted ladies houses. The next day we headed off back to Anaheim but stopped overnight again at Yosemite National Park (Where it was snowing) and trekked around and saw Mirror Lake. The next day we headed back to our Hotel. The following day we went to San Diego Zoo and then on the final day before the flight we went to Los Angeles National History Museum and The Science Centre.

We packed a lot into the two weeks but it was amazing. We really enjoyed each and everyday. One day driving through the Nevada Desert and the next in the snowy mountains of Yosemite. I think my favourite part of the journey was San Francisco and San Diego Zoo. I was expecting to love Las Vegas but when we got there it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped.

Thank you so much for all your help x

C_Mababejive

Natasha1987 wrote: »

Ok and I guess the last question is what areas are quite rough/dangerous should we avoid in:

1. Los Angeles
2. Las Vegas
3. San Francisco

Thanks Everyone x

Take the same precautions you would take in any big city in the UK.

In the places you mention, stick to the core busy /tourist areas especially so at night.

Dont carry loads of money or bling and try not to look like a tourist.

Most of all,in the highly unlikely event that someone corners you and wants to rob you, DO NOT fight back..throw what you have at them and escape if possible.

An acquaintance was mugged in SFO one night, struggled,got knifed and died..

photome

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Take the same precautions you would take in any big city in the UK.

In the places you mention, stick to the core busy /tourist areas especially so at night.

Dont carry loads of money or bling and try not to look like a tourist.

Most of all,in the highly unlikely event that someone corners you and wants to rob you, DO NOT fight back..throw what you have at them and escape if possible.



An acquaintance was mugged in SFO one night, struggled,got knifed and died..

maybe read the whole thread

markandkate

You can walk over the Golden Gate Bridge or hire bicycles and you get amazing views of the city. You can then follow the road down into Sausalito which have a lovely small town Mediterranean feel to it and then get the ferry back to Pier 1. You pass Alcatraz and get a free harbour cruise for a fraction of the price