Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

L.A. / Downtown L.A., Los Angeles

Search:
email to friend | help
Home » Travel Guides » North America » United States of America » California » Los Angeles » Tourist Traps » L.A. / Downtown L.A. Reviews

Los Angeles Travel Guide

L.A. / Downtown L.A., Los Angeles
See all Los Angeles Tourist Traps
Los Angeles Tourist Traps: L.A. / Downtown L.A. tips and photos posted by real travelers and Los Angeles locals.
L.A. / Downtown L.A.
• 6 Photos
• 10 Reviews

Sponsored Links for Los Angeles

Hotels in Los Angeles, CA
Hotels in Los Angeles close to Hollywood and the Airport.

Los Angeles Hotels
Top Los Angeles Hotels Near All the Hot Spots! Book on ORBITZ & Save.

Luxury Los Angeles Hotel
Near Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. Unparallel experience. Book direct.

Really Cheap Flights
Compare all major airlines and travel sites for top flight deals

Los Angeles Hotel Deals
Compare Rates on 100s of Hotels & Save! Find Guest Reviews & More.


Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Olvera Street
  • Tip Rating:
  • A sleepy morning on Olvera St. - Los Angeles
    A sleepy morning on Olvera St.
    by Stasigrace
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Olvera Street is worth a walk down once, but there's not very much to do there. It's not a place that people would go to for very long or more than once.

    When you do your walk-through, be sure to check out the candle store. It's cool, and they have this giant candle that's the size of a tree trunk. Once you've seen one store hawking turquoise, belt buckles, and Frida merchandise, you've kind of seen them all. Do check out the Mexican arts & crafts--I particularly like the shadowboxes with doors that open to reveal little scenes. They are pretty and macabre and very culturally significant. There is a good restaurant on the street called La Casa Golondrina. There is usually live music, and the patio is festive. Feels like a little Mexico vacation. The rest of the restaurants are NOT good.

    A fun, but crowded, time to visit Olvera is during a fiesta. They do a huge Dia de los Muertos parade, and at Christmas there is a parade each day leading up the 25th that is kind of a play about the birth of Christ. There are other festivals throughout the year; check their website for details. www.olvera-street.com

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Downtown LA - Dont Be There After Night
  • Tip Rating:
  • We stayed in a hotel in downtown thinking this was the place to be. Its not. It shuts up after dark. Nothing to do. Nothing to see. Everything to avoid. Its full of homeless and people that look like they are waiting for a chance to mug you. If you do need to stay here, dont go out at night. If you need to go out at night. Dont walk or catch the trains. They simply dont feel safe. We made the mistake of heading to Long Beach late in the day. It sounded like a great place and easy to get to. It took longer than we thought and we got back after dark. We didnt want to be out and we couldnt get back fast enough. Its simple. Dont do it.


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: I wish life where like the movies...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Is there a bigger tourist trap in Los Angeles than the actual city itself. Due to the fact that many movies/tv shows are set in LA, first-timers usually expect a nice, pretty city with blonde-blue eyed hotties riding around in open topped jeeps on the way to the beach in ever so small bikini tops. But clean the city is not. Believe it or not, I have seen blonde-blue eyed hotties in an open-topped jeep... presumably headed towards the beach... man that was a good day. Most of downtown is filled with just businesses. Kinda boring. Luckily there's a new concert hall courtesy of Mickey Mouse and of course the Lakers play not too far away in the Staples Center... no Shaq.. but Kobe's free... free... woo hoo!!!

    Go to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills.... go south to OC...

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Downtown LA
  • Tip Rating:
  • To me, downtown LA (the main downtown section) is a place to work and if you have tickets for a professional game to go to The Staples Center. There is a little more to offer, but not much. There are some interesting places to eat, like The Pantry, but there isn't much else here expect a few tall buildings and a bunch of bums (you could have some really interesting conversations here). There is a walking tour of some of the famous and historic buildings, too, which could be fun...Bunker Hill, The Fine Arts Building, etc. Maybe you would want to stop by the Jewelry District if you want to buy jewelry, but downtown isn't really the place to be for tons of action and fun. Near downtown is China Town and Olvera Street (see must see section), which are cool.

    Go to the many other options around LA...Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the mountains, the ocean, etc.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Don't stay at an airport hotel or in downtown LA
  • Tip Rating:
  • Courtesy City of LA Dept of Airports - Los Angeles
    Courtesy City of LA Dept of
    Airports
    by mbstone
    Send Photo to a Friend
    I cringe when I see a family of tourists that got suckered into staying near LAX Airport. There is absolutely nothing to see there. Also avoid downtown LA. Stay in Santa Monica, Long Beach, or Beverly Hills. Stay in Anaheim only if Disneyland is the focal point of your trip.

    Rent a car!

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Every Place in La! Sorry to...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Every Place in La! Sorry to be so negative but this is a fact. Los Angeles is one of the most visited places in the world and you will not find a place within the city limits that does not try to force you in.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: This whole city is one big...
  • Tip Rating:
  • This whole city is one big tourist trap. Shouldn't have come here in the place, should you. Now it's TOO late!!

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: Do not go to Downtown Los...
    Do not go to Downtown Los Angeles. It is dead after a 5pm during the week

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: If Lost Beware Of Liars
    This isnt like a trap persa, its more like a sick joke than anything. So, while travelling around LA, we discovered that people here lie to you about directions. We drove hours (without a map) and we had numerous people lie about where certain places were at, it was insane. We would be in one direction and then someone would say it was in another direction. Finally I spoke to one decent person working at a gas station that told me, its almsot like a game to them, telling us wrond directions. He said now they are all being monitered by the state and could be fined for doing this to tourist. Please beware and have a map, we left ours at the hotel. Plus, you cannot use bathrooms anywhere here usless its a restaurant and you are buying something. It didnt matter if you bought somthing or not, they said no bathrooms!

    Beware of each person you speak with, they may or may not be honest with you.

    Have a map handy at all times or speak to a police officer, there were plenty of these around.


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    L.A. / Downtown L.A.: You can't fly like an angel...
    at the historic Angel's Flight rail in downtown, by 4th and Hill streets. This is because since 2001, the short rail trip in the world has been closed, due to an unfortuante fatal accident in that year. I see that some sites do not have this updated information on this landmark, so here I give you the 411. It's too bad L.A. cannot restore this unique attraction. I mean, leaders can build the Staples Center and hundreds of pricey lofts, why not the Angel's Flight. Oh, the wonders of city progress!

    Pay your respects at the site, as I do ! Read about the history of the Angel's Flight here: http://www.westworld.com/~elson/larail/angelsflight.html

    Go on the Metro Red Line for a 40+ min subway rail, with a stop nearby at Pershing Square.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on  L.A. / Downtown L.A.
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    More Los Angeles Tips
    Overview
     
    General Tips
    Tips: 393 - Photos: 274
    Restaurants
    Tips: 838 - Photos: 399
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 332 - Photos: 159
    Things To Do
    Tips: 1,448 - Photos: 1,207
    Nightlife
    Tips: 261 - Photos: 122
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 358 - Photos: 274
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 117 - Photos: 58
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 162 - Photos: 58
    Transportation
    Tips: 300 - Photos: 148
    Local Customs
    Tips: 115 - Photos: 70
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 45 - Photos: 16
    Shopping
    Tips: 163 - Photos: 86
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 73 - Photos: 65
    Flights
    Tips: 46 - Photos: 28

    More Sponsored Links for Los Angeles

    Upscale Los Angeles Hotel
    Work Better. Rest Easier. Call 800-980-6429. Book today!

    California Travel Ideas
    Fun Activities & Attractions in CA! Get A Free Digital Travel Guide Now

    American Express Travel
    Book your Hotel with online travel from American Express

    Search Hotels
    Find the best room rates
    All Los Angeles Hotels

    Check-In Date:


    Check-Out Date:


    Guests



    Hotels by OneTime.com




    Find:        Matching:  Advanced