Once you consider iconic American cities, Los Angeles inevitably involves thoughts.

The Metropolis of Angels is without doubt one of the hottest locations in the US — and for good cause. Whether or not you’re trying to see film stars at fashionable eating places or stare upon stars within the sky from the Griffith Observatory, there’s one thing for everyone.

Nevertheless, not everybody manages to do LA proper. HuffPost requested locals to share the commonest missteps they’ve noticed from La-La Land guests.

From misjudging proximity to spending all of your time in Hollywood, listed below are 11 errors vacationers typically make in Los Angeles ― and a few recommendation for avoiding these errors throughout your California travels.

“LA site visitors sucks! Plan your day to work with the site visitors, not in opposition to it. Keep away from driving at rush hour within the mornings and afternoons. Schedule your day so that you’re someplace you need to be for some time throughout these occasions. It’s going to make the distinction between being caught within the automotive for hours and being someplace unimaginable exploring.” ― Stuart Brazell, a TV host, producer and blogger at Stuart Says.

“A standard mistake vacationers make when coming to LA shouldn’t be accounting for site visitors. Checking site visitors hours prior can actually calculate time being spent at every location.” ― Jesi Le Rae, an actor and mannequin.

“Certain, on the map it’ll appear like a spot is just 10 miles away. However in LA site visitors, it may well take an hour to get there. Staying in LA whenever you plan to go to Disneyland in Anaheim a number of days in a row will stress you out.” ― Caroline Pardilla, a cocktail and journey blogger.

“The number-one mistake that I see vacationers make in LA is assuming it stays heat all day and all evening. As a style influencer, I’m extremely conscious of individuals’s outfit decisions, and I very commonly see vacationers out in town at evening carrying shorts and T-shirts wishing that they had packed some pants or lengthy sleeves. In case you’re staying wherever close to the water, it may well get very windy and chilly at evening, so packing a sweater and a few denims might be a good suggestion. A Midwest 65 levels and a West Coast night 65 levels really feel very completely different.” ― Parker York Smith, a blogger at The Looksmith.

“A mistake I see is staying in Hollywood for purchasing, meals and ambiance. Attempt an space known as the Norma Triangle the place you possibly can hit Melrose [Avenue] for purchasing and eating places, Santa Monica Boulevard for a string of bars, the West Hollywood public park to take a seat and recharge, and Sundown Boulevard for a vibe. The Grove can be place for a film, outside farmers market and stay music. ― Erika De La Cruz, the editor-in-chief at The LA Lady.

“Don’t keep at a lodge in Hollywood. It’s not as cute as you’d hope.” ― Danielle Alcaraz, a mannequin and well being coach.

“Solely visiting Hollywood, Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. Why take footage and go to the identical outdated spots everybody else does when LA is a lot larger and extra various than that? Go to Koreatown, Historic Filipinotown, Boyle Heights, Thai City, Little Ethiopia.” ― Pardilla.

“When renting a automotive, the parking might be very complicated. Many vacationers have been susceptible to parking tickets. In case you’re not sure whether or not or not you’re capable of park at a meter (as a result of it states three completely different sorts of restrictions), it’s finest to attempt to discover quite a bit as a substitute.” ― Le Rae.

“Know that parking is best paid for, as road indicators might be difficult and are completely different in most places (allow, quick time period, and so forth.).” ― Jazmyn Anderson Creer, a life-style blogger.

“LA’s Chinatown is small however mighty, simply not for Chinese language meals. As an alternative, journey a bit additional east to the San Gabriel Valley, the place wonderful regional Chinese language delicacies might be present in cities like Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Temple Metropolis and Arcadia. Chinatown is certainly nonetheless price a go to foodwise, simply not essentially for Chinese language … [with] one of many few exceptions being Pearl River Deli for implausible Cantonese dishes. As an alternative, head to Chinatown for one of many creators of the French dipped sandwich, Philippe the Authentic — over a century outdated — or Howlin’ Ray’s for the perfect Nashville sizzling hen on the town, or Offended Egret Dinette for progressive Mexican American consolation meals!” ― Peter Cheng, a blogger at The Offalo.

“Don’t plan to leap everywhere in the metropolis in sooner or later. As an alternative, plan to go to one facet of city and see a number of issues inside that space as a result of it’s true [that] site visitors is unhealthy. Additionally, having a automotive is a should, so plan accordingly so you may get round simpler. The metro isn’t that handy but, as they’re nonetheless constructing the brand new traces!” ― Alcaraz.

“Once I consider vacationers and the errors they make when coming to LA, my preliminary thought is misunderstanding proximity of the place they’re staying to different issues they need to do. LA could be very unfold out, so having an thought of the place they’re staying in proximity to what they really plan to do will assist cut back the time it takes to get to mentioned locations.” ― Anderson Creer.

“Strategically plan your day and break issues up into particular areas — for instance, West Hollywood/Beverly Hills, Westside/seashores and Hollywood/Eastside. There may be a lot to see and do in these communities and phenomenal locations to eat.” ― Brazell.

“There’s the traditional ‘head to Hollywood Boulevard to see celebrities’ mistake that I see repeated. Hollywood Boulevard is normally solely vacationers on a day-to-day foundation. The exceptions are [late-night host] Jimmy Kimmel’s friends making their strategy to and from the theater throughout a again alley behind the El Capitan Leisure Centre, the occasional movie premiere and … the awarding of a [Hollywood Walk of Fame] star on the boulevard. In case you’re actually trying to people-watch, you’re going to need to keep at an area lodge or head to an area restaurant, normally across the West Hollywood space. A very good signal that … star-studded friends [will be] arriving is that the institution gained’t permit images. Just a few to attempt: Olivetta, Craig’s or BOA Steakhouse.” ― De La Cruz.

“Celebrities aren’t simple to identify. You gained’t see celebrities strolling round Hollywood and Beverly Hills or from the highest of a tour bus. However principally they’re arduous to identify as a result of when they’re out and about at some retailer or restaurant, they’re normally dressed down and appear like common folks.” ― Pardilla.

“Keep genuine! Avoid chain eating places and take a look at the flavors of LA. Los Angeles is such a melting pot of various cultures, which makes it the right metropolis to attempt new eating places. Look into family-owned eating places for extra decadent treats. You by no means know the place you’ll discover a diamond within the tough.” ― Itzel Lovato, a blogger and mannequin.

“Don’t go to a sequence restaurant for a burger. Los Angeles has so many choices price writing residence about, like the long-lasting Apple Pan.” ― Pardilla.

“Don’t miss out on an epic film expertise at Hollywood Ceaselessly Cemetery or a movie with a stay orchestra on the Hollywood Bowl.” ― Le Rae.

“Don’t spend all of your time in areas which might be too central to vacationers. Some concepts of locations to go are the evening market in Thai City, Korean BBQ adopted by karaoke in Koreatown, or having a ‘sound tub’ in Malibu!” ― Lindsey Baruch, a photographer and blogger at Lindsey Eats.

“As an alternative of reserving a Hollywood tour or attempting to identify a celeb, do a workshop! LA is filled with wonderful, artistic folks that have a lot to share. Discover one thing you may take pleasure in to discover and uncover one thing new about your self whereas in a brand new metropolis. Discover a wellness heart or meditation studio that gives workshops, take a pottery class or go to an area farmers market. Issues like this can immerse you into the tradition and actually offer you a way of the group.” ― Alcaraz.

“One mistake goes to the seashore to simply sit there. Stroll alongside the shoreline from Venice to the Santa Monica Pier. You possibly can even bike or Rollerblade from Santa Monica to Redondo Seaside.” ― Pardilla.

“When a restaurant identify says it’s in Hollywood or Beverly Hills and even West LA, it is probably not the place you assume it’s. Verify the map. A buddy booked a dinner at a restaurant that mentioned it was in West LA when it actually was all the best way by LAX [the Los Angeles International Airport].” ― Pardilla.

Quotes have been edited and condensed.