Here we are in California in the United States in the City of Angels! We stayed there for a week, waiting for our flight for May 26, and it was the longest week of this trip. Why? When the budget is small, Los Angeles is not the city where we can save money. In addition, if you are not transported, it will be difficult for you to move to LA.
We took about 19 hours to travel to Australia - Los Angeles with a stopover in Hawaii.
Long Beach
Long Beach was our first destination once in the United States. We even slept by the sea in our Jeep we rented. Attention, it is forbidden to sleep in his car in the US There are specific places to rest, you can find them on websites.
On this beach, from 5 am in the morning, you can meet people who walk their dog, who jog or bike.
As usual, Ezekiel had to find a bascket pitch. Fortunately for me, there was one right by the beach and there was no one there!
Griffin Observatory
The Griffin Observatory is really pretty to see. It can take a bit of a walk because the parking spaces near the observatory are at 8 dollars / hour! If so 8 dollars / hour. I assure you, it is possible to park your car a little further from the observatory for free but it will take a little walk, about 10 minutes, which is very reasonable.
Just in front of the observatory, six statues of world-famous astronomers are erected, which brings a deep respect for each of these men and their respective works. The monument is simply called the Astronomers Monument.
From the outside, you can see the solar system on the ground, the sunset lines and the sunset lines.
A sundial is also set up to know the time at each moment of the day.
During our trip to the observatory, it was closed, but know that the visit is free! So enjoy! Only the Samuel Oschin Planetarium is paying but I'm sure it's worth it.
From the observatory you can admire the magnificent view of LA with its buildings that dominate the city. But not only! You can also watch the legendary Hollywood sign! It was amazing to tell me that I saw it with my own eyes, normally it's only in the movies!
Hiking trails are accessible at the observatory. This allows to stretch your legs but also to discover the American landscape a bit arid.
Hollywood Boulevard
Preparing your best shoes, your camera, Hollywood Boulevard is huge and full of animation. When we arrived, it was the premiere for Aladdin with stands from all over and there was also the Jimmy Kimmel show. As much to tell you that there were people! We were able to walk on the famous star stars !! The proof in video!
To restore us on Hollywood Boulevard and especially in America, what better than to test the famous Mcdonald's. We are in the country of Burger! We have been somewhat because we have not noticed any difference between France and the United States. We had heard a lot of rumors that it was better and that the menu sizes were much larger than in France. What neni! It's the same and the rates too. It's the same for Burger King. Quit to be in the United States, let's taste each companie ...
Backpackersparadise Los Angeles Hostel
For the rest of our stay, we chose to sleep in a hostel. But in Los Angeles, prices are blazing fast. The cheapest we found is the Backpackersparadise Los Angeles Hostel. When I say the cheapest, it means 45 euros per night for two single beds in a 20 bed dorm with 2 shared bathrooms. We have seen better but we are at the city of angels, we must adapt.
At the salty price, add to that the inability of the receptionists (as much to address a wall of prison) as well as their inability to adapt to various situations. Let me explain. On their website, the bed is 17 euros. When we arrived, the receptionist announced us 22 euros per bed. I ask for an explanation that is: you do not have to book on the site. Okay, let's admit.
The next day, we decide to stay for two more nights, then we go on their website. Small flat: it is impossible to pay on their site because it has a problem. I head alros towards the reception by exposing the difficulty encountered. I then ask if they agree to make me the beds at the same price as on the net (17 euros) because the problem comes from them. Well no, if the site does not work, it happens but you will pay 22 euros per bed. Magnifiiiique! Unbelievable. In short, we paid the asking price, but as much to tell you that we did not feel at all comfortable in this establishment. Even if there were free cookies in the afternoon, it's not everything.
Another problem with the hostel. They are a free shuttle that picks you up at the airport. We waited almost 3 hours! Nobody! Finally, if the receptionist on the phone had told me that the shuttle was black with yellow letters with the name of the hostel written on it. The shuttle was very black but with red and nameless letters on it. In addition, we had seen this shuttle passed in front of the airport but on the wrong side of the road and as much to tell you that at the pace she was driving, she had no intention of stopping. We had to take buses to get there.
On their website, there is written:
- free coffee and tea: be careful only during breakfast
- Free continental breakfast: This is either a coffee or tea with a muffin.
- free champagne: no problem
- free transfer to or from LA airport: hum hum ... it should already be on the right track and they reduce speed.
In short, I think you have understood our discontent. Fortunately, we had an invitation for a couchsurfing for the last 2 nights. A miracle!
Couchsurfing at Synnamon
Los Angeles is big, it's very big. To join Synnamon and his family we take a taxi and drive 1 hour. So I repeat, Los Angeles is very big.
Synnamon could not do enough for us. She is a very brave woman who raises her four children who are very dynamic. However, we know who they are holding this because Synnamon has energy to spare. S
he did not hesitate to discover Vasquez Rock after a busy day. Vasquez Rock is the place where the first StarTrek were shot. What is incredible about this place is the geology of the site! Here we go for photos!
A special request
Synnamon asked us what we wanted to visit during our stay in LA. Ezekiel had a request that surprised our host. He wanted to admire an American fire truck, an American police car and a school bus. I explained to Synnamon that we only see these vehicles in the movies and we find them inaccessible, unlike her, who sees them every day. Synnamon always surprised, finding the request very amusing and took the opportunity to bring his youngest son Joven, to see the vehicles.
We went directly to a fire station. Synnamon explained the situation to the firefighters, who, amused, immediately agreed to show us an intervention truck. As much to tell you that on the spot, there was not one but two happy: Ezekiel and Joven.
I think it's better on video.
Thank you again to the firefighters of the Barracks 70 for taking the time to receive us, for showing us around and for explaining the equipment and operation of a response truck.
After the red color, go for the black color of police cars. Synnamon did not know if the police would allow us to visit one of their cars because they are stricter than firefighters, which we can understand. Arrived at the clerkship, Synnamon explains once again the situation and to his surprise, and ours, the police were delighted to be able to accede to our request. We even got a police badge !! in paper of course ...
Thanks to the police officer for giving us time for this visit!
There was only one vehicle left to discover. The famous yellow school bus! Unfortunately, we could not see it this day because we were on weekends. Nevertheless, we could observe quickly on the road during our visit to the Griffith Observatory.
Like in the movies!!!!
Small contingencies
A trip is above all great moments! But sometimes there may be some unforeseen things that can be positive or negative. It's part of the adventure.
We had exactly three unforeseen during our stay in the United States and I wanted to list them to avoid the same inconvenience.
Change of first and last names on airline tickets
When booking our flight tickets from Brisbane (Autralie) - Los Angeles, we mistakenly exchanged names and first names. That is to say that in the Name box, we put the first name and conversely, in the First Name box, we put the last name.
Because of this small mistake, the airline did not want to let us ship. We asked her if she could make the change, because on our passports, the identity and spelling of our were good, it was simply to switch. Well no, the hostess simply refused.
She told us:
- to find a solution to change the first and last name with the site with which we had booked
- or redeem new notes
It was out of the question to buy new tickets especially since the prices were exorbitant! On the booking site, it was stated that the airline was fully entitled to change the name if there was an error on the part of the passenger. As much to tell you, that Ezekiel took things in hand and went back to see another hostess to explain the situation and tell him that she can make a change. Fortunately for us, there was a French security guard, who went with him to support our request.
Accepted query !!
I made you a short version but it took at least a good hour!
So always be sure to fill the booking form! If you have a doubt, especially when it is written in English (name and surname, there is something to mix brushes), refer to your passport where it is also written in English. With that impossible to be wrong (once you know it ...)
The problem of the tickets settled, here we are again blocked at the ticket office of this same airline for a completely different unexpected. Decidedly, the United States does not want us.
Exit tickets
Third unexpected and no lesser
For our last unforeseen in the United States, we decided to set the bar a little higher than the two previous ones. We have been served! This is a car accident. Indeed, it was enough for a moment of inattention to enter the rear bumper of the front car (logic). Long live the traffic jams! Of course, we made arrangements with people from the other car.
Why am I writing this to you? To give you some advice. When you decide to rent a car, especially in the United States, remember to take the insurance that the rental agency recommends you, even if it is not mandatory, as well as car insurance and more!
Why?
- The insurance agency will only take care of the damage on their own rental car but not those who arrived on the other car accident. For our case, we had a Jeep, which had just a small crack at the number plate. As we had taken out the insurance of the agency, we did not have the repairs to pay.
- We thought that our Chapka travel insurance would take care of the repairs of the damaged car (it was just a matter of painting the bumper again). But not at all, because Chapka is a health insurance and not a car insurance. As a result we must financially contribute to the repairs with our travel budget. That's why it's important to take extra car insurance when you leave the French territory. We did not know it at that moment, but now let us know that we will be very careful. Experience forges character!
Thanks to the understanding of the couple and fortunately for us (always finishing on a positive touch), after removing the sum of the repairs, we can always travel until the scheduled date. This is possible thanks to the many couchsurfing, the different workaways and talktalkbnb.
For our part we do not keep a good memory of Los Angeles, especially because of the unexpected. However, we do not put aside the idea of returning one day but this time with a budget that is much more suitable for the United States. In our case, it was just a stopover (which was still expensive) to catch a plane but we had a taste of life in Los Angeles!
Et maintenant...
Cost of the stay in Los Angeles (too expensive!): 7 days
- ESTA (visa): 24,83 euros for the 2 visas
- Airline tickets Australia - Los Angeles: 755.82 euros for 2
- Airline tickets Cancun - Colombia not used: 304,52 euros for 2
- Car rental: 47 euros for 1 day with insurance
- Accommodation: 135 euros for 3 nights then couchsurfing
- transport: 49 euros for 2
- Meals, delicacies: 50 euros for 2 for 3 days then couchsurfing
- Repair accidents: not determined but we removed 500 euros to be wide
A total of 1866,18 euros (ouch ounce)
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