More Tour and Travel Advice for the USA and Canada

Los Angeles is a huge city but is also a very spread out city and the distances between major sites and attractions in the city is also significant. No matter where you choose to stay, you will often have to travel significant distances to visit many of the major sights.

The city center itself is home to businesses and commerce during the day but is certainly a place to avoid during the evenings. The far more popular places to stay in LA are the beach city of Santa Monica and Hollywood while Anaheim is a very popular tourist center.

Hollywood

Hollywood is a good place to stay if you are looking to check out Hollywood itself (with the walk of fame, Kodak Theater and the other tourist attractions along Hollywood Blvd). Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills the nightlife on the Sunset Strip are also close by.

Hollywood is also reasonably close to downtown Los Angeles if are looking to sees sporting or entertainment events at the Staples Center.

• Orchid Suites – Literally one minute from the Hollywood walk of fame and the Kodak Theater

• Orbit Hotel – Melrose Ave, West Hollywood

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a beach city just west of Los Angeles and is a great place to stay if you’re just looking to rest, relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the beach. There is some great shopping near by while the vibrant and very eclectic Venice Beach is also near by. Still part of Los Angeles country, all the attractions like Hollywood are still within reach.

• Hostelling International (HI) Hostel – At the beach in Santa Monica

• Bayside Hotel – Santa Monica

• Venice Beach Cotel – At the beach in Venice Beach

Anaheim

Anaheim (where many US tours start) is in Orange County (as opposed to LA County) and is within very easy reach of Los Angeles for day tours and trips. Anaheim is famous for being home to Disneyland (one of the biggest draw cards for the region) and many other tourist attractions. If you are staying in Anaheim before or after your tour, you can book to stay at the Contiki accommodation at a discounted rate and you should do so at the time of booking. There are many, many other hotels in the Anaheim area, however the hotel used by Contiki is the best Western Stovalls Inn and the hotel is also the start/finish point for tours in LA.

• Best Western Stovalls Inn – Across the road from Disneyland

Getting There

The best way to get to and from any LA airport to any accommodation is via Super Shuttle and you receive a discount coupon for the Super Shuttle in your Contiki travellers guide booklet.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is very near to both Santa Monica and Hollywood while it is a little further to Anaheim and there are a great many domestic and international flights that arrive and depart from LAX.

More detailed information on getting from LAX to Anaheim.

If you are flying domestically within the USA before or after your tour you may like to use flights to or from Orange County Airport (aka John Wayne Airport, Santa Anna Airport or SNA) or Long Beach Airport (LGB) as they are a lot closer to Anaheim than LAX. Check out some way to get low cost flights in the USA.