Scouting report from my LA trip (potential move) (Los Angeles, Long Beach: rental, neighborhoods)

[Brandoncraig]

"I'm a radio, top40 fan. Only 2 non- spanish stations on the FM dial."

I assume you are exaggerating.

In Hollywood, you should be able to pick up 33 FM stations. Only 9 of these 33 stations have Spanish language programming.

KIIS is arguably the definitive top 40 station in the country. There is also KAMP playing similar music. Most other types of music are available including the the most copied modern rock station KROQ and trendsetting public station KCRW.

[SandyCo]

I wouldn't have recommended that you stay in Hollywood. That's one of the most Urban areas in L.A. West Hollywood is a lot nicer while still being urban, and there are quite a few other areas, like Culver City, that don't have the traffic hassles and parking nightmares.

I realize you had to narrow your choices a little because you were so pressed for time, but you only saw a few small slivers of L.A., and you've tarred the entire city with a very broad brush. I hope you can visit again some day and get a more favorable impression.

Best of luck with Seattle now, anyway!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by DT97

I started a thread back in the spring on places to live in LA.

Wanted to move to LA ever since Jan 2010. So I booked a trip back in March for Sept 17-21st. Stayed 4 nights at the Hollywood Heights Hotel, rental car, membership to westsiderentals to scout out properties in WeHo, Santa M, Studio City, Brentwood.

I knew I had to make a trip to check it out in person if I was going to pull the trigger. Was pretty much already sold on the move since LA is the perfect city with mountains, beach, beautiful people and always warm.

The trip and all ran be close to 2k.

Here is my rundown in short:

Negatives: My face and lips immediately got very irritated the first day. Face was very red and lips were dry, cracked and itching. ( 2 days after returning home they were clear again)

Worst traffic in the world in Hollywood. Worst DRIVERS, especially the cabbies.

I'm a radio, top40 fan. Only 2 non- spanish stations on the FM dial.

Severe shortage of parking

Sky high prices on rent. Sad thing was they weren't even nice.

Positives:

The best looking females I have ever seen in my entire life.

It actually got mildly cool when the sun went down.

Santa MOnica had a distinct breeze and cooler temp and you can smell the ocean.

Brentwood seemed a bit slower.

Some really nice views.

Overall there was no compelling reason to move, pretty dissapointed. Back to Atlanta, for now and looking at Seattle.

I suppose my hopes were too high but it just seems like something as minute as swinging by the grocery store would be an ordeal with the traffic.

Your experience and decision is why it is so important for people, especially young, bright eyed 20 somethings to visit for several days and do what you did. I don't mean, visit just to sightsee, I mean visit and research the actually living situation.

While Los Angeles is a great place for many, it isn't for everyone. You just spent 2K very wisely.

Nita

[allenk893]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

I wouldn't have recommended that you stay in Hollywood. That's one of the most Urban areas in L.A. West Hollywood is a lot nicer while still being urban, and there are quite a few other areas, like Culver City, that don't have the traffic hassles and parking nightmares.

I realize you had to narrow your choices a little because you were so pressed for time, but you only saw a few small slivers of L.A., and you've tarred the entire city with a very broad brush. I hope you can visit again some day and get a more favorable impression.

Best of luck with Seattle now, anyway!

That's what I was thinking. Only in staying in Hollywood for 4 days and it was 2K? Big mistake. No offense OP! You could have visited countless other cities like Long Beach, Pasadena, Culver City, Silverlake, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Universal City, etc. LA has so many different neighborhoods and cities. I don't think you should have written it off so quick. Santa Monica and Hollywood are not the real LA. They apart of it. But hardly the entire city. I'd give it another chance if I were you. But then again, CA is broke so what is the point right? Have fun in Seattle!

[allenk893]

Originally Posted by nmnita

While Los Angeles is a great place for many, it isn't for everyone. You just spent 2K very wisely.

Nita

That's a stretch. By simply using Hotwire, the OP could have stayed in a variety of cities in LA for half the price, hassle, and stress. He could have stayed in Pasadena or Long Beach for at least 2 weeks and travel around the city for 2K.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Ceece

If you aren't moving somewhere for a job it's always going to be questionable whether you should move at all. I guess I just don't get the point unless you absolutely hate where you live and have no job, friends or family. Moving anywhere for "the lifestyle", especially CA, will rarely work out if you are just basing it on dreams. WHY did you want to move to LA anyway?

Never better said!!

[DT97]

Originally Posted by Ceece

If you aren't moving somewhere for a job it's always going to be questionable whether you should move at all. I guess I just don't get the point unless you absolutely hate where you live and have no job, friends or family. Moving anywhere for "the lifestyle", especially CA, will rarely work out if you are just basing it on dreams. WHY did you want to move to LA anyway?

I have an online biz.

I wanted to move to LA for the 320 days of sunshine and warm weather per year.

The views/scenery

[DT97]

Originally Posted by nighthouse66

well, i think gauging LA by hollywood is a bad idea. did you, as another posted asked, check out culver city? i loved it there. lots of the old movie history, quiet streets, easy to get in and out of, plenty of amenities, its got a great cheap theatre (culver plaza) and i would live there in a second. yeah, housing is expensive, but anyplace worth visiting is gonna have high rents- i wish there was the perfect city that was great for artists, lots of cultural amenities, and loads of cheap places to live. but that place seems to be on the shores of palatial lake Not.

I did not check out Culver City but I wish I had though.

[DT97]

Originally Posted by Brandoncraig

"I'm a radio, top40 fan. Only 2 non- spanish stations on the FM dial."

I assume you are exaggerating.

In Hollywood, you should be able to pick up 33 FM stations. Only 9 of these 33 stations have Spanish language programming.

KIIS is arguably the definitive top 40 station in the country. There is also KAMP playing similar music. Most other types of music are available including the the most copied modern rock station KROQ and trendsetting public station KCRW.

No, just 2. In the rental can I had I repeatedly scanned the FM dial and NEVER found more than 2 NON-Spanish stations.

One was soft rock and one was 80's hard rock.

[DT97]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

I wouldn't have recommended that you stay in Hollywood. That's one of the most Urban areas in L.A. West Hollywood is a lot nicer while still being urban, and there are quite a few other areas, like Culver City, that don't have the traffic hassles and parking nightmares.

I realize you had to narrow your choices a little because you were so pressed for time, but you only saw a few small slivers of L.A., and you've tarred the entire city with a very broad brush. I hope you can visit again some day and get a more favorable impression.

Best of luck with Seattle now, anyway!

Eh, not so much. I visited 3 times in 2009 and visited North Ho, Burbank, The island of Catalina ( sp?), Down town, Bev Hills, Venice beach, Redondo Beach, on and on. In 09 I was staying with someone and they did the driving.

I really wasn't pressed for time at all. I saw everything planned to see.

Even if I had visited Culver City I really doubt it would have been compelling enough to move. The face/lips issue really had me suffering big time.

I do agree with you on staying in HW. Looking back I wish I had picked a diff part of town to stay in.