Los Angeles: The Basics

This week I will go over some useful general information about a stay in LA, like where to stay and how to get around, in next  couple of weeks, I will go over specific recommendations of where to eat.

Hotel

I was so excited to visit LA for the first time this year. After a little bit of research, I decided to stay at The Line Hotel in Koreatown. The hotel itself was very minimal chic and had cute little elements like toy army men decorating the room, making it feel young yet sophisticated.

The staff was very friendly and professional and the rooms were beautiful with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that would brighten anyone’s day. Although I had heard that there is no ideal place to stay in LA, as it’s just a hard city to get around, Koreatown was 20 minutes from everywhere I wanted to visit so it was still a downside. In addition, the entrance to the hotel is a little weird and easy to miss when driving.

Despite all of the above, I might stay at The Line again next time I visit because I just loved the decoration and the service provided there.

Location

 After speaking to several people and scouring the net, I can’t find a conclusive answer for a better place to stay, although Santa Monica seemed to be a popular option. It just seems like after 7pm, LA becomes an uncomfortable place to stay no matter where you are.

Transportation

Since I mentioned the difficulty of getting around in LA, I might as well say that everyone and their mother recommended that I rent a car, but since I was only in the city 3 nights and I am unfamiliar with driving in America, I opted to use Uber.

Nowhere have I felt that Uber is a better option than taxis more than in California; the difference in quality and cost is huge. I felt like I had my own personal chauffeur as no matter where I was, there was bound to be a driver around 5 mins away.

The benefit of not having a car is that I didn’t have to worry about where to park it, or what the rules were for parking in specific zones. Also, like most people born and raised in the UAE, I have no idea how to pump my own gas nor do I ever want to turn left on a red light into on-coming traffic! What is up with that America?!

Must Dos

If you visit LA then I highly recommend that you visit the LACMA. It has one of the most interesting art collections I have ever seen, from Degas to Monet to some fascinating interactive pieces. When I was there they had an amazing feature on Islamic Art including the photo below by Neshwa Tavakolian, which just blew me away. And for art lovers who prefer pop culture to tours about the history behind the art, their piece de resistance is accessible from your own phone: the LACMA has the best Snapchat account ever, making its art relevant to the new generation.

The Santa Monica Pier is another one that I would definitely put on your bucket list. I hadn’t planned on going here as I dismissed it as just another pier but I happened to be near by so I spent some time on the beach then walked on to the pier. Not only was it beautiful, but also the atmosphere was enchanting. The sound of laughing children, the smell of fried dough and the ocean breeze, made for a charming day by the beach.