Whether you are visiting the Los Angeles area for work or for fun, there are a few different ways to get around. That being said, Los Angeles is not exactly the easiest city to get around, but there are a few options available to you. While some are going to help you get to your location faster, others might cause you more stress than they are worth. Simply put, LA has some incredible sights to take in, as long as you are patient enough to make it there. You are soon going to find out why LA is famous for its congested, stagnant traffic.
Car Rental
Probably the best way to get around the city is by renting a car. Sure, you have to deal with the headache of driving the car yourself, plus you might miss a few sights while driving the car, but thankfully, with modern GPS, you shouldn't have much of a problem making it to your final destination. Parking can sometimes be problematic depending on where you're location within the city, but ultimately, you are going to find having your own car does make it easier for general transportation.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful; just be prepared to pay for it. Do you like paying for a car that is sitting in traffic, not moving at all? Of course you don't, but you better be prepared to. Most of these cabs are going to be metered for time instead of distance, so you end up paying all sorts of prices for only driving a few miles. However, if you don't feel like dealing with renting a car and parking it, this is your best option available.
Bus
The bus system in LA does leave a bit to be desired. LA is one of the few major cities in the United States that simply does not have an overly impressive public transportation system. Buses are going to help you move around, but it does become rather convoluted, making it difficult to move from varying points, especially if you are not familiar with the bus system.
Subway
You do have a subway-like system inside of LA, but this is really only good for the downtown area. It does not go out to the suburbs or even the outer reaches of the city in general. Due to this, unless you are staying right in the heart of LA, you might not even come in contact with the mass transit system at all. Instead, you might have to take a cab or bus to the transit system and go from there, which in turn is still going to end up costing you a good deal of time, money, or both.
Carsharing/Ridesharing
Carsharing and Ridesharing networks are numerous throughout the city. Zipcar, Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, as well as others, may be good alternatives to car rentals and taxis, though prices can spike higher during periods of high demand, such as holidays or special events. These can also have the same challenges as car rentals and taxis, such as parking issues and idle traffic time. Though visiting LA can be a fun and entertaining experience, just be prepared to wait in traffic.
