Less Angeles: Explore LA On A $50 A Day Budget

Think LA is only for the big spenders? Think again. Discover how to experience the best of the City of Angels without blowing your budget, from hidden gems to wallet-friendly eats.

With the Australian dollar at record lows against the USD, it can be challenging to afford a fun holiday in Los Angeles. But it’s still possible to enjoy yourself for less than US$50 ($73.50) per day (not including accommodation, of course, because this isn’t 1970 anymore). The solution is to seek out the city’s cheap eats, happy hours and free things to do.

Please note: all prices have been converted into AUD and were accurate as of 30 August 2024.

Hotel Ziggy

The first step is to find affordable accommodation that comes with some freebies. Something that screams “I’m in LA!" but without its premium price tag. I hit the jackpot with Hotel Ziggy on the famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. This location is unbeatable for lovers of nightlife, live music and American celebrity history, and it has a saltwater pool, gym and spacious rooms with rock-themed décor.

Rates start at $276 a night, with a 25 per cent discount for three or more nights, bringing it down to $207 per night – half the cost of anything else in the area. Booking direct gives you priority for room upgrades, plus free wi-fi and two free cocktails every afternoon (3pm-4pm).

For an extra $16, the bed and breakfast package includes a $73.50 daily credit for breakfast, or choose the Getting Ziggy With It deal for a welcome drink and a free pizza at the adjoining B-Side Pizza. The ground floor has a free coffee station in the morning and a bar hosting free gigs by local bands every night.

Interior of Hotel Ziggy bar in Los Angeles — Enjoy two free cocktails every afternoon.

Getting around

A common misconception about LA is that you need a car. The truth is the local transport system is efficient and easy to use. I got around the city by bus rather than riding the subway underground, because it’s more interesting to look out the window at the passing sights. A one-way trip costs $2.50 and includes two hours of free transfers. Payment is accepted in cash, or you can get the TAP app and load it up (using a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or GPay) to swipe as you go. In three days, I spent less than $22.

As a solo female, I felt perfectly safe on the buses. I sat at the front near the driver in case of any dodgy passengers, but most were other tourists and commuters on the way to and from work.

At night, I walked between places in West Hollywood, where the streets are buzzing with people having a good time. There are no dodgy alleyways or spooky parks to cross in the dark. If I had further to travel, I splurged on an Uber (which is cheaper than the fares in Australia), never spending more than $19.

Aerial shot of the Sunset Tower Hotel pool on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood — The Sunset Tower Hotel is in the heart of West Hollywood.

Rodeo Drive

There’s no need to travel like a pauper when you can fake it in style. Beverly Hills’ legendary Rodeo Drive is three immaculate blocks lined with palm trees, designer boutiques and five-star hotels.

Featured in films from Pretty Woman and Clueless to Beverly Hills Cop, it’s a delightful area to walk around, spotting the familiar movie locations and flagship stores of luxury brands.

the Rodeo sign on the street corner — Strike a pose by the famous Via Rodeo sign on the street corner.

Shopping is out of the question on a tight budget but browsing and taking photos are free. Strike a pose by the Tiffany & Co fountain on the cobblestoned passageway, Two Rodeo Drive, or the famous Via Rodeo sign on the street corner. Fashionistas can snap selfies outside the opulent shopfronts of Gucci, Dior, Cartier, Prada and Louis Vuitton.

the buildings along Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles — Walk along the iconic Rodeo Drive.

Another photo opportunity is in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the Golden Globes ceremony is held every year. Past guests include Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

tall palm trees in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles — Capture your LA moment in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire is one of the most lavish landmarks, housed in a grand Italian Renaissance building with art deco gas lamps and awnings that are changed to different colours every season. Take a break at the outdoor patio (open to the public) and treat yourself to a $13 coffee while pretending to be rich or famous.

Exterior of Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire Hotel — The lavish Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire Hotel is just steps from Rodeo Drive. (Image Four Seasons)

The Walk of Style is a footpath embedded with bronze plaques dedicated to designers, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford and Donatella Versace are among those honoured, alongside sculptures such as Torso, a four-metre-tall aluminium nude woman by artist Robert Graham and the Insta-worthy ‘Life is Beautiful’ sign.

Free museums

Almost every museum offers free admission at least one day a week. Most require an online booking to reserve a two-hour slot.

visitors exploring inside The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is dedicated to all things cinematic.

The Broad is an eye-catching structure full of modern art such as Jeff Koons’ blue Balloon Dog, Yayoi Kusama’s immersive Infinity Mirror Room and Andy Warhol’s Two Marilyns and Campbell’s Soup Cans.

Pop by The Broad on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. (Image: Lalo Zepeda)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has a huge collection of 152,000 objects from around the globe. Most notable is Chris Burden’s Urban Light installation comprising 202 cast-iron streetlamps gathered from around LA and restored to working order.

cast-iron streetlamps at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) — Catch Chris Burden’s Urban Light installation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) has thousands of post-war artworks from 1940 to recent pieces from Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, while the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (ICA LA) is a newer venue showcasing more experimental pieces. Hammer Museum offers free lectures, concerts and screenings as well as permanent exhibitions of modern art, photography and design.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Los Angeles — Swing by the Museum of Contemporary Art to see thousands of post-war artworks. (Image: GDMatt66 via Getty Images)

Further out of town, in Brentwood, Getty Center is an enormous complex of pavilions adorned with Impressionist and medieval art, manicured gardens, outdoor sculptures, and panoramic city views.

the Central Garden in Getty Center, Los Angeles — Enjoy a relaxing stroll at the Getty Center. (Image: JHVEPhoto via Getty Images)

Cheap eats

Veer away from tourist traps to find low-priced restaurants and bars. For example, a five-minute walk from Rodeo Drive, Guisados is a sit-down cafe located in a parking lot between Linden Drive and McCarthy Drive, where the locals go for $7 tacos. Or grab one on the run for $2.90 from Leo’s Taco Trucks (in 11 locations).

tacos with lime, onion and roasted chili pepper — Grab tacos on the run. (Image: grandriver via Getty Images)

In Downtown LA, Grand Central Market is a bustling hive of eateries serving a wide array of cuisines, burgers, sandwiches and sushi. Try something new such as a $5.90 pupusa, a Salvadoran flatbread packed with pork, beans and cheese, from Sarita’s Pupuseria.

neon signs at the bustling Grand Central Market — Eat your way around the bustling Grand Central Market. (Image: Jason Leung)

Nearby is Marugame Udon serving $8.75 Japanese noodle bowls. Chinatown is always reliable for a $8.80 bánh mì (Vietnamese roll) or try Thai Town for cost-price curries. At Koreatown’s Supamu, everything on the menu is under $22, while Slurpin’ Ramen starts at $11.75.

a close-up shot of udon noodles — Relish in a comforting bowl of udon noodles. (Image: Youjeen Cho / Unsplash)

For iconic Californian fast food, In-N-Out Burger does a $11 combo for a cheeseburger, fries and drink. A Hollywood institution since 1939, the family-owned Pink’s Hot Dogs is known for its $6.60 chili dog. For a sweet treat, the hottest bakery in LA is Bottega Louie (various locations), which specialises in macarons and beignets priced from $4.40.

the In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles, California — Don’t miss out on the iconic Californian fast food, In-N-Out Burger. (Image: Robert Penaloza)

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Happy hours

Dive bars and sports bars are best for a friendly atmosphere and budget-friendly drinks. Happy hour, which often lasts for two or more hours, usually starts at 4pm. Every neighbourhood has plenty of venues with a variety of vibes.

Everson Royce Bar, in the Arts District, is casual and fun. Play a game of bocce while enjoying $8.80 beers, $13 wines or $16 cocktails. If you head out to Santa Monica, The Misfit slashes 50 per cent off all cocktails, wines and spirits daily before 7pm.

Elegant surroundings can be found at Hollywood’s rooftop bar, Mother Tongue. From Wednesday to Sunday (4-6pm) the prices drop to $7.35 for a beer, $15 for wine and cocktails, with snacks from $5.90.

In West Hollywood, Gracias Madre has a lovely courtyard to sip $8.80 beers, $12 wines and $13 margaritas (weekdays 3-6pm; Mon-Wed, Sun 8pm-close). The $15 meal deal includes a beer, garlic chipotle fries and a jackfruit slider. I am yet to find a restaurant where the plant-based menu is so delicious.

the Mels Drive-In in WeHo, West Hollywood — Experience 50s-style diner feels in the heart of West Hollywood at Mels Drive-In.

The writer was a guest of Visit California and Visit West Hollywood.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Less Angeles: Explore LA on a $50 a day budget