Los Angeles, California Hotels and City Guide

Los Angeles - Travel Tips

When to Visit Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a beautiful Mediterranean climate that is mild all year long. In summer, the average temperature is 81 degrees. Winters have high temperatures of about 68 to 70 degrees. Spring and fall days are mild and the nights are brisk. Near the beaches, the summer temperatures hover in the 70s and evenings are cool. LA gets about 15 inches of rain a year, and it is mostly in the winter and spring. Though after rainfalls, the skies are dazzling. Peak tourist season is July through October, which are the warmer, drier months – and also the times when prices are higher.

Local Customs & Language (including Tipping)

Language: LA is a very diverse city, and its languages reflect that. While English is the main spoken language, many parts of LA are predominately Hispanic, and Spanish is widely spoken. About half of LA’s population was born outside of the US, and over 200 languages are spoken. Common are: Tagalog, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Korean, Hindi, and Vietnamese. In ethnic communities, such as Chinatown, street signs are written in both English and the language of the community.

Tipping Advice: Tips are not usually automatically included in bills. An exception would be if you had a large party at a restaurant; the gratuity is added to the bill in that case. Waitstaff and taxi drivers receive a 15-20% tip; hairdressers receive 10 to 15%; bellhops and baggage handlers receive $1-2 per bag; valets should receive a tip of $1-2, bartenders $1 per drink, and maids $1-3 per day.

Health and Security

The attractions that tourists visit in LA are considered safe. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West LA, and Downtown during the day are quite safe to stroll and visit. For a large city, LA is considered one of the safest, though certain areas should be avoided by tourists, especially at night. Skid Row and South Central, for example, are considered to be sketchy any time of day. East LA, Pacoima, Panorama City, and Canoga Park are not the best areas to drive through night or day. Avoid Compton as well. Gang activity is present in LA, however, tourists generally don’t wander into gang territory. If this should happen, gangs will usually not target tourists. It is best to stay in the car and move out of the area as quickly as possible. When driving, stay in high visibility areas, keeping up with the flow of traffic. Staying around the area of your hotel and major attractions will provide the best safety. At night, never travel alone on foot.

LA does get major earthquakes, though not a common occurrence. If this happens, stay where you are and find cover. Doorways and under tables are best. Buildings are very unlikely to collapse, so these provide good shelter. Stay away from windows and bookshelves. Running away is more likely to injure you than staying put.

Disabled Travelers: Disabled travelers will find accommodations at restaurants, hotels, and businesses. The airports have handicap accessible shuttles for transporting passengers to and from terminals. Many attractions are accessible to disabled travelers as well. For more information, look at the Los Angeles Handicapped Tourist Accessibility Guide.

Tax Refunds

Los Angeles has a 8.25% sales tax, which is not levied on groceries. The hotel room tax is between 8.05% and 12%. California does not offer tax refunds for visitors.

Local Holidays

New Year's Day (January 1)
Martin Luther King's Birthday (third Monday in January)
Washington's Birthday (third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (first Monday in September)
Discoverers' Day (second Monday in October)
Veterans' Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November)
Christmas (December 25)

Hotels in Los Angeles, California