California has long been the ultimate American frontier. From Hollywood to Malibu, flights to Los Angeles deliver visitors to a world of year-round sunshine, beautiful people and endless activities.
The worst thing that can happen to California tourists however is to arrive in town and realise that they should have planned ahead, saved more spending money, and done more research. In an effort to maximize a Los Angeles holiday, here are a few money saving tips for planning a vacation in the dreamiest destination of all.
Know Before You Go
Most people will set aside at least a little money in preparation for a holiday, but with so many things to do in L.A it pays to have an idea of expenses in advance of a trip so you can start saving early. Research everything from gas prices to seasonal rates to make the most of everything.
Find the Deals
Look into hotels and see if there are advanced booking deals, or even package deals when booking with flights. Foodies should scout out great L.A restaurants, food trucks and markets to get a sense of what meals will be worth splurging on and where they’ll be able to save.
A lavish dinner at Nobu in Malibu can be offset by some cheap and cheerful farmers market breakfasts and lunches but you need to know where and when to find them.
Build an Itinerary
Before planning the ultimate L.A holiday, consider what activities you want to do most. For some people, Disneyland is a must-see, for others, surfing in the Pacific is the priority and for more still, sourcing the addresses of A list celebs might be top priority. Having a rough itinerary in mind, and knowing the costs associated with this will help with making preparations.
Save those Cents
Once you’ve established your must-see list (and the related costs) put a jar in the kitchen and throw loose change, small notes and any extra cash in and save it as the adventure jar. Come travel time – the coins in that jar will be a delightful slush fund for the ultimate California holiday.
Los Angeles is the kind of place that suits every type of tourist and can accommodate every range of budget but the truth is the city of Angeles is best experienced in all its glamorous, over-the-top goodness. Sourcing deals and saving money in advance of a trip can mean that visitors have the chance to live the high life, even if it is just for a few days.
The more in-advance travelers make their bookings, the more likely they are to find great deals and the longer they have to save up. Whether it’s the tenth trip to the city or the inaugural experience, L.A is all about living the dream and savvy travelers can have it all at a reasonable price.
Image by Pedro Szekely, used under the Creative Comms license.
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Personal Capital lets you see all of your accounts in one convenient place. Sign up now for free.Author bio: Susan Bruce is a mum of two who enjoys taking out the campervan for long weekends and going for long walks off the beaten track.
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