Los Angeles is a year-round destination, with temperatures averaging in the mid-40s (Fahrenheit) in the winter and in the mid-80s during the summer. Los Angeles's hottest months are August and September. Most of the area's rain falls in January and February.

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

British Consulate

Czech Republic Consulate

French Consulate

German Consulate

Japanese Consulate

Business centers provide a range of services that include secretarial, translation/interpretation, and office services, including computer rentals, audio/visual equipment rentals, cellular phone rentals, copy and printing services, and temporary office space and staff.

Los Angeles Convention Center

ALS International Translation

Anytime Anyplace

Atlas Language Services

Berlitz Translation Services

Exotic Languages Agency

Services Unlimited International

A New York Minute Messenger Service

Freeway Messengers

Minute Man Delivery

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafes are available including:

Cyber Java

Passports valid for at least six months after arrival are required for all. In general, travelers visiting the U.S. are required visas. However, under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa. Citizens of Canada and Mexico do not need a visa but must carry proof of citizenship and identity.

Beginning October 26, 2004, all travelers, including children of any age, who want to travel visa-free to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must have a Machine-readable passport.

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms of tobacco, 1 liter of alcohol, and gifts worth up to $100. Meat products, seeds, plants, fruits, and hazardous goods are prohibited.

Area codes for the Los Angeles area include 213 (downtown), 323 (mid-city), 818 (San Fernando Valley), 310 (West Los Angeles and Santa Monica), 626 (Pasadena), and 562 (Long Beach).

Emergency police, fire, and ambulance

For local calls, dial the seven-digit telephone number. For long-distance calls within the U.S., dial 1, then the three-digit area code, then the seven-digit number. For long-distance calls outside the U.S., first dial 011 and the country code. Four special prefixes, "800," "888," "877," and "900," are not area codes but indicators of special services. "800," "888," and "877" are toll-free calls. The "900" numbers charge you for the call and are often expensive. For collect calls or operator-assisted calls, dial "0" instead of "1". For local directory assistance, dial 411. For long-distance information, dial 1, and then the appropriate area code followed by 555-1212.

The most common public phone is the coin-operated type. Telephone-card phones are becoming increasingly common.

There are several cellular service providers in the U.S., including: Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, and Sprint PCS. Mobile phone numbers follow the regular telephone number convention, with the seven-digit telephone number followed by the area code.

If you choose to bring your cellular phone into the U.S., be sure to check with your home cellular service provider to establish compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.

Foreign currency must be exchanged to U.S. dollars. Money can be exchanged at banks and various foreign-exchange services. Most restaurants, shops, and hotels will take travelers' checks and major credit cards. Travelers can also withdraw cash from ATMs.

The basic unit of U.S. currency is the dollar, which equals 100 cents. Coins are the copper penny (1 cent) and four silver coins: the nickel (5 cents), the dime (10 cents), the quarter (25 cents), and the half-dollar (50 cents). Silver $1 coins and "golden" dollar coins also exist. Paper bills come in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.

Los Angeles lies in the Pacific Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus eight hours). The city observes daylight-saving time.

Sales tax in Los Angeles is 8%. The tax on hotel rooms is 12% (17% in some areas outside Los Angeles).

110V AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat, two-pin type.

Getting from place to place in Los Angeles necessitates driving. Surprisingly, Los Angeles is not as intimidating as it seems to drive around. Do not expect to hail a cab while standing on a street corner. You must call in advance for a taxi in Los Angeles. Major hotels and airports have a constant stream of taxis. Since distances are great in Los Angeles, traveling by taxi can be very expensive. The standard rate for a taxi is US$1.90 plus US$1.60 per mile. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates one of the largest bus services in the U.S. (over 1,500 buses) and three train lines. They are open weekdays during normal business hours. Downtown Los Angeles has a special bussystem called DASH, which services around the downtown area. The Red Line runs underneath downtown beginning at Union Station. Trains run to the Civic Center and MacArthur Park before splitting, with some heading to the mid-Wilshire area and others going north toward Hollywood, with stops at Beverly, Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards and the intersection of Hollywood and Vine. The Blue Line extends from 7th Street in downtown to Long Beach. The Metro Green Line is a light rail line running east-west through Los Angeles County, serving Watts, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. The standard rate for bus or rail is US$1.35 one way. A weekly Metro pass (US$11) is good for unlimited rides on Metro Bus or Rail, or passengers can buy ten Metro tokens for US$9, good for one-way fares on either bus or rail.

No specific immunizations are needed to enter the United States. For more information, contact the Center for Disease Control at 800-342-2437.

L'Orangerie, one of the city's most formally elegant establishments, serves exquisite nouvelle French cuisine. For a stylish meal, try the Cinch, a gorgeous space with rock walls, water fountains and quartz candleholders, with an incredible Japanese-inspired menu. Distinguished and roomy, La Cachette features sumptuous, healthy California-style French dishes. Meanwhile, Spago impresses with its size and design. A favourite setting for power lunches of fine American Continental cuisine is Musso and Frank. Joss has a reputation in Los Angeles for its stylish, minimalist interior and its finely nuanced Chinese cuisine. Cozy Matsuhisa has made a name for itself with refined Japanese flavors. The best place to get Mexican food is the very traditional El Cholo.

A large selection of entertainment collectibles can be found along the Universal CityWalk, next to Universal Studios, and in shops located near other studios and recreation sites. Some suggestions include classic film posters and Mickey Mouse memorabilia.

Melrose Avenue is home to many interesting shops specializing in twentieth-century antiques, as well as many unique fashion boutiques. For luxury brands and designer fashions, legendary Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, off Wilshire Boulevard, and surrounding shopping areas are a shopper's heaven.

Both Paramount and Universal Studios offer tours that show how some of that movie magic is created. Another highly visited site is the Walk of Fame in Central Hollywood. The Getty Center and the Museum of Contemporary Arts both house extensive art collections. For classical music fans, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra is considered one of the world's finest.

Disneyland remains one of the area's most frequented attractions. The beach is also a popular choice, and driving along the coast provides you with a chance to enjoy the spectacular Southern Californian scenery.

At night, Sunset Boulevard is one of the liveliest areas. Pasadena's Old Town and the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade also offer vibrant nightlife. Bar Marmont, Bird's, and Skybar are some of the city's most fashionable bars. Comedic performances can be seen at The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store and The Improvisation.