Los Angeles
LAX is a home in more ways than one. For starters, the classic drone shot of the giant Hollywood in peeling white paint on the felt grass of the Santa Monica mountains is just the tip of the iceberg. Famed for being the venue for the early beginnings of a titan film industry, there are so many more reasons as to why Hollywood in Los Angeles remains the entertainment capital of the world. A weekend trip here is so worth it for kicking back on America’s famous beaches, the sports teams, parks and are we forgetting the Getty Museum - home to one of the most iconic art collections ever?
Tipping.
Restaurants and bars- 15% is appropriate for average service ; 20% if your server is above average. You should feel free to tip above 20% if you received excellent service. If you received poor service, it is better to talk to the manager than skip on the tip.
Taxi- It is customary to tip your taxi driver around 15% to 20%. If you are taking an LA taxi, fares are metered and vary by company. Make sure that your driver resets the taximeter and that it is running correctly before you begin your journey.
Hotels- A hotel may automatically add gratuity to room service (but it's best to double-check). Otherwise, 18% to 20% should suffice.
Lingo in Los Angeles.
Even in America where almost speaks English, Californians sometimes tend to speak in such a unique way that it might as well another language. Don’t worry, we’ll help you decode the slang!
General lingo.
Gnarly = Something is extreme or severe, either in a good or bad way (surfer slang)
On the dead homies = Swearing on your homies that are no longer alive
The Orange Curtain = The border—physically, but more so metaphorically—that divides Los Angeles County from its conservative neighbor, Orange County
South of the 10 = South of the 10 Freeway / Black side of town
The 405 = Highway
Eating out/ shopping lingo.
There’s too much June Gloom = Not a good day for the beach
That food was dank = That food was really good
Bail = To ‘bail’ means to leave a place, usually early or suddenly. It can also mean to cancel plans with someone at the last minute
Dolo = Showing up to the party by yourself
Slauson = One stop shop in South Central on Slauson Avenue where you can buy anything you need
Get your flirt on!
Here’s how to pick up an Angeleno next time you’re in town.
Hi, where are you from? (fool-proof conversation starter)
Wanna kickback at my place? = Want to come over?
Tips on where to meet people:
-Joining an acting or screenwriting club can open doors to the Hollywood crowd and get you invited to fun parties
-Visit Silver Lake or even a cool dive bar to strike up a conversation with an LA native
-To meet aristocrats (if that’s your thing), maybe a lounge offering craft beers would be a solid choice
-They say dog walking is a cute pickup and first-date spot in LA if you want to give that a go. Try hiking and Runyon Canyon. There’s a nightclub, and walking paths for dogs and cats. Lots of opportunity to flirt!
Transport from LAX Airport.
There are 4 ways to get from Heathrow Airport to London - by taxi, a private shuttle, the bus or the metro.
Taxi.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has 8 different terminals and is always filled with travellers, which makes navigating the airport and the public transport connections very confusing and time consuming. To avoid this extra stress, you can take a taxi directly from one of the taxi ranks at the airport terminal and get to the door of your hotel in under 30 minutes.
Private shuttle.
Or, an even easier option from LAX terminals is to book a private shuttle. If you want the smoothest travel experience, it is recommended to book a private shuttle in advance. Shuttle services like Welcome Pickups offer trained drivers, flight monitoring, excellent rates and 24/7 support.
Metro.
Taking the metro to downtown LA is the slowest and most inconvenient transfer option, as there is no metro station at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and you will need to take connecting metro lines. However, it is a great option if you have time to spare and are travelling on a tight budget.
Bus.
Tickets can be purchased at the Metrolink ticket machines located in the baggage claim and arrivals hall at Los Angeles airport. Although there can be a 30 minute wait, it runs 24/7 and gets you quickly and hassle-free to downtown LA. Moreover, the FlyAway bus only provides a small amount of luggage space, so it is a great transfer option if you are travelling light and on a budget.
Best time to travel.
March to May and between September and November, when the air is more breathable and the crowds are less oppressive.
