Los Angeles is a city where the whole is greater than its parts. The world-class beaches, artist colonies, Hollywood and proximity to Disneyland and other famous theme parks, makes Los Angeles the tourist’s dream destination. Budget travelers need not worry because it’s possible to visit the City of Angles without spending a small fortune. Hotels in Los Angeles range from luxurious beyond your imagination to backpacker’s hostels and everything in between.

Affordable Luxury

Part of the fun is to taste the celebrity lifestyle, and there are many hotels where celebrities, presidents and foreign dignitaries have stayed. Most of these hotels are huge with full luxury amenities, beautiful grounds and gourmet restaurants. Staying in one isn’t cheap, but it can be affordable if you choose the right time of year.

Summer is the high season in LA even though it’s hot and often smoggy. Off season rates are available in the fall and winter, and the weather is rarely very cold. For some hotels, booking at the last minute is the way to get discounts and for others, you need to book in advance. You can get from 10 to 20 percent off the high-season rate. Some of these hotels have fully equipped kitchens, so you can save even more by eating some of your meals at home.

Mid-Priced Hotels

You’ll have better luck finding mid-priced hotels on the outskirts of the city. They are still within easy access to the important landmarks, but not in the middle of Hollywood and Vine.

Los Angeles has been the home of people in the movie industry for more than a century, and there are some elegant, historical hotels where you can still get at room at a reasonable rate. These hotels are in the downtown area and near the Museum of Contemporary Art, Universal Studios and other attractions.

A Backpacker’s Dream

Los Angeles and surrounding cities have innumerable hostels for backpackers and students. There are hostels in Santa Monica just off the beach near Malibu, Venice, Beverly Hills, UCLA and more. These hostels provide laundry facilities, a computer center, a television room and a library. There are also hostels right on the Venice beach with access to the Santa Monica pier.

The Best Time to Visit

Summer is the time most people have vacations and they all seem to go to LA. If you can, the best time to visit is in the fall or spring. The weather is still good with the highs in the 70s or 80s, and the crowds are gone. March to May is considered the ideal time because there are no crowds, the hotel prices are still low and the weather is almost perfect.

Local Attractions

There’s so much to see and do in LA that it’s worth taking some time to plan ahead. Here are a few of the most popular attractions:

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and the foot and handprints in the cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theater are seen in movies all the time and it doesn’t take long to have a look. Universal Studios offers a glimpse into movie-making with extra benefits such as the Blues Brother’s Review and the Jurassic Park ride.

It takes more than a weekend to take in all the sights and sounds of Los Angeles, which makes it even more important to find affordable hotels and restaurants.

This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, the most comprehensive travel search website allowing you to find the best deals on anything from flights and hotels to train rides and Homeaway rentals.