Discover in this post how to enjoy Los Angeles without a car. Tips for enjoying the city of stars using public transport and other alternative means.
"It’s impossible to visit Los Angeles without a car” is one of the phrases I read most in Facebook groups. According to other travelers, all The city is far away, public transport is bad and the traffic is out of this world.
I do not deny that these criticisms are well founded, but I disagree about the need to have your own vehicle to explore the region. Despite being more practical, this is not a possibility for many travelers, either for budget reasons or even because they do not have a qualified driver in the group.
If you're not sure about choosing Los Angeles as your next destination for this reason, don't worry. I've visited the city several times, and used buses, subways, trains and even Uber everywhere. In this post, I will show you how to do the same.
I've put together tips on how to understand public transport, where to stay to make your commute easier and even how to get to some tourist attractions. Take a look:
Tips for visiting Los Angeles without a car
Where to stay
Despite being a city that has grown a lot horizontally, Los Angeles brings together its main tourist attractions in some specific regions.
Hollywood:
- Hall of Fame
- Chinese Theater
- Griffith Observatory
- Hollywood sign
- Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Santa Monica:
- Santa monica pier
- Third Street Promenade
- Venice Beach
Downtown LA:
- STAPLES Center
- Chinatown
- Little Tokyo
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Museum of Modern Art
If it's your first time in the city, the ideal is to stay in one of these regions, explore it on foot, and use public transport to see other landmarks. In addition to those mentioned, there is also Beverly Hills, the The Grove with its incredible Farmer's Market, LACMA and more.
If it's your first time in the area, I recommend staying in Hollywood! Some of the best hotels in the neighborhood are:
- Hollywood Roosevelt: Four stars and next to the Walk of Fame, this hotel has a swimming pool, restaurant and highly regarded bars. The rooms have a minibar, air conditioning and television, and daily rates start at around R$900. Booking rating: 8,3.
- Best Western Hollywood Plaza Inn: Simpler but comfortable hotel. The rooms have a cafeteria and microwave, and the property has a swimming pool great for warmer days, as well as a local restaurant. Daily price approximately R$500. Booking score: 7,9.
Public transport card
If you're visiting Los Angeles without a car, it's very likely that you'll use public transportation at some point. For these times, I recommend purchasing the TAP Card, a rechargeable card that can be used on both the subway and bus lines.
Among its benefits are the practicality of not having to carry a lot of coins (buses don't give change and cost $1.75) and the possibility of buying unlimited passes for a period ($25 for 7 days, for example). When using the card you also do not pay to make transfers to other lines for two hours, as long as your trip is in one direction.
To use the metro you need a TAP Card, it is not possible to pay the deposit in cash. There are no turnstiles, and you need to give tap (touch) the machines with your card for the trip to be valid. Yes, Is it possible to enter without paying, but on more than one occasion I saw employees passing by with machines tap laptops checking cards. Don't risk it.
You can purchase a TAP Card at any metro station or in selected stores.
Use the Google Maps app
My favorite app to use when traveling, Google Maps is ideal for those who will use the bus, subway or train to get around. Here on the blog there is already a blog post explaining how to use the main functions.
Just enter where you are, where you want to go, and it shows you which route to take to get to a point or station, which line to take, direction, how many stops, where to get off and the remaining path that must be covered on foot. The only drawback is that it needs internet to do these calculations, so I suggest buying a cell phone chip (I usually use the T-Mobile one) or using the Wireless from the hotel and take a photo of the screen.
Another benefit of using the app is that it takes traffic into account and even whether a bus is late, always showing you the fastest option to get to your destination first.
To be able to use the application at will, my suggestion is to buy a travel chip to have a connection even when you are on the street, outside the hotel. This way you can see real timetables of when the next bus or subway will come, and even traffic information. Here on this page you can learn more about the travel chip, how to use it, how it helps you save and which chip is ideal for you!
Go by Uber
There are several moments on a trip, especially at the end of the day, when the idea of taking two buses to your hotel is too much to bear. At these times, you might even think about calling a taxi, but they are scarce compared to demand in the city, and it will be difficult to find one on the street.
For these moments, and any other time when you are in Los Angeles without a car and want to get somewhere quickly, I recommend using Uber or Lyft. Payment is made by credit card and there is no need to worry about having cash or change, but be aware of the 6% IOF charge.
It is possible to call an Uber even for groups larger than four people, just choose the Uber XL option (extra large).
Use hop-on hop-off buses
A great way to see the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles without worrying about transportation is by using the famous hop-on hop-off buses, those red tourist buses. They stop at the main attractions, and you can get off, see the tourist spot, and catch the next bus that passes by and continue your tour, all with the same ticket. It's cool because they go through Santa Monica, Hollywood, studios and more.
You can buy your ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus with Get Your Guide, a super reliable company that I've used on several trips. They have the option to buy a ticket for one or two days of hop-on hop-off bus.
How to get to the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles without a car
Hall of Fame
In my view there are two parts of the Hall of Fame. The one near Hollywood / Highland station, where the Chinese theater, wax museum and the best stars are located; and the Hollywood/Vine station region, surrounded by tattoo shops and sex shop. If you don't want to see star by star, I suggest only walking through the first part.
To get there, if you are staying in Hollywood, just walk to Hollywood Blvd. A good starting point is the corner of La Brea Avenue, where the Beatles star is located.
If you are in Santa Monica, there are two options. One of them is to take the dark blue subway line (Metro Expo Line 806) at the Downtown Santa Monica station, and at 7th Street / Metro Center Station change to the red line (802). From there, just go to one of the stations in Hollywood.
It is also possible to go by bus! Just take the 704 and stop at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and N La Brea Ave., across from the West Hollywood Gateway mall. Walk along La Brea Ave. to Hollywood Blvd.
Santa monica pier
If you are staying in Hollywood, just go the other way from Santa Monica to the Walk of Fame. Or take the subway, change between the red and blue lines and get off at the Downtown Santa Monica station, or walk to Santa Monica Blvd. with N La Brea Ave. and take the 704 bus.
If your hotel is in Downtown Hollywood it's even easier, as you're already close to the 7th Street / Metro Center station, and just take the blue line and head to the station in Santa Monica.
It's not a half-day trip, as it takes almost an hour to get there. I recommend visiting the pier in the morning, having lunch at one of the restaurants there like The Albright or Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and strolling through Third Street Promenade in the afternoon.
Griffith Observatory
One of my favorite walks, but difficult to access on foot as it is at the top of a looonga climb. The easiest way to visit the observatory is by taking one of the buses from the Vermont/Sunset metro station (red line, easy access from Hollywood). They run approximately every 25 minutes, and cost US$0.50 or US$0.35 with the TAP Card.
Times vary depending on the day, so check the official website before putting together your itinerary.
Beverly Hills
In another region, Beverly Hills is also easily accessible from other regions, just a bus ride away. In the case of Downtown LA, 728 – Century City at Olympic and Figueroa is the best option, and leaves you a 15-minute walk from the famous Rodeo Drive.
From Santa Monica, just take bus 4 or 704 (it's the same route, but one makes several stops and the other is fast) and get off at the Santa Monica / Crescent stop. The same bus also connects Hollywood to the region, but the route is in the opposite direction. In this case, the stopping point is Santa Monica / Camden.
Don't forget to visit Beverly Gardens Park, where the Beverly Hills sign is located!
Universal Studios Hollywood
The subway is the best option for those who want to visit Universal Studios and are in Los Angeles without a car. The Universal City/Studio City stop, on the red line, is in front of the complex. To cross the avenue, use the station's own footbridge, and then use the space shuttle Free to go to theme parks and Universal CityWalk.
From Hollywood, take the subway to Hollywood/Highland and get off at the next stop. From Santa Monica and Downtown it's the same route you took to Hollywood, but stopping at the next station.
Disneyland
In fact, Disneyland is not in Los Angeles, but in Anaheim, another city.
It's one of the most boring trips to get to without a car, as most of the time you need to take the subway, a train and even a taxi.
The train departs from Union Station, the end point of the red subway line. If you're in Hollywood, just head there, and in Santa Monica you need to take the dark blue line and then change to the red line. The station is in Downtown LA, so if you are staying in the area you can skip this part.
The train that takes you to Anaheim is from Amtrak, and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Buy your ticket at one of the kiosks and board at the corresponding gate. During the journey, pay attention to the warnings, because the final destination is not Anaheim and the train will continue! The price I paid at the time was around US$10.
When you arrive at the station, you can take a bus, but I took a taxi to make it faster, and it also cost around US$10.
On this trip I was staying at Best Western Hollywood Hills with some friends, and we stayed in the parks until they closed. We ended up returning by taxi, and the trip cost around US$80 (20 per person).
If you are going to visit the parks in two days, I recommend booking a hotel in Anaheim instead of doing this route twice.
Other cities
Just like Anaheim, it's easy to get to other cities without a car, just take the train!
I've already used Amtrak both to Disneyland and to San Diego, and both times the trip was smooth. The train is comfortable and has space for you to take your suitcases (but they are close to the door unattended, at each stop I went to where they were and waited for the doors to close, to make sure no one was going to take them).
A ticket to San Diego costs US$37, so if you're not driving for budget reasons, it's cheaper to share a car between 5 people than for everyone to buy their own ticket.
For Las Vegas or San Francisco I recommend taking the MegaBus, a well-known bus operator with friendly prices. I haven't used the service yet, but my sister has used it several times to travel from LA to Vegas and thinks it's good, with the benefit of offering wifi and a power outlet. The price for sin City leaving Union Station is US$20, compared to the US$106 it would be to take the train with Amtrak.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Los Angeles Without a Car
Is it possible to travel to Los Angeles without renting a car?
Yes. Although it is more practical to have a car to travel around the city, it is possible to see the main tourist attractions and wander around at your leisure using public transport.
How to use public transportation in Los Angeles?
The ideal is to buy a TAP Card, a transport card that you load with an amount and use to pay for bus and metro tickets. You can buy your TAP Card at any metro station or convenience store.
How much does public transportation cost in Los Angeles?
The bus ticket costs US$1.90 (and the buses don't give change, so use your TAP Card), while the subway costs US$1.75.
How to get to the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles using public transport?
You can reach the Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Downtown LA and several other stops by bus or subway. To check the best route, check an application like Google Maps.
And these were some tips for enjoying Los Angeles without a car! Don't let other people discourage you from taking this trip, it's possible not to drive in the city and still have fun 🙂
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Alyssa, your blog is really good! I have a friend who goes to LA with her husband and I'm helping her research, but I've never been to California. Would you recommend renting a room on Airbnb? I saw great locations with good prices.
Hi Viviane! Personally, I have never rented a ROOM on Airbnb, but I have rented several apartments around LA through the website. My favorites are Mary's Little Inn in Hollywood (not 10 minutes walk from the Walk of Fame, that's the one in the photo here in the post) and the Santa Monica Loft (it's on 9th near Pico, about 10 minutes walk from the beach , but the best price in the region in my research). The price on Airbnb is certainly unbeatable, I imagine that if she rents a room with lots of reviews she won't have any problems! 🙂
Alyssa,
Your tips are really cool. I thought I would never go to Los Angeles because I don't have a Driver's License. Now with your tips I see that it is possible to visit the city of angels.
Hi, Francisco! Glad you liked it! I even have a license but I'm afraid to drive in the USA, so I know how you feel! Although a car is more practical for LA, it is very possible to visit the city using public transport alone! You can now start planning your trip! =D Tell me later if you liked it, huh?
Alyssa, congratulations for the tips. Where did you buy the Tap card in Hollywood? Is this card also valid in Anaheim?
Big hug.
Ademar
Hi Ademar!
I bought my TAP card at the Hollywood/Highland station on the Walk of Fame! As to ride the metro you NEED a TAP card, all stations have machines to sell. You can pay in cash or card, but not all Brazilian cards work, so I recommend taking cash anyway.
TAP only works within Los Angeles County, as Anaheim is in Orange County, TAP does not work there!
Thank you for your visit! =)
Hi Alyssa, I really liked your tip. I plan to go in October 2017, I want to do the tours on public transport. I will follow your tips. Thank you.
Have a nice trip <3
Hi Alyssa, I was in Los Angeles in April 18. I was able to get to the places I wanted to visit using public transportation. If you have a charged cell phone, with internet and Google Maps installed, you can know exactly where to catch the bus and where to get off to catch another bus. The app even tells you how many minutes it will take for the bus to get to where you are. Sometimes you have to wait 15 minutes or more for the bus, but other than that it's fine. I bought the TAP card with unlimited use for 7 days and it was really worth it. I used the subway and the bus as much as I wanted. You can even go from Hollywood to Santa Monica by subway. The city is very big, it would be more comfortable to drive, but you can get to places in the city using public transportation. Thank you for your tips, which were very valuable.
Hi, Francisco! I'm very happy that the tips helped you! Here on the blog there is already a post about how to use Google Maps, I also used it a lot in Los Angeles and it really helps a lot!!! Good to know about the unlimited TAP Card, I knew it existed but I hadn't heard any experience about it yet, thanks for sharing!!
Cool! I'm going in March and I'm planning it the way Alyssa put it. Good to know that even after 2 years of this post, it still worked! Congratulations to the blog!!
Hi Beth!
The post was written two years ago but I'm always updating it. It's always good to check on your own but in principle the information is still valid!! 🙂
Hi Alyssa, I loved your blog!! Valuable tips, I'm already thinking about not renting a car and following her tips. I'm going with children aged 2 and 5, do you know where I can rent a stroller? And even with a stroller, is it easy to get on the subway? I was in New York and it was peaceful, is it there too? Could you give any tips on accommodation in West Hollywood? Hugs
Hi, Chris! I don't know where to rent a stroller, I've never been there with children 🙁 But it's really easy to ride the subway with them, there's an elevator at all stations and there's space in the carriages that don't have seats specifically for those traveling with a stroller, bike, etc. In West Hollywood I've stayed at the Best Western Hollywood Hills, the place isn't the best but the hotel is great. It's 5 minutes from the Walk of Fame on foot, but it's not a good route to take at night, for example, as it's close to the “bad” part of the Walk. We also rented a bedroom apartment for 4 people closer to the popular part of WH on airbnb, it's called Mary's Little Inn (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/791016). Beautiful, super clean and the hosts are lovely, I highly recommend it!! Also remember that if you regret going without renting a car, just rent one there, there are rental agencies everywhere!
Kisses and thanks for visiting <3
Hi Alyssa!!! Is West side the same as West Hollywood??? On the Tripadvisor website they only mention downtown, West Hollywood and LAX area…. I was in doubt. We want to stay in the area you mentioned! Best regards
Hi Marcelo! West side is a set of several neighborhoods (districts) in LA, in addition to the cities of Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. West Hollywood is inside the West Side but it's not the same =)
Good trip!
Hi Alyssa! I'm going to LA alone in October, and I don't have the courage to drive there alone. I'll follow your tips to get around, but I'm still not sure where to stay. Is there a hotel in West Hollywood that you recommend? I was thinking of staying near Hollywood Blvd. Do you think it's better to go to West Hollywood? Thank you very much!
Hi, Leticia 😀
I think the closer to Hollywood Blvd. better, but as prices tend to be more expensive I end up staying closer to West Hollywood. I've already stayed at the Best Western in Hollywood Hills and the hotel was great, but I don't recommend it since you're going there alone and on foot, and it's close to the “heaviest” part of the Walk of Fame, near Vine St. Ideally, get a hotel near Hollywood Blvd. between La Brea Ave and Highland Ave., best location and right in the middle of all the sidewalk action! I really don't know why I booked on Airbnb the last few times =/
Good evening Leticia!
My name is Andrea, I live in SP and I'm also thinking about going to LA alone. Send me your WhatsApp.
Hi Alyssa
I REALLY NEED TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIPS HERE. I FOUND YOU ON ANOTHER PAGE AND YOUR PAGE FIT LIKE A GLOVE. I AM IMPRESSIVE HOW IT HELPED ME. I'M IN THE TRAVEL FORMATION, PLANTING ROUTES, CHOOSING THE BEST HOTEL... IT WILL BE MY FIRST TIME IN LA. THANK U!!!!
Hi Vinicius! Glad to have helped. Have a nice trip, LA is awesome! <3
Hi Alyssa! Thank you very much for the tips! I loved knowing that we really managed to 'get by' without needing a car! Please, do you have another airbnb recommendation? The one you stayed with no longer has a vacancy during the period that I will be there 🙁
Jessica, this was the only one I stayed at in West Hollywood, so I have no other recommendations in this area. I have it for Santa Monica and Westwood, I'll look for the links and comment here 🙂
Hi Alyssa!
Do you think that staying at Universal's Hilton is a good option to do some sightseeing using just the subway?
Thanks!!!!!
Hi Tais! I think it's a good idea, it's right in front of the subway and with it you can get to the Walk of Fame, Downtown LA and now even Santa Monica =)
Very good post. Where do you buy the past card? Can you buy it at the airport?
Hi Felipe! I didn't see it for sale at the airport, only in the metro stations! Here is a link telling where it is sold: https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/get-tap-card/
I loved the tips on visiting different places and getting around by bus, train and subway. I plan to go with my children, aged 16 and 12, and I'm afraid of driving in a strange city.
Is where you stayed safe with teenage children?
It's very peaceful, Eunice! Los Angeles has a pretty big homeless problem, and it's spread across the entire city. It may come as a shock and make you think that the places seem dangerous, but after the initial shock you realize that it is VERY peaceful!! West Hollywood and Santa Monica are great places to stay, they are close to everything, there is a subway and you can take several walks from there. Even taking an Uber from one point to another isn’t that expensive!! Enjoy the trip 😀
Good morning, Alyssa. I'm going to California next May and I'm going to rent a car because my trip will start in San Francisco and I'll go down the coast until I get to Los Angeles. I will be staying at the Best Western Hollywood Plaza Inn Hotel, at 2011 Highland Ave, Hollywood. I thought about splitting the accommodation between Anaheim and LA, but as I will be making many stops along the journey from Sanfran, I opted to stay in just one place upon arriving in LA. My question is: can I reach the main tourist attractions by car, or is it better to try to do it on foot or maybe even take the tourist bus? I was going to stay in Santa Monica too but I stopped for a stop in Santa Barbara and then straight to LA, so I would like your tips. I don't know if it's worth buying the tourist bus or if it will be an unnecessary expense. What would you recommend in this case? Thanks in advance!!!
Hi, Isabel!
Rest assured that you will be able to do ALL the tourist attractions by car! That Best Western It's super well located and you'll be about a 5-minute walk from the Walk of Fame and two metro stations, for those days you prefer not to drive. Personally I consider this tourist bus a waste of money, especially with a car. I only recommend it if you really enjoy riding in them hahaha. And about Santa Monica, it's about a 25/30 minute drive from where you're staying, even if you don't stay there it's very quiet to just spend the day! I went by bus the first time I visited the city (I stayed in the same area as you) and it was worth the trip! 😀
Enjoy the trip, I'm sure it will be great!!! A kiss <3
Hello, Alyssa, how are you? Your blog is very good and has helped me a lot! I'm going to Los Angeles for the first time in the penultimate week of June and I'm staying at the Mama Shelter Hotel (6500 Selma Avenue) for a few days and I wanted to know if it's safe to walk to the Walk of Fame, Hollywood & Highland and those places? Will I go alone and not rent a car (my idea is to get around on foot, by Uber or Lift, it's fine)?
On other days, I will stay at the Beverly Laurel Hotel, is it easy to walk to The Grove and Farmer Market?
Thanks for the tips!
Hi Juliana!
It's very easy to walk to the Selma Ave. Walk of Fame and The Grove at the Beverly Laurel Hotel, great choices! Just pay a little attention if you're alone late at night in the area near the Walk of Fame, but nothing that we Brazilians aren't used to.
And Uber and Lift have A LOT in LA, you can't go wrong with these options. Several of the drivers are from other countries, in fact.
Have a good trip and if you have any questions, just call <3
Hi Alyssa, wow, I was super lost and your tips helped me a lot about whether or not to rent a car! I would like to know if you could give me the following tip, I'm going to do a round trip from SP to LAX, but when I arrive I'm going to go to Vegas first and then drive back to LAX, the tickets are cheaper than going from SP-Vegas-LAX-SP... do you think it's feasible to take a bus from the airport to Las Vegas, is it easy to do all that? And I don't know if you stayed in hotels, but do you have any hostels in LA that you can recommend there? Thanks in advance :* <3
Hi, Monalisa!
Many people travel Los Angeles – Las Vegas by bus, it is a very viable option. I don't know if there are any that leave specifically from LAX, but I recommend the MegaBus, which leaves from Union Station. My sister has done the LA – Vegas route with them several times and loves the service.
As for hostels, I've never stayed in one in LA, but looking at Booking I'd bet on Walk of Fame Hostel. I looked at the map and the location is excellent, in the best part of the Walk of Fame, and the rating is 8,1.
Kisses and have a good trip!
Where can I get the TAP CARD? Which store?
I'm loving the tips
Hi, Daniele!
You can buy the TAP card at metro stations or in one of the selected stores. To find the store closest to your hotel, just access this link: https://www.taptogo.net/TAPLocator2
Kisses and have a good trip!
Hi Alyssa,
All OK? I'm really unsure about where to stay in LA for 3 days.
I saw a hotel close to the airport with a good price, however, I don't know if it is easy to get to the center and tourist attractions.
I found another interesting one but I read in some places about this bad side of the sidewalk and I thought it was a bit bad for walking at night and I will be with children, so I gave up.
I found a hotel at a good price in Beverly Hills, but I had doubts because I couldn't find the nearest metro…
Anyway, can you help me? Is it worth staying in Beverly Hills or the Airport? Or would you have any other tips?
Thankfully.
Live
Hi Vivi!
I imagine you won't be driving because of the subway, so I'll give my tips based on that. If you are renting a car, both Beverly Hills and near the airport are good options and easy to drive to any tourist attraction.
Without a car, among the options I would stay in Beverly Hills. There is no subway nearby, but there are buses that take you directly to Hollywood and Santa Monica. In both cases, if I'm not mistaken, it's number 4 or 704 (one is paradora and the other express), you just need to take opposite directions to go to each of these places.
Anyway, I recommend that you put the hotel addresses on Google Maps and see what route it traces to each of the tourist spots you want to visit. On Google Maps, you have the option of choosing public transport routes, and it shows the journey time, amount of time walking and which bus/subway to take and which stop to get off at. There's even a blog post talking a little more about the subject, if you want to take a look.
I hope it helped, and if you need any more tips or have any other questions, you can answer them right here!
Have a good trip and enjoy yourself!!!
Hi Alyssa. Congratulations on the blog!! I'm going to Los Angeles at the end of November and I have some doubts about transportation, as I don't want to rent a car and will only take public transportation. I plan to stay in Hollywood, close to the Hollywood Highland Center. Is getting to Pasadena very complicated? Is it worth staying there for half a day or longer? And another question is, is it easy to get to Staples Center? Thanks
Hi, Mauricio!
Hollywood / Highland is a great stop, red line subway, and very easy to get to Pasadena and Staples Center.
To Pasadena you can take bus 708 (about 55 minutes) or take the red subway line to Union Station and then the gold/orange line to Del Mar station.
To go to Staples Center, just take the red subway line to the 7th St. station and walk, or from there take the blue or expo line and get off at Pico station.
I'll owe you when I spend time in Pasadena because I've never been, but there are several blogs with ideas of what to do there. Take a look at this post from Ideias na Mala.
I hope I helped and have a good trip!
best tips! super affordable and no bla bla bla. I loved it, it helped me a lot.
Glad you liked it, Luiz! <3
Hi Alyssa!
I'm going now in January with 2 other friends, but as we have less than 25, renting a car would be very expensive due to the young driver fee! I loved the tips! Another thing, from the airport to West Hollywood, what is the best way to get there? Uber? Or is there a metro/bus?
Hi Alice!
I'm glad you liked the tips. Regarding being under 25, most rental companies really have this problem. Recently one of my best friends (age 24) rented with Budget and said they don't charge that “minor fee”. I never used their service, but he used it in Orlando for 15 days and said it was great. I just wanted to give you a tip in case you and your friends are interested.
On the best way to get from the airport to West Hollywood:
– You can go by bus. There is a company called LAX FlyAway® buses that runs between the airport and stops near the subway station called Vine. If it's close to where you're staying, the trip costs US$8 per person. There is more information on this page: http://www.lawa.org/FlyAway/Default.aspx
– You can also take a SuperShuttle van, which leaves outside the hotel. It costs around US$16 per person.
– And you can take an Uber, of course! This is usually the option I choose, as I'm going with my family and the cost of the shuttle/bus for four people is more expensive than an Uber ride. The price is around US$30 for UberX, but you can use this website to calculate an estimate for your hotel: https://www.uber.com/en-BR/fare-estimate/
Hope this helps!! Kisses
Hello, can you help me with hosting on Airbnb? I got your invitation but never used it. It's safe? How do I stay where you stayed?
Hi Sara! What is your question, exactly?
You need to choose a property according to your criteria and, in most cases, just click book 🙂 If you want, you can message the host beforehand to confirm what is written in the ad and ask any questions you may have.
Kisses!
Excellent tips.
I bought it, now for February 2018, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for US$1, on MegaBus =D
Great price!!
I just want to record my thanks for all the tips. I went with my children, without a car, just using public transport and was able to enjoy the tourist attractions listed in the post. Thanks SO MUCH!
That's great, Claudia! I'm very happy 😀
Can I use a single tap card (paying per trip, not days) for 3 people?
Hi, Heloísa!
Only if people use it at different times. Taking the three on the subway or bus one after the other, for example, won't work.
Hello! Did you go to Malibu by bus? I would like to know if a round trip there (from Santa Monica) is possible. Thanks.
Hi Vitor! I couldn't go to Malibu by bus, only by car. 🙁
Hi Alyssa!! Very good blog from her, I'm loving the tips. I'm only going to stay in Los Angeles for one day waiting for a flight to Vancouver, I have free time from 9am until 18pm to walk around, apart from check in times, do you think there's time to rent a car/or Uber and visit the city? Or should I wait at the airport? Thank you, kisses
Hi Camila! There is time to get to know the city! Choose Santa Monica or the Walk of Fame and go by car or Uber and it will be hassle-free! It only leaves a good amount of time to go to the airport to catch the flight back because Los Angeles has very heavy traffic!!
Have a nice trip 🙂
Hi Alyssa! Thank you very much for the tips!
Is staying in Monterey Park a problem to get to the main tourist attractions in LA? I saw some accommodations there and they are much cheaper, but I'm worried about taking too long to get to the coolest areas... Is there any cool spots in this area or would I have to go to LA every day?
Hi Bruno! I don't recommend staying in Monterey Park, it's a bit far from the city and from what I've read about the area it's not the safest, unfortunately!
Hi Alyssa! Your blog is wonderful, it helped me a lot.
But I would like one more tip from you, I will be staying at the Best Wester Hollywood, on Highland Avenue, how do I get to Burbank, at Warner Bros and also how do I see the Hollywood Sign... I will not rent a car.
Thank you, kisses
Hi, Aurilene!
To go to Warner Bros. in Burbank you can take bus 222 at Cahuenga and Franklin and get off 10 stops later at Olive / Warner Brothers Studios. For the Hollywood sign you can follow Franklin Ave. to Canyon Drive and walk up, it's a good walk but totally worth it!
I recommend you download the Google Maps app as it shows all the bus and walking routes, There's a post here on the blog explaining how to use it.!
Hi Alyssa, good evening, I would like to know if I can easily find tickets from Los Angeles to San Francisco on Megabus or if I have to buy them in advance. I'm leaving this month on the 05th and I'm going to San Francisco on the 18th. Thank you.
Hi, Luis!
I can't tell you for sure that there will be tickets, but I did a search for today and there were still tickets available for various times. I don't think you need to buy too far in advance 🙂
Hi Alyssa, thank you so much for your wonderful tips. I would like to ask a question; How do I get from LA Burbank Airport to the 6 Motel Hollywood on Whitley Ave or the surrounding area.
Very grateful
Monica
Hi Monica! You can take bus 222 if you want to save money or an uber/taxi!
Bon voyage! 🙂
Hi Alyssa, Since I'm going in early February with my two daughters, some routes are practically the same price going by UBER. That's why I would like to know if I can load the TAP with whatever amount I want... like US$10,00 each since, being in Hollywood, we won't use the buses very much, which wouldn't justify spending US$25,00 for each card for unlimited 7 days.
Hi Marlene! Yes, you can load the TAP with the amount you want 🙂
Hi Alyssa! I'll be going to LA next month. I would like to know your recommendation regarding a multi-currency card to use there, can you recommend one to me?
I loved the post, thank you!
Hi Emerson!
For prepaid multicurrency I like the Confidence card. It's great, easy to add more money and you can use it to withdraw from an ATM 🙂
Hi Alyssa,
Is it easy to use all of this without speaking English?
Hi, Alessandro! Knowing how it works is easy, especially since a lot of people speak Spanish in the city too 🙂
I've literally never talked to anyone about buying a ticket or using it on the bus or subway, so it can definitely be done!
Hello, Alyssa. I intend to go to LA and stay for 1 month. I'm looking for a cheaper place, but not shared (less than R$5.000). The two that I liked the most are in Downtown, do you think they are too out of the way? I didn't want to rent a car, as I realized that parking lots are paid. I intend to take an English course 4 days a week and I still need to choose the location.
Hi Tammy! Downtown is not out of the way, it is close to the train station, several buses leave from there and there is even a metro station! If it's what fits into the budget, I'd definitely stay there! 🙂
Thank you!