WORST Scams and Tourist Traps in Los Angeles (Watch Before You Go) !

Never, ever! Visit Venice beach! Ever!

Incredible alternatives in LA:

Instead of Santa Monica or Venice, go to Leo Carillo in Malibu. Free parking on the PCH. It's about 30 mins away, WAY less crowded, unbeatable views, and a classic filming location with beautiful coves.

Instead of the Grove, go to the Glendale Americana. If you want a mid range boogie shopping/dining experience, you'll find it less crowded and with free parking at the Galleria parking garage. Cheesecake Factory, Aritzia, David Yurman, Anthropologie, a movie theater, and the Galleria itself. You can also head across the street for a super cool hole in the wall Museum of Neon Art.

You wanna see art? Check out the Getty, the Getty Villa, the Hammer, or the Broad. All free. The Getty has classic art - Van Gogh, Monet, ancient art, etc - and the Hammer is a contemporary museum with a ton of art from local artists. The Broad is famous for its exhibitions - right now you can see the Keith Haring exhibition, as well as stuff from Warhol, Koons, Murakami, and Scharf.

For classic LA paid but unbeatable experiences:
- impeccable, star studded theater at the Kirk Douglas, Pantages, or Mark Tapir Forum
- side splitting comedy at The Improv or The Comedy Store (cheaper and sometimes less quality shows at Groundlings or UCB)
- stunning drag shows at Mickeys and Rocco's in WeHo. For something more gritty, go to Precinct downtown.
- total zen at the Huntington botanical gardens
- cutting edge artwork at MOCA
- beautiful ocean life at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

More free stuff:
- for a nature workout, instead of the Hollywood Sign, find a set of outside stairs with a view at the top. My fav is the Baxter Stairs in Echo Park
- a stroll through Griffith Park or hike on their trails is also lit, and at the top is the free Griffith Observatory. You have to pay for the Planetarium but it's SO worth it. A tourist destination for sure but INCREDIBLE views and the Planetarium is worth every penny of the $8 or whatever.
- swan boating in Echo Park Lake

For food:
- Tacos la Calle in Highland Park
- Guisados downtown or in Silverlake
- breakfast at Pat & Lorraines where they filmed Reservoir Dogs
- Gam tu Bop hand rolled inexpensive Sushi rolls in Glendale
- Poppy & Rose brunch on Wall St downtown - terrible location, delicious food
- Reel Inn in Malibu. On the way back from Leo Carillo, hit this spot for some crazy good seafood. shrimp & pasta divine
- Baracoa Cuban Cafe in Atwater Village
- the farmers market in Atwater Village
- Thai Angel in Koreatown
- the food truck collective in North Hollywood in NoHo park on Thursdays - Pupusas, Cheesteaks, Poutine... its all there

Cute hole in the wall Bars:
- El Prado in Silverlake
- Club Tee Gee in Atwater Village
- The Cha Cha Lounge on the east side
- Oracle Tavern on state street
- Bar Franca and The Falls Lounge downtown

Cute places to get coffee:
- Jurassic Magic Coffeehouse in Mid Wilshire
- Wish House in Burbank
- Groundwork Coffee on Traction st.

AVOID:
- Hollywood Blvd. Every time I see someone there taking pictures I feel so sad for them. It smells like pee and it's covered in trash. Like the video says, go to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for Cinespia movie night instead.
- Venice Beach. WHY?! It's a less fun Santa Monica Beach. For sure love the Venice Canals though

Where were the scams? Never seen fake monk scam in LA. Nice video overall but these aren’t scams or real scams that happen in LA.

It's nice that the pier gift shop sells cheap postcards. They know it'll be crowded a lot of the time so they know they can make a profit even if the postcards are very cheap. The prices are actually a bit cheaper than New York, LOL...

cd guys met up with monk guys.....they have a drink

there is a reason why they dont try this in dallas

guns guns guns

Did anyone else read Crossdresser Guys?

When it comes to seeing celebrities on Rodeo Dr, it's literally a 50/50 chance!! There's tons of celebrities living in LA. I took my first trip to Cali last week and all I was hearing was "Don't expect to see any celebrities on Rodeo"... My best advice: don't expect to see any but don't be surprised if you do! I happened to see Jaden Smith shopping at LV on a random Thursday afternoon! Bro took a pic with my mom and everything :)

This felt like i'm watching someone playing GTA 5

Venice Beach is gross...drug addicts and homeless people all over Hollywood is the same. I live an hour away from Los Angeles it's not like it used to be. Santa Monica is still okay, Pismo is okay..

Never knew Los Angeles city hall had a observation deck but will check it out later this month! I will definitely check out the art gallery you went to! Have a wonderful day

Walk of Fame is not like that anymore. It's full of homeless, the whole place smell like pee. Feels like you will get rob anytime. Should be renamed to Walk of Shame now.

And yes out of staters you can buy weed legally in the many dispensaries in LA

My friend took a CD and gave the guy $20 😂 and the CD only had two songs

You missed the flower district , fashion district, great deals and negotiating.

So many goddamn scams all over California its ridiculous

Stupid show how they operate

Stupid show how they operate

Plan to go there on November!

Thanks!

Hi, is the public transportation good to move around LA?

watch out for the cd scam! someone will ask where you from an what your name is and write your name on cd an try sale it to you! It’s awkward as hell

Los Angeles, city of angels, city of devils.

Shame it was mostly taken over by tent cities now.

Watched this whole video to find out how I can get scammed by a chick in a bikini only to find out I got scammed by this video.

Don't waste your money and time visiting LA, go to New York!

Film again in 2035... Then I will change my mind

Here be Barr, you really did your research. Gotta applaud you!

BTS used to be "CD guys" lol they used to pass out flyers for free concerts. XD

My grand dad is a fake monk

Makes me cringe when I see people touching the walk of fame stars, like do they not realize that homeless people use them as bathrooms?

You missed the best place in Los Angeles famous skid row

Why would anybody go there? It sounds like hell

LA native here. Biggest scams and rip-offs in the city? City Hall. There's no close second.

Duse i experience almost every one I've been here so many rimes

Been to the tourist traps once before. My wife is Asian. We always go to Westminster and Garden grove every other year just to eat..

Booooring

The movie Tourist Trap tho.

You forgot the ''Tanks Scam at Venice Beach'' where they charge you 20 times more and keeping your card if you don't pay!

How did you photoshop out the homeless tents?

Right now you wouldn't want to walk the canal streets. It can be almost impossible with all the homeless camp locations there

i assume those mascots are homeless (like Jimmy Kimmel says)

Fuck The CD dudes ! They got them in New Orleans but I haven't seen them lately. I hate people who just approach you with some lame ass scam!

I grew up near Alhambra ("al-ham-bra") and
I agree with your tourist trap choices. Back in the day we would buy incense and summer bathing suits in Santa Monica and Venice (Thursday mornings were best). I remember Hollywood and Highland when it was a pit of despair: a drive out 3rd Street from Alvarado to the west side will take you through several ethnic areas and great places to eat. The Olvera Street food counter you filmed is known for taquitos, my friends and I would make runs there just for a taquito plate. ARCO Plaza was another great night walk.
Thanks for the memories...

Al-ham-ra.

WHERE IS THE RHCP MURAL

Last time I saw a CD guy anywhere was in 2012. I cannot imagine this is as much of a problem now a it used to be. As most young people, myself included, do not even have a way to play CDs anymore. I would have to ask my parents if I could use a CD player that they had. Is there even music on them or are they just blank CDs? I assumed that there was actually music on them as the people I remember would offer for you to listen to it first sometimes. I just assumed that they were struggling, likely talentless, rappers who legit thought that that was a good idea to make money. But thinking about it, if it is a scam, and not just shitty marketing, why would they not just put blank CDs out there and have people buy them? The best part is that even the people who actually succumb to the sales pitch, will never actually listen to the CD, they would almost certainly just throw them away.