Santa Monica

Santa Monica gives you the classic LA beach experience in a relatively safe area with good police presence. Tourist spots like the pier can get crowded with pickpockets, but overall it's a decent base for exploring the coast.

Santa Monica gives you the classic LA beach vibe in a relatively safe area, but timing matters. During the day, the pier is great - amusement park rides for $5-8, street performers, and tons of people around. The Third Street Promenade is this pedestrian mall with shopping and restaurants, plus you'll see police on bikes and ATVs patrolling the beach area. Beach bike rentals start at $10/hour and the path goes for miles. But here's the thing - after 10pm, the whole pier area changes. The homeless population increases and it feels way less safe, especially for women alone. The shopping areas and better restaurants stay fine, but avoid wandering around the actual pier at night. Hotel staff will usually warn you about this. During the day though, it's perfect tourist territory with good police presence.