california: Going to California for a tour in Dec. 27-Jan. 2, can you please advise the best places to check out and where to book for more affordable rates? Is it better to book online? We are planning to visit Disneyland, how many days should be allocate for that trip?|||There are literally hundreds of things to do here in LA. Here is my list of “must sees”. Visit as many as you have time for.: Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. #1 Destination. That time is one of the most crowded times of the year, especially Dec 31. (We should know, we go there each year for NYE). Figure 3 days. It is actually cheaper to book online through a travel site or even Disneyland.com, booking "a la carte". Packages actually cost more, and the perks (little tokens) aren't really worth it. Stick with tripadvisor.com or travelocity.com. Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. #2 Destination. Even if you don’t visit Disneyland or Universal Studios Tour, Downtown Disney District and Universal City Walk are very fun places to visit for shopping and eating. And they’re free to visit. Hollywood: Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood & Highland complex has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater. The El Capitan theater, right across the street, is where Disney shows their movies. And the Hollywood Bowl is a GREAT place to listen to concerts outdoors. Olvera Street/Union Station: Olvera Street is the birthplace of LA, and it emphasizes our Mexican heritage. In addition to the Avila Adobe (oldest building in LA), you can eat at some pretty good Mexican Restaurants, do a little shopping, and taste a churro. If you don’t want to go to Tijuana, this is as close as it gets without going there. Union Station has great architecture from a bygone age. Also, you are 2 blocks from Phillippe’s (see below). Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something. Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best. Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore. Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. Santa Monica: Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach. Sunset Boulevard began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, It is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in. Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, tvtix.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the Tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there. Places to eat: In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone. Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. You might even see a celebrity. Maybe. Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. The original location is at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown. Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, you might spot a celebrity. Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station and Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot. Tito’s Taco’s: Voted best tacos in LA, even though it’s in Culver City. The Pantry: Corner of Figueroa and 9th, downtown. Huge portions, they never close, GREAT steak and eggs. Places to Stay: Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Orchid Suites, Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, or Holiday Inn Walk of Fame, all near Hollywood and Highland. Another one is the Best Western Sunset Plaza. In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. There is also a nice place in Burbank called the Best Western Media Center, very close to Warner, NBC, and Universal Studios. Places to Shop: Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica The Grove, Los Angeles Americana @ Brand, Glendale Beverly Center, Los Angeles Citadel Outlets, Commerce Brea Mall, Brea The Block at Orange, Orange South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa Fashion Island, Newport Beach Santee Alley, Los Angeles Check out citypass.com for great deals on Disney, Universal, and Sea World.|||They have a few hotels in Anaheim that actually have shuttles to and from Disneyland so you don't have to worry about parking. You should try the Sheraton Anaheim Resort or Sheraton Garden-Grove Hotel. They both offer shuttle and are nice hotels. I'd say for Disneyland, if you've never been? Try 3-4 days so you can hit up California Adventure too. And since you're in the area try out Medieval Times and Pirate's Dinner Adventure! Both are great and gives you a show AND delicious dinner. Hope I helped.|||Rates are unlikely to be "affordable" near Disneyland over Christmas - that's the most expensive/popular time of year. The question would be whether you can find any vacancies at this late date. You can use the "usual" on-line travel sites [Expedia, Travelocity, etc] or see your travel agent.|||If you have family/friends in the LA/Orange County area then I HIGHLY suggest that you go crash in with them because the rates of a hotel during that time is NOT going to be cheap.