Los Angeles private tours are a great way to explore the city’s iconic destinations. However, there are some important things to keep in mind before going on any tour in LA.
Keep reading for 10 tips that will improve your tour experience.
1. Charge your phone beforehand
So, let’s say you’re on your first Los Angeles tour; you’ve never been before, and you’re excited to take some awesome photos. Suddenly, in the middle of your experience, your phone dies, and you’re not able to capture those special moments.
Unfortunately, this can happen if you don’t come prepared. The good news is there’s a very simple solution—just charge your phone beforehand.
With so many sights to see in Los Angeles, a fully charged phone means you won’t end up experiencing disappointing interruptions and frustrations. It’s also a good idea to bring a portable charger, especially if you’re going on a half-day or full-day tour.
2. Consider bringing a small, lightweight backpack or tote bag
Another helpful tip for your Los Angeles private tour is to bring a small, lightweight backpack with some essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, and a snack.
Most tour companies in LA offer refreshments, but it’s always helpful to have extra water or a snack on hand to keep your energy level up.
Also, you’ll want to avoid heavy backpacks or any sort of heavy bag that can cause strain. Your backpack or tote bag should be as light as possible while bringing what you need.
3. Bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen
LA’s blue sunny skies are beautiful, yet bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat is often necessary. LA’s sun can get intense. Not only that, but the city gets about 284 sunny days per year. So, having these items on hand is a big help.
When it comes to sunglasses, we suggest bringing a pair that offers you 100% UV protection and has polarized lenses. For sunscreen, a broad-spectrum protection of SPF 30 or more should do the trick. For your hat, a baseball cap is usually sufficient, but any sort of hat with a 3-inch brim and neck cape to protect your neck is also helpful.
4. Bring some small props for photos
A big reason why people go on Los Angeles tours is to capture those special moments to share with friends, family, and followers on social media. To make your photos better, you might consider bringing some simple props that you can store in a light backpack or tote bag.
We’re not talking about anything major, difficult to carry, or otherwise distracting. Simple items like a hair tie to keep your hair out of your face when it’s windy out or a colorful scarf to add a pop of color to your photos are all you need for that extra touch.
While we’re on the topic of photos, the time of day is also really important to consider, so plan accordingly, whether you want a bright daytime photo, a sunset photo, or something else. At Another Side Tours, we offer several tours daily and hourly upon request.
5. Wear comfortable shoes
Los Angeles is a big place, and its heavy tourist areas are pedestrian-friendly. So, during your private tour, you’ll likely spend a fair amount of time walking. Of course, it depends on the tour. On some tours, you spend most of your time in a vehicle, but let’s say, for instance, you want to explore the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You’ve got to go on foot.
That said, it’s better to be comfortable than aching the entire time because your shoes suck. We get it. A lot of guests want to dress fancy for their Hollywood tour experience, but you generally want to avoid high heels, pointed-toe shoes, or any type of footwear that makes it difficult to walk long distances. This is especially true if you plan on going on a hiking tour to the Hollywood Sign!
Trust us; wear the right shoes. You’ll thank us later!
6. Choose an off-peak day if you prefer less crowded experiences
Los Angeles receives about 49.1 million tourists per year, so as you can imagine, it’s a pretty busy place. But this is part of what makes it so fun. Not only that, but tour companies get big groups of people who go out together and share cool experiences. There are so many interesting people you can meet and so much you can experience on a big group tour. However, not everybody wants to tour with a big group on a super busy day.
Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends, especially in popular areas like Hollywood and Santa Monica, and scheduling a private tour on an off-peak day will give you a more laidback and personal experience.
7. Be ready five minutes early for pick-up
Another great tip when going on a private tour in Los Angeles is to be ready for pick-up just a little bit early. Many of our tours include round-trip transportation from your location in LA (within 10 miles of our office), and being ready a few minutes early ensures a smooth start to the day.
It keeps the tour on schedule, but it also lets you settle in, meet the tour guide and your fellow tourists, and prepare for an amazing experience!
When you tour with Another Side Tours, you can also meet us at our office, in which case the same concept applies. Showing up a little bit early will make your experience better.
8. Check the weather forecast the day
Although it only rains 34 days a year in Los Angeles, keeping an eye on the weather forecast is still a good idea. This is because you still have roughly a 1 in 11 chance of encountering rain on any given day in Los Angeles, and most tour companies in the city continue operating in light or even medium rain.
LA tours often include a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, so you could end up getting rained on if you aren’t prepared. Better to be safe than sorry!
The bottom line is: Checking the weather forecast helps keep you prepared.
9. Check accessibility if you have mobility challenges
Most of this list focuses on other aspects of private tours, but accessibility is a key issue that needs to be addressed. Remember, some tours are more accessible than others.
For example, if your tour is in a highly pedestrian area, you’re way more likely to find accessible crossings and ramps, level walkways, and flat, paved surfaces. On the other hand, certain tours may include stairs, steep inclines, uneven ground, or surfaces like cobblestone, loose gravel, or cracked pavement.
If you have mobility challenges, we encourage you to reach out to your chosen tour company beforehand to inquire about the accessibility.
10. Ask your guide about their favorite local hotspots
So, let’s say you’ve come to the end of your private Los Angeles tour, and you’ve had a great time, but you haven’t asked your tour guide what their favorite local hotspots are yet. It’s definitely a missed opportunity not to ask, so before you say your goodbyes, why not?
The answers you get might be completely out of the box. They might not even include any place you went to during your tour, which means you could have some future exploring to do!
Now that we’ve covered the 10 tips that will improve your experience, let’s look at how much private tours cost in Los Angeles.
How much do Los Angeles Private Tours cost?
Generally, you’ll pay $150 to $600 per person for a private tour in Los Angeles, with most standard private tours averaging about $300 per person. However, private VIP tours where you drive a long distance or explore LA in a limo can cost $2,000+.
At Another Side Tours, our Los Angeles Private Tours currently range from $169 to $2,198 per person. If you’re interested in a VIP limo tour, check out our Los Angeles Hummer VIP Limo Tour.
Note: Some tour companies in LA have a two-person minimum requirement for private tours. At Another Side Tours, our group size policies vary per tour. Most of our tours require a minimum of 2 guests to book, and solo travelers should expect to book for 2 as the minimum rate. While many of our tours allow for any group size, some are optimized for smaller groups, such as up to 6 guests in a stretch limousine or up to 8 guests in a Hummer limousine. For larger groups or special requests, please complete our Custom Tours contact form or call us directly.
Book a Los Angeles Private Tour with Another Side Tours
Ready to experience the best Los Angeles Private Tours? Come hang out with Another Side Tours. We offer group, semi-private, and private tour experiences that show you another side of Los Angeles. As one of the most highly awarded companies in the Western United States, we know what it takes to make your tour experience awesome and unforgettable.
Our expert tour guides are super friendly and always up for answering your questions and telling you more about the city. Los Angeles has a lot of hidden gems and interesting facts that often only professional guides know. There is a ton to learn, explore, and see, so come tour with us soon!
