We were in San Francisco and Los Angeles last week on our west coast road trip. And I have to say that SF was much more disturbing to me with all the Fentanyl Zombies that we’re lingering close to Union Square.
@@YellowProductionsthis person is NOT lying. I’ve been to san francisco 2-3 times all within the past year. WOW from new york CITY, those druggies are different…..
I visited LA in August 23 from the UK with my 16 year old son. I felt that LA was no different to any other major city, in that you need to use your common sense and be sure of your surroundings and know where you're going. During my time there I never felt threatened, I sensed that the locals had a 'live and left live' attitude and a sense of 'if you don't bother me I won't bother you' I loved LA and would recommend a visit there!!
As long as you stay in tourist locations I’m like 90 percent sure your weren’t just strolling though south central or Inglewood or Compton but as an LA person I’d say tourist are the safest ppl. Sometimes tourist be picking up prostitutes on western Ave or fig. lol shit get wicked lol
Hi Chris. Thanks for the great information. Unfortunately this is happen all over the country. Best thing to do is be aware of your surroundings. Take care.
great vid, thanks Chris ! After avoiding Venice Beach for a decade, we stopped by this summer and were pleasantly surprised. With the tent city gone from the beach, it was fun to hang out on the boardwalk again... we visited on a Saturday, and it was crowded with lots of families.
Used to live 2 blocks from skid row. Me and my buddies used to take beers to the roof top and spend our nights looking at all the madness that happened in skid row at night. I’ve seen some shit down there man…
Good video!! Eric's tips were good - don't get involved in stuff you shouldn't be involved in! I'm originally from a small town, where everyone is in everyone else's business. I've had people visit who would try to "help" someone else. I'd say, "we don't know them, don't talk to them, it's none of our business, they didn't ask for help." Definitely good advice, even for the most well-intentioned visitor!
I come to LA a few times a year, and I'm from Detroit. Not much scares me, but I keep my head 'on a swivel' a bit when walking in Venice and Santa Monica.
I went out to L.A in feb. We had a great time. We were always aware of our surroundings but never felt we were in danger. We stayed downtown l.a near the crypto arena. We walked around downtown but never crazy late into the night. 11pm /midnight at the latest. Honestly it didnt feel much different then c. florida . Santa monica pier was ok but surroundings area plaza was real nice. Day and night difference. We did uber everywhere and avoided rish hr traffic hrs at all cost. We had a great time. And would go back in a heart beat.
Thank you, Chris. Very informative. If I am researching a travel destination and have to look out for this many real, common and dangerous concerns, I will not be travelling to that destination.
We have just come back from L.A. And definitely feel all of what you said is so true. We love visiting and would definitely come back. Visiting downtown was an experience 😂
As a Brazilian living in a major city (São Paulo), I thought no place in the US would scare me. It was shocking, however, when I visited LA last year and noticed how eerie were its metro lines, as well as Downtown and most of South LA. I’ve been to cities like Rio and Medellin which are famous for its violence, but never felt so unsafe as in LA.
ive lived in los angeles all my life,have never felt usafe in any neiborhood,exept pico union ,lincoln heights ,wats,east los,hazard projects ,dog town progects,maraville projects ,chinatown at nite down town la ,south sentral and elsereno car wash at nite and in day time ,other tthan that ,its a beutiful day
@@mrauttomatichst13 So basically when you stay home you feel safe.I am from Toronto Canada am 50 now and have wanted to go since 15..wanna see Golds gym Venice the most and workout there but the city terrifies me.Evey time I work up the nerve to go I click on these videos and than say forgot it to much to worry about.
@@mjlives5428 la s a safe place,u can work out at Venice Beach and go wherever u wanna go.use common sense don't start shit ,won't b any shit.b respectful ,nobody should trying to mess with u mind ur own bidnit,watch wat u say,colors u wear .ul b just fine, gangsters f with gangsters ,not civilians .. .if u pakng heat ,don't pull it ,less u gonna use it everyone s welcome
Yellow productions. My mom was beat up and knocked unconscious waiting for a bus on Pico and Alvarado Blvd. LAPD didn’t do anything. My mom had a dislocated shoulder, 27 stitches from her bottom throat to her neck area. Be careful.
I'm so sorry that happened to your mother.It's incidents like this that make me cautious about going into LA (this coming from someone that lives in the county)
Los Angeles County has a larger population than 40 U.S. states, bigger than some nations even. So it's hard to generalize and ask if is LA safe. It's almost like asking is Mexico or Canada safe. As an Angelino, I've never seen a car chase or a flash mob, but I also don't go looking for trouble. Great content, great discussion.
nope, LA is very different. I went to LA last week for a holiday and I can say its very unsafe. I stayed near walk of fame Hollywood area, and its full of homeless people. Even the metro train stations are worse than in NY bcs only a few people use them, especially on the weekend. What make it worse is the homeless is very aggressive and no security or police officers that guarding the area 🤣
Thank you for posting this video Chris. With LA and Hollywood being a popular tourist destination, people need to be aware of the issues that you brought up in this video. When I travel to most destinations, I tend to prefer staying in the Downtown area or a central location given how most major cities are set up. As an LA county native who worked in DTLA in the past, I think it's critical for people to know that staying in Downtown or Hollywood may not be the safest. The key is research and videos such as yours make that easier. On an unrelated note, I am thankful for all of your Singapore and Thailand videos. I just came back from my first solo trip to SE Asia and utilized many of the tips you shared in your videos. Thank you so much for your channel.
I'm not too familiar with the hotels but do know someone that lives near LA Live and loves the area. Research hotels and reviews before booking. DTLA is pretty gritty so stay within the tourist area.
It hurts me to no end to say this, but: San Francisco and LA have turned into boiling cauldrons of exploding lawlessness and violence. And the few exclusive / safe neighborhoods out there have almost nothing for you to see or explore. I spare you the endless niceties, suffice it to say that: You’re much better off spending your hard earned vacation money somewhere eles. And if you happen to be an international tourist, for crying out loud, avoid the Hollywood boulevard area and the Walk of Shame at all cost, especially at night. P.S. It’s nice to be back Chris; hope you and your family are doing great.
I stayed in Glendale, I passed through Skid Row, and I have NEVER seen so many homeless people in my life. Smelled so bad there too. I have a poor sense of smell, always had since I was a kid, but I have never smelled such fowl air from so much homeless people.
I live less than an hour from LA so I frequent. I usually park in parking structures if I’m going to be somewhere long. Haven’t had any issues myself. Traffic gets crazy. I do what Eric said and mind my business and no one bothers me. I also avoid being out at night and areas like skid row for sure
I live in Seattle. Overall it's considered a pretty safe city but like any major city, there are areas to be more mindful of than others. While Chris mentioned that downtown Seattle is rough now, it absolutely can be but there's generally lots of people walking around and just keep your wits about you. I guess downtown Seattle has always been gritty as long as I've lived here (since 2007) it since covid it has gotten worse, with less people commuting to the area and sadly, more homeless ... but overall I wouldn't say it's an area to avoid, but just to be mindful of. When walking around areas of downtown LA, that was way more gritty and scary to me, maybe due to lack of familarity.@@dtna
L.A. resident here (San Fernando Valley). L.A. is safe, especially for tourists. But tourists should stay in the tourist and shopping areas. Tourists shouldn't be going to the sketchy areas anyway. I wouldn't know why a tourist would want to visit skid row. Use some common sense and you'll be OK. If a tourist is uncomfortable navigating the city on their own, there are always tours. It's extremely rare something bad will happen to a tour group. I've never been a victim of a crime in L.A. for the entire time I've lived here (since I was two). I can't say the same about visiting Dallas for a work conference. I was robbed in broad daylight.
Some tourists like myself want to get out of the overcrowded tourist areas to be surrounded by locals & cheaper better restaurants. It’s just a shame America 🇺🇸 is full of guns. I wanted to interact with Americans not other tourists from other countries.
@@RoseyRK If you want locals to interact or to offer local/cheaper restaurants, it can't hurt to hit up Reddit. There's /r/losangeles and /r/asklosangeles that are some great resources. They'll be the first to tell you to avoid DTLA and the disappointment of Walk of Fame :P
Very true. We were visiting Little Tokyo and LA Convention area last month and it's changed so much since we last visited 10 years ago. We wanted to stay for dinner but so many stores and restaurants were already closing by 6pm. Once it got dark, the vibe changed. The locals started closing shop and people started leaving. We never ate dinner so quickly. We even took our dessert into the car to eat as we left LA. Better safe than sorry, especially traveling with kids.
DTLA was thriving before the pandemic. It reverted back to the unsafe days during the pandemic and hasn't recovered yet. With more and more people working remotely, there is less foot traffic and fewer business opportunities.
Yeah, I was very confused when I visited La, especially at night bcs many shops and restaurant close early even before 8pm. I once bought a meal at popeyes, they didn't serve dine in and they covered the cashier area with bulletproof glasses. The only way you can order is though the speaker and they will put your mill inside the box just like in prison haha.
As far as Downtown goes, anywhere along Figueroa and the blocks surrounding it are all pretty decent for the most part. Grand and Flower are fairly okay as well. But the farther you wander away from those streets, the more grimy, dark, and dystopian it gets.
Spent about 5 days in LA in early August 2023 and stayed at a hotel in Glendale. We were not paranoid but took precautions, such as having dinner at restaurants and filling up at gas stations that were close to the hotel that we felt were safer. We locked our car doors as soon as everyone got into the car, and while filling up at gas stations.
As a frequent business traveler, LA is no different than any other major city in the US. Avoid being in places where you have no destination. Don't be out late, avoid public transit especially at night, sounds callous but ignore the homeless/people asking for money etc, be aware of your surroundings, mind your business and you'll be fine.
Public transit is no longer safe in LA .... It was never really designed well which can be frustrating to tourists. Buses and trains are primarily used by those that can't drive or can't afford a car and it just isn't safe. I've used it for 30 years but with the recent rise in homeless druggies loitering on transit, I had to resort to alternative means to get from A to B.
Wow... as someone who likes to take long aimless walks when travelling, at night too, doesn't drive, and stops to chat with any rando, it doesn't seem like the best place for me to visit lol. Too bad, it really tempts me but safety is the big concern.
Thanks for that Chris, We were on holiday in LA last year for 3 weeks, incredible city, love to go back some Day, & felt absolutely safe, Hi from Dublin.
We did a day trip to LA in 2022, glad I did it but wouldn't want to do it again. Some really nice neighbourhoods but the homelessness I saw was anything I have seen on numerous visits to developing countries like India. Crazy how that can happen in one of the richest and most desirable places to live on earth.
@@eddieg6436 We were on a tour with a guide and saw them downtown, Venice Beach, West Hollywood and main Hollywood near Chinese theatre. The only area we didn't see them was in Beverly Hills.
@@markcummings3146 I know L.A. like the back of my hand (52 years). AVOID Hollywood, Venice Beach, Downtown L.A. (except small area near Broad museum, Disney concert hall. Avoid a lot of Santa Monica, and beach. VISIT Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Holmby Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, West Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Calabasas. Yes, there’s a lot of history in Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, downtown (etc). But to AVOID most of the crime, homeless, filth, garbage, and graffiti, stick to my areas.
@@jordivandervegte5983 The San Fernando Valley used to be a very safe place, but crime has crept in. Places like Studio City, Burbank, Glendale, Encino, and Sherman Oaks are lovely areas, but in the last 10 years (just like other big cities) some crime has moved in.
I live in Orange County. I can't say how safe or dangerous LA is compared to other large cities in the U.S., but compared to large cities throughout Asia LA is EXTREMELY dangerous. I'm saying this as someone who lived in Asia for 17 years.
Thank you Chris for the update on the criminal in LA. I grew up in West LA. It’s unfortunate that people feel so unsafe in the city. If visitors want to book accommodations, definitely stay in the West part of Los Angeles. In fact, when the visit the city now, I book rooms in Santa Monica and Westwood. Don’t forget about Culver City, Century City etc. Just be aware of your surroundings and stay safe everyone!👍
I was there in January. Hadn't been out since before pandemic. 1st week was palm springs and that is safe as can be..lol. we then went to orange county and the difference in show of police was actually startlingly. I actually felt unsafe because of all the pd..and the bag check at downtown Disney was off the hook. They went thru everything in my purse. LA for sure has a homelessness issue. But I don't think they are the issue. It looks bad but they aren't the ones making trouble for the most part. I would visit again, as my dad is there.
I visited LA in summer 2019 as a solo traveler. Booked a nice and comfy airbnb in Hollywood. I´ve never been uncomfortable on my solo trips, it was the first time in LA I experienced that feeling through homelessness and drugs. My airbnb host was worried and texted me like once a day, asking if I was doing fine.
As a Angelino, this is a take from someone who has no idea what they are talking about. He got some stuff right but most of what he said are things we don’t need to worry about here. The gentleman at the end got it right. Mind your business, no one will bother you, stay out of places you’re not supposed to be. Enjoy the uniqueness of this city.
30 years ago, I lived near Vanowen and Laurel Canyon. Got robbed and vandalized 3 times. The police would never show up to take a report. Moved out within 6 months.
I visited LA from Connecticut in August. All of the places I went to were perfectly fine. I stayed in Pasadena, which was beautiful, went to Hollywood Boulevard, Ktown and Venice Beach....in all of those places I felt safe. I am sure there are not so good areas that I didn't see them. I would definitely visit again, LA is a beautiful city!! Traffic sucks though lol
bruh, Pasadena is a high class neighborhood in the city, just like Beverly Hills. Try to visit the Hollywood area, Santa Monica, even Downton LA. I don't know which Hollywood bvrd that you visited, bcs when I was there, a long the hollywood bvrd is full of homeless.
If you return try using the LA Metro system. It's a combination of subways and light rail. More lines opening next year including a connection to the airport via a people mover.
I visit in August as well from NY. Stayed in Glendale and loved it. But I travelled around the coast line, and various neighborhoods. I felt fine in the majority of the areas I visited. Just a lot of homeless. I haven't seen that many in a small area. And we have plenty of homeless in NY but it made our situation seem like nothing
The good solid white man doesn’t automatically assume a man of color he walks up on does crime. The key is to look at a man’s heart and character. Always. Who you sleep with won’t change my mind. Your race won’t change my mind. Only your character and actions can make me form an opinion on you. That’s just how I think. Because my very best friend is a black man. And I consider him a brother
I'm from Brazil and I'll be visiting USA this coming December and I'll be in LA. I'm very excited, it's gonna be my very first time in USA and I hope I might have a lot of fun.
I live in LA and take public transit to work, its really not that bad, specifically on the E line bc it goes to Santa Monica which is more touristy. Def beware of the B and D lines but the E and A ones are pretty safe from about 10am to when the sun goes down. There are definitely students and business people but really only on those two lines and definitely more prominently from 3-5pm. Especially if you come at a touristy time of year like memorial day for example they always have increased security on the metro. Definitely just be aware of your surroundings but if you mind your own business you’ll usually be okay!
LA unsafe? That’s so silly. It’s FINE. As a San Diegan, I don’t love LA at all but not because it’s unsafe. My goodness, have these people never driven in Boston?
You don't live in l.a tho to say rhat. Driving through and walking and taking public transit are two different things. Maybe now you'll understand why people may think it's unsafe ?
This Saturday I’m flying to Los Angeles from Europe and I was really concerned with the safety there, especially considering that I will be staying in a downtown hotel? Your video is vey helpful
Just got back from LA and Im also from Europe (plus a woman and I travelled alone). And I also stayed in a hotel in Downtown (next to Bloc). Dont worry, its really fine, just mind your own business and keep valuables close. You will be fine.
Born and raised LA. You nailed the 7 problems although I would have added an 8th being gangs that are mainly concentrated in south LA, south central, southeast LA, and east LA. The number 1 safety issue in the 80s and 90s were the gangs due to violence and random drive bys. Although gang violence is way down compared to the 80s and 90s, the combonation of the 7 things you mentioned id say is actually worst because everyone is affected as oppose to gang violence it was mainly gang members and their families, the occasional stray bullet into innocent bystander.
Hey Yellow, been subscribed for a decent amount of time and I love all your travel videos, especially Vegas! I'm from LA and you hit the nail on the head because everything you said was accurate! Thanks so much for all you do and I hope you know that we the community really appreciate your travel videos and tips, the best channel I've ever seen and nobody is competing with you, much love brother!
Great video - I watched your videos prior to visiting and found them helpful. I think if visitors just adopt a common sense approach, as in any city, and do a little research before they travel they will be fine and FEEL safe. I knew what to expect before I visited and really liked the LA area, much more than I thought I would. I stayed in Anaheim, Orange County nr Disneyland, and it was really safe. I travelled from Wales, and would advise anyone to hire a car rather than use public transport as it gives so much more freedom. I was dreading it, but though the roads are really busy, I became confident really quickly and it is relatively simple to drive hear due to road network design. Have a good navigator sat next to you!
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area has nearly 13 million people. This single part of California has more people than the countries Bolivia, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, The Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Learning that, are less than 900 road rage incidents per year on some of the most congested freeways in the country actually a lot. Forbes put out a list of the states with the most confrontational drivers and the largest state by population (California) isn't in the top 10 and didn't make the list. Use common sense when traveling, anticipate what could happen, and be prepared. Pick-pockets, car thieves, and genuinely bad people are everywhere, this is a fact. Don't make yourself a victim. If you get a rental car make sure it's tented and doesn't have stickers all over it letting everyone know you are from out of town. I was a photographer for over 20 years and traveled with tourists from other countries around the U.S. After making over 60 trips to the Los Angeles area and spending months there I had one incident ever. The couple I was working for didn't take my advice to get a tented rental and their bags could be seen through the back window. While at a parking garage for a few hours visiting a pier, someone did a smash-and-grab and took their luggage. I would recommend visiting L.A. to anyone. Just be smart about it.
From Toronto Canada 50 yrs old and wanted to visit since I was 15...every time I work up the nerve I see these videos and get scared again and say forget it.Wanna go to Golds gym Venice...Neverland ranch in Santa Ynez a bunch of other stuff.The gangs in a real fear bloods crips etc also...How do you navigate with what clothes to wear in general there so your not wearing blue or red in some area and get shot etc...Generally white is coomon?See alot of white in Venice beach it seems.Cheers
in asia there are tons of cities more than 20mil people, but much safer. Having large population doesnt have to tolerate that crimes and assaults are normal things that could happen. Dont let yourself be a victim??? How about stop tolerating violence and make the the place more safer for people - both tourists and citizens
I grew up in LA, Chris and I believe your video makes a great assessment of LA of its current condition. The video seems thoroughly researched. Great job
I used to visit LA around 4 times a year from 2005 - 2010 to party (from the UK). It was around $2 to £1 back then so everything was basically half price! Haven't been back since 2013 - used to stay in Santa Monica at the Oceanside Motel next to Chez Jay and the pier. Saw how it went with the tent cities in Venice a few years back and it massively put me off going back, plus the fact that the exchange rate doesn't work in my favour any more and Santa M & W. Hollywood are not getting any cheaper! Still, would like to go back someday and check out some of my old haunts .
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Born in 1961, moved to a neighboring city then about 50 miles away. The only time I go to Los Angeles now is for a dodger game. Used to love it now I won’t go near it.
Chris; LA is and will ALWAYS be on my Go List! Has there been a decline in certain neighborhoods? Yes. Will that keep me from going? Absolutely NOT! Just use COMMON SENSE! When I am in LA and staying at HP in LAX El Segundo, I stay in my suite once it gets dark outside. Daytime I am at Manhattan Beach, Hollywood and yes, DTLA! When I am staying in Glendale I am out at night! Walking around. Going to restaurants, shopping at the mall and Target etc... Life is different over there. Enjoy your week! CAB😍
Thank you Chris for your very honest and informative video. I have lived here all of my life and L.A. has never been this bad. I now live in a small town around 25 miles away from the city. Both Santa Monica and Venice Beach in L.A. are some of the most polluted beaches in L.A. County 😢
Hello from Hawaii! Of all the places I've traveled to, I've been to LA the most! I have friends that live/lived there and everytime after attending Coachella, we'd hang out in LA after for fun. It has changed since then. My last Coachella was 2016 and I hadn't been back since until 2022, I attended a couple of smaller music festivals in Pasadena. We went to Amoeba in Hollywood but didn't walk around there at all, whereas previously we would. I'm actually going to LA next month to attend a couple of concerts, but will be hanging out mostly in Anaheim and Pomona. Lol and I can attest to LA being the car chase capital. During covid in 2020 during lockdown, LA car chases seemed to appear on my RUclips algorithm, so I've watched a bunch. There are a plethora of car chases! And now, currently when there's a live one happening, it pops up on my feed, lol. I almost expected to see one when I was there in May 2022 and May 2023. Whenever I saw a helicopter, I wondered if it was on its way to film a car chase. I think LA is pretty safe, just be aware of your surroundings. Don't make yourself an easy target. Dont wear fancy clothes or jewelry. Don't rent a fancy car. Keep your car doors locked at all times when you're inside. I've seen people cars get carjacked during car chases! There has been multiple carjackings in one car chase! Also don't leave things visible in your car that will attract thieves like sunglasses, loose change, shopping bags, suitcases.
I love LA. Go there several times a year. It has so many different and cool areas. Just be aware of where you are and check out your surroundings and you will be OK.
I've lived in SoCal for 50 years and for the first time last week while driving home to San Diego area from OC we witnessed our first high speed chase on the southbound 5 in Capistrano. WHOAAA! We were doing 75-80 mph like everyone else and a guy in a small sedan flies by us at I don't even know, 110 maybe. About 15 seconds later here comes about 10 CHP doing the same. Crazy stuff and the next morning we saw that he crashed into a bunch of cars on the 805 and was captured in Chula.
I came to LA back in 2019 before the pandemic and I agree the Metro subways are a bit sketchy. Some people who have mental issues just come screaming and pushing a lady inside the train while its moving. Got so scared that me and my wife hopped down the next stop (not our final stop) and just exited and hailed an Uber to reach our final destination. Maybe they should have some on duty cops in the Metro. Sadly its the most efficient way to get around LA and its way cheaper than hailing a ride or renting a car.
Native LA son here. My city's no more dangerous than any other megacity on Earth (save for maybe Tokyo and Seoul, those two are truly exceptional in terms of overall safety and it's more of a collective mindset of the people living there than anything else). Matter of fact, it's gotten a lot better since my childhood days back in the '80s and '90s when it was really nothing to write home about. Current homeless problem's temporary ("manufactured" for financial reasons actually) and will be fully dealt with by the time the 2028 Olympics arrive. People need to understand that LA is truly backed by the super-rich and our state's overall economy easily reflects that (Top 5 IN THE WORLD, folks!). That's why our problems make me laugh so hard. If they wanted to, they could've taken care of all the major ones by now at least. Incessant greed in the real-estate market and an acute lack of social understanding are the only two things holding my city back from where it needs to be. I'm stickin' around for the long haul, running away never really solves anything either...
@@tima4929 Ummm nice try, but downtown LA has ALWAYS been "Zombie Land" for as long as I can remember (lol)! And that's just the way the 1%-backed city council wants it for now, anyway. When the 2028 Olympics finally come into view, don't be surprised to see all those "zombies" rounded up and bused out to the desert areas in record time. Money still speaks loudest in my city, always has-ALWAYS WILL... 🙄🤷♀🥱
LA is no more dangerous than any other megacity on earth - huh?! Have you been to Singapore? Sydney? Melbourne? Wellington? Auckland? There are TONS of cities that are NOWHERE AS DANGEROUS as some of LA's notorious areas. I doubt you've been to the cities I've mentioned, otherwise you'd know saying that LA is the SAME is a cop out. It isn't.
@@jessical7083 And you sound like you're romanticizing the other cities you're obviously more familiar with just to make mine sound worse than it actually is (lol). I think you better reel in your "inner-Karen" before you wind up embarrassing yourself any further on here. At least I've been living in LA for most of my natural life so my perspective is not coming from some "run-of-the-mill" tourist that didn't do their homework prior to stepping foot here... 🤭😅😂👋
I'm an LA metro native and 100% agree with you. Even NYC and London feels much safer than LA. I just came back from Singapore and it is one of the safest cities I've ever visited (along with Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne) @@jessical7083
Scary minded people always think something is not safe. Been here in Los Angeles for 6 years and no complaints. Crime is everywhere, move around and move along
I have a friend that just left L.A. and moved back to Chicago, Chicago where crime is rampant, let that sink in. I will never move back to Chicago with the disaster going on there, that goes double for L.A..
We were in LA at end of June 24 and mostly we had a good, safe experience, except a few places. In Venice beach, there were clearly people with mental issues, talking to themselves, arguing and screaming with themselves. In Downtown, we saw a guy taking drugs via pipe in public in front of everyone. And in metro around Hollywood there were people sleeping in the subway train. Last night we spent in a hotel in Compton and when we went to gas stations to fill up the car, we saw some people talking to themselves as well. Safe to say, if you move with your own car or Uber/Lyft, you won't meet this people, but if you go with public transport as we did most of the time, there is a good chance you come across people with mental illness. This doesn't happen in Europe, except maybe some train stations with homeless, but they leave you alone.
I'm an Angelino and there are plenty of safe and wonderful places to stay, visit, and enjoy, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed here all my life. Don't let the horror stories deter you from visiting and enjoying L.A. -- those are exaggerated and blown out of proportion. If you're driving a car, however, you shouldn't leave any valuables inside, even if you hide them under, say, a rear cargo cover. I think thieves automatically assume that something of value must be hidden under it. I also think some thieves closely monitor mall parking lots and patrons' behavior, so if you buy a bunch of merchandise, then store it in your car and return to your shopping, that's not a wise thing to do anywhere. Like the Venice musician said, staying at the beach towns is a pretty good bet. Lots of people, street traffic, and activity throughout the day and evening. So, from Malibu to the north down to Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington and Newport Beaches (these are officially in Orange County and not Los Angeles County), are great examples of great places to stay, dine, walk around, etc. And, San Clemente down to San Diego are great tourist beach cities. Avoid walking alone at night - this is a pretty universal precaution.
"Number two: road rage, Los Angeles is also the number one city in the USA for road rage, way to go LA." LOL I absolutely love your channel, began watching because my dream is to live in the Vancouver area or Seattle! Hope you keep posting in the future. ❤❤
I used to live in LA. After getting robbed a few times, I figured it's not worth it and time to move on to other more livable neighborhoods. Venice Beach used to be packed with tourists from all over the world. Tourist buses don't stop there anymore. So should you. If you must come to LA, go to specific tourists attraction like Disneyland, Universal Studio or more skecthy Magic Mountain. Another peice of advice is not to wear expensive jewelry or watches and don't keep flashing your new iPhone.
I drove down to LA many times, from Vancouver BC. The last few times i went, I stayed in Anaheim, and went to Lagauna Beach. LA Jolla is a must see. I am glad i seen LA in its heyday, not been there since 2019, and have no plans of going.
@ Ciao Carlo, per spostarci abbiamo utilizzato principalmente Uber e per arrivare dall'aeroporto al nostro hotel abbiamo utilizzato una compagnia di navette. Spero che questo ti sia utile.
Hi Chris! First I would like to thank your channel, I really like it and I follow all the videos. They helped me a lot with my travel itinerary to California. I understand that there was no updated news on the security situation. When is the safest time to travel on the highways, including crossing from North LA to San Diego (Disney and San Diego Zoo) Thank you very much!!!
I'd say best time to travel on the highways is between 9am and 3pm.. after the morning rush and before the evening rush. If you're going from LA to San Diego on a Friday or Saturday you'll definitely want to depart "early" to avoid traffic from LA in to SD. Those are the two most popular drive days in that direction
I visited LA in October 2017. I walked from the LA Live area to the U.S. Bank tower at night to do the sky slide. There wasn't much foot traffic, so I was wondering about that. But I didn't have any issues. The 7-Eleven on Olympic seemed a little sketchy at night. I did make a homeless person in the parking lot happy by donating him a beer! Other than that, I visited Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood/West Hollywood, and Griffith Observatory. I also ended up at a Target in South Gate (not my choice). I wouldn't say I felt unsafe, but I definitely paid attention to my surroundings.
Hi. I really love your videos. I m coming to LA end of the January for 1 week, and i m really trying to go through your videos. They are very informative. I m just scared of the lax airport but hope it will be fine. I m used to driving in ontario canada so hope it will be same as i m planing to rent a car. Thank you for all that amazing work you do❤ ❤❤
I'm European and we only go to California and Nevada for vacation. It's our favourite places to visit. We do see a lot of homeless people and such but we always felt safe as we haven't witnessed any crimes or violence the times we've visited.
I visited LA in January 2024 for 4 days. I think that the city isn't different from NYC in that you can find many homeless people on the streets but if you mind your business and use common sense nothing bad will happen unless you're unlucky. That being said, I stayed in the Arts District area and used public transportation everywhere. The public transportation is reliable and used by many people during the day. During my 4 day stay, I didn't see anything that worried me much. Don't let the media spoil your vacation to one of the best cities in the world.
Great points. I stayed in Hollywood last year and will never stay there again; it was an absolute shithole. A car was set alight outside my hotel and it was a very uneasy feeling walking around. I'll stick to Anaheim I think!
The valet parking thing is true. I've only parked in well signposted and lit parking lots with valet even if a little expensive. Id rather pay a bit more than have my windows and tyres gone.
Visited LA last year as part of a 4 week tour of California. We are from the UK. Found LA to be very much like Brixton or Moss Side in the UK on its level of "trouble". If you wanted trouble you could find it real quick, but if you kept your head down you would be alright. There are a lot of people in LA who dont like the British. So just be aware. And to top it all off our hire car had its rear windows smashed while we were eating lunch one day. There was nothing for them to take but they still smashed the windows just to look in. I have visited a LOT of the US (at least 15 states off the top of my head) and quite frankly I wont be coming back any time soon. A lot needs to be done.
@@RoseyRK I think Napa is a nice area? Dont get me wrong, on the whole Americans are some of the nicest people we meet on our travels - but in LA in paticular we had a couple of incidents that brought it home that we were not liked purely because of our accent / appearance. But that was just our XP. YMMV!!
I was just in Los Angeles back in August. It was my 2nd time going there too. For the most part, it was very safe. I had no issues with road rage or witnessing any crime on my trip. Just be aware of your surroundings, & be more on high alert during the night time, especially in Hollywood. Don't let the fearmongering or the media scare you about LA! The city does have its fair share of flaws & problems, & I've seen more homeless in LA than any city in the USA. It's getting better, but most of the time just mind your business! Renting a car is a must to explore the city, & there's definitely a special charm about it! California the best state in our country, thank you for your videos Chris! 😃
Hi. Love your energy! We had 2 nights in LA in May and as Kiwis were slightly worried about crime issues but once there we felt pretty safe - mind you we were not out at night. We stayed in a small Hotel just back from Hollywood Boulevard - no complaints. Hectic though on the street! We did a day tour and visited Santa Monica and Venice lots going on. Felt safe in Ubers although who knows who you get driving... LA not for us but so pleased we got a small taste...
We were in San Francisco and Los Angeles last week on our west coast road trip. And I have to say that SF was much more disturbing to me with all the Fentanyl Zombies that we’re lingering close to Union Square.
Oof. Thanks for sharing that recent trip report!
@@YellowProductionsthis person is NOT lying. I’ve been to san francisco 2-3 times all within the past year. WOW from new york CITY, those druggies are different…..
I'd rather much visit LA than SF lol
Yep getting worse day by day ..
San Fransisco has seemed that way to me since the 90s with homeless everywhere even then, though I guess it's way worse now. LA is so much better.
I visited LA in August 23 from the UK with my 16 year old son. I felt that LA was no different to any other major city, in that you need to use your common sense and be sure of your surroundings and know where you're going. During my time there I never felt threatened, I sensed that the locals had a 'live and left live' attitude and a sense of 'if you don't bother me I won't bother you' I loved LA and would recommend a visit there!!
Exactly, right. Similar to what the street musician said on the Venice boardwalk
@@mrxman581nice to know the perspective of someone from the U.K. 👍🏼 I’m trying to go and I’m doing my research
Thank you for being realistic.. anywhere you go, theres good and bad. PERIOD
GO VISIT OAKLAND at a gas station
As long as you stay in tourist locations I’m like 90 percent sure your weren’t just strolling though south central or Inglewood or Compton but as an LA person I’d say tourist are the safest ppl. Sometimes tourist be picking up prostitutes on western Ave or fig. lol shit get wicked lol
Hi Chris. Thanks for the great information. Unfortunately this is happen all over the country. Best thing to do is be aware of your surroundings. Take care.
LA resident here. Hollywood has lot of homeless and can feel unsafe at times but West Hollywood is very nice and very safe!
But it is very expensive i guess
great vid, thanks Chris ! After avoiding Venice Beach for a decade, we stopped by this summer and were pleasantly surprised. With the tent city gone from the beach, it was fun to hang out on the boardwalk again... we visited on a Saturday, and it was crowded with lots of families.
Yeah. It is much better now that the tents are gone!
Used to live 2 blocks from skid row. Me and my buddies used to take beers to the roof top and spend our nights looking at all the madness that happened in skid row at night. I’ve seen some shit down there man…
Good video!! Eric's tips were good - don't get involved in stuff you shouldn't be involved in! I'm originally from a small town, where everyone is in everyone else's business. I've had people visit who would try to "help" someone else. I'd say, "we don't know them, don't talk to them, it's none of our business, they didn't ask for help." Definitely good advice, even for the most well-intentioned visitor!
Hey Jasmine how are you doing?
I come to LA a few times a year, and I'm from Detroit. Not much scares me, but I keep my head 'on a swivel' a bit when walking in Venice and Santa Monica.
Santa Monica got nothing in downtown Detroit
It is not scary ,or unsafe it is mad ...People are crazy .
I went out to L.A in feb. We had a great time. We were always aware of our surroundings but never felt we were in danger. We stayed downtown l.a near the crypto arena. We walked around downtown but never crazy late into the night. 11pm /midnight at the latest. Honestly it didnt feel much different then c. florida . Santa monica pier was ok but surroundings area plaza was real nice. Day and night difference. We did uber everywhere and avoided rish hr traffic hrs at all cost. We had a great time. And would go back in a heart beat.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! Great to hear you had a good time!
Thank you, Chris. Very informative.
If I am researching a travel destination and have to look out for this many real, common and dangerous concerns, I will not be travelling to that destination.
We have just come back from L.A. And definitely feel all of what you said is so true. We love visiting and would definitely come back. Visiting downtown was an experience 😂
As a Brazilian living in a major city (São Paulo), I thought no place in the US would scare me. It was shocking, however, when I visited LA last year and noticed how eerie were its metro lines, as well as Downtown and most of South LA. I’ve been to cities like Rio and Medellin which are famous for its violence, but never felt so unsafe as in LA.
Thanks for sharing that perspective
The whole thing about LA being 100% unsafe is false information from news sources like Fox News
ive lived in los angeles all my life,have never felt usafe in any neiborhood,exept pico union ,lincoln heights ,wats,east los,hazard projects ,dog town progects,maraville projects ,chinatown at nite down town la ,south sentral and elsereno car wash at nite and in day time ,other tthan that ,its a beutiful day
@@mrauttomatichst13 So basically when you stay home you feel safe.I am from Toronto Canada am 50 now and have wanted to go since 15..wanna see Golds gym Venice the most and workout there but the city terrifies me.Evey time I work up the nerve to go I click on these videos and than say forgot it to much to worry about.
@@mjlives5428 la s a safe place,u can work out at Venice Beach and go wherever u wanna go.use common sense don't start shit ,won't b any shit.b respectful ,nobody should trying to mess with u mind ur own bidnit,watch wat u say,colors u wear .ul b just fine, gangsters f with gangsters ,not civilians .. .if u pakng heat ,don't pull it ,less u gonna use it everyone s welcome
Yellow productions. My mom was beat up and knocked unconscious waiting for a bus on Pico and Alvarado Blvd. LAPD didn’t do anything. My mom had a dislocated shoulder, 27 stitches from her bottom throat to her neck area. Be careful.
Ooof! Sorry to hear that!
I'm so sorry that happened to your mother.It's incidents like this that make me cautious about going into LA (this coming from someone that lives in the county)
Los Angeles County has a larger population than 40 U.S. states, bigger than some nations even. So it's hard to generalize and ask if is LA safe. It's almost like asking is Mexico or Canada safe. As an Angelino, I've never seen a car chase or a flash mob, but I also don't go looking for trouble. Great content, great discussion.
you mean California 😂😂 because LA is city not state
@@Homelander66-y1q you’ve misunderstood him, he said Los Angeles County and he was comparing it to 40 states.
People consider everything unsafe these days. 🙄 All cities have their safe and unsafe neighborhoods. This should go without saying.
Because it is bozo 😂
nope, LA is very different. I went to LA last week for a holiday and I can say its very unsafe. I stayed near walk of fame Hollywood area, and its full of homeless people. Even the metro train stations are worse than in NY bcs only a few people use them, especially on the weekend. What make it worse is the homeless is very aggressive and no security or police officers that guarding the area 🤣
But they only consider democratic cities unsafe, those people listen to News sources like Fox
Yeah, something I don't understand on why they say that.
LA is a different kind of hell 🤡
Thank you for posting this video Chris. With LA and Hollywood being a popular tourist destination, people need to be aware of the issues that you brought up in this video. When I travel to most destinations, I tend to prefer staying in the Downtown area or a central location given how most major cities are set up. As an LA county native who worked in DTLA in the past, I think it's critical for people to know that staying in Downtown or Hollywood may not be the safest. The key is research and videos such as yours make that easier.
On an unrelated note, I am thankful for all of your Singapore and Thailand videos. I just came back from my first solo trip to SE Asia and utilized many of the tips you shared in your videos. Thank you so much for your channel.
Can you recommend a reasonably priced hotel in DTLA, madchatteress? And your opinion of LA Live? Thanks for your comments.
I'm not too familiar with the hotels but do know someone that lives near LA Live and loves the area. Research hotels and reviews before booking. DTLA is pretty gritty so stay within the tourist area.
@@madchatteress Cheers.
Thank you for this video. My son lives in North Hollywood and we are going to visit him this week
My home town n.h miss it
It hurts me to no end to say this, but: San Francisco and LA have turned into boiling cauldrons of exploding lawlessness and violence. And the few exclusive / safe neighborhoods out there have almost nothing for you to see or explore. I spare you the endless niceties, suffice it to say that: You’re much better off spending your hard earned vacation money somewhere eles. And if you happen to be an international tourist, for crying out loud, avoid the Hollywood boulevard area and the Walk of Shame at all cost, especially at night.
P.S. It’s nice to be back Chris; hope you and your family are doing great.
What if all the things I seen in my dreaare from LA
I stayed in Glendale, I passed through Skid Row, and I have NEVER seen so many homeless people in my life. Smelled so bad there too. I have a poor sense of smell, always had since I was a kid, but I have never smelled such fowl air from so much homeless people.
Ooof
Glendale is safe but became very expensive like New York. Used to be cheap. Now overpriced, I'm native to l.a won't go to skid row.
Thanks for sharing Eric's info thats kind of you to share performers info
I live less than an hour from LA so I frequent. I usually park in parking structures if I’m going to be somewhere long. Haven’t had any issues myself. Traffic gets crazy. I do what Eric said and mind my business and no one bothers me. I also avoid being out at night and areas like skid row for sure
Good video You should keep up content on dangerous parts and safe parts of US states. Specifically Oregon,Nevada and Chicago 👌
And Seattle. I haven't been there in years. Used to go from Seattle to Victoria. It used to be nice, but I've heard that it's really bad now.
Yeah. Downtown Seattle is rough now
I live in Seattle. Overall it's considered a pretty safe city but like any major city, there are areas to be more mindful of than others. While Chris mentioned that downtown Seattle is rough now, it absolutely can be but there's generally lots of people walking around and just keep your wits about you. I guess downtown Seattle has always been gritty as long as I've lived here (since 2007) it since covid it has gotten worse, with less people commuting to the area and sadly, more homeless ... but overall I wouldn't say it's an area to avoid, but just to be mindful of. When walking around areas of downtown LA, that was way more gritty and scary to me, maybe due to lack of familarity.@@dtna
Seriously, without any BS. This is the best informative travel channel on RUclips!
Thanks so much Leo!
L.A. resident here (San Fernando Valley). L.A. is safe, especially for tourists. But tourists should stay in the tourist and shopping areas. Tourists shouldn't be going to the sketchy areas anyway. I wouldn't know why a tourist would want to visit skid row. Use some common sense and you'll be OK. If a tourist is uncomfortable navigating the city on their own, there are always tours. It's extremely rare something bad will happen to a tour group. I've never been a victim of a crime in L.A. for the entire time I've lived here (since I was two). I can't say the same about visiting Dallas for a work conference. I was robbed in broad daylight.
Some tourists like myself want to get out of the overcrowded tourist areas to be surrounded by locals & cheaper better restaurants. It’s just a shame America 🇺🇸 is full of guns. I wanted to interact with Americans not other tourists from other countries.
Sorry to hear about what happened to you in Dallas!
@@RoseyRK If you want locals to interact or to offer local/cheaper restaurants, it can't hurt to hit up Reddit. There's /r/losangeles and /r/asklosangeles that are some great resources. They'll be the first to tell you to avoid DTLA and the disappointment of Walk of Fame :P
Suppose to be fun if you got money and time
Laughable.
Great and accurate video, Chris! Stay safe!
Thanks, you too! 😀
Very true. We were visiting Little Tokyo and LA Convention area last month and it's changed so much since we last visited 10 years ago. We wanted to stay for dinner but so many stores and restaurants were already closing by 6pm. Once it got dark, the vibe changed. The locals started closing shop and people started leaving. We never ate dinner so quickly. We even took our dessert into the car to eat as we left LA. Better safe than sorry, especially traveling with kids.
Yeah... DTLA closes up early now
DTLA was thriving before the pandemic. It reverted back to the unsafe days during the pandemic and hasn't recovered yet. With more and more people working remotely, there is less foot traffic and fewer business opportunities.
@@carmenmonter1050 Yeah. It's sad.. and you're right.. DTLA was on the upswing before.. it's like it's been set back 15 years
Yeah, I was very confused when I visited La, especially at night bcs many shops and restaurant close early even before 8pm. I once bought a meal at popeyes, they didn't serve dine in and they covered the cashier area with bulletproof glasses. The only way you can order is though the speaker and they will put your mill inside the box just like in prison haha.
The early closing of restaurants are still lingering affects of covid not due to safety concerns.
As far as Downtown goes, anywhere along Figueroa and the blocks surrounding it are all pretty decent for the most part. Grand and Flower are fairly okay as well. But the farther you wander away from those streets, the more grimy, dark, and dystopian it gets.
Spent about 5 days in LA in early August 2023 and stayed at a hotel in Glendale. We were not paranoid but took precautions, such as having dinner at restaurants and filling up at gas stations that were close to the hotel that we felt were safer. We locked our car doors as soon as everyone got into the car, and while filling up at gas stations.
Precautions are always good 😀
Glendale is about the nicest and safest part of the LA area. You stayed in the best area a tourist could stay.
Come to downtown LA..😀
come to NEWPORT BEACH, CA in Orange County@@ruready2rock856
As a frequent business traveler, LA is no different than any other major city in the US. Avoid being in places where you have no destination. Don't be out late, avoid public transit especially at night, sounds callous but ignore the homeless/people asking for money etc, be aware of your surroundings, mind your business and you'll be fine.
Thanks for the tip!
Public transit is no longer safe in LA .... It was never really designed well which can be frustrating to tourists. Buses and trains are primarily used by those that can't drive or can't afford a car and it just isn't safe. I've used it for 30 years but with the recent rise in homeless druggies loitering on transit, I had to resort to alternative means to get from A to B.
Wow... as someone who likes to take long aimless walks when travelling, at night too, doesn't drive, and stops to chat with any rando, it doesn't seem like the best place for me to visit lol. Too bad, it really tempts me but safety is the big concern.
I’ve been to LA 6 years ago and subway was decent back then. Has it gone worse ?
Thanks for that Chris, We were on holiday in LA last year for 3 weeks, incredible city, love to go back some Day, & felt absolutely safe, Hi from Dublin.
Great to hear!
Did you go to Venice beach??
Yes, absolutely amazing@@mjlives5428
We did a day trip to LA in 2022, glad I did it but wouldn't want to do it again. Some really nice neighbourhoods but the homelessness I saw was anything I have seen on numerous visits to developing countries like India. Crazy how that can happen in one of the richest and most desirable places to live on earth.
…..you visited the WRONG areas!!!
@@eddieg6436 We were on a tour with a guide and saw them downtown, Venice Beach, West Hollywood and main Hollywood near Chinese theatre. The only area we didn't see them was in Beverly Hills.
@@markcummings3146 I know L.A. like the back of my hand (52 years). AVOID Hollywood, Venice Beach, Downtown L.A. (except small area near Broad museum, Disney concert hall. Avoid a lot of Santa Monica, and beach. VISIT Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Holmby Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, West Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Calabasas. Yes, there’s a lot of history in Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, downtown (etc). But to AVOID most of the crime, homeless, filth, garbage, and graffiti, stick to my areas.
Is the San Fernando Valley a safe place in LA?
@@jordivandervegte5983 The San Fernando Valley used to be a very safe place, but crime has crept in. Places like Studio City, Burbank, Glendale, Encino, and Sherman Oaks are lovely areas, but in the last 10 years (just like other big cities) some crime has moved in.
I live in Orange County. I can't say how safe or dangerous LA is compared to other large cities in the U.S., but compared to large cities throughout Asia LA is EXTREMELY dangerous. I'm saying this as someone who lived in Asia for 17 years.
shame how such a gorgeous place is ruined by crime, drugs and all the homeless
@@hbmustangs LA has never been gorgeous. I've lived her since the day OJ killed Nicole and Ron.
The OC is far better than L.A.. Except for Santa Ana.
Thank you Chris for the update on the criminal in LA. I grew up in West LA. It’s unfortunate that people feel so unsafe in the city. If visitors want to book accommodations, definitely stay in the West part of Los Angeles. In fact, when the visit the city now, I book rooms in Santa Monica and Westwood. Don’t forget about Culver City, Century City etc. Just be aware of your surroundings and stay safe everyone!👍
Thanks for the extra tips on where to stay!
Good stuff Chris!
I was there in January. Hadn't been out since before pandemic. 1st week was palm springs and that is safe as can be..lol. we then went to orange county and the difference in show of police was actually startlingly. I actually felt unsafe because of all the pd..and the bag check at downtown Disney was off the hook. They went thru everything in my purse. LA for sure has a homelessness issue. But I don't think they are the issue. It looks bad but they aren't the ones making trouble for the most part. I would visit again, as my dad is there.
I visited LA in summer 2019 as a solo traveler. Booked a nice and comfy airbnb in Hollywood. I´ve never been uncomfortable on my solo trips, it was the first time in LA I experienced that feeling through homelessness and drugs. My airbnb host was worried and texted me like once a day, asking if I was doing fine.
I hope you had a good experience? I would love to know you beautiful.
@@NormanDerekShe’s not interested.
As a Angelino, this is a take from someone who has no idea what they are talking about. He got some stuff right but most of what he said are things we don’t need to worry about here. The gentleman at the end got it right. Mind your business, no one will bother you, stay out of places you’re not supposed to be. Enjoy the uniqueness of this city.
Thx, great video! Like L.A very much and after viewing your video, I’ll. check back in march !
30 years ago, I lived near Vanowen and Laurel Canyon. Got robbed and vandalized 3 times. The police would never show up to take a report. Moved out within 6 months.
Ooof
I visited LA from Connecticut in August. All of the places I went to were perfectly fine. I stayed in Pasadena, which was beautiful, went to Hollywood Boulevard, Ktown and Venice Beach....in all of those places I felt safe. I am sure there are not so good areas that I didn't see them. I would definitely visit again, LA is a beautiful city!! Traffic sucks though lol
bruh, Pasadena is a high class neighborhood in the city, just like Beverly Hills. Try to visit the Hollywood area, Santa Monica, even Downton LA. I don't know which Hollywood bvrd that you visited, bcs when I was there, a long the hollywood bvrd is full of homeless.
….AVOID Hollywood Blvd!!
If you return try using the LA Metro system. It's a combination of subways and light rail. More lines opening next year including a connection to the airport via a people mover.
@@LordZee11 that’s in every big city
I visit in August as well from NY. Stayed in Glendale and loved it. But I travelled around the coast line, and various neighborhoods. I felt fine in the majority of the areas I visited. Just a lot of homeless. I haven't seen that many in a small area. And we have plenty of homeless in NY but it made our situation seem like nothing
Visited LA in 2022. Like this place!
6:18 as a Black man, its NOT racist to say these thieves are of a specific race group...
You ain't black 😂
The good solid white man doesn’t automatically assume a man of color he walks up on does crime. The key is to look at a man’s heart and character. Always. Who you sleep with won’t change my mind. Your race won’t change my mind. Only your character and actions can make me form an opinion on you. That’s just how I think. Because my very best friend is a black man. And I consider him a brother
I'm from Brazil and I'll be visiting USA this coming December and I'll be in LA. I'm very excited, it's gonna be my very first time in USA and I hope I might have a lot of fun.
I live in LA and take public transit to work, its really not that bad, specifically on the E line bc it goes to Santa Monica which is more touristy. Def beware of the B and D lines but the E and A ones are pretty safe from about 10am to when the sun goes down. There are definitely students and business people but really only on those two lines and definitely more prominently from 3-5pm. Especially if you come at a touristy time of year like memorial day for example they always have increased security on the metro. Definitely just be aware of your surroundings but if you mind your own business you’ll usually be okay!
LA unsafe? That’s so silly. It’s FINE. As a San Diegan, I don’t love LA at all but not because it’s unsafe. My goodness, have these people never driven in Boston?
Where do you stay? Cause I stay on the East side and it is not safe at all
You don't live in l.a tho to say rhat. Driving through and walking and taking public transit are two different things. Maybe now you'll understand why people may think it's unsafe ?
This Saturday I’m flying to Los Angeles from Europe and I was really concerned with the safety there, especially considering that I will be staying in a downtown hotel? Your video is vey helpful
Local here 👋 have a great trip! Another RUclipsr I'd recommend for LA travel content is Wolters World (:
Be safe red five!
Just got back from LA and Im also from Europe (plus a woman and I travelled alone). And I also stayed in a hotel in Downtown (next to Bloc). Dont worry, its really fine, just mind your own business and keep valuables close. You will be fine.
Born and raised LA. You nailed the 7 problems although I would have added an 8th being gangs that are mainly concentrated in south LA, south central, southeast LA, and east LA. The number 1 safety issue in the 80s and 90s were the gangs due to violence and random drive bys. Although gang violence is way down compared to the 80s and 90s, the combonation of the 7 things you mentioned id say is actually worst because everyone is affected as oppose to gang violence it was mainly gang members and their families, the occasional stray bullet into innocent bystander.
Hey Yellow, been subscribed for a decent amount of time and I love all your travel videos, especially Vegas! I'm from LA and you hit the nail on the head because everything you said was accurate! Thanks so much for all you do and I hope you know that we the community really appreciate your travel videos and tips, the best channel I've ever seen and nobody is competing with you, much love brother!
Awesome! Thank you Kenny!
That's not true - crime happens every day, all day here. It's not the media. I live here. Tourists get robbed all the time even in the "nice areas".
Great video - I watched your videos prior to visiting and found them helpful. I think if visitors just adopt a common sense approach, as in any city, and do a little research before they travel they will be fine and FEEL safe. I knew what to expect before I visited and really liked the LA area, much more than I thought I would. I stayed in Anaheim, Orange County nr Disneyland, and it was really safe.
I travelled from Wales, and would advise anyone to hire a car rather than use public transport as it gives so much more freedom. I was dreading it, but though the roads are really busy, I became confident really quickly and it is relatively simple to drive hear due to road network design. Have a good navigator sat next to you!
No go list, lol, thank you for the informative video.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area has nearly 13 million people. This single part of California has more people than the countries Bolivia, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, The Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Learning that, are less than 900 road rage incidents per year on some of the most congested freeways in the country actually a lot. Forbes put out a list of the states with the most confrontational drivers and the largest state by population (California) isn't in the top 10 and didn't make the list. Use common sense when traveling, anticipate what could happen, and be prepared. Pick-pockets, car thieves, and genuinely bad people are everywhere, this is a fact. Don't make yourself a victim. If you get a rental car make sure it's tented and doesn't have stickers all over it letting everyone know you are from out of town. I was a photographer for over 20 years and traveled with tourists from other countries around the U.S. After making over 60 trips to the Los Angeles area and spending months there I had one incident ever. The couple I was working for didn't take my advice to get a tented rental and their bags could be seen through the back window. While at a parking garage for a few hours visiting a pier, someone did a smash-and-grab and took their luggage. I would recommend visiting L.A. to anyone. Just be smart about it.
From Toronto Canada 50 yrs old and wanted to visit since I was 15...every time I work up the nerve I see these videos and get scared again and say forget it.Wanna go to Golds gym Venice...Neverland ranch in Santa Ynez a bunch of other stuff.The gangs in a real fear bloods crips etc also...How do you navigate with what clothes to wear in general there so your not wearing blue or red in some area and get shot etc...Generally white is coomon?See alot of white in Venice beach it seems.Cheers
in asia there are tons of cities more than 20mil people, but much safer. Having large population doesnt have to tolerate that crimes and assaults are normal things that could happen. Dont let yourself be a victim??? How about stop tolerating violence and make the the place more safer for people - both tourists and citizens
Lived there for 55 years. Moved far away a few years ago. Best decision ever- should have moved sooner.
Thank you Chris your video really is helping me true
Glad to hear it!
I grew up in LA, Chris and I believe your video makes a great assessment of LA of its current condition. The video seems thoroughly researched. Great job
Thanks Rudy!
Great. I bought tickets for a spontaneous weekend trip to LA and now I'm terrified.
Hey I am from the South Side of Chicago is it worse than that . LA here I come 😅
Depends where you go in LA. Google has a whole map just for the gangs in LA
I used to visit LA around 4 times a year from 2005 - 2010 to party (from the UK). It was around $2 to £1 back then so everything was basically half price! Haven't been back since 2013 - used to stay in Santa Monica at the Oceanside Motel next to Chez Jay and the pier. Saw how it went with the tent cities in Venice a few years back and it massively put me off going back, plus the fact that the exchange rate doesn't work in my favour any more and Santa M & W. Hollywood are not getting any cheaper! Still, would like to go back someday and check out some of my old haunts .
Very usefull. Thank you 👌
I love LA so much. Let's keep this city safe.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Born in 1961, moved to a neighboring city then about 50 miles away. The only time I go to Los Angeles now is for a dodger game. Used to love it now I won’t go near it.
Chris; LA is and will ALWAYS be on my Go List! Has there been a decline in certain neighborhoods? Yes. Will that keep me from going? Absolutely NOT! Just use COMMON SENSE! When I am in LA and staying at HP in LAX El Segundo, I stay in my suite once it gets dark outside. Daytime I am at Manhattan Beach, Hollywood and yes, DTLA! When I am staying in Glendale I am out at night! Walking around. Going to restaurants, shopping at the mall and Target etc... Life is different over there. Enjoy your week! CAB😍
Thank you Chris for your very honest and informative video. I have lived here all of my life and L.A. has never been this bad. I now live in a small town around 25 miles away from the city. Both Santa Monica and Venice Beach in L.A. are some of the most polluted beaches in L.A. County 😢
Hello from Hawaii! Of all the places I've traveled to, I've been to LA the most! I have friends that live/lived there and everytime after attending Coachella, we'd hang out in LA after for fun. It has changed since then. My last Coachella was 2016 and I hadn't been back since until 2022, I attended a couple of smaller music festivals in Pasadena. We went to Amoeba in Hollywood but didn't walk around there at all, whereas previously we would. I'm actually going to LA next month to attend a couple of concerts, but will be hanging out mostly in Anaheim and Pomona. Lol and I can attest to LA being the car chase capital. During covid in 2020 during lockdown, LA car chases seemed to appear on my RUclips algorithm, so I've watched a bunch. There are a plethora of car chases! And now, currently when there's a live one happening, it pops up on my feed, lol. I almost expected to see one when I was there in May 2022 and May 2023. Whenever I saw a helicopter, I wondered if it was on its way to film a car chase. I think LA is pretty safe, just be aware of your surroundings. Don't make yourself an easy target. Dont wear fancy clothes or jewelry. Don't rent a fancy car. Keep your car doors locked at all times when you're inside. I've seen people cars get carjacked during car chases! There has been multiple carjackings in one car chase!
Also don't leave things visible in your car that will attract thieves like sunglasses, loose change, shopping bags, suitcases.
Aloha mimi and thanks for sharing your tips! Funny how that RUclips algorithm is sending you all the car chases 😀
I love LA. Go there several times a year. It has so many different and cool areas. Just be aware of where you are and check out your surroundings and you will be OK.
I was on LA for two days, I would definitely come back for a whole week next year and still don't think that's enough to discover all the cool places
I've lived in SoCal for 50 years and for the first time last week while driving home to San Diego area from OC we witnessed our first high speed chase on the southbound 5 in Capistrano. WHOAAA! We were doing 75-80 mph like everyone else and a guy in a small sedan flies by us at I don't even know, 110 maybe. About 15 seconds later here comes about 10 CHP doing the same. Crazy stuff and the next morning we saw that he crashed into a bunch of cars on the 805 and was captured in Chula.
Ooooof!
I want to visit again. Thanks for the tips.
great information
I came to LA back in 2019 before the pandemic and I agree the Metro subways are a bit sketchy. Some people who have mental issues just come screaming and pushing a lady inside the train while its moving. Got so scared that me and my wife hopped down the next stop (not our final stop) and just exited and hailed an Uber to reach our final destination.
Maybe they should have some on duty cops in the Metro. Sadly its the most efficient way to get around LA and its way cheaper than hailing a ride or renting a car.
Agreed that there needs to be more enforcement on Metro
Native LA son here. My city's no more dangerous than any other megacity on Earth (save for maybe Tokyo and Seoul, those two are truly exceptional in terms of overall safety and it's more of a collective mindset of the people living there than anything else). Matter of fact, it's gotten a lot better since my childhood days back in the '80s and '90s when it was really nothing to write home about. Current homeless problem's temporary ("manufactured" for financial reasons actually) and will be fully dealt with by the time the 2028 Olympics arrive. People need to understand that LA is truly backed by the super-rich and our state's overall economy easily reflects that (Top 5 IN THE WORLD, folks!). That's why our problems make me laugh so hard. If they wanted to, they could've taken care of all the major ones by now at least. Incessant greed in the real-estate market and an acute lack of social understanding are the only two things holding my city back from where it needs to be. I'm stickin' around for the long haul, running away never really solves anything either...
Umm nice try, but LA IS more dangerous than most cities. Don't try to sugar coat it. Downtown is Zombie Land.
@@tima4929 Ummm nice try, but downtown LA has ALWAYS been "Zombie Land" for as long as I can remember (lol)! And that's just the way the 1%-backed city council wants it for now, anyway. When the 2028 Olympics finally come into view, don't be surprised to see all those "zombies" rounded up and bused out to the desert areas in record time. Money still speaks loudest in my city, always has-ALWAYS WILL...
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LA is no more dangerous than any other megacity on earth - huh?! Have you been to Singapore? Sydney? Melbourne? Wellington? Auckland? There are TONS of cities that are NOWHERE AS DANGEROUS as some of LA's notorious areas. I doubt you've been to the cities I've mentioned, otherwise you'd know saying that LA is the SAME is a cop out. It isn't.
@@jessical7083 And you sound like you're romanticizing the other cities you're obviously more familiar with just to make mine sound worse than it actually is (lol). I think you better reel in your "inner-Karen" before you wind up embarrassing yourself any further on here. At least I've been living in LA for most of my natural life so my perspective is not coming from some "run-of-the-mill" tourist that didn't do their homework prior to stepping foot here...
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I'm an LA metro native and 100% agree with you. Even NYC and London feels much safer than LA. I just came back from Singapore and it is one of the safest cities I've ever visited (along with Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne) @@jessical7083
Scary minded people always think something is not safe. Been here in Los Angeles for 6 years and no complaints. Crime is everywhere, move around and move along
I have a friend that just left L.A. and moved back to Chicago, Chicago where crime is rampant, let that sink in. I will never move back to Chicago with the disaster going on there, that goes double for L.A..
We were in LA at end of June 24 and mostly we had a good, safe experience, except a few places. In Venice beach, there were clearly people with mental issues, talking to themselves, arguing and screaming with themselves. In Downtown, we saw a guy taking drugs via pipe in public in front of everyone. And in metro around Hollywood there were people sleeping in the subway train. Last night we spent in a hotel in Compton and when we went to gas stations to fill up the car, we saw some people talking to themselves as well. Safe to say, if you move with your own car or Uber/Lyft, you won't meet this people, but if you go with public transport as we did most of the time, there is a good chance you come across people with mental illness. This doesn't happen in Europe, except maybe some train stations with homeless, but they leave you alone.
Always avoid Compton!
i lived in OC for 3yrs luvd it
I'm an Angelino and there are plenty of safe and wonderful places to stay, visit, and enjoy, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed here all my life. Don't let the horror stories deter you from visiting and enjoying L.A. -- those are exaggerated and blown out of proportion.
If you're driving a car, however, you shouldn't leave any valuables inside, even if you hide them under, say, a rear cargo cover. I think thieves automatically assume that something of value must be hidden under it. I also think some thieves closely monitor mall parking lots and patrons' behavior, so if you buy a bunch of merchandise, then store it in your car and return to your shopping, that's not a wise thing to do anywhere.
Like the Venice musician said, staying at the beach towns is a pretty good bet. Lots of people, street traffic, and activity throughout the day and evening. So, from Malibu to the north down to Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington and Newport Beaches (these are officially in Orange County and not Los Angeles County), are great examples of great places to stay, dine, walk around, etc. And, San Clemente down to San Diego are great tourist beach cities.
Avoid walking alone at night - this is a pretty universal precaution.
"Number two: road rage, Los Angeles is also the number one city in the USA for road rage, way to go LA." LOL I absolutely love your channel, began watching because my dream is to live in the Vancouver area or Seattle! Hope you keep posting in the future. ❤❤
I do Hermosa Beach every year, safety not a problem but parking is always difficult to find. Bike or walk The Strand.
I have never once had a problem in LA. Having said that.....depends on the neighborhood lol
Hi. I will visit LA this december. Is it better now?
Yeah. It's better than when I shot this video. But LA still has its issues for sure
I live in Los Angeles and some parts are a hell hole, 70,000 plus homeless people, how safe can that be?
I used to live in LA. After getting robbed a few times, I figured it's not worth it and time to move on to other more livable neighborhoods. Venice Beach used to be packed with tourists from all over the world. Tourist buses don't stop there anymore. So should you. If you must come to LA, go to specific tourists attraction like Disneyland, Universal Studio or more skecthy Magic Mountain. Another peice of advice is not to wear expensive jewelry or watches and don't keep flashing your new iPhone.
Sorry to hear that whistlebloer!
I drove down to LA many times, from Vancouver BC. The last few times i went, I stayed in Anaheim, and went to Lagauna Beach. LA Jolla is a must see. I am glad i seen LA in its heyday, not been there since 2019, and have no plans of going.
Visited LA earlier in the year. Stayed in WEHO felt very safe. LA not safe is a fallacy.
Ciao Giuseppe. Io visiterò LÀ a maggio. Mi dai qualche dritta. Userò i mezzi per muovermi. Alloggero' nei pressi di LAX.
@ Ciao Carlo, per spostarci abbiamo utilizzato principalmente Uber e per arrivare dall'aeroporto al nostro hotel abbiamo utilizzato una compagnia di navette. Spero che questo ti sia utile.
Hi Chris!
First I would like to thank your channel, I really like it and I follow all the videos. They helped me a lot with my travel itinerary to California.
I understand that there was no updated news on the security situation.
When is the safest time to travel on the highways, including crossing from North LA to San Diego (Disney and San Diego Zoo)
Thank you very much!!!
I'd say best time to travel on the highways is between 9am and 3pm.. after the morning rush and before the evening rush. If you're going from LA to San Diego on a Friday or Saturday you'll definitely want to depart "early" to avoid traffic from LA in to SD. Those are the two most popular drive days in that direction
as an LA native, as long as you don’t go downtown or too far south you should be ok.
There are still gangs in Hollywood and the bay area
I visited LA in October 2017. I walked from the LA Live area to the U.S. Bank tower at night to do the sky slide. There wasn't much foot traffic, so I was wondering about that. But I didn't have any issues. The 7-Eleven on Olympic seemed a little sketchy at night. I did make a homeless person in the parking lot happy by donating him a beer! Other than that, I visited Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood/West Hollywood, and Griffith Observatory. I also ended up at a Target in South Gate (not my choice). I wouldn't say I felt unsafe, but I definitely paid attention to my surroundings.
So basically, don’t go to Los Angeles. Or, pay $150 for one adult ticket to Disneyland which is about 40-50 miles south of Los Angeles.
Street takeovers are big in Detroit and have even occurred right on major freeways
Judge Dredd
Hi. I really love your videos. I m coming to LA end of the January for 1 week, and i m really trying to go through your videos. They are very informative. I m just scared of the lax airport but hope it will be fine. I m used to driving in ontario canada so hope it will be same as i m planing to rent a car. Thank you for all that amazing work you do❤ ❤❤
Thanks Marketha!
I'm European and we only go to California and Nevada for vacation. It's our favourite places to visit. We do see a lot of homeless people and such but we always felt safe as we haven't witnessed any crimes or violence the times we've visited.
I'm only staying in LA for about 2 years and getting the heck out.
Depends, if you look like a civilian or wear mainly white you'll be fine. As long as you aren't deep in after 8pm
This makes me sad. I will remember LA i think when i visited yesrs ago. Will always have a place in my heart though.
i love illustration image. the truth shines through
I visited LA in January 2024 for 4 days. I think that the city isn't different from NYC in that you can find many homeless people on the streets but if you mind your business and use common sense nothing bad will happen unless you're unlucky. That being said, I stayed in the Arts District area and used public transportation everywhere. The public transportation is reliable and used by many people during the day. During my 4 day stay, I didn't see anything that worried me much. Don't let the media spoil your vacation to one of the best cities in the world.
Great points.
I stayed in Hollywood last year and will never stay there again; it was an absolute shithole.
A car was set alight outside my hotel and it was a very uneasy feeling walking around.
I'll stick to Anaheim I think!
Ooof.. that sounds awful!
The valet parking thing is true. I've only parked in well signposted and lit parking lots with valet even if a little expensive. Id rather pay a bit more than have my windows and tyres gone.
Visited LA last year as part of a 4 week tour of California. We are from the UK. Found LA to be very much like Brixton or Moss Side in the UK on its level of "trouble". If you wanted trouble you could find it real quick, but if you kept your head down you would be alright. There are a lot of people in LA who dont like the British. So just be aware. And to top it all off our hire car had its rear windows smashed while we were eating lunch one day. There was nothing for them to take but they still smashed the windows just to look in. I have visited a LOT of the US (at least 15 states off the top of my head) and quite frankly I wont be coming back any time soon. A lot needs to be done.
Americans love the British, maybe they didn’t like you. You should of parked your car in a safer neighbourhood, away from the homeless
Sorry to hear your car got broken in to.. out of curiosity where did it happen? And for the record I love the British 😀
@@YellowProductions Happened in Napa, I belive it was called 1st St - the main street basically.
@@RoseyRK I think Napa is a nice area? Dont get me wrong, on the whole Americans are some of the nicest people we meet on our travels - but in LA in paticular we had a couple of incidents that brought it home that we were not liked purely because of our accent / appearance. But that was just our XP. YMMV!!
I’ve always felt safe in LA. I feel like people are really friendly and the tight knit communities make me feel even safer.
You're joking....right?
@@45876 no, I’m not. But maybe it’s because I’ve lived here all my life
I was just in Los Angeles back in August. It was my 2nd time going there too. For the most part, it was very safe. I had no issues with road rage or witnessing any crime on my trip. Just be aware of your surroundings, & be more on high alert during the night time, especially in Hollywood. Don't let the fearmongering or the media scare you about LA! The city does have its fair share of flaws & problems, & I've seen more homeless in LA than any city in the USA. It's getting better, but most of the time just mind your business! Renting a car is a must to explore the city, & there's definitely a special charm about it! California the best state in our country, thank you for your videos Chris! 😃
Thanks Robert for sharing your thoughts!
That's not true - crime happens every day, all day here. It's not the media. I live here. Tourists get robbed all the time even in the "nice areas".
Hi. Love your energy! We had 2 nights in LA in May and as Kiwis were slightly worried about crime issues but once there we felt pretty safe - mind you we were not out at night. We stayed in a small Hotel just back from Hollywood Boulevard - no complaints. Hectic though on the street! We did a day tour and visited Santa Monica and Venice lots going on. Felt safe in Ubers although who knows who you get driving... LA not for us but so pleased we got a small taste...
Thanks for sharing and glad you had a good visit!