All you need to know before visiting Los Angeles

Budget

Like any major city in the U.S. Los Angeles is pretty expensive, but as long as you are prepared to skip some attractions (museums, theme parks etc.) you should be able to afford it.

• Prices for private rooms for two start at around 60 USD (50 EUR).

• Food prices are affordable. A budget dinner with drinks costs somewhere between 9 USD (7,6 EUR) and 15 USD (12,6 EUR). Fast food restaurants and ethnic places are usually the cheapest.

• Public transport is affordable as well. A single metro or city bus ride costs 1.75 USD.

To save some more money, check out our Budget cutting tips.

Where to stay

You can find great accommodation options on Booking. Make sure to search for private rooms popular for romance. 😉 On Airbnb you can rent furnished apartments – those are usually cheaper than most hotels and they offer you the real LA experience.

Best time to go

The best time to visit LA is spring (from March to May) or fall (September to November). The climate is mild to warm year-round (average temperatures fluctuate from 58.0°F/14.4°C in January and 74.3°F/23.5°C in August). The city is most crowded during the summer.

Other information

♦ Planning and preparation: check out our planning routine here.

♦ Packing: check out the honeymoon adventurers’ ultimate packing list here.

♦ For other travel tips check out Travel like a pro, Travel for couples, Honeymoon styles, Honeymoon activities, Responsible tourism, and Travel resources.

♦ Language: English is the official language and Spanish is also widely spoken. Check out the typical travel vocabulary in English here.

♦ Currency: United States dollar

♦ Visa or other entry requirements: All nationals or citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under VWP are required to apply for ESTA (in advance). For more information, visit US Visa. Travelers from any other countries must obtain a B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa in advance.

♦ Electricity standards: The power plug types in the USA are A and B, the standard voltage is 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.

♦ Time zone: UTC-08:00

♦ Immunization recommendations and requirements: There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to the United States.

♦ Health and safety tips:

In Los Angeles, as well as in any other major city, you should always make sure to follow the usual travel safety precautions:

• Leave your jewelry and other valuable belongings in the hotel safe.
• Keep your emergency cash apart from the rest of your money.
• Dress comfortably and carry only the items you will need for the day.
• Don’t carry a lot of money.
• Always make sure to lock your room before leaving the hotel.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Stay in well-lit areas.
• Try to maintain a low profile and do your best to fit in.
• Carry a travel wallet/money belt/money pouch for carrying money and documents safely.
• Avoid contact with potential scam artists.
• Avoid showing off valuable belongings (like cameras) in public.
• Don’t count your money in public.
• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times.

For other common health and safety concerns in Los Angeles, check out Trip Advisor’s LA Health and Safety tips.

To stay healthy while traveling, check out our health travel tips.

• Tap water in LA is safe to drink. According to the latest reports, it is as clean as bottled water.
* Always make sure to reuse a water bottle to cut down on waste.

♦ Local Customs: Los Angeles is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, the locals are therefore accepting of every culture, race, and religion. There is no particular dress code required on the streets of LA. Locals are mostly friendly and informal and are (logically) offended by extreme behavior, such as racist, sexist and vulgar language, disrespectful and aggressive behavior.

Check out top things to see and do in Los Angeles, as well as top romantic experiences and adventures here.