City brief Los Angeles Excellent food at every price. The overrun is a rideshare to dinner across the basin. Loading the printable brief… VacationMath orientation — not live rates When to go Late January through March, and May before Memorial Day if you want beach without June gloom denial. Top money-saving tips Pick one pocket (Downtown, Koreatown, or the beach) and eat there. Crossing the basin for dinner is a second hotel.TAP day fares beat a rideshare loop. The Getty is free if you reserve — bus or pay parking, not a $40 drop-off.Porto’s or a bakery breakfast. Hotel restaurants in LA are airport-priced.Midweek flights into LAX, BUR, or SNA. Friday arrivals are a tax.Skip hotel parking unless you have a canyon or beach-hop day already priced.Disneyland is Anaheim lodging and a separate ticket. Do not add it as a “quick” day from Santa Monica.Grand Central Market and a taco truck (Mariscos Jalisco class) beat a hotel dinner.Universal Express is Stretch. Getty + Griffith + one beach day is the Lean week. Build a hard-budget plan