In April 2025 I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime – exploring the West Coast of the USA. It’s a trip I’ve wanted to go on for a long time; after a cancelled trip in 2020, I was desperate to get it rebooked! Booked through Gap360 and run by Contiki, this trip was the perfect way to explore all the best spots over on that side of the States. Southern California was at the top of our itinerary – stop number one was the iconic Los Angeles, and number two was the beautiful San Diego.
Day 1: Settling in
An 11 hour flight kicked off my trip to the West Coast. A top tip for those flying into LAX would be to try and sit on the right-hand side of the plane – as most flights approach the airport from the east, you’ll get a fantastic view of the city (and a sneak peek of the Hollywood Sign) if you sit on the right! Once you’ve landed, remember that US immigration can often take a very long time – just one to keep in mind if you’ve booked an Uber/rental car. Although, my biggest recommendation would be to utilise other methods of public transport if you can. My hotel was in Downtown LA, and an Uber from the airport would’ve cost around $60, whereas the LAX FlyAway bus service – which runs from LAX to Union Station – cost just $9.75. I also used the LA Metro to complete my journey, which is potentially a controversial choice! The LA Metro is notorious for not being the safest, however as long as you are vigilant and constantly aware of your surroundings, stick to the busy/touristy areas and avoid travelling at night (especially if you’re travelling solo), the Metro is an incredibly convenient way of travelling around the city without spending half your travel budget on Ubers.
As the group trip didn’t officially start until day 3 of my travels, I booked a private room in a hostel for the first few days. I’d definitely recommend arriving a few days early for any group trip, as it gives you time to get settled in to your new country and get some rest ahead of what will inevitably be a very busy few weeks! Freehand Los Angeles is located in the middle of Downtown LA, just a few blocks from LA Live and the Grammy Museum. I had a really comfortable double room, which was very much needed as I adjusted to the 8-hour time difference. The hotel also had a rooftop bar and pool – it was unfortunately still a bit too chilly when I arrived to use it, however it was really nice to sit up there in the evening, watching the sun go down over the city.
Day 2: Exploring the city
For my first full day in LA, I had a busy schedule planned (clearly ignoring my own advice about getting some rest ahead of a group trip!). As our itinerary only included one day in the city, I wanted to squeeze in as many other sights as I could in my free day. My first stop was the Paramount Studios tour. Being the home of filmmaking, Los Angeles has no shortage of studio tours to explore. Having already ticked off Warner Bros and Universal on previous visits, Paramount was next on my list. I’d recommend pre-booking the tour ahead of arriving in the city, just so you know your spot is secured and it may fill up fast. I booked an early morning tour to kick off my day, and it was a great way to get lost in the movie magic of Hollywood. The tour involves a trip around the studio and backlot, where we were able to see some of the original production offices from the industry’s Golden Age, as well as several sound stages and a very impressive collection of fully built city streets. Films such as Cloverfield were filmed on these streets, which were designed to look like different parts of New York. We also got to visit a full dressed working sound stage, where the set for legal drama series Matlock had been built, ready for its second season. As a former film student, it was so exciting to see what happens behind the scenes – I’d say that if you’re looking for a tour that really goes into the detail of making a movie, rather than just touristy photo ops, Paramount is for you. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable, giving us behind the scenes stories and fun facts throughout the tour. There were of course some photo ops available though – we got the opportunity to hold an actual Oscar!
Continuing the Hollywood theme, my next stop was the famous Hollywood Boulevard. Although a proper trip to the Walk of Fame was on the itinerary for day 3, there were a couple of specific bits I wanted to tick off my list. First was a quick stop to see the star belonging to Clara Bow, on the corner of Sunset and Vine (Swifties, that one’s for you). After a quick lunch stop at Mel’s Drive-In, which I visited 10 years ago and had not stopped thinking about their delicious chilli cheese fries, I headed next door to the Hollywood Museum. This is a great little museum, full of countless random costumes and props from various films and TV shows. From Bridgerton‘s most iconic jewellery to a collection of costumes from The Hunger Games, there really is something for every film taste. There’s even a replica set from Silence of the Lambs! It’s also home to the original makeup rooms used by Max Factor, with each room specifically lit and decorated to complement different hair colours. Visited by stars including Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis, the rooms immortalise an iconic era of Hollywood.
After strolling the Boulevard, I headed up towards Griffith Observatory. Initially I was wondering the best way to get up there without a car, but there’s actually a bus that takes you all the way up to the top – you also save money on parking! Griffith Observatory is my favourite place in LA. You get such a good view of the whole city, as well as the famous Hollywood Sign. I was lucky to be up there on such a beautiful day, and the views were incredible. The Observatory itself was amazing, and includes all sorts of exhibits about space exploration and the Solar System. Entry is free, so you can just stroll around and explore whilst taking in the beautiful views outside. If I’d had a bit more time (and better shoes) I definitely would’ve liked to do a hike up into the Hollywood Hills, where you can get a closer look at the Hollywood Sign. Maybe one for next time!
My last stop of the day was the Grammy Museum in Downtown LA. I made it just before closing time so I didn’t have a huge amount of time in there, but there was one thing in particular that I wanted to see. Here’s another one for the Swifties – amongst the museum’s collection of outfits worn at the Grammy Awards was Taylor Swift’s dress from 2024, the night she announced The Tortured Poets Department. The last time I visited the Grammy Museum was in 2015, where they had an exhibition dedicated to Taylor’s career, so seeing this dress felt like coming full circle! After the museum, I headed back to my hotel for a quick rest, then headed back out for dinner with a couple of the girls from the trip. We went for a walk around Downtown LA that evening, where we got to see the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall.
I’m so glad I managed to tick so many things off my LA bucket list on my free day, and I couldn’t wait to officially get the trip started!
Day 3: Trip start!
Day 1 of LA to the Bay finally arrived, and it was time for another day of exploring Los Angeles. After meeting the rest of my tour group, we checked into our hotel for the night. We stayed at the Kawada Hotel, which was perfectly located in northern Downtown LA. We then headed out for our first stop of the day – Hollywood Boulevard. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds at one of LA’s busiest landmarks, I’d definitely recommend getting there first thing. We got there just before 9am – before the Chinese Theatre had even opened – and there was no one there! This meant we could get a proper look at all of the stars and footprints on the ground, which I wasn’t really able to do the day before. Also, if you want a great view of the Hollywood Sign, head to the top of the stairs at the Hollywood & Highland Center and look straight through the buildings in the open air shopping mall.
Our next stop was Beverly Hills – we just stopped for a quick photo op in front of the famous neighbourhood sign. On our way down to Beverly Hills we also drove through the famous Sunset Boulevard, where our amazing tour guide Reagan pointed out all of the famous spots. The great thing about being part of an organised tour is that you don’t need to think about getting around – we just hopped on a coach! This also allows you to take in the scenery around you, which I was really excited to do on this trip.
After Beverly Hills, we headed down to the coast. Santa Monica and Venice Beach were on the afternoon’s agenda, and after spending a view days in the city I was ready to be by the ocean! Santa Monica Pier is another one of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks, and it’s just a great place to visit. Walking along the pier and taking in the atmosphere was very much needed after a busy few days, and there’s plenty of places to grab some food or do a bit of souvenir shopping along the way. In a city (and a country) that’s pretty expensive to visit, it’s really worth making the most of those free attractions like Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. After stopping for a quick bit of lunch, we headed for our second beachfront stop. It’s definitely possible to walk from Santa Monica to Venice Beach (apparently takes about an hour) if you really want to soak in the ocean vibes, but as we were on a schedule we hopped back on the coach and headed down to Venice Beach. The vibe here is completely different to Santa Monica – whilst the Pier had a more laid-back atmosphere, Venice is full of life. Street performers, skateboarders and roller skaters give the famous beach a really lively vibe, and is great to experience on a beautiful spring day like we had.
After we left the coast behind, we had the rest of the afternoon free to explore more of Downtown LA. We headed down to Grand Central Market, which is kind of like Borough Market in London. There’s plenty of food stalls showcasing the city’s melting pot of cultures and communities, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We ended the day with a group meal and and spent the rest of the evening at a nearby Irish bar, which closed the chapter on the first stop of our trip. Next stop: San Diego!
Day 4: Los Angeles to San Diego
The next day, it was time to leave Los Angeles behind and head to our next city. San Diego is about 120 miles down the coast from Los Angeles, and the drive took us about 2 hours. We headed straight down to Mission Beach for the day, which is one of San Diego’s most famous beaches. Although we had the day to spend however we wanted, we decided to stay and have a beach day. Mission Beach is so beautiful, and it was great to have a chill beach day after a few crazy days in the city. We were also so lucky with the weather – it was such a gorgeous day! One thing I would say is you really need to take the UV levels seriously here. It got up to 9 whilst we were there, and I did get burnt despite using plenty of sun cream! So make sure you get plenty of shade, stay hydrated and don’t spend too much time out in the sun. Despite this, we had a great day down at the beach, and also headed out into the neighbourhood for a lunch spot recommended to us by Reagan. Sara’s Mexican Food is a short walk from the beach, and is home to the famous California burrito. Being so close to the border, San Diego is famous for its Mexican food.
After leaving the beach, we headed to our next hotel. Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld was our stop for the night, and was probably one of my favourite hotels that we stayed in. We had the afternoon free before he headed out for the evening, which we spent at the famous Gaslamp Quarter. With plenty of bars and restaurants, this famous neighbourhood is the vibrant heart of San Diego. We had dinner at El Chingon – our second Mexican meal of the day – then spent the rest of the evening at Whiskey Girl. Karaoke in San Diego was not on my bingo card for 2025!
The first 4 days of this trip was a whistle-stop tour of Southern California, and made me feel so excited about what else was to come. The next few days would bring a new state (hello Arizona) and even more adventures, so look out for my next post to find out what we did next!
For more information on where to find all the places I visited and the hotels I stayed in, check out my Los Angeles map and San Diego map.
Jetsetterss 