How to explore LA on a budget

Ellie Seymour

Famously expensive Los Angeles in California^* isn't a first-choice budget holiday destination. But with a little planning, there are ways to experience the magic of a trip to glamorous Tinseltown while still being clever with the cash.

Getting to LA: find affordable fares to Los Angeles with British Airways^* and Virgin Atlantic^*, which both fly direct from London Heathrow.

Plan your stay around shoulder season

Flight costs and room rates vary depending on the time of year you visit and which area of Los Angeles^* you choose to stay in. You'll nab the best deals if you're able to travel in the shoulder seasons, typically either side of the peak holiday season.

This is the time that falls between January and March and September to October just before Thanksgiving in mid-November. Temperatures are pleasant around these times, too.

Avoid staying in the glitzy neighbourhoods

Accommodation is the biggest outlay for any trip to LA, but you'll instantly save if you choose a less obvious neighbourhood as your base, over a better-known one.

For example, skip the celebrity-favourite neighbourhoods of Beverly Hills and Malibu and head instead for less obvious districts like Silver Lake to the east, Culver City to the south, and Koreatown between Hollywood and Downtown LA (aka DTLA).

They are all vibrant areas that offer a savvy mix of lower-cost hotels, hostels and guesthouses, not to mention a great choice of interesting, independent places to eat and drink.

Get a culture fix for less

Soaking up Hollywood's movie-making history will be high on any film fan's LA itinerary. It costs nothing to wander along the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, and pay your respects to film star legends like Judy Garland at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery complete with a tranquil pond home to resident turtles.

At the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, alongside great views of the Hollywood sign, you'll find the setting for a scene in the 1955 film, Rebel Without a Cause starring James Dean.

The nearby Bronson Cave has featured in several films and shows but is best known as the entrance to the bat cave hideout from the TV series, Batman.

Art fans will appreciate a visit to the Museum of Contemporary ArtMOCA as the locals call it, which is free to visit, and The Broad, where you'll find two Infinity Mirror Rooms by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama.

Most of LA's museums, such as the family-friendly California Science Center, Hammer Art Museum at UCLA, offer visitors free entry on certain days of the month. To find out more, check each museum's website for details.

LA is the spiritual home of the motion picture, with plenty of cinemas to choose from to catch up with the latest flicks. For a novel option, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosts wallet-friendly screenings ($10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 students and children) and matinees, with high-quality audio and state-of-the-art screens.

Top tip: you could save more by booking your flights and accommodation together; see the latest offers on escapes from BA Holidays^* and Virgin Holidays^*.

Get into nature & take in the view

With its renowned reputation for traffic jams, pollution and theme parks, getting away from the urban sprawl and into nature is far easier than you think in LA. When you need a breath of fresh air, there are over 100 trails for all abilities woven into the surrounding hills.

Closest to Hollywood is the 160-acre Runyon Canyon, with three main routes; the longest is the three-mile loop offering glimpses of the Hollywood sign and hillside homes.

Elsewhere, the easy one-mile Discovery Trail in Franklin Canyon Park takes in views of the majestic pine-studded lake. For an oceanfront walk, the Will Rogers State Beach in the Pacific Palisades district offers three miles of clean white sand and fewer crowds than neighbouring Santa Monica and Venice.

To fully appreciate LA's sprawl from above, there are lots of spots offering great city views. Baldwin Hills Scenic Lookout and Griffith Park are especially beautiful at sunset.

For an elevated view of DTLA and beyond, it's free to visit the observation deck on the 27th floor of the City Hall Building.

Use airport shuttle buses & public transport

Many big hotels offer free shuttle buses from LAX airport. Alternatively, the FlyAway bus shuttle service runs between LAX airport and DTLA and costs $9.75 one way.

Most travellers opt to hire a car when in LA^*, but it's far cheaper to get around using the LA Metro. The system includes the Metro Rail which connects key areas of the city like DTLA, Hollywood and Santa Monica, and a wide range of bus routes. To use it, you need a TAP card, which you pre-load with money to cover rides, each costing $1.75.

If you're staying in or visiting the coastal neighbourhoods of Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Marina Del Ray, Circuit runs a free electric ride-sharing shuttle within each respective neighbourhood's limits.

To use it, download the Ride Circuit app, select your locale, enter your pick-up and drop-off location, and wait for your free ride.

Climate in Los Angeles

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	20	20	21	22	23	26	29	30	28	26	22	20
Hours of sunshine (daily)	7	8	9	10	9	10	12	11	9	8	7	7
Days with some rainfall	5	5	6	3	1	0	0	1	2	2	4	5

The above guide shows the climate in Los Angeles. Find out more about conditions across the state in our complete guide to the climate in California.

Ready to explore LA? Don't miss our complete collection of online travel deals on everything from flights and holidays to hotels, car hire and theme park tickets to help you get away for less.

More about Los Angeles

Los Angeles by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ellie Seymour

Ellie Seymour is a Brighton-based freelance travel writer, author and blogger. A lover of New York City, she specialises in destinations across the USA and southern Europe. She writes for The Independent, The Guardian and LoveExploring among others. She is also the author of two bestselling guidebooks, Secret Brighton and Secret Sussex.

Posted in: City Money saving tips North America

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California - quick facts
Flight time^✝	11 hours
Time difference	UK -8 hours
Language(s)	English
Currency	US Dollar
Electricity	A + B plug (120V)
Driving side	Right
Visa^✝	Yes
Why visit?	Beaches Culture Nature Nightlife
Tourist info	Visit California