the Cost of Bus Tours

Tour of Hollywood landmarks, including stars' homes, historically significant theaters, the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and parts of Los Angeles. The tour was conducted in an enclosed mini-shuttle, with the driver being the tour guide as well. It took six hours to complete the tour, which started and ended at the same place in Hollywood.

The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Hollywood. Not only that, but also he was a movie buff! He had also been around the Hollywood area for so long that he had met many of the stars of today and of yesteryear. His interview was even featured in a magazine whose copies he passed around for us to see. He kept us, his audience, engaged by being funny, informative, and interactive. He even asked my five-and-a-half year old nephew some questions to make sure he wasn't bored. The tour told us so much about Hollywood and movie history that it was definitely worth it to spend the time and money it took.

Before you get on the bus, at the gathering place in front of the ticket sales office, ask who the guide is and watch him for a couple of minutes. You'll be spending the better part of your waking hours that day with him, so make sure you find him pleasant. Judging his knowledge of the area and the industry is beyond the scope of the time you'll have to decide to go on this tour or the next (another tour company, another time slot, etc.), standing in front of the booth, but know that the tour company picks them well. Take the opportunity to go to the restroom when you are inside the theaters that are part of the tour since the last stretch of the tour will keep you in the shuttle for about three hours.