car hire Los Angeles

Dubbed the “City of Angels,” Los Angeles got its name from the farming settlement set up there in 1781, which was labeled “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciuncula River.” The vast majority of its settlers at the time were immigrants from Mexico having come to the area seeking private land. To the rest of America at the time, the area now known as California was of little interest. Until the Gold Rush, which was set in motion when miners struck gold along the American River in northern California in 1848. With that, the rush to the west was fast and furious. But just as quickly the gold mining industry faltered, plunging the entire state into a depression. LA managed to recover in the late 1800s on the strength of its burgeoning citrus industry, which proved immensely successful. The 1900s saw the rise of Hollywood and television, planting the seeds of “Tinseltown’s” enduring reputation for glamour and celebrity.

Well-known for its web of clogged motorways, Los Angeles is a driver’s town. While the traffic may be intimidating, the city is rather vast and public transportation is not its strong suit. So hiring a car is a good decision, and you can easily pick up your vehicle at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). If you want to explore the endless coast of California, take your car hire up the relentlessly stunning Highway 101 (Pacific Coast Highway), which winds its beautiful way up the entire coast, all the way to San Francisco. Another popular side trip is Las Vegas, which is about 450 kilometres from Los Angeles. San Diego is not a long drive south, either.

Travellers looking to put a dent in their wallets will find innumerable shopping opportunities in Los Angeles. Malls are everywhere, and chain shops like Gap and Banana Republic are omnipresent. If you’re looking to splurge on hipper-than-thou fashions – and maybe do a little stargazing – head to West Hollywood, where paparazzi can often be found camped outside shops like Kitson, Fred Segal, and Curve. You might even find yourself eyeing the same dress as a celebrity.