The glitz and glam of Hollywood is portrayed in an endless discography of media and popular culture and forms part of many people’s bucket lists.
Whilst expensive to fly to from the UK, a trip to Hollywood can be part of a wider trip across California and the USA.
Popular pairings are Hollywood and Las Vegas, Hollywood and San Francisco and Washington D.C. and New York. Inter-state travel can cost as little as £15 (found when comparing prices using the optimal booking period, approximately 30 days prior to the flight date).
During my trip, I ventured around popular locations destinations Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. It can feel like a mammoth task fitting in everything you want to see. Remember, if you don’t manage it, that’s the perfect excuse to go back one day!
Signing up for government travel alerts before travelling meant I was aware of any regulations before travelling and meant I felt safe throughout my trip. Sign up for these travel alerts now. Remember to also purchase your ESTA ahead of your trip, you will not be permitted entry into the country without this.
We managed to squeeze a lot into three full days before leaving the State for Las Vegas. Here’s how…
Day 1
Universal Studios Hollywood – morning
Hyped up on every corner of the world and an absolute must visit, at Universal Studios you are instantly met with exclusive memorabilia from some of the best films and TV shows in the world.
As you arrive, you’re guided into a small cinema room before accessing the sets. Like a real film star, you get driven around in a film buggy between sets. There are also excellent photo opportunities throughout the tour, including places to eat and a gift shop. The tour is laced with various sets, props and costumes from an array of popular films and TV shows. I won’t give too much away, but my personal highlights included Jurassic Park, Friends and The Big Bang Theory sets. There are lots more such as Harry Potter, Crazy Rich Asians, Batman and more!
Hiking the Hollywood Hills & Hollywood Sign – afternoon
As I was in Hollywood for three days before flying to Las Vegas, I purposefully created a very busy itinerary to make the most of my time there.
During the afternoon, I hiked the Hollywood hills and visited the Hollywood Sign in all its glory. I recommend ordering a taxi to Griffith Park and beginning your hike from there. The walk up to the Hollywood Sign is laced with clear signs to direct you and you can even get a picture with the American flag on the way up. Weather depending, once you reach the top, you can gaze out onto Pasadena, Altadena, Hollywood and Downtown LA in the distance.
Dinner at Musso and Frank – evening meal
To soak up the absorbent Hollywood vibe, make sure to pay a visit to Muso and Frank. Established in the 1950s and around the original era of Hollywood, this restaurant plays homage to a generation of actors, actresses and directors which defined the district. I was seated in Orson Welles’ old reservation from his directing days.
Day 2
Hollywood Sightseeing Tours – morning
Available to purchase online and from Hollywood Boulevard vendors, sightseeing tours are an efficient way of vising different viewpoints and landmarks which you might miss if you don’t hire a car. There are many bus tour options and routes to explore, many including locations and landmarks such as the Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Sign, Mulholland Drive overlook, Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Sign, Rodeo Drive and celebrity mansions.
Santa Monica and Venice Beach – afternoon
Accessible via taxi, bus and metro line, Santa Monica and Venice Beach are great to visit for an escape from the city life. You can hire bikes and cycle along the beachscape, have a day on the beach, go swimming, go surfing, go paddleboarding or sit on the pier and have a few drinks. We hired bikes and cycled from Santa Monica to Venice Beach.
Hollywood Eateries – evening meals
For dinner and in good old American fashion, I went for a staple double cheeseburger along Hollywood Boulevard. Whilst I think planning an itinerary is important, particularly when you’re on a budget and tight for time, I would recommend trying restaurants that you find randomly on the day. Except for famous eateries such as Musso and Frank, where booking in advance is a no brainer, some of the best holiday food memories I have were spontaneous.
Day 3
Beverly Hills and the Beverly Wilshire – morning
Before flying to Las Vegas, I went for breakfast at the classic Hollywood 1950s diner – Mel’s Diner. We had briefly visited Beverley Hills on the Hollywood sightseeing tour, but I really wanted to explore it again without the bus’s time constraints. We visited the Pretty Woman Hotel, formally known of course as the Beverly Wilshire, Four Seasons Hotel.
This hotel still boasts blockbuster, with its elegant and stylish architecture and excellent amenities – think The Plaza Hotel in New York levels of grand!. You can soak up these boujee vibes for prices as small as a $9 for a coffee and $12 for a draught beer on the hotel’s restaurant/bar terrace. We then had a walk along Rodeo Drive, revelling at the designer shops and swanky cars. It was truly a movie star morning!
I took a taxi into the Hills as I was travelling with suitcases and bags. Taking cash in the relevant currency for taxis and downloading taxi apps ensured that we were able to travel safely and hassle free, visiting one more location before flying to another State.
LAX – LAS – afternoon
Taking a mid-afternoon flight is a great way to seize the day on both ends of your trip. As the flight to Vegas was only 1 hour and 15 minutes long, we spent the morning exploring Beverly Hills and then spent the early evening walking down the Las Vegas strip and marvelling at its uniqueness and design. Be sure to list either the entire USA or each state individually on your travel insurance. Missing one, such as Arizona (if you were doing an excursion from Vegas to the Hoover Dam and The Grand Canyon) could invalidate a claim. Have a read of the government’s travel insurance website for more information.
Happy USA travels!
This article was written by Georgia Pearson, a Student Brand Ambassador for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.