A "Budget-Friendly" LA Guide:

Let's face it, Los Angeles is an expensive place. However, during my recent trip to LA I found out about the GO LA Pass, which turned out to be one of the most value-for-money passes I have ever used. I got myself the 5-day pass, and with that, I managed to visit most of LA's top attractions and save over $200 (!) in entrance fees.

This GO LA Pass can be purchased online on Klook at a discount, then shown on your mobile device/ as a print out to enter each attraction. There's usually no need to collect any tickets or passes upon landing in LA, making it very convenient and hassle-free!


Here's a breakdown of how I used my pass -

Day 1: Santa Monica and Venice Beach

1. Bike Rental from Perry's Beach Café and Rentals
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD35
Address: 2400 Ocean Front Walk (there are a few Perry's stations but the GO LA pass can only be redeemed at this one)

Santa Monica and Venice Beach are two beach towns that overlook the Pacific Ocean. While Santa Monica is more family-friendly, Venice Beach is better known for its bohemian spirit, colourful murals and beautiful canals. There is a beautiful boardwalk that connects Santa Monica to Venice Beach, so both towns can easily be explored in a day with a bike.


I rented my bike from Perry's Beach Cafe and Rentals. With your GO LA pass, you can redeem all-day rental of either a Mountain Bike or Roller-skates, including locks if necessary.



2. Pacific Park
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD34.95
Address: 380 Santa Monica Pier

In the late afternoon, I headed back to Santa Monica to visit Pacific Park. This amusement park is built on a pier and you've probably seen it featured in countless movies and television shows (including Hannah Montana!) There are over a dozen rides to enjoy, and your GO LA Pass gives you access to unlimited rides all day.



Day 2: Hollywood

1. Hollywood Museum
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD15
Address: 1660 N. Highland Ave

I started my day at Hollywood's official museum. This museum contains the world's most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia spread across four themed floors. The first floor was home to Max Factor's famous make-up rooms. These rooms were where Hollywood actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor found their signature look under the talented hands of Max Factor.


The Dungeon of Doom in the basement showcased props from Hollywood's most iconic horror films, while the third and fourth floors were dedicated to a range of exhibits including superhero films, LGBTQ films and special effects. Admission is included in your GO LA pass.



2. Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: Saved USD69
Address: 3400 W. Riverside Dr

Next, I took an uber up into Burbank for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. This tour brings you right in the thick of action at Warner Bro's 110-acre film backlot. We saw the exact facades where movies like Casablanca, Friends, the Greatest Showman and La La Land were filmed, and even stepped into the soundstage where the Ellen Show tapes!


Finally, the tour ends at an interactive gallery where we learnt about the key phases in film production. My favourite bit was the one on sound mixing - they broke down an excerpt from "Gravity" and showed us all the different layers of sound that make up what we hear in cinemas today. Super interesting!

The GO LA pass includes entry to the Studio Tour but you should make a reservation by emailing studio.tour@warnerbros.com. Do take note that as this is a real working studio, children under 8 are not permitted.



Day 3: Universal Studios Hollywood (USH)

1. Universal Studios Hollywood


The 3/5/7-day GO LA Passes include 1-day admission into Universal Studios Hollywood. This is a crazy saving and pretty much makes the cost of your pass worth it already. USH needs no introduction - I had tons of fun exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Springfield USA and so much more.

Check out my other article here for some tips on how to conquer the park in just one day!



Day 4: Griffith Observatory and Downtown LA

1. Griffith Observatory/ Hollywood Hills Hike 
No visit to LA is complete without a photo at the iconic Hollywood sign. If you want to get closer, you can join the Hollywood Hills Hike by Bikes & Hikes LA. This experience includes an exclusive tour of the Griffith Park Observatory and also brings you up on a guided hike to the iconic Hollywood sign. This tour is also part of the GO LA Pass. I did actually want to join but were feeling pretty tired that day so I took an uber up to the Griffith Observatory instead, where I got to peek at the Hollywood sign from afar.


2. OUE Skyspace LA
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD25
Address: 633 W 5th Street

I made my way downtown to catch the sunset at OUE Skyspace LA - California's tallest open-air observation deck. The view from the 69th floor is stunning and you can even slide down one floor via a suspended glass slide - very cool! Admission is included in your GO LA Pass, but you'll need to top up $8 for the Sky Slide.



Day 5: Six Flags Magic Mountains


If you love roller-coasters and thrill rides, you'll be glad to know that 1-day admission into Six Flags Magic Mountains is also included in the GO LA pass. I rode 8 coasters in total that day and my favourites were X2 (this ride is full of surprises!), Twisted Colossus (best drop and most fun!) and Full Throttle (fast and furious).


So all in all, for 5 days of travel, I should have spent a whooping USD462.94 (approx. SGD633) on admission tickets. In comparison, the 5-day GO LA Pass costs only SGD368 on Klook. Thanks to that, I managed to save about SGD265 over 5 days. Super awesome and I definitely recommend buying this pass if you're visiting LA.

I hope you found this guide useful! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM at @shuutravels on Instagram :)

Disclaimer: My GO LA Pass was kindly gifted by Klook but all opinions are my own.