What comes to mind when you think of Los Angeles? Amazing beaches? Glitz and glamour? Paris Hilton? The City of Angels and the surrounding county has it all, and then some.
This week, we’ll be shedding some light on where to go, where to stay, where to shop and what to do in California’s most sizzling city and beyond. Whiten those teeth and flash your best Hollywood smile – we’re shaking down Los Angeles!
The Fame Game in L.A.
What isn’t L.A. famous for? It’s the home of Hollywood, after all, which means it’s also home to trillions of movie locations. Stroll down Santa Monica Pier, and you might feel like you’re in Forrest Gump, or even that modern classic Beverly Hills Cop III.
Be Julia Roberts for a day and get kicked out of the very same posh clothes shop that she gets kicked out of in 1980s movie Pretty Women, over on Rodeo Drive. Bit of a celeb’ stalker? Jump on one of the touristy-but-oh-so-brilliant bus tours of the stars’ houses.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot an actual celebrity. When I did the tour, Dr Phil (yes, the Dr Phil!) came out of his mansion and waved at our tour bus. Best. Day. Ever.
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This week, we’re taking a look at Vietnam’s bustling capital, Hanoi. Nestled in the north of the country, the City of the Soaring Dragon is where French-colonialism meets modern Vietnam.
It may be smaller than its southern sister, Ho Chi Minh City, but what Hanoi lacks in size, it makes up for in charm and culture. Thirsty for more? Take a deep breath, jump on board, and get ready to dodge the motorbikes – we’re goin’ to Hanoi!
Who wants to be a Millionaire?
£1 will buy you around 32,000 Vietnamese dong, so you really will be a millionaire in Hanoi. As well as dong, take some US dollars too — despite the Vietnamese government’s attempts to phase them out, they’re still widely accepted.
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What’s the capital of New Zealand? Auckland! Wrong. It’s Wellington, the country’s third largest city, and the subject of this week’s Shakedown. If you’ve visited the city, consider adding your experience to the conversation via the comments below.
Wellington is located at the south end of New Zealand’s North Island, appearing to be pooled at the foot of a rumpled hill range, with uninhibited views across the Cook Strait to the Kaikoura Range weighing down the South Island.
Wellington is famous for its wind: with mean speeds of 22 km/h, and almost half of days experiencing gusts greater than 60 km/h, earning the city its moniker of Windy Wellington.
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Welcome back to the weekly Shakedown, the STA Travel Blog feature that rattles a destination until it gives up its inside story; including hints and tips on making the most of your time in the area, plus some diamond insights into the ways of life that make a place so unique.
This week, we’re taking a look at one of the world’s busiest cities, as famous for its clucking side streets as its iconic and historical landscape. If you have no idea about where we’re headed (you haven’t read the title) then buckle up, as we take Beijing through the Shakedown.
Choice is something you'll never be stuck for in Beijing | Photo by ernop
You’ll discover more about the Chinese capital’s history-chomping sites, and discover how you can follow in the footsteps of dynasties gone by, while rubbing shoulders with the locals that make up the world’s fifth largest city by population.
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This week’s Shakedown shines a spotlight on the capital of Californian creativity, San Francisco. Expect a healthy blend of historic and hysteric, as we walk the streets of the city that were forged by the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century.
San Francisco is perhaps most famous for its hills, having been built upon no less than forty-three of them, and for having some of the most clearly defined neighbourhoods in urban history. The Italians occupy North Beach; The Haight (Haight and Ashbury) is the hippy hangout; The Castro is the gay district; Japantown and Chinatown hold their own; while the Mission District is where you’ll find the Latino flavour.
San Francisco: The Miniature City, by MINIMUS
Look out for street fairs and festivals throughout the year, which are a great way to get among the communities which dovetail San Francisco, and make it such a vibrant city.
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