Best Hollywood tour bus?

August 20, 2011 1:03 AM

A dear friend from overseas is visiting me on her first trip to L.A... but unfortunately I'm going through a bit of a rough patch health-wise, and so can't help her sightsee as much as I'd like. She's expressed interest in hopping on one of the Hollywood bus tours while I get some rest over the weekend, but I have no idea which ones are best and which ones to avoid. Any former tourists to my fair city have any suggestions?
posted by scody to Travel & Transportation around Los Angeles, LA (6 answers total)

I've never been on one, but Scram runs Esotouric and those always look great. Hope you feel better soon.
posted by sleepy pete at 1:31 AM on August 20, 2011

Lots of love for Esotouric, but the Starline 24-hour hop-on, hop-off tour is a screamin' deal at $35/adult. Those are the ones with the big double-decker busses. Between the three routes they cover everything from downtown to Santa Monica. I walk by the Stop 7 in Beverly Hills pretty regularly, and the people there waiting for a bus never seem tooo miserable, usually just a bit sunburnt.
posted by carsonb at 5:51 AM on August 20, 2011

Thanks for the kind words. My husband and I get this question all the time, because Esotouric only goes out on the weekends (it's the Bukowski tour today). So in June we formed a consortium of independent, well-reviewed L.A. tour guides called 7 Days in L.A. There are now 20 participating members and a pretty full calendar, so maybe your friend will find something here.
posted by Scram at 9:34 AM on August 20, 2011

If your pal wants some folks to hang out w in Hollywood/east Hollywood, hit up me or klang....we'd be happy to play tour guide.
posted by holyrood at 10:44 AM on August 20, 2011

I think Starline is the one to do for people who are perhaps first-time visitors to LA, and who really want to see all the classic sights. But if she's going to ride on top she definitely needs a hat and sunscreen.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:56 AM on August 20, 2011

Have her come to the Hollywood Farmer's Market tomorrow. (Yogurt is on me!) Then have lunch at Stout's (they're supposed to have great burgers) visit Amoeba and catch a movie at the Arclight. (all in a three block radius) Then walk down Hollywood Blvd. to Max Factor Museum on Highland, then dinner and martini's at Musso and Franks's.

That'll cover a lot of territory and be more of an adventure. Hollywood at it's coolest ; )
posted by goalyeehah at 11:16 AM on August 20, 2011