Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

While the city's population exceeds the 3.8 million mark, the county of Los Angeles holds almost three times that – just under 10 million people call this particular part of the Golden State home. A multitude of races and ethnicities characterizes this staggering sum; Asian-Americans and Hispanics are the two biggest non-Caucasian populations, followed by sizable groups of Caribbeans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Irish, English, Ethiopians, Armenians, Bulgarians, and Filipinos.

The biggest employers in and around Los Angeles include Kaiser Permanente, Boeing, Kroger, Target, Walt Disney, Wells Fargo, and UPS.

Planning a shopping spree while you're here? Take note of the city's 8.25% sales tax. Room and board will also cost you a pretty penny – anywhere from 12-17%.

Weather

A mild, temperate climate keeps residents happy through most of the year, although the winter months – especially February – tend to be rainy. Differences in temperature, sometimes as much as 25°F, can occur between beach communities and inland neighborhoods, keeping the coastline cooler than is commonly believed. Even in summer, temps at the shore are usually in the 70s. Typically, the city sees a range from the 60s to the 80s in summer, while winter is only slightly cooler, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s. Plan for weather that can vary widely as you move through different parts of the city.

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

Air travelers to LA will most likely arrive and depart from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Nine terminals, connected by free shuttles, serve over 60 million passengers a year. LAX handles the vast majority of travelers to and from LA, while the other airports under the Los Angeles World Airports umbrella – Ontario International Airport (ONT), Van Nuys Airport (VNY), and Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) – handle the overflow.

Options for getting from the airport into the city are myriad. Access to public transportation – both Metro bus and rail services – is just a free shuttle ride away. Ten rental car companies offer shuttle services from LAX to their rental offices. Taxis are available from each terminal.

Making Your Way

While some areas of LA are suitable for travelers on foot, most parts of the city are best maneuvered by car or public transportation. Metro provides over 200 bus lines and four rail lines that link the region's neighborhoods and make navigating the city a breeze. Select bus lines run 24 hours. A single ticket on the Metro is $1.25, but the $3.00 day pass is a better deal.

Nine franchise taxi operators serve Los Angeles, and legally authorized vehicles bear a blue-and-white City of Los Angeles Taxicab seal. Make sure to look for this seal before boarding any taxi – cabs operating without the seal are not authorized to carry passengers in the city.

News & Views

To keep abreast of LA's goings-on, pick up a copy of The Los Angeles Times, the city's major daily newspaper. Smaller papers and alternative weekly publications include the Daily News (which covers the San Fernando Valley), L.A. Weekly, Los Angeles CityBeat, and Los Angeles magazine. Special interest papers include Los Angeles Business Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal (covering legal issues), The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Los Angeles Downtown News. La Opinión is the city's major Spanish language newspaper.

Quirks & Curiosities

Can't decide between a getaway in the city and a mountain holiday? If you can wait a few thousand years, Los Angeles might be able to provide both. NASA scientists report that downtown and West LA are moving east at the speedy rate of one-fifth of an inch per year, thanks to minute movements in the earth's crust. The likely result of the slow shift will be "new" mountains south of the San Gabriel range. GPS surveying systems are using data from 24 satellites orbiting the earth to track the infinitesimal movement.

Getting Your Bearings

If you've just arrived in Los Angeles and don't know where to begin exploring the city, take advantage of the superb resources offered by the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. From maps and assistance with accommodations to suggestions about dining, nightlife, recreation, shopping, and cultural offerings, the two visitor information centers will meet all of your travel needs.

Downtown Los Angeles Visitor Information Center
685 Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-689-8822

Hollywood Visitor Information Center
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
323-467-6412

Necessities - Post Offices

There are a multitude of post office branches in the greater Los Angles metro area, as well as drop boxes throughout the city. Should you need to conduct serious postal business, stop by the main post office branch for the full range of services and resources. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, 7am-3:30pm.

Main Post Office, Los Angeles
7101 S Central Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90001
800-275-8777

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.

Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).