Expert: Steve Summers - 6/26/2002

Question
Dear Steve,

From 22 July to 12 August I'll be in Los Angeles, visiting friends and sightseeing.
I'm trying to figure out what amount of cash, traveller's cheques etc to bring to the US.
I'm staying with friends, so don't have spendings on hotels/motels. I would like to know how expensive LA is. I'll probably be eating out a lot and doing the regular tourist things. I'm travelling solo. Could you please give an estimate of what is a fair amount of money to spend on a typical tourist day in LA?

I hope you can help me.

All the best,

Linda


Answer
Linda,

Your biggest expenses on any trip are going to be lodging, meals, attractions, souvenirs, and miscellaneous. Let's look at these one by one:

Fortunately for you, you will be staying with friends. That means lodging is 0. But, since your friends are saving you big $$, it would be polite to take them out to dinner at least once.

Meals: This depends on what type of food you want to eat. If you just want a hamburger, fries, and a soda, you can get that at any fast food place (McDonald's, etc.) for about $5. In-N-Out Burger is the best place to get a hamburger. If you want any other type of fast food, look to spend around $7-8 for a meal. A nice sit down dinner, you will spend $10-20 dollars for a meal, including tax and tip. When I go traveling, I budget $30 per day per person for meals, and that covers it.

Attractions: Some things in LA are free (Olvera Street, beaches, Hollywood Blvd), some are cheap (museums), and some are expensive (Disneyland, Universal Studios). The expensive attractions cost $40 to $50 just to get in. Once you are in, then double the amounts previously mentioned for food. And don't forget $6-$10 to park your car in the parking lot. And don't forget souvenirs below.

Transportation: Hopefully, your friends are providing transportation. If you are taking public transportation, you can generally get anywhere in LA for $1-$2. It is not very fast, but it is cheap. If you drive a car, gas is about $1.60 per gallon, and you can easily drive 100 miles in a day getting to an attraction. On average, I spend $10-$15 on gas if I am driving to an attraction other than Disneyland (I live very close to Disneyland). If your friends are driving their car, it would be polite to offer to pay for parking.

Souvenirs: It is always amazing to me to see what people consider souvenirs. I have always preferred T-shirts (because it's always warm here in LA). Some people prefer sweatshirts, and others buy something other than clothing. I have been a tour guide before, I have seen people buy watermelons as souvenirs, as well as giant sombreros and shot glasses. But bring a little money for a souvenir you can take back, to remind you of your fun times. T-shirts are $5-$20, depending on quality. Sweatshirts are $20-$40. Mouse ears from Disneyland, $10. Give yourself a budget of about $100 for souvenirs.

So, for three weeks in LA, add up all of the above expenses for your itinerary. Obviously, if you will be the guest of your friends, you will not have to eat out every meal, and they may provide you with transportation. Either way, have a lot of fun and enjoy LA.

Steve