Tip #1: Parking. It's normally a hassle in our everyday lives, then we start talking airport parking? Forget it. Or not! We always park with a third-party, off-site parking company like Winner. For a discounted daily rate, you can park your car at their lot, and a drive will take you to the airport in your own car, drop you off, and pick you up when you get back from your trip. Can it get any easier than that?!
Tip #2: On the topic of cars... if you're planning on going to LA, you're going to need a rental car. For sure. The public transportation there isn't as widespread as it is in cities like Philly and New York, so be prepared to drive a lot. Many airports offer an on-site, or nearby car rental option and shuttles to get you where you need to go.
While we could have opted for the flashy upgrade to a new Mustang, we kept our cool and drove this little Chevy all around town– stunna's some might say.
Tip #3: Airport 101, we're talking all things security, how to pack and what to pack. There are tons of travel blogs, packing lists and recommendations out there, but here's the low-down...
1) Stick to a carry on and personal item if you're traveling for a short amount of time. It saves you money and the headache of waiting for your checked bags (if they've even made it to your destination).
We choose to travel with our Atlas Supply Co. backpacks because they're OH SO STYLISH, durable, and they have compartments to hold pretty much everything you need to travel with. Now they come in leather and a heavy-duty canvas!
2) Bring a jacket or sweater. You might sweat running to your terminal, but once you get on that plane, I swear the temperature drops like 10 degrees.
3) Bring snacks and an empty water bottle, cause airport food is PRICY. (Or just save some bacon from your lunch for the plane ride home– see 2 photos below...)
4) Most planes offer wifi at a small fee, but if you're chea-- I mean, thrifty like us, bring a Sudoku book, a fully loaded iPod, sketchbook, deck of cards, something to entertain yourself for your flight. Nothing's worse than having nothing to do, staring at the balding man in the seat in front of you...
Whether you're a nervous plane rider or not, cocktails are always a good idea. These Carry on Cocktail Kits from W&P Design are the perfect carry-on and they make great gifts for just about anyone. We opted for the classic Moscow Mule kits, and sometimes, just sometimes the airplane stewardesses will give you (multiple) servings of free alcohol... #blessed.
We're *great on planes, can't you tell?
Tip #4: Lodging. This is the age of Airbnb, people– hotels are too freaking expensive! We opted for an Airbnb in the heart of one of LA's little neighborhoods, Silver Lake to get a little different experience. Staying downtown in the midst of a city is great, but there's a lot you miss when you're confined to one area. Also having a rental car helped us to explore beyond our house.
We actually had a shared house with other guests, but had our own little room– Ikea galore! It was the perfect spot to relax and rest up after a long day of sightseeing and adventuring.
Also this backyard area was a major bonus– complete with a hammock!
Traveling doesn't have to be stressful, unless you end up waiting 1.5hrs in line for your rental car, but that's LAX for ya! You'll need a whole lot of patience, excitement and flexibility when traveling anywhere, and if you've got that, you're set to go!
BON VOYAGE, FRIENDS.
