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Croatia travel guide

Things to do in Dubrovnik

Ah, Dubrovnik. Adored by people like John Malkovitch, the king of Jordan and the late Pope John Paul II, this “jewel of the Adriatic” is Eastern Europe’s Venice, minus the flooding. The southern-most city in Croatia, Dubrovnik was one of the centers of the development of language and literature and was home to many famous poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians and other scholars. Its gorgeous old town became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, and its charm has attracted tourists who want a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds of Greece and Italy.

The city is perfect for the meandering sightseer, the beach-goer and those in search of a lively nightlife. Though many of the city buildings were damaged by the earthquake in 1667 and bombs during the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990’s, most has been rebuilt and Dubrovnik is still considered Croatia’s best kept secret.

Wander along Stradun

Grab a cup of coffee and a pastry as you wonder through Dubrovnik’s main street, the Stradun. Once a swamp, the Stradun, is now a place for locals and visitors to gather throughout the day and into the evening. With numerous cafés and restaurants, the street is a great place to rest your tired body after touring the various sites of Dubrovnik.

Sponza Palace

Dubrovnik’s Sponza Palace was constructed in 1522 as a customs-house, where merchants would bring goods from all over the world and pay a customs fee before trading. The palace exemplifies the simplistic Croatian architecture, which is very visually appealing. Now used to house city archives, the Sponza Palace is free to visit and is a nice, shady recluse from the sun. Be sure to notice the Gothic stonework and Renaissance-style windows.

Onofrio’s Large Fountain (Great Onofrio Well)


Originally constructed in 1438 by Italian architect Onofrio della Cava, the 16-sided drinking fountain was partially damaged in the 1667 earthquake, but remains rustic representation of old Dubrovnik architecture. The fountain was part of the city’s water mains constructed in the 15th century, and was considered an architectural masterpiece at the time it was built. Have a seat and a sip from this giant fountain, which supplied Croatians with water during the war in 1992.

Cathedral

For another rest in the shade and the opportunity to view intriguing works of art, peek inside the cathedral. The current cathedral was built in 1673, by Roman architect Andrea Buffalini to replace the original 12th century cathedral, which was destroyed by the earthquake. The cathedral includes Titian’s polyptych, Assumption, as well as the skull of St Blaise encased in a jewel-encrusted crown. When another earthquake struck in 1979, excavations beneath the cathedral revealed a Romanesque cathedral beneath the current one. Further digging uncovered another church underneath this one, dating from about the 6th century.

Rector’s Palace


2770797982_256ab4810aDesigned by Onofrio della Cava –who also designed Onofrio’s fountain—the Rector’s palace has not had the smoothest of histories. The original building was completely destroyed in 1435 by a gunpowder explosion. The second floor of the rebuilt palace was again destroyed by another explosion in 1463, and the entire building suffered more damage from the earthquake. As a result, the building has acquired various styles and designers over the centuries.

Other sites worth noticing

While walking the streets of Dubrovnik, these other monuments are worth noticing as you pass. Roland’s Column is a narrow stone flagstaff named after the legendary knight. Take an afternoon stroll around the Old City Walls, which boast great views of the town. Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery is a Baroque-style Church, housing a Romanesque cloister and the third oldest pharmacy in the world.

Beaches

Slews of public beaches offer Dubrovnik travelers plenty of options for swimming, tanning and boating. Banje Beach is the most convenient beach because of it’s proximity to Old Town. It also offers the best view of Dubrovnik’s walls. If you really want to lounge around, you can rent chairs and umbrellas from the nearby EastWest club, or just throw down your towel and enjoy the Mediterranean rays. 
Copacabana Beach is a perfectly pleasant and family-friendly beach on the Babin Kuk peninsula. With relatively shallow water, kids will enjoy the toboggan, and adults will enjoy the waterskiing, windsurfing and other watersports. On the Lapad peninsula, beach-goers might enjoy the pebble beaches that sit in front of the large hotels—but unlike other areas where hotels have private ownership, these beaches are open to the public. Sv Jakov Beach is known to few tourists and loved by the locals. To reach this lesser-known beach, travel east from Ploce gate and go past the Hotel Argentina and the former monastery, and take the long stairway leading down to this secluded, peaceful beach.

Nightlife

While not the raucous, out-of-control environment of Barcelona or Mykanos, Dubrovnik’s nightlife will completely satisfy those who enjoy lively outdoor bars and live music and shows, much like Venice. Clubs and discotecs open and close frequently, but you will never be short on friendly bars along Old Town’s Stradun, which do not allow traffic. Sidewalk cafes, like Café Festival near the Franciscan monastery, are perfect spots people watching and sipping wine. The narrow streets of Old Town also offer a welcoming atmosphere. For those who want to see something different, climb through the hole in the city to Buza bar (Ispod Mira) around sunset, a bar dangling right above the cliffs. Hemingway (Pred Dvoram) is a cocktail bar with comfy chairs and a 30-page cocktail menu. 
And for your fix of an Irish pub, check out Karaka in Od Polaca street, just of off Stradun for a refreshing pint of Guinness. 
Fuego (near Pile Gate, just outside the old town), also known as Latino club, is one of the best and busiest nightclubs in Dubrovnik. It hosts several different types of musical events, and has a cool interior, friendly staff and surprisingly affordable prices. Bikers’ Café, located just above the Old Town, has a more rock and roll vibe, while the more relaxed Troubadur Jazz cafe (near Gundulic square) is open until late in the night.

Photos by Jimmyharris on Flickr

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Croatia travel guide

Things to do in Zagreb

While most travelers head straight for the Dalmatian coast, capital city Zagreb has a lot to offer for those who want to experience authentic Croatian culture. With several museums, parks, and arguably Europe’s most beautiful cemetery, Zagreb is well worth a few days of exploring. The city is situated between the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain and both the northern and southern bank of the Sava river. Wander through the open-air market with a coffee in hand and take in the beauty of Zagreb’s medieval architecture and rich history.

Maksimir Park

Zagreb is full of wonderful wooded enclaves to explore. One such location is Maksimir Park, which was opened in 1794 and is landscaped similar to an English garden park, complete with artificial lakes and alleys. The park’s most popular attractions are the Bellevue Pavilion, which was constructed in 1843, and the Echo Pavilion, which resembles a rustic Swiss cottage.

Zagreb’s Botanical Garden

For a nice change of pace, wander through Zagreb’s botanical garden, which was created in 1890. With 10,000 species of plants and little bodies of water, you can easily spend a few hours walking in the shade.

Mirogoj historical cemetery

Though not quite a park, Mirogoj is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. Designed by Herman Bollé, one of Croatia’s finest architects, the cemetery features several cupolas and paths mingled with sculptures and impressive tombs. Inside, the cemetery is lush, green and eerily quiet. It’s definitely worth the ten-minute bus ride.

The Medieval fortress of Medvedgrad

Another site worth checking out is the Medvedgrad fortress, on the southern side of Mt Medvednica. Zagreb’s most treasured medieval monument, Medvedgrad was built from 1249 to 1254 to protect the city from Tartar invasions.

Zagreb Cathedral

Not to be missed is Zageb’s most famous building, the Cathedral. First built in the 11th century, Zagreb Cathedral was destroyed by the Tatars in 1242 and subsequently rebuilt by Hermann Bollé, the same architect who designed the Mirogoj cemetery. You can easily wander over the cathedral from the Dolac market.

Museums

Zagreb is home to a variety of historical, cultural and art museums. Not to miss is the Mimara Museum, which was founded with a donation from Ante “Mimara” Topić. Comprising more than 1500 exhibits, the museum features works by Lorenzetti, Cravaggio, Raffaello and Rembrandt. Other museums worth a visit include the Archeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Croatian Museum of Naïve Art.

Market

Zagreb’s impressive fruit and vegetable market is found in the Dolac quarter. The farmers’ market is the most visited and the best-known farmer’s market in Zagreb, famous for its combination of traditional open market with stalls and a sheltered market below. Located only steps away from the main city square, Ban Jelačić Square, and in the middle between the oldest parts of Zagreb, Dolac is a great place to grab breakfast or coffee and to satisfy cravings for fresh produce. While you’re there, be sure to pick up a Croaterra, an authentic Croatian cake made of organic and whole grain ingredients.

Nightlife

Much like in Italy, outdoor restaurants are good places to start the evening’s entertainment. Tkalcicev Street in Gornji Grad boasts the city’s highest concentration of bars and cafes, which are perfect for people-watching and dining. The Gradska Kavana and Lisna Kavana are both relaxing café bars and are perfect for the night’s first few drinks and to sit and talk.

Along the same street is Oliver Twist, “the place to see and be seen” in Zagreb. This trendy bar offers a wide selection of local and imported beers served on two levels and on an outdoor terrace. The Bulldog Belgian Beer Café is popular with both tourists and locals. It has a huge outdoor area, which is always packed practically any night of the week. The Belgian beer is excellent and as a result, the Bulldog is the destination of choice for many Stag parties. Middle Earth fans will especially appreciate Tolkien’s pub, one of the quirkier places in Zagreb. Decorated with images from the author’s famous books, the pub is a cozy establishment and offers a talking point for strangers to get to know each other. Who doesn’t love LOTR?

In the warmer months, the liveliest parties are found at Jarun Lake, a recreational area where people go to drink and dance (some of the clubs shut down for the summer, as many locals go and visit the Islands). Two of the most popular nightclubs in Zagreb, Aquarius and Piranha, can be found here. A tram ride away, Jarun Lake also has cafes, restaurants, a nude beach, sailing, rowing, windsurfing and bike rentals, so it may be a great place to spend the day (as well as the night

Day trips

Zagreb’s central location offers travelers several options for daily excursions. Samobor is a charming medieval town with well preserved old stores, beautiful parks and hiking trails. The Baroque architecture is picturesque against the wooded hills. Samobor is accessible by car or bus, and be sure to try the ice coffee, which is more like a milkshake.                                                                                                 

Vrbovec, east of Zagreb, is another town travelers might want to explore. Vrbovec is famous for cooking old Croatian specialties and a quaint example of authentic Croatian culture. Travelers say that once you come to Vrbovec, you’ll feel like you’re at home.

Lastly, visitors might want to wander around ancient castle ruins, which are situated surprisingly close to the city itself. Escape for a few hours into medieval history.

photo by phillipshannon on Flickr

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Guatemala travel guide

Exchanging Money in Guatemala

bank250Unfortunately, changing money isn’t as easy as it is in many other Central American countries. In fact, it is border line troublesome. Trying to exchange any type of currency other than the US dollar is a hard thing to do outside of the international airports. Even trying to exchange currency from nearby countries can prove to be harder than expected.

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Los Angeles Transportation

Getting From Los Angeles to New York

Los Angeles is a large city located in California that is full of traffic and mayhem. However, many people love to visit on vacation. Los Angeles is home to an estimated 3,849,378 people, some of which are celebrities. Los Angeles has a number of beaches around the area. Some of these beaches are full of people that would be fit for any Hollywood movie, definitely a sight to see. Los Angeles offers hundreds of places to shop for the top name brand products. This city is ranked very high on the places to see list.

Why would anyone want to leave Los Angeles for New York, and what is the best way to get there? The answer is this; New York really isn’t that different from Los Angeles. New York just like Los Angeles is full of Traffic and even more mayhem. The population of the New York metro area is an unbelievable 19,490,297 people, far more than Los Angeles. This city also ranks very high on the places to see list. How do you get from Los Angeles to New York?

By Plane

By far the most popular way to get between these two famous cities is to fly. Since this route is so popular, quite a few airlines have nonstop flights going between the cities all day every day. If you can find a nonstop flight then it should take about 5 hours in the air, though of course the time spent at the airports will add many more hours to that. If the best deal is a flight that connects along the way, you could be looking at 7 to 10 hours from LA to NYC.

Because these two airports are so large and so busy, it is easy to find extremely cheap direct flights. It is not uncommon to find direct, round trip tickets for around $200 at the absolute minimum, but $300 roundtrip is a more normal cheap fare, and during peak travel seasons you might have to pay $500 roundtrip even for the cheapest flights.

Search tip: Los Angeles has 5 major airports and New York has 3, and you can check all combinations if you use the codes QLA to NYC instead of LAX to JFK, but unfortunately the QLA code (for all Los Angeles airports) doesn’t work in all search engines, so if it doesn’t then search for LAX to JFK and use the “search nearby airports” button.

By Bus

Maybe flying isn’t for you, if not you could take a bus. Buses leave out of Los Angeles heading for New York regularly. However, I must warn you, taking a bus ride from Los Angeles to New York will take almost 3 full days. The bus will stop in many different locations along the way, which makes the drive much longer than if you drove straight through to New York. This is more than likely the cheapest way to get from Los Angeles to New York, the cost for a bus ticket runs about $175 each way on Greyhound’s normal fare, but they do sometimes have promotional specials. You will have to add cost for food, drinks, snacks, or anything else you may need on the long ride.

Check the official Greyhound website for all the details, but be warned that the site is confusing and hard to use.

By train

If you fancy the idea of crossing the country by train, just like the Ricardos and Mertzs did when Ricky had ended his Hollywood stay on “I Love Lucy,” then you might be disappointed to know that it’s slow and way more expensive than you’d imagine. First off you take one train from Union Station near Downtown Los Angeles all the way to Chicago, which takes a bit over 42 hours. Then you change there for a different train that goes the rest of the way to New York City, and this leg takes just over 20 hours. There is usually a few hours between these trains, so you are looking at almost 3 full days to get from one city to the other.

The normal fare is around $240 each way, so it’s usually more expensive than flying as well. And of course that’s just for a normal seat in coach, which might not be so comfortable after the first 18 hours or so. Still, the scenery across most of the country is great, and it can be very relaxing as well. There are occasionally good promotional fares on Amtrak, so if you are lucky you might find something cheaper than this. All the information can be found on the official Amtrak website.

By Car

Next you could just drive yourself from Los Angeles to New York. This is another cheaper way to travel, but again you will have to add in for food items as well as hotel rooms you may need, for a break along the way. Driving will take about 43 hours of drive time, the trip is 2,788 miles one way. The fuel cost for the trip in a vehicle with 20 MPG will cost around $300 or more, depending on gas prices at that moment. Most of the drive will be on I40 East, where you will pass through Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. On this drive you will also go through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

While taking this drive you will definitely want to take you’re time and enjoy the ride. With all these different states you will be driving through, there are numerous things to see on the way. The deserts of New Mexico and Arizona are actually quite beautiful, full of wild life. Just keep you’re eyes open, that way you can catch a glimpse of some natural wonders and beauty that you will definitely pass by on you’re way from Los Angeles to New York.

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Featured Articles Los Angeles Transportation

Getting from Los Angeles to Anaheim

matterhornAnaheim is a suburban city located 25 miles from Los Angeles in the Orange County of California. This city is known for its theme parks, sports team and a convention center. The main attractions of the city include Disneyland resort, Adventure City Anaheim Garden walk, Angel stadium and The Grove of Anaheim. Anaheim Convention Center here is also the largest convention center on the American west coast. Anaheim is also known for its sports teams namely Anaheim Ducks in the NHL and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the MLB. Its proximity to Los Angeles attracts several tourist here. If you plan a travel from LA to Anaheim there are a lot of travel options that are available.

But in spite of all these choices, most people are probably interested in going from somewhere in Los Angeles to Disneyland, so those options are spelled out below.

By Car

The traveling distance from Los Angeles is approximately around 26 miles from Downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim, a bit over 30 miles starting from Hollywood, and around 40 miles if you start from the Santa Monica/Venice area. Even coming from one of the closer areas, it is at least a 30-minute drive by car from Los Angeles and at times it might take up to a hour and a half or two hours, depending upon the traffic. There is also a option of renting cars from Los Angeles if required. Since cars are so dominant in this area, this is definitely the most popular way to do it, but you have other options.

By Bus

One could take LUXBUS from Los Angeles. There are two daily departures from Los Angeles to Anaheim. One being at 7.30 in the morning which could be the most comfortable option. There is also another bus service available at 3:30 in the evening. In both the cases the travel takes around 1 hour approximately. The ticket prices are around $32 for one way and $52 for a round trip. Tickets can be reserved in advance.

There are LuxBus tourist packages that are available. One could say this is a slightly expensive option to get to Anaheim. But the buses are very comfortable to travel. It is also worth its price because the seats are really good and it’s a luxury bus. There are also Greyhound buses that run between Los Angeles and Anaheim. There are around 7 buses daily available. The first bus is at 5.45 in the morning and last at around 6 in the evening. The travel by Greyhound takes around a hour. Buses are available every 2 hours.Tickets can be around $8 to $15 depending on the bus you take. This Greyhound buses are much more economical when compared to the LUXBUS which is really expensive. Anaheim is also well served by two public transport systems Metro and OCTA, but using these local services could take many hours each way if you are going a longer distance.

By Airport Shuttle

There is also a option to take airport shuttle from Los Angeles airport. At around $13 this is a much cheaper option compared to the Luxbus. The bus is know as the Disneyland Resort Express could be a very good option whether you travel alone or as a group. This service, operated by the Grayline Bus Company, is also a convenient and reliable mode of travel. At around $13 per head this could be a cheaper and better option than the LuxBus. There are also Super shuttles that are available from Los Angeles International Airport to Anaheim.These shuttles need not be booked in advance. There are Super shuttles around every 15 minutes and the cost is around $15-$20.

By Train

Finally, if you’re going by train there are two rail systems namely Amtrak and Metrolink available in Anaheim. One could take a Amtrak train from Los Angeles. This is more flexible because there are a lot of trains that are available. The journey by train is also very quick at 39 minutes. There are around 10 trains daily and we can travel in the time that suits us the most. The tickets are also very easy to get. The first train is around 6:00am and trains are available all around the day. The trains depart from the station almost every hour. The last train is around 7:15 in the night. The cost of the ticket is usually around $12. This could be the cheapest option to get to Anaheim from Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles Transportation

Getting from Los Angeles to San Diego

San Diego, the second largest city in California, is almost always a sunny 72 degrees. With 70 miles of beaches, you can visit it for a day of fun surfing, sailing or lying on the clean sand. Others come to the warm city to see the many family attractions including the world famous San Diego Zoo, home to the giant panda, or to visit Sea World where the famous whale Shamu will put on a spectacular show. Whatever the reason for a visit, thousands of people migrate from Los Angeles to San Diego every week.

By Plane

There are a few ways to get to San Diego from Los Angeles. While the two cities are only 116 miles apart there are airlines that offer flights between them. Alaskan Air has a 45-minute flight that is around $330. American Airlines also offers a similarly priced flight, which is about the same flying time. Finally, United offers a flight for $350, which is also about 40 minutes. In other words, unless you are rich and crazy, you are probably going to want to find another way of getting between these two cities. When you factor the flight time along with the airport check-in and security time, plus getting to and from each airport, this method will take longer than driving almost every time.

By Bus

A bus is a more economical way to get to San Diego. The LuxBus offers an $88 dollar roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles to San Diego and takes approximately 3 hours each way. The bus departs from many major hotels within both cities at regularly scheduled times, giving a door-to-door non-stop service. It is a large coach bus referred to as “airline on the ground” due to it’s snack and drink service, leather seating, on bus movies and a restroom facility. The Greyhound bus is very inexpensive, around $35, and departs frequently every day. Buses depart and arrive at Greyhound terminals of which there is only one in both Los Angeles and San Diego.

By Train

The train is a cheap, hassle free way to travel from Los Angeles to San Diego, avoiding traffic en route while leaving from central locations in each city. Amtrak offers a $68 roundtrip ticket which leaves Union Station in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, arriving approximately 3 hours later at the marina in San Diego. The train has a snack car, a baggage check in, and a selection of seating classes, which vary in price. With beautiful views along the route from each city, the train has the ease of flying without the price.

By Car

Finally the most popular way to travel between the two cities is by car. Whether renting a car from your local rent-a-car location or using your own automobile, this is the cheapest way to get to San Diego. The ride is about 2 hours but can be upwards of 3 hours or more if there is heavy congestion on the freeways, which is true much of the time. You begin by taking the San Diego Freeway Interstate 405 going South. You then take the exit towards California 73/California 55/San Diego merging onto the California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway. After about 17 miles you will take the Interstate 5 South freeway where you will hit a partial toll.

The I-5 S. Freeway is beautiful, running right along the Pacific Ocean. Along route I -5 S. as you get closer to the city you will pass the Marine Base Camp Pendleton, a base located right on the Ocean, started in 1942 and a major training location for the Marine Corps. Once you have passed Pendleton you will take exit 17 which will put you directly into downtown San Diego, home to the famous Gas Lamp quarter. From here you can easily find a place to stay, restaurants to eat in and things to see and do.

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Los Angeles Transportation

Getting from Los Angeles to San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the largest cities in California, settled in 1776 by the Spanish. The Gold Rush in 1848 caused thousands of people to rush into the city, making it the largest city on the whole West coast at the time. The 1906 earthquake had a huge impact on the city, although it was rebuilt. Today, San Francisco serves as a tourist destination for millions thanks to its cable cars, Chinatown and the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

By Plane

Traveling to San Francisco by plane from Los Angeles is about the easiest way to get there. Surprisingly, flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco doesn’t cost much more than a train ride, plus you’ll get there in an hour and a half. There are four places to fly out of in the Los Angeles area. Jet Blue Airways is the best choice, offering the best prices. You can also use Southwest Airlines at LAX, flying straight to San Francisco. You’ll need to check their website directly for fares. You can compare fares at online travel sites to find the best prices using the airline code LAX for Los Angeles and SFO for San Francisco. Flights range from $75 to $150 each way, and if you find a good promotional fare it might be as little as $99 roundtrip.

By Train

Most people don’t think of travel by train these days but it’s still affordable and easy. The Amtrak Coast Starlight line will take you from the Union Station in Los Angeles all the way to Oakland, California, taking about 11 hours. It costs $52 one way. The train won’t take you all the way to San Francisco but offers a great way to see the sights and experience a train ride. You can easily rent a car once in Oakland and finish the drive to San Francisco, giving you a car while you’re there, or take a bus to San Francisco. You can also take the train to San Jose and transfer to Caltrain which will take you all the way to San Francisco. Both of these options give you the experience of a train ride which fewer and fewer people try these days.

By Bus

You can also get to San Francisco by bus, which is a very easy way to get there. You can take a GotoBus from Monterrey Park, which is near downtown Los Angeles, all the way to San Francisco. You’ll need to leave early in the morning because only one bus trip is done per day; don’t miss it. The cost is about $50 one way, making it a good option for many people. The trip on Gotobus will take about seven and a half hours.

You can also take the California Shuttle Bus, which will pick you up in Los Angeles and take you straight to San Francisco. The shuttle bus leaves only at noon and midnight, or every 12 hours. The trip takes seven and a half hours, just like the GotoBus, although the shuttle bus is cheaper. Fares start at $5 but you’ll usually pay around $40 roundtrip for a shuttle bus to San Francisco.

By Car

Driving is the way most people get from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The trip begins where the I-10 meets the I-405, ending up at the Golden Gate Bridge into the city. The fastest way to drive there is to take the I-405 to the I-5 North toward Sacramento. From there, continue to the I-580 and then the I-80 into San Francisco. You can also take the coastal route, although it can be difficult and time consuming. To do this, take the US 101 to the CA 1, following the coast. You can also take the back way to San Francisco by taking the I-405 to the CA 14, continuing on the US 395 North. Follow the 395 east to the Sierras, crossing Yosemite National Park and heading west into the city. When you’re traveling to San Francisco by car make sure you avoid afternoon traffic and allow yourself time for stops.

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Los Angeles Transportation

Getting from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Every year millions of people travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Located about 228 miles from Los Angeles, Las Vegas is considered to be the entertainment capital of the world offering visitors a wide a variety of gambling activities, shows and many different events for the whole family. Founded in 1905 the city experienced its largest amounts of growth towards the end of the 20th century as this was the first major American city to offer legalized gambling.

Known for its dry desert climate Las Vegas is a city that is filled with lights and entertainment while sitting right in the middle of the dessert. Its close proximity to Los Angeles makes it an ideal spot for many people who live there to have the chance to have a nice short term get away. For the residents of Los Angeles this means that they can be able to travel a short distance to be able to enjoy what this oasis in the desert has to offer. While the distance between the two cities is not that far there are many different options that you have available when traveling between Los Angeles and Las Vegas such as:

By Car

This is one of the most common ways to travel between the two cities, depending on where you live the entire trip could take approximately fours and should connect you to Interstate 15 that will take you in a northeast direction to Las Vegas. In general you can be able to a rent a car from any of the major car rental agencies with a credit card in addition to being at least 25 years old. If you are leaving at a heavy traffic time (which is most of the time in many parts of Los Angeles) then the first 30 miles could take you 90 minutes or even more. So if you left at 4am then you could be in Las Vegas by 8am or maybe 8:30, but if you leave Los Angeles at 4pm, then you might not arrive in Vegas until 10pm or so. In other words, plan your exit time carefully.

By Train

While there once was a train that ran from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, it is a thing of the past. There is no longer a passenger train that runs from state to state. There had once been talk of building a super train between the two major cities, but they are nothing but whispers at this point in time. So be clear that there is no train and no plans to be a train between the cities any time soon.

By Bus

There are two bus lines that offer regular service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Greyhound and Go To Bus. Greyhound usually takes about five to seven hours and it costs approximately $60.00 one way. While Go To Bus leaves once a day from several different commuter locations, the trip takes about five hours and it costs between $30.00 to $88.00 one way or $45.00 to $133.00 round trip.

By Shuttle

Viator offer luxury shuttle service between the two cities to include: movies, snacks, beverages, reclining seat and an on board attendant for just $80.00 each way. These shuttles leave once a day from pick up points in Los Angeles at: downtown, Hollywood, LAX Airport, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills hotels. Form Las Vegas these shuttles have pick up and drop off points at: the Flamingo, Golden Nugget as well as Harrah’s.

By Air

When you are traveling the between the two cities by air the cost is about the same as the other forms of travel, in addition you can arrive at your destination within about an hour and ten minutes. Southwest is generally the cheapest carrier offering discounted air fares between the two cities and they have service to the following airports with in the Greater Los Angeles area: Los Angeles International, Burbank, Orange County or Ontario in addition to Las Vegas. However, the major airlines also fly between the two cities and have various specials from the different Los Angeles airports.

Clearly there are many different options available for traveling between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Some of the different options that you have available when traveling between the two cities include: traveling by car, traveling by plane, traveling by bus and traveling by shuttle. All will allow you to easily be at either destination within a few hours and the cost for traveling to them is not that expensive. This means that you can be able to have any enjoyable trip that everyone will remember while at the same time not having to worry about how much money you are spending to go to either destination.