Los Angeles on a Dime

I couldn’t take a trip without giving you the details on how I managed to do so on a budget. You already know my airfare was $222, I absolutely loved Virgin America and I booked my room at the Sunset Tower for $129/night (normally priced at more than $200) through Jetsetter.

But before making my way to Sunset, I stayed at La Quinta near LAX for one night. At $69, the amenities really amazed me. Free shuttle to/from LAX, continental breakfast, fridge and microwave and near several 24 hour restaurants and fast food joints. But what I really liked was a shuttle that went to Manhattan Beach. The trolley picked me up in front of the hotel and dropped me off at the beach’s pier for only $3 round trip.

The next day I made my way to the gorgeous Sunset Tower, via an $18 Super Shuttle ride. Designed in 1929, the hotel housed the likes of Marilyn, Sinatra and Bugsy Siegel. I felt like I stepped into old Hollywood, but with modern touches like a flat screen television and gourmet mini bar. I stayed away from the mini bar, a $4 soda did not fit into my budget. Besides the super comfy bed, the bathroom may have been the main attraction. The marble countertop and brass fixtures were to die for. And the Kiehl’s bath products were great too. Other pluses included free wifi and being centrally located on the Sunset Strip.

I didn’t rent a car while in L.A., which some people thought was crazy, but not only was it not in my budget but…I can’t drive. Don’t judge me. But, I found a way to get around and hit all the spots I wanted. Starline Tours has a hop-on, hop-off bus that stops at 50 locations throughout the city. It was a great way to learn about the history of L.A. I departed the bus at certain stops, like The Grove, Santa Monica Pier, La Brea Tar Pits and Pink’s hot dogs. Of course I wanted to visit the typical touristy spots as this was my first time in L.A., but I also made it a point to explore a little further. After 10 minutes at The Grove, I grew restless and started walking around the surrounding area. And lo and behold, I stumbled upon some thrift stores on Fairfax. For $40, the tour gave me a two day pass to the city. Not bad considering I traveled all around L.A. and a single cab ride can cost at least $10.

Food is always a major factor for me. While at La Quinta, I had my first Carl’s Jr. burger. No, it’s not fine dining but the chain doesn’t exist in NYC so I wanted to try something new to me. I also enjoyed other L.A. spots like El Pollo Loco and Coffee Bean, which were less than a 10 minute walk from Sunset Tower. By the time I made it to Santa Monica one afternoon, I was starving. I typically stay away from food at amusement parks, beaches, etc as they’re usually overpriced. But right off of the pier was a cute taco and pizza stand. For $5, I had two filling carne asada tacos and a drink.

Before leaving NYC, I took out $200 from the ATM and that was all I needed. So, once again I proved traveling does not have to break the bank. It’s funny, the last day of my trip marked exactly one year since being laid off. I enjoyed my funemployment anniversary

Tags: airfare, eating out, Jetsetter, travel, Virgin America

Virgin America, You Complete Me…

Ah, after three relaxing days in L.A. I’m feeling pretty good. I slept better in the past few days than I have in a long time. But I’ll save those details for a post later this week.

For now, I’m just going to tell you about my flight.  I’m in love with Virgin America. A little background: Virgin was named Conde Nast Traveler’s best domestic airline, I nabbed a great deal from NYC and I normally hate flying. Yes, I know there’s a better chance of getting into a car accident than being in a plane crash but I’d rather have an accident happen on ground.

However, this flight was painless. I was distracted left and right so I had no time to think bad thoughts. Mood lighting, pleasant flight attendants and movies on demand made 36,000 feet more bearable.

Pretty Little Things
Call me a silly girly girl but I don’t want to step on to a plane that looks like it’s had a rough life. The plane was sleek, clean, gentle mood lighting overhead and no weird smell. The seats were leather (or maybe the coach seats were “pleather”) and easily wipeable so there weren’t any questionable stains on the seats. I heard one big guy complain about the leg room but everyone else looked mighty comfy.

Sh*ts and Giggles
I appreciate a sense of humor in a man and I feel the same way about my airline. I normally hate those cheesy safety videos before every flight but these were actually cute and funny. I even let out a chuckle or two. My return flight was called the “Superfly.” How cute is that? And the attendants were young, friendly (not in that annoying way though) and even attempted to make mundane procedures comical. “Today’s flight is brought to you by the letter “S” for safety.”

Technology for Dummies
I like tapping screens (ATMs, iPods, etc), so imagine the squeal I let out when I realized every Virgin flight has a small touch screen in front of all seats. With a slight extension of your arm (or use of the built-in remote on the armrest) you can order snacks or a meal ($3-$10), watch TV or request a movie ($8). There’s also a cool chat function. Notice a cutie in the row ahead of you? You can initiate a seat-t0-seat IM-like chat or there’s a general chat room you can join. You can also access basic info like how many more miles are left in your flight, how fast you’re traveling or look at a map of exactly where your flight is! Oh, there’s also music if you don’t want to drain the battery of your iPod. You can choose everything from Bach to Beyonce to Billie Holiday. They noticeably didn’t offer any hip hop artists but I quickly got over that after listening to Jill Scott and Janet’s “Pleasure Principal.” But the feature most people seem to like is the wifi. Though it normally costs ($6-$13, depending on flight length), it’s free until January 15.

Feed Me Seymour
In addition to the entertainment features on the nifty touch screen, you can also feed your belly. The attendants offered everyone a round of beverages at the beginning of the flight but if you want a drink or bite to eat after that, just a few taps (and a swipe of your credit card) and you’re taken care of. Though the food selections looked good, I grabbed a bite before boarding. I did order beverages though. Water, coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks are gratis and unlimited.

Virgin America officially gets two snaps and a twist. And there just so happens to be another sale going on…

Tags: Virgin America

Traveling FLY on a Dime

I’m blogging from 30,000 miles in the sky. I’m a nervous nelly when it comes to flying but I’m doing OK right about now as I have tons of stuff to distract me on Virgin America, which was named Conde Nast Traveler’s best domestic airline.

The mood lighting is relaxing but I’m more impressed with the free wifi (normally it’s $6-$13, depending on the length of the flight) and the touch screens in front of every seat. You can listen to music, watch TV, view a movie (at $8, I’ll refrain) or order food. There’s no way I’m paying for airplane food, so I’m just sticking with the unlimited, complimentary beverages (coffee, juice, tea and bottled water). With a few taps on the screen, I ordered a cup of OJ and water. Two minutes later a friendly flight attendant was handing me the goods.

And remember, the trip from NYC to LA was only $222.

I’ll check back in tomorrow with a full review (everything from the customer service to the cleanliness of the restrooms) of the airline.

Tags: travel, Virgin America

Virgin America Sale

You guys seriously need to jump on this sale before it ends on 10/27. Virgin America just announced a Fare to Fly By Sale with tickets as low as $40 each way. If you don’t know anything about Virgin, it’s a FLY airline: mood lighting, cushy seats, movies on demand, WiFi and has been named Best Domestic Airline.

As the years go by, I find the cold east coast weather gets harder to deal with so I just booked a round trip to L.A. for $221.20! I’m gonna be on a strict budget out there, but I deserve some sunshine.

Tags: Virgin America