Budget Holiday Expert Chelsea Dickenson is a seasoned traveller, constantly seeking ways to make getaways more budget-friendly for everyone. Given Chelsea’s extensive travel experience, surely there’s one destination she’d never revisit? Is there a location so disappointing that you should scratch it off your wish list entirely?
Chelsea recently teamed up with Boots to create convenient travel bundles packed with all the must-haves for festivals, seaside breaks, and adventures, allowing customers to grab everything they need in one go without breaking the bank. There’s one destination Chelsea simply can’t warm to – and I completely understand why.
“The one place that I can’t seem to fall in love with, I’m willing to give it another try, but have you ever been to LA?” she asked, reports the Express.
Chelsea’s question struck a chord with me, as I realised my own reservations about the city were echoed by a travel professional. I’d harboured this romanticised vision of Los Angeles throughout my childhood, which I’m certain many others share.
The travel specialist explained: “You can’t get anywhere without a car. It takes you an hour, two hours, to get anywhere. I understand how hilarious that is, me saying that when I live in London, it’s kind of the same, but the lack of public transport.”
Since Chelsea’s main motivation for travel centres on discovering methods to keep any getaway as budget-friendly as possible, Los Angeles simply doesn’t deliver the goods. She maintained that the city’s flaws might be bearable if it came with a modest price point, but absolutely everything there carries a hefty cost.
Chelsea explained: “It’s very difficult for me as someone who loves good value, who loves public transport, who loves walking places, like, my favourite thing to do in a city is to walk around, go get some drinks, you know sit out.
“It’s not really that experience, unless you’re travelling to a place that’s like that and staying in one neighbourhood. I love me a walkable city, and unfortunately, look LA, maybe it’ll change my mind the next time I go, but it has yet to do that for me.”
‘The City of Angels’, the birthplace of Hollywood, sparkle and showbiz. Yet in truth, it proved to be the polar opposite.
The moment I stepped out of the airport, with the cab snaking through unfamiliar roads, the obvious neglect of the city’s infrastructure hit me straight away. Roads were filthy, strewn with rubbish, and deteriorated beyond belief.
LA’s mask had slipped to expose the gritty reality lurking beneath Hollywood’s glittering veneer. Despite the frequent grumbles about London’s cleanliness, or lack thereof, I can confidently say it doesn’t hold a candle to Los Angeles in terms of grime.
Granted, London has its fair share of ageing buildings in need of upkeep and can get rather untidy, but it still maintains an overall sense of cleanliness. That said, I wouldn’t recommend taking a plunge in the Thames.
A mate of mine, who recently travelled to Los Angeles for work, echoed this sentiment. Despite a six-year gap between our respective visits, the city’s dirtiness hadn’t changed.
This lack of cleanliness only seemed to magnify the stark wealth disparity evident in the city. One moment you’re driving past Mediterranean-style mansions, and the next, you’re confronted with rundown shops, offices, and flats on the outskirts of places like Beverly Hills.
These contrasting worlds exist side by side, with one half splashing out on designer gear on Rodeo Drive, while the other half wanders through deserted streets. Living in London, I appreciate the abundance of public transport options. Sure, there might be delays or disruptions, but there’s always some way to navigate the city.
In contrast, public transport in Los Angeles is practically non-existent, making car ownership a necessity. This results in perpetual traffic jams, turning what should be a 30-minute drive into a two-hour ordeal.
Our journey took us to Griffith Observatory, passing through Culver City and Koreatown. Along the way, we encountered several homeless individuals navigating through stationary traffic at lights, prompting us to lock our car in this unfamiliar territory.
Homelessness is a significant problem plaguing the city. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before, and certainly nothing I’ve seen since.
One of the city’s favourite activities is cycling along the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, a brief 15-minute ride. A dedicated path caters to cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers alike, all soaking up the SoCal sunshine.
A strip of grass separates the bike path from the beachfront road, where homeless people have set up camp along this tourist hotspot. Makeshift tents provide shelter for individuals and families.
It was a truly disheartening sight, as it seemed that everyone around was indifferent to those in need. They’ve become part of the landscape, while locals and tourists watch muscular men flaunting their bodies and surfers trying to catch a wave.
Los Angeles is also home to Skid Row, a 50-block area of the city designated as an unofficial “containment zone” for homeless shelters and services, established back in 1976.
The city is a place rife with excess, overindulgence and serves as a stark reminder of the wealth disparities. The popular tourist hotspots of Hollywood are teeming with people jostling each other in an attempt to spot their favourite celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, colliding in the process. There’s a sea of people everywhere.
That’s not to suggest that the entire city lacks culture, entertainment, or character. But with its flaws glaringly obvious at every turn, it’s challenging to fully appreciate it. If this is the ‘American Dream’? I’m not sold.
Prices are accurate at the time of writing.
The ready-to-go bundles will be available on boots.com, packed with all the essentials for festivals, beach trips, and adventures. The three bundles are priced at £20 each, comprising five to seven products and offering savings of over £10.
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