Where to go in LA (Long Beach, Santa Barbara: where to stay, rent, hotels)

[bblakely]

We want to visit LA for our 20th anniv. but we have no idea where to stay. We are coming from Dallas/ Ft.Worth Texas and We would like to visit all the hot spots. I would love to see some stars and check out Rodeo Dr. and the walk of fame. Just to name a few

Can I get some suggestions please ? I sure would appreciate it.

[DontH8Me]

All depends on your budget - if you want to see stars, why not stay at the Roosevelt? It's where a lot of premier parties are held. In West Hollywood The Mondrian is a good place to stay to possibly see some celebs. I have heard you are more likely to see them in Vegas, though, if that's really your goal.

I have heard The Standard is a hot spot but I think it's overrated. The Chateau Marmont has nightly celeb activity but it creeps me out (the place is like an undergroud whorehouse in my opinion - at least that's the vibe I got). If you really are planning to visit all the hot spots, what exactly are you calling a hot spot? Do you mean like the clubs that socialites frequent, or tourist traps? The former you will probably not be able to get into without being on the list unless you are a group of really attractive 20-something girls. I actually have been up and down Sunset at all the "hot spots" in WeHo, and I was usually told that I could go right in but if I had a date then he was told he would have to wait outside. How silly, no?

If in fact you meant the tourist traps then you will not likely see any celebrities, not even a d-lister like Screetch or Pauly Shore. Unless you think that someone dressed up like a superhero on Hollywood Blvd is a celebrity, then I don't think you'll likely see any stars there.

I would recommend Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, nearly every time I've been there I have run into a celebrity. I also recommend the 3rd Street Promenade - many many celebs go shopping there. Having worked in the office above the Broadway Deli I couldn't tell you how many celebrities we spotted during our lunch breaks. Just don't look like a tourist or you may get accosted by the local riff-raff (transients).

Have a nice stay here in LA!

[puffle]

Originally Posted by bblakely

We want to visit LA for our 20th anniv. but we have no idea where to stay. We are coming from Dallas/ Ft.Worth Texas and We would like to visit all the hot spots. I would love to see some stars and check out Rodeo Dr. and the walk of fame. Just to name a few

Can I get some suggestions please ? I sure would appreciate it.

More details would be helpful to give you suggestions such as do you prefer the beach or city, quiet or busy, budget minded or expensive, glitzy or low key. We have it all, too many to mention without some criteria as if you would be using a service to help you.

[bblakely]

I guess more info would help ? sorry. I know I said I'd like to see some stars but thats not really to important, It would be nice but I don't think we would go out of our way. I just didn't know if there was an area that you would most likely see them.
The "hotspots" I am thinking of are more like the Walk of Fame, maybe check out Rodeo Dr.....we would have to be budget minded. I'd like maybe a romantic dinner since it will be for our 20th anniv. so I'd say more low keyed than glitzy. Maybe rent a car and take a nice scenic drive.

Does that info help a little ?


Thanks again

[puffle]

For romantic I would recommend staying at the Malibu Inn, maybe a hotel in Santa Barbara, check with Hotel.com for prices and AAA which gives you places and rates. Not too many budget minded spots in nice areas of L.A. but Santa Barbara would be a bit less during the week and is a great getaway. Malibu Inn is right on the ocean as well as a few hotels in Ventura. Anything in B.H. will run you $400 and up a night.

[JustPassinThru]

The Coast Hotel in Long Beach fit my modest budget.You can spend some time on the Queen Mary, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, dine on the water while cruising the harbor, and travel for free on the red bus from the hotel and the purple bus in town. Some rooms face the parking lot, so be sure to get one on the water.
Rodeo Dr. is a great place to rub elbows with the rich and famous. Many look the same as they appear on stage or screen, while you'll need a sharp eye to recognize others whom may even be your favorites.

[Dedalus]

I was there on business, some years ago. I was on my day off, taking the bus to Hollywood. That, I had to see.

I look out the window of the bus...and, DING DING DING! Next stop! Oh yes!

The bus was going past the LaBrea Tar Pits. When I was a little kid, into dinosaurs and the like, I saw this drawing of a Saber Toothed Tiger roaring as it sank to its doom in the tar. It was, like, burned into my memory. And, some 25 years later, I was there. Talk about an oil spill. This one belongs to Mother Nature, and it's been going on for millions of years.

Perhaps not everyone's choice tourist attraction. But, that's my two cents. There's a museum there that I missed because it was after hours, I'd look to catch it.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

I have heard The Standard is a hot spot but I think it's overrated. The Chateau Marmont has nightly celeb activity but it creeps me out (the place is like an undergroud whorehouse in my opinion - at least that's the vibe I got).

In other words, the Chateau Marmont really does preserve the feel of the old time L.A. whose passing so many lament?

[ferretkona]

Private message me if you like. I can share a website where my wife and I get free tickets to filmings. Some shows the actors will sign autographs afterwards. We have about 200 scripts with signatures.

If you go to Rodeo Drive and do a little window shopping you are likely to see some celebs. Some of the stores are quite reasonable.

[maliashley]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

Private message me if you like. I can share a website where my wife and I get free tickets to filmings. Some shows the actors will sign autographs afterwards. We have about 200 scripts with signatures.

If you go to Rodeo Drive and do a little window shopping you are likely to see some celebs. Some of the stores are quite reasonable.

I am planning a trip with my 15 year old twin daughters and have a limited time to spend in L.A.It would be great fun to see a filming1Could you share the website?Thanks! Mary