LA is a huge, sprawling, megalopolis. You could start in one end of LA and drive for more than 2 hours without leaving the city's influence ( smaller cities, such as Santa Monica, Burbank, Gendale, or Long Beach, are all independent governments, not officially LA), these towns & neighborhoods are very near LA and are separate cities. There is very little rhyme or reason to what's part of the city of LA and what isn't. For example, Hollywood isn't a separate city--it's all part of LA--but adjacent to Hollywood is West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, which are two cities basically surrounded by LA.

Los Angeles has five large airports. Los Angeles International ( LAX ) is the major gateway. The others are Long Beach Airport , Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport , Orange County/John Wayne Airport and far flung Ontario airport east of LA. Even though LAX is often cheapest, avoiding LAX will save a lot of hassle because the other airports are small and not as busy (especially Long Beach), but you will typically be farther away from your destination which will entail a lot of driving.

Then again, going anywhere in LA is going to cost you a lot of driving. If you're going to Disneyland or any of the Orange County beaches (Laguna, Huntington, Newport), consider the Orange County/John Wayne airport. For any of the airports, it is probably best to use the numerous buses and shuttles to get to and from the airport, if you live in the area. Locals do this to avoid dealing with the hassles and cost of parking.

The main Amtrak station is at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. next to the Hollywood (US-101) freeway in downtown Los Angeles. The train station also has a Metro Red Line subway station and Metro Gold Line light rail station (on a platform parallel to the Amtrak trains), while local city buses stop at various locations around the terminal, including some in the MTA (Patsaouras) bus plaza at the east portal of the station. The train station is patrolled by private security staff and people lingering too long in the seats may be asked to show a ticket. Taxis are available at the west exit and the station is within short walking distance to the Civic Center and Olvera Street. Chinatown and Little Tokyo are also nearby.

Union Station is spectacular (opened 1939), but there are several stops within the County that may be better located to your destination. L.A. is big, make sure you get the right stop. Unfortunately, while Union Station has the best bus and light rail options it may be far from other landmarks. Burbank Amtrak Station is next to the Burbank airport where options include Metrolink, bus and rental cars at the Air Terminal.

The Greyhound terminal is at 1716 E 7th St, near I-10 along S. Alameda Ave. You may be approached by panhandlers around the terminal. Friendly strangers who offer you advice are likely to also ask you for money. At least two Wikitravellers have encountered friendly or helpful, but needy, Vietnam veterans here. If you need to spend time at the terminal and want to avoid panhandlers it is suggested that you stay inside the terminal. The terminal was being given some needed renovation in 2003.

The terminal is in a dodgy area, and not located conveniently near anything, so walking to other locations is not a good idea. Take a taxi or catch the Metro bus. The Metro bus stop is a short way down the street from the Greyhound terminal exit eastward. You may want to ask for directions before leaving the Greyhound station. While there are private patrols (funded by the local Business Improvement District) during the day (on bicycles), those patrols are not present in the evening.

Fortunately, other terminals are in far safer areas and have better access to public transportation. From the north, the North Hollywood station is located at 11239 Magnolia Bl. and is one quarter mile south of the Metro Red Line North Hollywood station. The Hollywood station is at 1715 N. Cahuenga Bl. and is one quarter mile west of the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Vine station.

Of note for passengers coming from the east is the El Monte station, at 3501 N. Santa Anita Ave. The station is co-located with a MTA and Foothill Transit bus station, and frequent express bus service to Downtown Los Angeles is available upstairs. The El Monte station also houses a substation of the local county sheriff. Also, from the east, the Pasadena Greyhound station, located one quarter mile west of the Lake Avenue Metro Gold Line station, is an option.

From the south, Greyhound passengers should use either the East Los Angeles station, located at 1241 S. Soto St., or the Compton Station, located at 305 N. Tamarind Ave. The East Los Angeles station has multiple lines operating to downtown nearby, while the Compton station is across the street from a Metro Blue Line station.

• LaBrea Bakery Cafe, 624 South La Brea Avenue, (323) 939-6813, [1] .

• Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf -invented the Original Ice Blended coffee drinks that are now ubiquitous throughout the country. [2]

Los Angeles abounds with inexpensive, authentic food that represents the culinary traditions of LA's many immigrant communities. In this regard, LA has any other city in North America, and probably the world, beat (and this from a New Yorker). You have to be willing to do a little legwork, go to neighborhoods you might not otherwise go to and often deal with charmless florescent-lit storefronts in strip malls, but your reward is hype-free, authentic cuisine from around the world served up at bargain prices.

Below are a few favorites, this list can not ever be considered complete -- restaurants open and close with regularity. Spot a restaurant that looks interesting, take a chance, and if it's good, write about it here. This section especially needs tips on Vietnamese, Korean, Iranian, Central/S. American and Japanese restaurants.

• Guelaguetza 3337 1/2 W 8TH St. For the best mole this side of Oaxaca, go to Guelaguetza in Koreatown. The interior of Guelaguetza is actually quite charming, and oftentimes a Mexican band is playing. But the star is the mole. Three types of mole on offer. Try them all, and from then forward when you are stuck eating an everyday lunch, you will dream of Guelaguetza.

• Zankou Chicken [3] You like Chicken? Singlehandedly giving fast food a good name is this LA chain of Armenian restaurants, Zankou Chicken. For instance, for about $8 you can have the chicken tarna platter, which includes a pile of the most succulent, well-roasted chicken you have ever tasted, sliced into bits, pita, salad greens, pickles and peppers, and Zankou's trademark garlic paste. America will not truly taste freedom until every McDonalds in the land is replaced by a Zankou. Maybe half a dozen locations around LA.

• The Thai restaurant behind the 7-11 on Hollywood Boulevard by the 101 By general, learned agreement, the most authentic Thai food in the States can be found at "the Thai restaurant behind the 7-11 on Hollywood Boulevard by the 101." That's how it is known. If you are not from LA, this can also serve as an introduction to LA-style directions. The pad Thai here is light and perfumed and the curries hot enough to kill. And by authentic, exactly that is meant... don't expect any catering to farang tastes here.

• Paru 5140 W Sunset Blvd. For wonderful south Indian dhosas in a charming garden, try Paru. Good veg options.

• Ramayani Westwood 1777 Westwood Blvd. Ramayani Westwood is a good choice for Indonesian, a cuisine that is strangely (Indonesia is the world's 4th largest country by population) and unfortunately rare in the States. Tasting menus available for the novice.

• Senor Fish 422 E 1ST St. Not really authentic -- it's sort of a variation on Baja-style Mexican -- Senor Fish downtown does just one thing well, but they do it better than anyone. Luckily, that one thing is an important thing: grilled fish tacos. Grilled, not fried.

There are some local fast food places that are universally aclaimed:

• Original Tommys at Rampart and Beverly neard downtwon for cheap chili burgers.

• In-and-Out Burger

• FatBurger famous for hamburgers topped with a fried egg.

• Real Food Daily [4] Vegetarians and vegans from the world over swear by Real Food Daily. Watch your favorite health and eco-conscious celebrity seal a deal over a seitan stir fry before darting off in their Mercedes SUV. Branches in Santa Monica and West Hollywood.

• Alegria on Sunset [5] Try Alegria on Sunset in Silverlake for their excellent, thoughtful, modern take on Mexican classics.

• Canter's Deli [6] Awesome Jewish deli on Fairfax, a few blocks north of 3rd. This place has been around for over 70 years and you'll know why if you stop by.

• The Corner Place 2819 James M Wood Blvd (just east from the corner of Vermont) -- Good Korean BBQ at a really great price (around $20 is enough to stuff two people)! The decor isn't as fancy as the more expensive places, but it still has a certain charm about it. The menu's family-style, so one order is enough to feed 2 people. Like most Korean BBQ places, they'll bring the meat out for you to cook at your table and enjoy with your family and friends (but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tip). With your meal comes a variety of traditional Korean side dishes and a plate of julienned scallions to enjoy with your freshly grilled meat. For finicky eaters or those new to Korean food, the bulgoki (marinated beef) is always a good choice. On warmer days, or whenever you want a lighter meal, try having their cold noodle soup (white somen noodles in a cold soup of clear, non-spicy kimchi) with your meal instead of rice.

• BCD Tofu House [7] Various locations in Koreatown, Downtown, and Greater Los Angeles -- Their menu includes various types of soon tofu stews (at around $8) and combination meals that include other traditional Korean entrees (Korean BBQ, bibimbap, etc.) along with a small bowl of soon tofu stew (at around $11-$14). Each order comes with a bowl of rice and the standard array of traditional Korean side dishes served at most Korean restaurants. Service and atmosphere are always great (the decor at the location on Wilshire is particularly nice). For those new to eating soon tofu, especially at this restaurant, there is a certain order of things to follow in eating this meal (such as cracking the raw egg into the stew while it's still boiling, though it's up to you whether or not you want to add egg to your stew). So don't be afraid to wave your server down and ask questions (many Korean restaurants have implemented little wireless bells at each table in case you have a particularly hard time getting ahold of any servers). Several locations (including the 2 in Koreatown) are open 24 hours.

• Matsuhisa 129 N La Cienega Blvd. The original restaurant of one of the most influential sushi chefs in the world.

• Urasawa 218 North Rodeo Drive. When Masa Takayama relocated to New York, his assistant, Hiro Urasawa took over the space. The space still has the most expensive restaurant in California, but it's well worth it for sushi fanatics.

Find Cheap Hotel Deals for Los Angeles

Compare Many Featured Hotel Partners Including: Travelocity, CheapTickets, Orbitz, Priceline, InterContinental, Lodging.com, Hotwire, Active Hotels, Booking.net, Leading Hotels of the World, Holiday Inn and more...

• Comfort Inn & Suites LAX Airport Hotel, 4922 West Century Boulevard, (310) 671-7213. Just half a mile from Los Angeles Airport with a 24-hour shuttle. http://ci-losangelesairport.chidirect.com/
• Best Western Airpark LAX Hotel, 640 West Manchester Boulevard, (310) 677-7378. http://airparklosangeles.bwidirect.com/
• Best Western Airport Plaza Inn LAX Airport Hotel, 1730 Centinela Avenue, (310) 568-0071. http://airportplazainn.bwidirect.com/
• Best Western Suites LAX Airport Hotel, 5005 West Century Boulevard, (310) 677-7733. http://suiteslosanglesairport.bwidirect.com/
• Days Inn LAX Airport Hotel Center, 901 West Manchester Boulevard, (310) 649-0800. Two miles from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and only a block away from the San Diego Freeway.
• Days Inn LAX Airport Hotel South Bay, 15636 Hawthorne Boulevard, (310) 676-7378. http://di-losangelesairport-redondo.cenddirect.com/

Hollywood is a good place to stay for at least three reasons:

1. Street life there remains lively to a later hour than in most other areas, making the district a satisfying location to come home to. In fact, the best time to see Hollywood is in the evening, since the district serves, along with the nearby Sunset Strip, as the regional center for clubs and nightlife.

2. There is a wide range in price and quality of accommodations. The modern Renaissance Hotel and the antique Roosevelt Hotel provide an upscale choice, and there is a full range of standard motel chains including Travelodge, Motel 6, and Best Western. There are also a few well-located Hostels.

3. Hollywood’s location is central to most other popular attractions. The Red Line subway stations at Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland can connect you to the many city areas accessible by rail, and the stretch of Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Vine serves as a focal node of the bus system. Hollywood is also near enough to the Westside to make car trips there relatively easy, and the center of the freeway network (Downtown) is nearby, making long distance car travel relatively simple.

The main east-west streets of central Hollywood are Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd, crossed by the main north-south streets of La Brea Ave, Highland Ave, Cahuenga Blvd, Vine St, and Gower St. Any location within a few blocks of the intersections of these streets is likely to be a satisfying choice. Night-time pedestrian activity in this area is focused on Hollywood Blvd.

• Motel 6, 1738 North Whitley Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028, (323) 464-6006. Located in the heart of Hollywood this is budget model chain. It offers clean rooms in a convenient location. Price: US$70 for a double/twin http://www.motel6.com/

• The Standard, 550 South Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213) 892-8080. This is an upscale hotel with designer rooms and a bar and swimming pool on the roof. Price starts at US$99/night. There is also a Hollywood location. http://www.standardhotel.com/

• Los Angeles is similar to other major metropolitan areas in that travel within certain parts of the city at night should be conducted with caution and only in groups. As with any large city, do not walk alone at night, male or female. Los Angeles sleeps and wakes early, so most areas will not have many people out too long after dark. Most areas are safe in the daytime, but traveling in groups is still a prudent precaution. Los Angeles has the highest homeless population in the nation. Most of these individuals are harmless and if you are asked for money a polite refusal will typically be adequate. Certain areas of Downtown where much of the homeless population spends the night are known as Skid Row. These areas can be violent and should be avoided at night even by groups. Other than that most areas are safe for groups (who pay attention) after dark. Gangs should not be a major concern. They do persist throughout the region (not only in South Los Angeles) but they have no reason to be interested in you.

  In the unlikely event of a major earthquake, duck and cover and stay where you are during the shaking, then go outside once the shaking stops. Buildings and other structures are unlikely to collapse. Your largest threats come from breaking windows and falling objects such as ceiling tiles and bookshelves. Try to get under a table, desk, or doorjam to reduce your exposure to these threats. You are more likely to be injured if you try to run during the shaking.

• LA Inc.- The Convention and Visitors Bureau
• regional online arts &culture events calendar & trip planner