Visit Los Angeles: A Fun, Cheap Guide to the City of Angels

Beach vibes

Venice Beach is the quintessential people watching spot in L.A. The boardwalk is complete with surf shops, local artists in action, outdoor gyms (remnants of “muscle beach”), as well as tons of space to skateboard, rollerblade, and bike. The locals in the area are down-to-earth and very welcoming. If you’re looking for the most laid-back Californian beach experience, this place is it! There are several places along the boardwalk to rent beach cruiser bikes, surfboards, and even Razor scooters. The day rentals will cost you anywhere from 12 to 40 USD depending on your choice.

PLUS! Dog lovers are welcome. Along the Venice Beach boardwalk, dogs can walk up and down the trail, enjoying the sights by your side. But beware; do not take Rover near the water or on the sand. You may be fined up to 200 USD if your pooch is caught on the beach. There are signs posted across the city to warn owners, so keep a lookout to make sure you are following all the regulations and rules.

Vintage stores galore

While in Venice, be sure to check out Abbot Kinney Blvd. for cute dive bars, coffee shops, and some of the best vintage shops in town! My favorite of the latter would have to be Venice Vintage Paradise. As a connoisseur of all things vintage, I’ve not been more impressed with a place than this. If you’re looking to fulfill your eclectic motif, add to your Navajo blanket collection, or find the perfect chair for your reading corner, this is your place.

Catch a Dodgers game!

If you’re lucky, you can catch a Dodgers game in LA! Cheap, last minute tickets can be found online almost any day of the week during baseball season. You will have to pay for parking, so if you are driving yourself, make sure you also purchase a parking pass.

These passes will cost you 10 to 35 USD. And depending on your seats at the game, you can budget yourself to get a 14 USD ticket. Or, if you’re looking to impress that special someone, grab Dugout Platinum Club ticket for 900 USD and high-five your favorite Dodger!

As there are so many California baseball teams, it’s easy to catch a rival game. San Francisco Giants and the LA Angels are both worthwhile matchups.

Late night cheap bites: everything under 10 USD?!

That is virtually unheard of in LA. But it is only when Culver City (a neighborhood in LA) brings world-renowned Korean chef Roy Choi to the scene, locals can get cheap eats late night at a very special price.

Enjoy his famous food truck fare, Kogi BBQ, right at the bar starting at 5:30 pm each night of the week. Even though the price is small, the flavor is big for the buck. You can order Korean Kogi sliders for 6 USD, or my favorite, the spicy pork burrito for just 8 USD. For drinks, they serve up anything from a 32 USD bubbly to a 4 USD PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon, a cheap American beer).

Be a front seat passenger around town!

These parts of LA are not the friendliest places for traveling on foot as the city is very spread out. You may need a car to get around to the special places you want to see. There are several options that will allow flexibility, don’t break the bank, and allow you to view the city from the front seat, sit back, and relax!

Uber and Lyft both operate in the area. These are ridesharing services that allow you to request a driver at the touch of a button on your smartphone. They are great for one-way trips or for a night out on the town.

If you want to continue your part of the sharing community, and also want a car to yourself for the trip, you can sign up for an account with FlightCar (the cheapest 24/hr rental with airport pickup and drop off locations), or Getaround, (an hourly rental of locals’ cars in the neighborhood you are staying).