Los Angeles

GETTING THERE

You’ll find a range of airlines – including Virgin, British Airways and American Airlines – offering reasonable nonstop return flights from £400. If you are looking for a more upmarket option, go business class from London Stansted from around £1,100-1,300.

WHERE TO STAY

Forgetting the mountain of accommodation around the city, where budget reservations can be made in pretty much any district except Beverley Hills and West Hollywood, we’d recommend sampling the delights at the Commerce or the Bicycle.

Double rooms at the Commerce start at around $159, while at the Bike, you’re looking at the cheaper option with rooms from $96 upwards on weekends. If you want to get out and spread your wings further, then start at the USA Hostels Hollywood (budget) and finish at the Chateau Marmont (left) on the Sunset Strip (very high end).

GETTING AROUND

Traffic is heavy-going in LA, and it’s worth noting that taxis are not keen on picking up fares on the sidewalk – you have to queue at ranks or book.

If you want to try a bus, the Metro service drops at most places, while the subway and light railway are also handy. Forget walking though – LA is huge!

COMMERCE CASINO

The Commerce is the biggest poker haven in LA, and boasts the biggest card room in the world (240 tables).

As you’d expect, all forms of poker are on offer, with both cash games and a mass of tournaments. As well as the distinguished LA Poker Classic – for which you’ll find satellites running at the casino every January – the daily events will not leave you short of options, with hold’em tourneys with rebuys seven days a week.

For more information visit http://www.commercecasino/poker.aspx

BICYCLE CASINO

The Bicycle, home of ‘Live at the Bike’, holds a host of lower-limit tourneys on their Nooner Nite dailies. The buyin is just $30 + $10, and the starting time is 1pm.

Every Sunday, you’ll find a ladies-only tournament with a buyin of $100 + $25, while there are busy monthly no-limit schedules with buy-ins from $195 to $485.

There are also plenty of two-day tournaments with much higher buy-ins. Visit http://www.thebike.com/tournaments for more.

EAT, DRINK, PARTY LA

The culinary reputation of LA is exceptional, with a diverse mix of cultures and cuisines. You’ll find a number of excellent budget options around Hollywood and Santa Monica, while Downtown and Beverley Hills, naturally, offer more high-end prices.

The city’s nightlife is bursting at the seams, but check out any number of the famous jazz clubs, especially the Catalina Bar & Grill on Sunset.

If you fancy your music a bit more mainstream, get down to the Knitting Factory on Hollywood Boulevard, or Troubadour in West Hollywood. Also, make sure you take in a few of the city’s underground comedy venues. You may need a laugh after taking a beating at the tables.