Travel expert Chelsea Dickenson revealed the most overrated holiday destination – I agree (Image: Getty)
Cheap Holiday Expert Chelsea Dickenson is a globe-trotter, always on the lookout to make holidays more affordable for anyone and everyone. As someone as well-versed in travel as Chelsea, there must be one place she’d definitely not return to? Is there somewhere so overrated that you should dissuade your thoughts from ever considering?
Chelsea recently partnered up with Boots to curate ready-to-go bundles containing all the essentials for festivals, beach trips, and adventures so customers can get the essentials items they need in one place, and without having to fork out a small fortune. There’s one place Chelsea can’t seem to get on with – and I agree. “The one place that I can’t seem to fall in love with, I’m willing to give it another try, but have you ever been to LA?” she asked.
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The constant gridlock and lack of public transport around the city multiplies journey times by infinity (Image: Ellen Jenne)
Chelsea’s question verberated my soul, because I knew that my instincts about the city were shared, by an expert no least. I’d grown up with this idealistic image of Los Angeles in my head, which I’m sure is not uncommon.
The travel expert explained: “You can’t get anywhere without a car. It takes you an hour, two hours, to get anywhere. I understand how hilarious that is, me saying that when I live in London, it’s kind of the same, but the lack of public transport.”
As Chelsea’s driving force for travel is to find ways to make any holiday as affordable as possible, Los Angeles does not deliver. She argued that the shortcomings of the city would be tolerable if the price tag was low, but everything in the city is expensive.
Chelsea said: “It’s very difficult for me as someone who loves good value, who loves public transport, who loves walking places, like, my favourite thing to do in a city is to walk around, go get some drinks, you know sit out.
“It’s not really that experience, unless you’re travelling to a place that’s like that and staying in one neighbourhood. I love me a walkable city, and unfortunately, look LA, maybe it’ll change my mind the next time I go, but it has yet to do that for me.”
Venice Beach has been known as a popular site for the homeless population to set up camp (Image: Getty)
‘The City of Angels’, home of Hollywood, glitz and glamour. However in reality, it had been the complete opposite.
Immediately as I left the airport, the taxi weaving through new streets, the distinct lack of care for the city’s infrastructure became apparent. Streets were dirty, littered, and run down to within an inch of its life. LA’s veil had been lifted to reveal the grimy truth hidden below the flashing lights of Hollywood’s facade.
While many people complain about London’s hygiene, the city where I live, I can honestly attest to say it will be nowhere near as bad as LA. Of course London has older buildings which may need maintenance and it can become awfully messy, it still feels clean. Although I wouldn’t advise taking a dip in the Thames.
This sentiment is shared by a friend of mine, who recently visited Los Angeles for work. In the six-year gap between our respective trips, the dirt still remained.
The lack of hygiene only seemed to amplify the ginormous wealth inequality experienced in the city. You can drive up one road flanked by Mediterranean-style mansions, turn a corner and face dilapidated shops, offices and apartments, right on the fridges of the likes of Beverly Hills.
Everyone drives a car, leading to gridlock across the city – not good if you’re on a schedule (Image: Getty)
These places stand side-by-side, with one half splurging on designer goods in Rodeo Drive, the other half roaming deserted streets.
I feel like living in London, there’s a wealth of public transport. Okay, yes, sometimes it may be delayed or halted, but there’s always some possibility of getting around town.
Public transport in Los Angeles is virtually non-existent, therefore everyone owns a car. A by-product of this is the constant gridlock, where it takes you two hours to complete a 30 minute drive.
We experienced this by attempting to visit Griffith Observatory, driving through Culver City and Koreatown. Along the way, we noticed a few homeless people milling through traffic stopped at lights, forcing ourselves to lock the car in an unknown area.
Homelessness is another major issue faced by the city. I’ve never seen anything quite like it before, and certainly nothing like it since.
One of the popular pastimes of the city is cycling along the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, a mere 15 minute cycle. A dedicated path allows for cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers alike, taking in the SoCal sun.
A grass verge separates the bike path from the shorefront road, where homeless people set up camp along the tourist stop. Tent after makeshift tent houses individuals and families trying to keep shelter.
It was really a sad sight to see, because everyone around seems uninterested in helping those in need. They’ve become a part of the furniture as swathes of locals and tourists watch buff men show off their over muscular physiques and surfers trying to catch a wave.
Los Angeles is also home to Skid Row, an area of the city that spans 50 blocks as an unofficial “containment area” for homeless shelters and services. This was established in 1976.
The city is a place full of glut, over consumption and is a stark reminder of the disparities of wealth. Popular tourist destinations of Hollywood are wall to wall of people trying to manoeuvre around each other trying to spot their favourite celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, clashing as they do so. There’s people everywhere.
That’s not to say that the entire city is devoid of any culture, entertainment, or essence. But with faults glaring you in the face everywhere you turn, it’s difficult to enjoy it to its fullest. If this is the ‘American Dream’? I ain’t buying it.
Prices are correct at the time of writing.
The ready-to-go bundles will be available on boots.com containing all the essentials for festivals, beach trips, and adventures. The three bundles are £20 each, consisting of five to seven products and with savings of over £10.