Los Angeles is large and sprawling and visitors often overlook this when planning a trip. Understand where you should stay in LA based on what you want to do and use this to plan accordingly.
Anyone who has been to or lived in Los Angeles will agree that it is a mess. It’s extremely spread out and intensely populated, which means there is usually some distance between attractions. So while you may wish to visit Disneyland one day, you may want to visit Hollywood or Universal Studios another, Griffith Park another, and Santa Monica another. Already you are signing up for a lot of travel and that just within one city.
If you really want to see LA, and I mean really want to see it, set aside a good few days (I took 4 days to see LA), and maybe base yourself in 2 spots as this will cut down the amount of driving you must do.
This brings me to my first point. I’d also rent a car. I did this on my last trip there and I’m doing it on my next trip there (don’t ask). While there are buses and some trains, and I have used both, the systems are not as built up as some of the better public transport systems like New York or London. So when distances are so large and public transport a bit lacking, renting a car is the best way to get around LA.
Back to the point, there are a few major parts of LA that visitors often stay in, here’s my take on the best places to stay, depending on what kind of vacation you are after.
Anaheim
This one probably goes without saying, but I’m going to spell it out for you. Stay in Anaheim if you want to visit Disneyland. Over the years, Disneyland has attracted many hotels that have set up shop nearby to the extent that Disneyland actually has a list of their recommended ones.
It’s not all about Disneyland though, with Knott’s Berry Farm a short drive away. Anaheim is also home to the LA Angels baseball team and the Anaheim Ducks hockey team so Anaheim is a great spot to catch a game. This is in addition to the long list of Anaheim breweries. So there is more to see in the area if you are to base yourself here.
The first time I went to Disneyland it was just me and a mate. We were staying in Hollywood and it wasn’t until we went to work out how to get to Disneyland that we realised how far away it actually is. We had to pay through the nose to get an actual bus tour there, which meant 2 hours there, 2 hours back (it was a slow bus in LA traffic) and we also had to leave the park very early.
Last time I was there with my family I learnt my lesson and actually stayed nearby. We got an incredible deal at the Hilton, which was walking distance to the Park entrance and also had a free shuttle. This was much more convenient.
Hollywood
In good traffic, Hollywood is about an hour from Disneyland and there is actually enough to do in Hollywood to warrant staying here as well as Anaheim. This is what I did last time; 2 days in each.
If you’re into movies and celebrities you’ll probably want to walk down Hollywood Boulevard in all its filth (I saw someone get arrested outside the Hooters in which I was having dinner). Maybe you want to walk up to the Hollywood sign (which I actually do recommend). And Griffith Park and the Griffith Observatory are also very much worth it.
Universal Studios is in Hollywood is an awesome day out, and like my comments on Disneyland, when it’s such a big day, you don’t want to spend too much time in the car travelling too and from.
Even though the Hollywood Walk of Fame is pretty gross, there are some cool places to eat and drink in the area so keep that in mind. No vacancy was a cool speakeasy bar and Lost Property Bar was a good cocktail bar with craft beers. Rise N Grind had great coffee in the morning — we went there twice. So there’s clearly plenty to entertain you in the Hollywood area beyond Hollywood Boulevard.
Downtown LA
I’ll be honest, there aren’t too many reasons for regular travellers like you and I to stay in Downtown LA. It’s mostly business, but there are some cool things there if you scratch beneath the surface. I was curious so we spent half a day in the area on my last trip there.
We had some good coffee at Verve Coffee and a really good lunch at Grand Central Market. And The Last Bookstore is heaven for book nerds like myself.
If you’re going to a basketball or hockey match, the Staples Centre is in Downtown LA so if that’s the only reason you’re in LA, Downtown is probably the best spot for you. Similarly, my first trip to LA I went to two concerts — Anberlin/Switchfoot and Foster the People — and they were both Downtown.
Santa Monica
As far as I can tell, Santa Monica is more of a day trip spot and is another reason in favour of renting a car in Los Angeles. But if you’re the kind that has no interest in theme parks and doesn’t care much for all that Hollywood stands for, maybe you just want to hit the beach. And honestly, that’s one of the better reasons to visit LA and Santa Monica would be a great spot to base yourself if you feel like getting some sun and maybe some surf.
There’s Santa Monica Pier to explore with its amusement rides at the end. Venice Beach is a little further down, but basically, it’s all one long beach. If you pick a warm part of the year the water should be nice, the sun should be out and you can simply spend a few days looking for new patches of sand on which to read your book.
I hope this post has helped you decide where to stay in Los Angeles and if you think I may have missed anything, please let me know in the comments below!
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