Although Los Angeles can be tremendously expensive, you don't have to
spend a fortune to have a good time. For every high-priced, glamour
restaurant, there are two hole-in-the-wall cafes selling great ethnic
food from Mexican to Thai, Indian to Cuban.
In summer, there are free concerts all over town: the Santa Monica
Pier; Pershing Square; and California Plaza in downtown, for example.
Any time of year, many bookstores have live folk and rock music at
night. Pick up one of the free newspapers -- The LA Weekly or New
Times -- which hit the streets on Thursdays. They list all the coming
week's activities.
In fall and winter, tickets to be in the audience of television shows
are complimentary from the studios. You can get them before you leave
home via studio's websites. Also keep an eye open around tourist sites
for people handing out tickets for pre-view screenings of movies.
In LA, the beaches take the place of what would be parks in other
cities. Strolls along the piers and boardwalks can provide hours of
entertainment. For a little money, you can rent roller skates or a bike
and cover the territory on wheels.
There isn't really an "off" season in Los Angeles. It is surprisingly
easy, though, to find inexpensive lodging. Chains such as Days Inns,
Econolodge and Comfort Inns have locations all over Los Angeles. Plus
there are any number of privately owned motels. Generally speaking, the
further inland you go, the cheaper the rates. Some hotels add a day
charge for parking, which can add up. So when you make your
reservation, check to see if parking is free.
