Hi eigasuki.

Thought I would just comment on the public transportation part even though I'm a girl... The last time I was in LA alone, I used the bus all the time. The planning took a while. I ended up grouping the places I wanted to visit according to some kind of grid. For instance, one day I visited Venice, Santa Monica and Getty Museum (in that sequence) as they're on the same Pacific Coastal Highway route. Another day, I tackled the Museum Row (La Brea, MOMA and Miniature museums). And so on. It's much easier to plan as you concentrate on the number of buses to take and you can be sure of waiting at the right place and on the right direction...! Hope this helps... Good luck with your planning.

Traz, where are you going next?

Eigasuki, I'm a girl! The post from the other travelers are correct, JPHapgood's (dated 3/10) about the pro's and con's are correct. JBTan response about planning trips for a specific area is really good too. LA is HUGE, so as the others have noted sometimes it's just not practical to take the bus everywhere, but if you have a week long trip, maybe you could take the bus/subway on the first few days (you don't say where you are staying but around Hollywood/Highland are a lot of hotels plus a subway/bus stops with EZ access to downtown, Beverly Hills Santa Monica Westwood, Melrose), then if you plan to head South, to Disneyland, or a day trip to Santa Barbara you could rent a car. I usually have something to read when I head out at dinner, and I'm not bothered by people who perceive (incorrectly!) that I'm some sort of loser eating out alone. I KNOW that there are times when they WISH they had the nerve to go out alone, but due to their notions about doing that, they'll just go to bed!

stay in a hostel, and you'll meet up with other single people. Also hostels have pub crawls where everyone staying at the hostel gets together and goes from bar to bar. That's the best way to find people on a holiday by yourself.

Theresa

www.nomadwannabe.com

The first time I traveled alone to Europe, I became really depressed because I didn't even have a TV in the room for background noise.

Now to shorten my trips and completely fill my days. That way when I return to my hotel after dinner, the only thing I have energy to do is sleep.

What do I do at dinners, I go over my itinerary for the next day or I read my paperback or if I have a seat my the window I just watch the world go by.