[usaneisfiecup]

...and its my first real time in the USA. I mean, I was there for 16 hours on the way here, but that doesn't count cos I was asleep and I was only near the airport area

I'm excited to visit there, really looking forward to it although I am only able to spend 3-4 days there (Late Monday evening to late thursday evening next week). If I could have it my way I'd do the whole road trip across america thing, but I guess you have to start somewhere...

I was just wondering if anyone has any advice on what deffinitely not to miss, or what to do - or anything. Even if anyone feels like meeting up that'd be cool too.

Thanks guys!

- Super -

[cinggooft]

Disneyland. >D In-n-Out burger. :O *YUMMERZ*

[CaseyFan]

I've got a million and one suggestions, obviously. I'd be happy to show you around if I were still there.

For a guy like you one thing I'd suggest is renting a bike in Santa Monica or something and riding it down the coast through Venice, Marina del Rey, past LAX and Dockweiler beach, down through Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo beach. I'm sure it's a relatively easy ride (especially considering you ride frequently) and that's a great way to see a lot of the neatest parts of the city.

Then there's the Petersen Automotive Museum, which we talked about. And Hollywood--even though it's not really all that spectacular--is a part of the whole "L.A. Experience." I have plenty of restaurant recommendations, too

[CaseyFan]

Oh yeah, good call on the In N Out Burger. Mmmmm....

[flanna.kersting]

Disneyland is good but i went there this past summer and its too much for little kids now. Sea World was awesome!!! And like Domino said rent a bike and just ride along the beach, its awesome i did it with my brother and it was really nice.
If you go to Hollywood/Beverly Hills you WILL see amazing cars, Lambo's, Ferraris, Astons, etc...
Also i woudl recommend Alcatraz, take the tour, it was an unforgettable experience.
The Grand Canyon!!!!! oh man i got so manmy places..
Like i said i was there last summer and took over 1200 pics so if u wanna see some pics let me know...

Have fun Fresa!!!!

[luffyplayaz]

alcatraz isnt really close to LA. its at least a 4 hour drive if you have good traffic.
im going to LA/San Diego in March over the Easter break. I havent been there since 99 so i barely remember it. My mom and sister went last february though and did a warner bros studio tour. they said it was awesome.
and someone better remind me about In N Out burger. I know i will forget.

[Niobaralegra]

unfortunately i barely have any experience traveling around SoCal, but if you do anything, eat at In-N-Out Burger... simply amazing burgers. Get a cheeseburger, or if you're feeling hungry, a double-double. And if you're feeling adventurous, get animal style fries... mmmmmmm

Anyway have fun dude! Too bad you won't be farther north near SF, but maybe next time!

[Evelinessa]

fresa, im green with envy. Say hello to paris for me =]

[usaneisfiecup]

Thanks kids!

Rob, I promise next time I go to the states I'll go visit ya lol

Thanks for all the advice guys! Wow, lots of replies

Does anyone actually live there?

[WhiliaStelt]

Quote:

[usaneisfiecup]

Hey all, just arrived in Australia, finally!

LA was awesome, quite cold (Quoting my friend DoMiNo: "Its never winter in LA" - you and I need to talk buddy! lol jks) but it was cool.

Went to the Petersen Automotive museum (And left my camera, duh!). It was fantastic!
Went to Santa Monica and walked down past Marina del Rey and a few more beaches. It was cooooold!
Went to Hollywood.... meh, was ok
Went to In-n-out burger. Yes, better than McDonalds, but quite average really. Had a double-double as suggested. You guys really need to try some of the burgers in Colombia
Drank at least 10 gallons of "coffee" from several different places including starbucks, and it stinks. Sorry. And since when do you ask for a capuccino and get a gallon of black gooey stuff and "Creamers"? Lack of respect I say
Your cars are awesome!
Cars go insanely fast in LA highways. No, really. Its waaaay quick!
Apparently we saw 3 actors. I didn't recognize any. They should walk arround with a big sign saying "I'm an actor" So I can remember to say hello to them.
Sorry Quattro, didn't see Paris.
United Airlines is the WORST airline I've ever flown with and I would highly discourage anyone from flying on United.
Amongst other mistakes, United made us stay a day longer in LA, which meant I completely missed Australia day and part of my 21st birthday. Grrr!
Food in the USA is CHEAP AS. You can get good food for like, nothing.
Whats the deal with your coins? And why the hell do you have dollars, cents, dimes, nickels, quarters? Its confusing! lol.
And why do you have 1 cent coins? Can you please take one to the shops and see how many mints you bring back with that?
I changed my mind about Pontiac G8s in the USA. It wont work.
Nor will Falcons.
The new Lincoln Navigators look great in person.
Other than that, your full sized SUVs look like rebadges of each other.
I had a great time.
I deffinitely want to go back to the USA.
Next time, I'll go heaps of places, not just LA.
Next time, I'll go in June

Thanks all! Especially Domino for his ongoing advice since like ages ago!

[Extinimot]

I'm curious...the G8 won't work why?

[masaredera]

I so envy you Fresa, I would love to go to LA.

I would make it my mission to find Paris Hilton and try to persuade her to marry me.

So.. are you gonna be a CSS post whorer again now that you're back in oz?

[usaneisfiecup]

Quote:

[zawhmqswly]

We have pennies here b/c we can

Hey look at it this way, the AUD are now worth more due to the weak USD - more than 90 cents on the US dollar last I checked.

We need every penny b/c we are in a "recession"

A lot of bad weather across the west coast, so that probably contributed to the airline issue...

[usaneisfiecup]

Oh the airline issue was pathetic service (or lack of) not any weather cancellation.

Well, the thing is, they decided to take cargo on the plane, which is fair enough as most passenger planes take cargo too, but they overbooked by 45 seats anyway - Which, whilst I dont understand why they'd be so disorganized to do that, is still ok. All companies can make mistakes.

The problem is, we were told that it had nothing to do with them, and that we could go away and come back tomorrow to see if we could fly back then. As in - not, come back tomorrow, and here's your boarding pass for tomorrow, sorry for the mistake. It was a come back tomorrow and maybe they'll be seats tomorrow.

Which quite angered a group of about 25 Australians.

So we were sent to a service desk at the other end of LA international airport. After a few hours of lining up (7pm to 3am before we went back to a hotel) they told us that what they were going to do was accomodate us in a hotel and that we could come back tomorrow to see if there were any seats. We all refused as we needed certainty that at least we could board the following day. So we got sent to another queue at the other end of the airport, where we queued for a while before someone from the airline came out and yelled at us for still being there, and thats when it all got intense. So after a while they offered us $400 in credit to use with that airline (an American airline) anytime in low season for the next 6 months. Obviously of great use to someone living in Australia - plus why would you chose to fly with them again?

Anyway, it was just lack of communication, and them constantly trying to not admit any sort of mistake and trying to get us to go away and not even give us a hotel or anything. Everything had to be fought for.

In fact, they admitted that we got kicked out because we were the ones with the least Frequent flyer points with them. And they admitted that it would be exactly the same the following days.

So it was like Mistake + Not owning up to it + trying to get the most out of us + Lack or organization and comunication + Lack of service that really frustrated us about the airline.

The flight attendants kept telling us off too and they sort of chucked food on your table and had the "whaddyawant" attitude.

So yeah, I'd deffinitely advice people not to fly with United Airlines.

[Extinimot]

Smart people will love the G8 as the last dying gasp of fun before the enviromoralists strangle us into automotive appliances. God love the Aussies.

[Niobaralegra]

Hey dude, it sounds like you had a hella (or as they say in Socal, hecka) good time out in LA! i can't believe it, I'm only a 1 hour flight away from the place yet I've never visited. Next time you're coming up to SF haha.

OH and ditto about the food part. Although compared to other parts of the world, there is quite a lot of crappy food here if you're not careful.

shame about United Airlines dude. They're big here in SF so they're pretty much the only airline we fly. U.S airlines tend to be quite pathetic compared to foreign carriers, oh well.

[CaseyFan]

Quote:

[cinggooft]

PSH. "Hella" is a hella awesome word. >D

United is sub-par, IMO. Delta all the way (only because I can get mileage for China Airlines on Delta.... hahaha).