Los Angeles travel tips
August 6th, 2009 by admin
The Internet abounds with sites and tips dedicated to saving money on flights and hotels. Even people who don’t exhaustively read up on how to get the best deals typically visit multiple sites before booking a flight. Hotel booking used to be a one and done activity, but now typically involves a variety of sites as travelers make sure they are getting the best deal.
Expedia and other online travel agents’ sites dropping their booking fees was a direct reaction to travelers’ habit of researching flights options on their sites, picking the one they wanted, then booking it directly from the airline to save the $5 fee. It was easy to do, so not surprisingly most people did. Some went even further, using multiple sites and trying to find the optimal day and time to save even more on their flights. This behavior spawned a whole host of “meta search sites” like Kayak.com
, looking to make this kind of exhaustive searching easier. The NY Times’ “Frugal Traveler” had a great article on all the best tools and tips for researching travel and getting the best price, referencing sites like Kayak and Hotels.com
as well as a number of research options.
But the NY Times article - and most travelers - had no ideas past getting flights and hotels locked in. Despite the fact that the cost of the time a traveler spends in his or her destination often far exceeds the costs of flights and housing, people seem resigned to paying full price.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Not surprisingly, the Internet offers a variety of options that a growing number of travelers are tapping into to save on their “destination experience.” It is no secret that individual tours and attractions offer deals on their web sites that are available to anyone who buys in advance. And not surprisingly, aggregators of a wide variety of these type of buy before you fly deals are starting to have a growing presence online.
On popular example is Viator.com. This site allows travelers to select from destinations across the world and select from tickets to attractions, tours, events, airport transfers, and so on, often at a significant discount to walk up prices. And travelers might be surprised at the breadth of the offering. Disney, Grand Canyon, Broadway Shows, etc. are all on offer. But so is a Ghost Hunting tour in Edinburgh, skydiving in Australia, kickboxing matches in Bangkok - the list goes on and on.
Obviously committing to specific sites and activities in advance requires a bit of pre-planning. This fact alone has been as much a barrier as anything to more rapid expansion of travelers seizing on destination deals. For those looking to save while preserving flexibility and spontaneity, an attraction pass like those offered by Smart Destinations could be just the ticket.
The company offers a credit card sized ticket in 14 North American destinations that allows the holder to go into most if not all of the main attractions and tours in that destination for one prepaid price. Perhaps best of all, there’s no need to decide in advance what you intend to see. In destinations such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Diego, and Oahu, the savings offered by the card can be as much as 55% compared to individual tickets, and that’s not counting deals on shopping and dining that are included in the card.
So as you plan your next trip, make sure you don’t stop with flights and hotels, but give some thought to the things you plan to do once you get where you are going. You could end up significantly lowering the total cost of your trip with just a bit more effort.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
April 22nd, 2009 by admin
Last Summer, over 1300 Smart Destinations customers were interviewed by a third party research firm (KRC Research). They were asked about their experiences buying and using the company’s Go Card and Explorer Passes.
94% of the customers surveyed said they were either “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied.” And most of that 94% said they were “extremely satisfied.”
The reasons why customers were so overwhelmingly positive about the Go Card experience were primarily:
- The quality and quantity of the attractions that accept the card for admission
- The fact the card was convenient and easy to use
- The fact that it saved them money compared to having to buy separate tickets at each attraction
Another key finding of the research was that 91% of the customers surveyed would recommend a Go Card or Explorer Pass to someone else.
So if you are considering buying a Go Los Angeles Card, it is nice to know that previous customers have such strongly positive reviews of the product.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
March 24th, 2008 by jamie a
Map of Los Angeles Photo uploaded by
After you’ve picked up your Go Los Angeles Card, check out these great maps for bargain travelers!
Budget Travel just alerted us to the concept of , which are free travel guides to places all over the world with local, zoom-able maps, and marked attractions.These guides are great for planning out itineraries based on your personal interests as well, providing all sorts of suggestions based on your preferences.
We’d love to hear what you think should be included for those traveling to Los Angeles! What are your favorite attractions? Let us know in a comment!
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
March 6th, 2008 by jamie a
Getty Museum Photo uploaded by
With the , it’s definitely a great achievement to visit them all. From the to the , there’s something for every area of interest.
To make your travels a little easier on your wallet, here’s at all the museums in the Los Angeles area. Organized by Natural Wonders, Culture Clubs, Art Now, and The Classics, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
February 13th, 2008 by carrie t
Route 66 sign Photo uploaded by
Historic highlights key historical and cultural sites throughout Los Angeles. We all know the horror stories about traffic in LA, so of course I’d recommend finding an off peak travel time to start your drive. Early morning on the weekends is best, particularly on Sunday.
Route 66 winds through Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, Downtown, and Santa Monica. In the winter, the snow capped mountains and clear skylines make for incredible views. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at major historical landmarks!
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
February 11th, 2008 by jamie a
Mika at The Troubadour Photo uploaded by
LA.com has a fantastic guide for those who are and are dying for some fabulous nightlife. This guide features 12 hotspots which are either all-ages or 18+ clubs or venues for a great night out on the town.
From indie shows at to which features DJs spinning electro, new wave, and other retro tunes, you’re sure to find something to suit your style.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
January 30th, 2008 by carrie t
Malibu Pier and Beach Photo provided by Carrie T.
This is a great time of the year to visit . Avoid the summer crowds, pack up a picnic lunch, and head to the beach in Malibu for the day with your family … it’s a great way to unwind on a Sunday.
You can shop or grab food at the . You might even casually bump into a star here!
Another great place to spend a day sunning is on the . Let the guard know that you are just visiting and head up to the grassy lawn overlooking the ocean. You can park on the street and even bring pets … this is an amazing place to waste away the afternoon reading a good book or sharing time with your family. The views are stunning.
Access to the exclusive beaches in Malibu can be tough to find. Many beaches used to be closed off to the public all together but that has all changed… Appropriately nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach,” (a one mile stretch of Carbon Beach) now has public access from Pacific Coast Highway. To find it, head to the Malibu Pier and look for the beach access signs.
There are a few along the way but you have to look closely for them because they are sandwiched between closely connected houses. Parking can be tough but it’s well worth the work; the beaches are breathtaking and you’re likely to see paparazzi or a star along the way.
To get to Malibu, just follow Pacific Coast Highway north of LAX.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
January 14th, 2008 by susan j
Hollywood photo uploaded by
Continuing the New York Times’ 36 hour travel series, writer Jennifer Steinhauer shared her weekend . She hit many of Hollywood’s highlights, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Runyon Canyon, and other places. How would you spend 36 hours in your favorite travel destination? Leave a comment and let us know!
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
January 2nd, 2008 by carrie t
Party photo provided by Carrie Tayloe
Most people who visit LA want to experience a night out in Hollywood, but they have a hard time figuring out how to organize it. Hollywood has so much to offer: great restaurants, world famous nightlife, comedy shows, concerts and performances – you name it, they probably have it.
- One of the first things you should do when planning a night out in Hollywood is set up transportation. Assuming you are not staying in Hollywood, renting a limo can be cheaper than a taxi, particularly if you have more than 8 people. Shop around in advance – or you can often find a taxi van that will drive you for a reasonable fee (remember to try and negotiate a rate with a company prior to the trip so that you will be charged a flat fee). You might even be able to meet a taxi driver at the airport that will assist you by offering a roundtrip fare at a flat rate. Transportation options include and .
- Another tip is to head out early for dinner so you can avoid traffic, long lines at nightclubs, and crowded restaurants. Locals head out for dinner fairly late in Hollywood, so if you take an earlier reservation you’ll be likely to get better service and you can hang onto your table for a while longer.
- When heading out to nightclubs, make sure to call in advance to reserve a table so that you won’t be stuck in a line at the front door. If you want to walk-up to a nightclub, come early (before 10 pm) and make sure to dress to impress!
- Do a little research before you go. , , and are all good resources for finding events in Hollywood.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
December 14th, 2007 by carrie t
Photo courtesy of Carrie Tayloe
boasts the most breathtaking views in Los Angeles. Situated high above the Hollywood hills, the canyon overlooks Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Downtown Skyline. Runyon Canyon consists of various hikes and nature trails which all wind around the canyon.
This is one of the best spots in California to bring a dog – it’s acceptable to take your dog on the path without a leash. Some people will bring bigger dogs and run through the harder trails, while others will bring their small dogs and enjoy the easier paths.
And one last hidden secret about Runyon Canyon is that it’s actually one of the best areas in L.A. for celebrity sightings! Hayden Christenson, Justin Chambers, and BJ Novak have all been sighted in the area recently.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
