The US ESTA Visa guide for your holidays in Hollywood

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The ESTA Visa Guide. The US ESTA Visa is the US Governments electronic travel authorization. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security manages the VWP which issues the electronic Visa USA. The advantage of the US ESTA VISA compared to the regular US Visa is, that you can do it from home and don’t have to waste time visiting the US Embassy. The ESTA Visa only takes a maximum of 72 hours to be processed and is valid for 2 years. In addition, the ESTA Visa allows for multiple visits to the USA of a maximum of 90 days per visit and a total of 180 days per year. Plenty of time to explore this magnificent country. Complete your US ESTA application today and the wonders of Hollywood with your favorite film stars await you.

The US ESTA Visa guide to Hollywood

“Everybody comes to Hollywood. They wanna make it in the neighborhood. They like the smell of it in Hollywood. How could it hurt you when it looks so good?” – Madonna. No name evokes the magic of cinema than Hollywood. You may find it interesting to know that there is no official city with the name “Hollywood.” North Hollywood? Yes. West Hollywood? Yes. But only “Hollywood”? Nope, there’s no such pace, officially. However, there’s no denying that the fantasy of Hollywood exists in the imaginations of millions across the globe.

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What we can see today in Hollywood differs significantly from what was there in its glorious era. All the great studios except one (Paramount) have moved a few miles further north for more spacious facilities. Most stars have resided in affluent residential areas between West Hollywood and Malibu, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Brentwood. 

Hollywood is a part of LA

Despite the dispersion of the movie industry, Hollywood’s iconic attractions make it a must for every Los Angeles itinerary. Stop by the TCL Chinese Theater and take a picture with your favourite celebrity’s wax replica at Madame Tussauds. At Universal Studios Hollywood, you can enjoy 3-in-1 LA experiences: the studio tour, theme park, and the outdoor mega-marketplace. Hollywood is known for its exclusive nightclubs and eclectic bars. Sound Nightclub, Drai’s Hollywood, Create Nightclub, and Boulevard3 are some of the many options. Visit the Hollywood Museum and attend a concert, event, or an outdoor movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. 

 

Find all the information you need, from sightseeing to accommodations and restaurants, to plan your perfect holiday in Hollywood.

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Flying from the UK to Hollywood on Holiday

Located 20 km southwest of Hollywood, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the fourth largest airport in the world by attendance. Around 65 million passengers transit through it each year. The airport serves major airlines and has direct flights from large American and European cities, including London. British Airways, American Airlines, United, Air New Zealand, and Norwegian Airlines have non-stop flights from London to LA. The cheapest economy fares are from Norwegian, starting from $409 for a round trip. Round-trip business class tickets are usually around $3000 if you book two months in advance.

Lounges at LAX

Los Angeles International Lounge

Location: On 6th floor (departures level) at the International terminal

Opening hours: 6 am to last departure

Facilities: Wi-Fi, snacks and drinks, TV, fax, magazines, newspapers, power outlets

Access: Fiji Airways, Philippine Airlines, and Hong Kong Airlines executive class passengers, premium economy passengers of Japan Airlines Tabua Club members

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The Emirates Lounge

Location: Southern end of level 6 at International terminal

Opening hours: 12:40 pm to 4:40 pm

Facilities: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, TV, Wi-Fi, printers and copiers, premium meals, showers, prayer room

Access: Emirates higher class passengers, Skywards Platinum, as well as Gold members. Days passes start from $100.

Delta Sky Club

Locations: On the mezzanine floors of Terminal 2 and 3

Opening hours: 4:30 am to 0:30 am

Facilities: Bar, showers, Wi-Fi, telephones, food, power outlets, newspapers and magazines

Access: Delta Sky Club, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum or Gold, and American Express Platinum members. First and executive class passengers of Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam airlines. Paid entry at $59 per person.

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The ESTA Visa guide suggestions for your Holiday Accommodations in Hollywood

 

Choosing a place to stay in a big city can often be a daunting task. And in a decentralized metropolis like Los Angeles, distances pose an additional challenge. You can escape the hassle by defining your itinerary and staying in the neighborhoods near places to visit. Hollywood remains true to its reputation as a charming neighborhood, and several hotels offer a state-of-the-art experience. New hotels and spectacular renovations of historic buildings have something to meet the demands of all types of travelers. Here are some of our favorite hotels in and around Hollywood.

The ESTA Visa guide recommends – The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (4 Stars)

In operation since 1927, Hollywood Roosevelt takes you back in time to a more romantic era in Hollywood. Standing in downtown Hollywood, close to the TCL Chinese Theater, this 12-story Art Deco building was completely restored in 2005. Hollywood Roosevelt stands out not for its glamorous atmosphere, but also its service. The hotel has been a favorite place for many celebrities and hosted the first Oscar ceremony that took place in its spectacular ballroom. A restaurant and three bars, including the intimate Library Bar and Teddy’s nightclub sit in the main hall. On the terrace, you will find the Tropicana Bar surrounded by a pool where Marilyn Monroe regularly posed for photographs.

Magic Castle Hotel (3 Stars)

 

The Magic Castle Hotel has a layout and interior more like a condominium than a hotel. It has 40 spacious rooms and suites with modern decor around a garden and a large heated swimming pool. All units have a kitchenette, TV, and Wi-Fi. This place offers outstanding value for money and is ideal for families. Don’t forget to claim your free cookies and chocolates, and avail the laundry service. The hotel owes its name to Magic Castle, a nearby chateau-style club for magicians and magic-enthusiasts.

Hilton Checkers (4 Stars)

Nobody can confuse the Hilton Checkers with its giant cookie-cutter cousins. Set in an angular refurbished Art Deco edifice, the Checkers gives you the intimacy of a boutique hotel and the personalized service of a bed & breakfast. The hotel’s prime location puts you steps away from the historic Biltmore Hotel across the street, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The hotel has 188 guest rooms, each with spacious work areas and ergonomic swivel chairs. The Checkers restaurant will not disappoint you, with its French and California hybrid influences. For a small hotel, the latest cardio and strength training machines in the training room are welcoming surprises. On the open-air rooftop deck are a jacuzzi and small pool with panoramic views. 

Farmer’s Daughter Hotel (3 Stars)

Ideally set up on the intersection of West Hollywood, Hollywood, and Wilshire, this charming hotel offers a unique concept in Los Angeles. This boutique hotel incorporates the farm theme in many ways, ranging from checkered curtains to denim bedspread. The witty decoration adds to the friendly atmosphere of the place. The main building includes a three-story tower, lobby and a pool with floating rubber ducks. The Farmers’ Market, Grove – the shopping center, and the CBS Studios are just a short walk away from the hotel. A large terrace offers sweeping views of the surrounding area and allows access to the hotel restaurant, Tart. 

Sunset Tower Hotel (4 Stars)

The Sunset Tower Hotel is an Art Deco gem that dates from 1929. 64 Rooms, spread over 15 floors, display a chic and classic decoration, enhanced with Art Deco reproductions and distinctive furniture. The modern conveniences such as iPod docking stations and fast wireless internet are cherries on the top. Many of the rooms offer an impressive view of the city through their large windows. Celebrities such as Howard Hughes, Billie Burke, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Frank Sinatra have stayed in this hotel. Even today, it continues to attract the rich and famous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ESTA Visa – Sightseeing in Hollywood

 

Anywhere in the world, Hollywood immediately springs the images of the big screen, as well as of course movie-stars to people’s minds. Starry-eyed dreamers, enterprising schemers, rebel misfits, as well as creative eccentrics will always find a welcome mat upon their arrival in Hollywood. Visitors flock to Hollywood not just for its glamour, but also for California’s pleasant climate and abundant natural landscapes. Here’s a list of the best places to discover in Hollywood:

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Hollywood Walk of Fame

 

Smack dab in the middle of the most tourist-heavy portion of the city sits the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The essential function of The Walk of Fame is to honor achievement in the entertainment industry. More than 2,500 five-pointed brass and terrazzo stars are embedded in the sidewalk along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street. The stars in the path serve as permanent, public, and symbolic monuments to high achievement in the entertainment industry. 

The Walk of Fame honors actors, musicians, directors, and producers (as well as a few individuals who don’t neatly fit into any of those categories). For the most part, honorees must have excelled in one of five categories. These categories are movies, television, music, radio, and live performance. Though quite a few individuals have received stars in more than one category, only Gene Autrey has received stars in all five categories.

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The El Capitan Theater

 

The El Capitan Theater is a fully restored movie theatre located in the heart of Hollywood. The Walt Disney Company now owns the theatre and it serves as a venue for films made by Disney Studios. The El Capitan is also a lavishly designed theatre that has been in operation since 1926. Over the years, the theatre has changed ownership several times. At present, the theatre features a 2,500-pipe organ that is played before showings. A Disney store featuring every conceivable piece of Disney memorabilia sits adjacent to the theatre. Besides, the theatre also includes a museum that exhibits artwork and set pieces from the film currently playing.

The Hollywood Sign

 

In a city filled with distinguishing landmarks, The Hollywood Sign sits high above all the others. Literally. Located in the Hollywood Hills, the world-famous sign overlooks the entire city of Los Angeles. The Hollywood Sign has long become a global symbol of the glamour and glitz of the entertainment business. But, surprisingly, it first appeared on the hillside in 1923 as an advertising gimmick for a real-estate development called “Hollywoodland.” 

Each letter is 45 feet tall and made of sheet metal that is painted white. You can find the most dead-on view from below the sign on Beachwood Drive. Getting up close and personal to the sign is strictly forbidden. However, for those of you who would like to get as (legally) close as possible, you can hike along the dirt road on Mount Lee Drive. Once there, you’ll find yourself directly above (and behind) the sign. From this vantage point, you’ll also be able to take in a full 360-degree view of the city.

The Hollywood Museum

 

The Hollywood Museum sits on Highland Avenue in the former Max Factor Building. The world’s most extensive collection of Hollywood movie memorabilia features movie props, sets, costumes, and also over 1,000 vintage photographs. You will also find a vast library, a screening room, and a gift shop. The Hollywood Museum consists of three floors. You’ll find this level to be an oasis of marble, crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, and potted palms. The second floor focuses primarily on the costumes worn by actors from famous films. The third floor is an exciting mix of Hollywood artifacts. Items on this floor range from the earliest Technicolor films to a Roman-style bed that appeared in the movie, “Gladiator.” The basement consists of a mock-up of the cell from the movie, “The Silence of the Lambs.”

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The TCL Chinese Theater

 

The TCL Chinese Theater sits in the center of Hollywood along the Walk of Fame. While this theatre is an excellent place to catch a movie, it’s best known for the handprints and footprints of film legends. The theatre officially opened on May 18, 1927. This date saw the premiere of “The King of Kings,” a film by the legendary director, Cecil B. DeMille. Over the years, this place has maintained a tradition as the host of blockbuster premieres, not least of which was the 1977 premiere of “Star Wars”. The TCL Chinese Theater is home to the world’s largest IMAX (based on seating capacity).

The Hollywood Bowl

 

The Hollywood Bowl is a beautiful outdoor amphitheater nestled in the Hollywood Hills. This 18,000-seat venue is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States. Designed in an Art Deco style, the Bowl first opened to the public in 1922. While the amphitheater acoustics are superb, many visitors believe that what makes the Hollywood Bowl so special is the setting. The lush green Hollywood Hills encompass the Bowl from all sides.

 

Additionally, the Bowl plays host to Los Angeles Philharmonic and an Independence Day concert that features an elaborate fireworks show. From classical to reggae, from rock to rap, from jazz to pop – the Hollywood Bowl has seen them all. The Beatles, The Who, Elton John, as well as Queen, and Linkin Park are some of the renowned groups that have performed here.

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Hollywood Boulevard

 

Souvenir shops, museums, as well as a massive entertainment complex called Hollywood & Highland lines Hollywood Boulevard’s mile-long main stretch. On this street, you’ll have the opportunity to feast your eyes on a Times Square-like display of billboards and neon signs. Visitors, but also bored locals alike take advantage of the vast array of shopping featured within the complex. By night, the street comes alive with a different type of energy as dressed-up diners descend on trendy restaurants such as Katsuya. Buzzing with activity 24/7, Hollywood Boulevard is also a vibrant destination for sightseers, people-watchers, as well as those looking for the best party scene in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

 

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, more commonly known as LACMA, is home to over 120,000 works of art. It hosts over a million visitors per year on its 20-acre site. LACMA is also the largest museum west of the Mississippi River. Several sections divide the works at LACMA, including Modern and Contemporary Art, American and Latin American Art, Asian Art, Greek and Roman Art, and Decorative Arts and Design. You can find works by noted artists such as Joan Miro, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, and Jeff Koons. These are on display in the Modern and Contemporary Art section. Within the American and Latin American Art area, you’ll find a comprehensive pre-Columbian collection. It includes an array of 17th and 18th-century Spanish Colonial pieces.

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The ESTA Visa guide to the best restaurants in Hollywood

 

The great ethnic diversity, as well as the recent craze of the Angelenos towards the foodie movement, provide a variety of cuisines that will satisfy any visitor. Creative and appreciated for the freshness of its ingredients, Californian cuisine is in the spotlight in many restaurants in Hollywood. The spots listed below all possess a unique connection to the city. More than mere places to eat, they are also places that will provide you with an experience that you can only find in Los Angeles.

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ESTA Visa likes the hot dogs – Pink’s (Budget)

 

If you’re a fan of hot dogs, a trip to Hollywood must include a visit to Pink’s. This iconic hot dog stand has been bringing joy to the city for generations. Many of the hot dogs at Pink’s are famously named after Hollywood celebrities. Often, the celebrity-named dogs are versions of what that celebrity actually put in their custom order. For example, the “Martha Stewart Dog” includes mustard, relish, onions, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, bacon, and also, of course, sour cream. The “Ozzy Spicy Dog,” named for Ozzy Osbourne, features a Polish sausage, American cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, as well as chopped tomatoes. 

Barney’s Beanery (Medium Level)

 

Barney’s began in the 1920s as the quintessential LA roadhouse. And the hundreds of automobile license plates that decorate the walls and ceiling prove that business was good. In the early days, Barney’s was a favorite of top actors like Clark Gable and Errol Flynn. Years later, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison were regular patrons. Janis Joplin had drinks there the night before her death. And coolest of all, Quentin Tarantino wrote the entire screenplay for the classic “Pulp Fiction” while holed up in his favorite Barney’s booth. In addition to offering 45 different styles of chili, the Beanery provides classics such as waffles, pancakes, burgers, and also burritos. Complete with three pool tables and also some old-school pinball machines, Barney’s remains a high-quality hangout.

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The ESTA Visa guide absolute favorite – Yamashiro (Top Level)

 

The wealthy Bernheimer brother built Yamashiro in 1914 as a private museum with an extensive collection of Asian art. Sitting on the eastern edge of the Hollywood Hills, the site was transformed into a restaurant in the 1960s. Chefs Jason Park and Brock Kleweno have come together to devise an award-winning array of California-Asian cuisine. The menu at Yamashiro is wide-ranging and includes offerings such as sushi, sashimi, soups, salads, steaks, and fish. A particular favorite for many is the Cracked Pepper Filet Mignon with Australian Lobster Tail. Additionally, the beverage list is quite extensive. You’ll find top California wines, hot sakes, chilled sakes, and a variety of elixir tonics and teas. 

Still, for many, the primary allure of Yamashiro is the fantastic setting and the structure itself. The building is a replica of a palace in the Yamashiro mountains near Kyoto, Japan. The grounds at Yamashiro feature courtyards landscaped gardens, and stone pools. Sitting high above busy Los Angeles, the restaurant evokes a sense of peacefulness and serenity. If you find yourself at Yamashiro, be sure to also check out the 600-year-old pagoda that resides on the site.

Canter’s Deli (Medium Level)

Much like New York, Los Angeles has no shortage of delis. And when it comes to LA delis, there’s one that stands above the rest – Canter’s. This Jewish-style delicatessen has remained open 24/7 since 1931 (closing only on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). The menu at Canter’s leans heavily on Jewish-influenced dishes such as pastrami, bagels, and lox, as well as corned beef, matzo ball soup, and challah. Los Angeles Magazine once named the waffles at Canter’s as the “Best in City.” Esquire Magazine named the Monte Cristo sandwich at Canter’s as one of the “Best Sandwiches in America.” From the beginning, Canter’s has been a popular hangout for entertainment personalities.

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The ESTA Visa guide favorite – Musso & Frank Grill (Medium Level)

 

In existence since 1919, the Musso & Frank Grill is Hollywood’s oldest restaurant. It’s also been a favorite of those in the film industry since the very beginning. Over the years, the restaurant has succeeded in staying faithful to its original character. The interior still boasts high ceilings, dark wood paneling, and red booths. Additionally, the waiters and bartenders wear the same red coats that have been worn for decades. 

The menu

Perhaps most significantly, the menu has remained nearly unchanged throughout the years. For breakfast, you’ll want to try the flannel cakes, a Musso & Frank favorite. They’re lighter and sweeter than a pancake, yet less delicate than a crepe. For lunch and dinner, you can choose from steaks, roasts, sandwiches, as well as a wide selection of Italian entrees. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a classic Musso entree such as Calf’s Liver with Onions, Grilled Lamb Kidneys with Bacon, or Welsh Rarebit.

 

 

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ESTA Visa Guide.

The ESTA Visa USA makes your travel arrangements much easier. Send us your online EST application and with a maximum of 72 hours, you’ll be ready to head to the Town of dreams. Who knows, you may meet your favorite movie star…

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