Lakh visits glamorous Los Angeles
Our Company Director Lakh joined Kuoni Travel on an educational trip to Los Angeles in October and he has shared insider tips on where to stay in La, what to do in LA and his top tips for an unforgettable holiday to Los Angeles.
Lakh set off from London Heathrow Airport for an incredible six day adventure to the celebrity and nightlife capital of the USA where the fun really began. Lakh flew from London to Los Angeles with Air New Zealand and he says the flight was a dream, the staff were friendly and the seating was great. Air New Zealand provides a touch screen where passengers can order their snacks and drinks and have them brought to their seat, rather than having a food trolley take up the aisle during the flight.
Lakh recommends the Premium Economy on Air New Zealand and says it is great for couples or people travelling together. The seats are white leather and have a table joining the chairs together where you and your loved one can enjoy a meal facing each other. After a great flight, Lakh and the group landed in La, ready to begin their adventure in Los Angeles as they headed to Beverly Hilton Hotel for check-in and overnight stay.
The next morning it was up early, ready for a big day ahead of hotel inspections and taking in the sights and sounds of Los Angeles. After a delicious buffet breakfast, Lakh and the group explored the Beverly Hilton Hotel, an iconic hotel in LA which has seen the likes of many A-list celebrities and the Golden Globe awards are held there. The Beverly Hilton Hotel has become more famous recently as it is where Whitney Houston lost her life.
The group then headed to the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons where Pretty Woman was filmed. Lakh said the location is ideal, located right near Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons is famous for its restaurant called Cut where many celebrities often dine, including Tom Cruise. Lakh said it is the place to stay during the Oscars where all the celebrities want the prime top suite, located on the top floor with 360 degree views of LA.
After a busy morning exploring the hotels of LA, the group headed to Hotel Palomar Los Angeles where they enjoyed a hosted lunch from Kuoni. Lakh says the hotel is very modern and is where all the cool celebrities come to chill out. Hotel Palomar prides itself on being an eco-friendly hotel where everything is responsible from the towels to the bed linen. Lakh said a quirky part of the hotel is the complimentary animal print robes with hoods as the hotel guests walk around the hotel in their zebra or tiger printed robe.
The London West Hollywood Hotel was next on the groups list as they explored the room types available and the great facilities. Lakh says the location is excellent and the rooms are very spacious. He especially liked the rooftop bar and pool at London West Hollywood Hotel where you will spot all the stylish and sophisticated people in LA. After another busy day of exploring the stunning hotels in LA, Lakh and the rest of the Kuoni group enjoyed a delicious dinner at a steakhouse on Rodeo Drive.
The following day, Lakh and the group enjoyed a leisurely day to enjoy all the sights of Los Angeles as they hopped on the Hop-On-Hop-Off Double Decker City Tour where they got to see all Los Angeles had to offer from Hollywood to Beverly Hills, the beautiful landscape and beaches of Santa Monica to Downtown LA. The group also did the Hollywood Star Homes tour where they saw the house from Iron Man, Simon Cowell’s home, Christina Aguilera’s home, Michael Jackson’s home and many more.
It was an early start for Lakh and the rest of the group on the Saturday as the group enjoyed breakfast and an early check out before getting on a transfer to Universal Studios. The lines and crowds were not a problem for the group as they enjoyed “Front of Line” entrance tickets, which allowed them to skip all the lines for the attractions. Lakh definitely recommends to buy the front of line tickets as the lines can be lengthy and to make the most of your day. The group got soaked on the Jurassic Park Water Ride, loved the Transformers ride and rode the award winning King Kong 4D ride, designed by Peter Jackson. Lakh visited the set of Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives and the War of the World set.
Once Lakh and the group had explored most of Los Angeles, it was time to head to Santa Monica where they found a more laid-back beach environment. They checked in at Loews Santa Monica where they stayed for the last two nights. Lakh says the Loews is a great beachfront hotel in an excellent location, walking distance to the Pier and 10 minutes away from the boulevard. The group enjoyed a night out where they visited the local establishments for a few drinks and Lakh says the highlight was the English pub called Ye Olde King’s Head.
The final day of the Kuoni LA trip, the group checked out of Loews Santa Monica Hotel and headed to Huntley Hotel Santa Monica where they were given a tour around the hotel and a delicious breakfast. The Huntley is often home to many stars including Cindy Crawford who was seen having breakfast there the day before Lakh and the group visited. The Huntley is a boutique hotel with a beautiful rooftop restaurants providing 360 degree views of LA from Malibu to Hollywood and Santa Monica. Lakh spotted Megan Fox in the Nike store in Santa Monica and visited Venice Beach where you will find all walks of life. The beach and surrounding area is filled with roller skaters, skate boarders, parties on the beach, roller discos and all things carnival.
Lakh and the rest of the Kuoni group visited the Viceroy on their final day and Lakh says it was simply luxurious. Macklemore had a big party there and it was so exclusive that the hotel even turned down Robin Thicke! A little bit of gossip for you… the owner of the Hyatt Hotel brand even stays at the Viceroy.
After a fun-filled and busy 6 days in Los Angeles, it was time of Lakh and the others to head to the airport and board their flight back to London. Thank you to Kuoni Travel for hosting a great educational trip to Los Angeles.