GROUPON GUIDE TO LOS ANGELES

LA on a Budget: How to Do a Weekend for $300

BY: Sarah Gorr |Oct 22, 2019

Ready to make your way to Hollywood for a weekend escape to the city's bright lights and palm-tree-lined boulevards? Not so fast. LA ranks among the top 10 most expensive cities to visit in the US, which means a little extra planning can go a long way. But finding cheap things to do in Los Angeles isn't impossible, especially with a little help from us. Here's how to see the best of La-La-Land in a weekend for just about $300.

Hotels: about $200

Shop LA hotel deals

We bet you thought when we said a $300 budget, we'd have you spending the whole thing on hotels. Nope! You can actually nab a room for about $120 a night or less. Here are a handful of hotels we recommend checking out:

Dixie Hollywood Hotel: Retro-style murals pair with contemporary guest rooms at this centrally located hotel with a cute outdoor pool (starting at $96/night).

The Cadillac Hotel: This cozy art deco hotel just steps from Venice Beach has hosted the likes of Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin (starting at $124/night).

Lincoln Plaza Hotel: The best value on our list, enjoy free WiFi and parking only about 15 minutes from downtown (starting at $99/night).

Eating Out: about $67

Shop deals for LA restaurants under $30

Los Angeles's diversity is almost unparalleled, and nowhere is that more obvious than its constantly evolving culinary scene. You can take a veritable trip around the world without leaving the zip code. Here's what we recommend to keep costs low:

Lunch on Day 1: $15.50 for $20 worth of tacos, burritos, and more at Lupe's Burritos

Dinner on Day 1: $13 for $20 worth of Ethiopian food at Little Ethiopia Restaurant 

Lunch on Day 2: $12.50 for $20 at the famous diner in American Graffiti, Mel's Diner

Dinner on Day 2: $13.50 for $20 at India's Clay Pit 

Tours: about $20

Shop for deals on tours in LA

LA is big. Like, really big. And not just big, it's sprawling, which means one of the best ways to see it is on a guided tour. Whether by bus, boat, or your own two feet, you'll not only see a lot more, you'll learn more, too. We suggest taking one of these tours:

Hollywood Tours LA: Climb aboard an open-air van that allows for panoramic views as you cruise through Beverly Hills and down the Sunset Strip ($24 for admission).

LA Waterfront Cruises: Shake things up a little bit and scout for whales near Long Beach on this cruise ($15 for admission).

Hollywood Haunted Tours: Go searching for Hollywood's more spectral starlets on this ghost tour that includes a stop at the infamous Roosevelt Hotel ($19 for admission).

LA Hollywood Tours: Focus on celeb spotting with tour that shows of the homes of some of the biggest A-listers ($27 for admission).

Other Sightseeing: about $20

Shop for deals on sightseeing and other activities in LA

Not burnt out on LA just yet? Got something else on your bucket list? We've got a few ideas for how you can spend a free afternoon in the City of Angels before you head back to reality.

Greenbar Craft Distillery: Sip organic, handcrafted spirits and learn how they're made on this educational and delicious tour ($15.50 for a tasting and tour for two).

Museum of Tolerance: This unique and enlightening museum earned a 5-star rating from more than 3,000 of our customers, proving it's well worth a visit ($17.50 for admission for two).

Los Angeles Dodgers: What better way to enjoy the sunny weather than with a day at the ballpark? Catch games all season long (check here for tickets April–September).

Autry Museum of the American West: This hidden-gem museum in beautiful Griffith Park whisks visitors to the Old West through exhibits on everything from the Colt revolver to American Indian art and artifacts ($25 for admission for four).

BY:

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