Around The World with Time Out

48 hours in Los Angeles

LA's multiple personalities are reflected in its myriad of suburbs and valleys. The differences between them however are as extreme as full-body lypo. Poodles wear Prada on one street corner and the homeless live in boxes on another. It's plastic, drastic and a little bit fantastic. Here are our Time Out musts in lala land

1. Take in the steroid-filled air at Venice Beach

Venice Beach is a car crash that you just can't look away from - not so much a melting pot of American culture as a pastiche of wonderful stereotypes. A stroll along the promenade will expose you to crispy tanned bikers, rollerblading bimbos, washed-up porn stars and muscle men show ponies. Bad mime and broken breakdancing will delight your inner street-theatre masochist. This is an over the top LA experience that makes Bondi Beach on New Year's Day look modest. 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Los Angeles CA. (www.venicebeach.com)  

2. Pap a few celebs as you down some posh grub 

If you've ever wondered what George Clooney looks like with spinach between his teeth then drop into Simon LA and you might just catch him mid chew. This celebrated restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chef Kerry Simon, and is considered a premier Los Angeles dining hot spot for locals and celebrities alike. Chic décor meets American-influenced cuisine; signature dishes include colossal crab cakes, bamboo-steamed fish, and an all American homage to desserts - a tasting platter of rice crispies, pink coconut balls and cotton candy. Simon LA, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles CA (www.simonlarestaurant.com)  

3. Spot the tourists on Hollywood boulevard 

LA's infamous tourist trap, Hollywood Boulevard, is compulsory not just for its tacky attractions, but for the freaky tourists they attract. Where else can you watch a humourless German get locked in menage à trois with Charlie Chaplin and (mature age) Marilyn Monroe impersonators? Kitsch haunts in this hood include Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum -- arguably the most impressive and least embarrassing trap to be caught in. Hollywood Boulevard, between 6500 and 6700, Los Angeles CA. Madame Tussauds, 6933 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA. (www.madametussauds.com).

4. Grab a mother-trucking snack 

For an underground LA must-do, jump on Twitter and hunt down some of the city's much-loved mobile food trucks. This local phenomenon brings takeaway hybrid snacks to the masses at randomly selected locations around town. The Kogi Korean BBQ taco truck is the titanic of all food trucks and can pull in up to 800 people on a pilgrimage for a soft corn tortilla over-spilling with Korean salsa roja, cilantro onions, 'slaw and soy-sesame chilli. The Cool Haus food truck - famous for serving delicious and creative ice cream sandwiches such as Oatmeal Cinnamoneo and Frank Behry - is another truckin' favourite that has most of LA on a sugar high. As the saying goes: only in America.  d Cool Haus (www.eatcoolhaus.com)
 Koji BBQ Food Truck (www.kogibbq.com)  

Stay

Sofitel Los Angeles serves up a luxurious stay at a mid-range price tag (by LA standards at least). These stylish suites are blessed with super-comfy beds and opulent bathrooms stocked with a range of L'Occitane products that will delight even the most discerning hotel toiletries kleptomaniac. A modern outdoor pool and surrounding cabana area offers a welcome escape from the Californian sun. With the warmest staff in town and a dining and bar area that beckons frequent celebrity guests, the Sofitel Los Angeles allows you to bluff your way into stardom in comfort and style without taking out a second mortgage on your trailer. Sofitel Los Angeles, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles CA. (www.sofitel.com +13102785444) 

Getting there 

V Australia has injected a sense of humour, adventure and excitement back into international travel. Joining forces with the world's coolest virgins - Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic - they offer sensational around-the-world fares. Hop from Sydney to LA, New York, London, Hong Kong and home. Get on your back on flat beds in International Business class, or sit at the bar and toast the flight. Chuck a Sharon Stone in Premium Economy with extra room to move or cruise on high in International Economy. Prices start at $2,620 for an around the world fare or $1,145 Sydney-LA return. Book now at www.vaustralia.com.au, www.virginamerica.com or www.virginatlantic.com.au.   

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48 hours in New York

Shrinks, spruikers, artists, rappers, pugs: America's melting pot is waiting to show you what she's made of. A New York minute is precious, so here are a few of our favourite bites out of the Big Apple   Highlights

1. Map out your New York destiny 

If you're new to New York, you'll need to log onto timeout.com/newyork prior to jetting off and pick up a copy of the mag the moment you land. But you should also check out www.nycgo.com The site features up-to-the-minute information for travellers in various lifestyle categories and includes user reviews and the ability to create your own profile to customise your experience. Drop in at the newly launched Official NYC Information Center. This hi-tech, user-friendly planning epicenter features digital NYC maps, which uses Google Maps and Google Earth programs so you can personalise your itinerary and send it to your mobile phone. It will knock the socks off your Birkenstocks and loves repeat users. Now you have no excuse to pull a Macaulay Culkin and get lost in New York. For all things New York, Log onto (www.nycgo.com). Official NYC Information Center, 810 Seventh Ave (between 52nd & 53rd Sts) New York NY.   

2. Soak up Soho and take in some MoMa 

The cobblestone streets of Soho boast unique independent stores such as Evolution where gifts from the realms of science and art meet, and Kid Robot, purveyors of the world's most desirable vinyl collectible toys, to mention but a few. Sensational Asian cuisine can be found at the Kelly & Ping on Greene Street, perfect for a Soho shopping spree lunch. Weekends bring out some of the city's most interesting street vendors hocking anything from famous movie scripts to authentic urban art. When it comes to major galleries, however, the best art attack can be experienced at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). An amazing permanent collection  includes everyone from Monet and Picasso to Matisse, Warhol and countless other greats. The museum's ever-changing exhibitions from around the world place MoMA firmly on the must-see-galleries map. Kid Robot, 118 Prince St, New York NY. (www.kidrobot.com). Evolution, 120 Spring St, New York NY. (www.theevolutionstore.com). Kelly & Ping, 127 Greene St, New York NY. (www.eatrice.com). MoMA, 11 West 53 St, New York NY. (www.moma.org). 

3. Burrow over to Brooklyn 

For years, up-towners have been snubbing Brooklyn as a dowdy bridesmaid to Manhattan's bride. Today they're eating humble pie as the charismatic borough is showing the world her eclectic side. From the art-centric suburb of Willamsburg with its cool cafés and funky stores through to Brooklyn Heights and her historic streets, this side of the bridge is fast becoming New York's ‘it girl'. A Slice of Brooklyn bus tours will take you through all of the borough's most famous movie spots, landmarks and points of interest. For foodies, their pizza tour is a perfect introduction to New York's best slice of pie via the infamous Grimaldi's Pizzeria.  
A Slice of Brooklyn Tours (www.asliceofbrooklyn.com).      

4. Sail the Hudson and chopper over Manhattan 

If it's a cruise along the Hudson via the Statue of Liberty you're looking for then ditch the charter ferries and jump on board the Clipper City. This tall ship looks delightfully out of place among the modern backdrop of New York's skyscrapers and will sail you from the South Street seaport pier in lower Manhattan and gently past the torch-bearing lady herself in style for US$39. If you're feeling a little Donald Trump and prefer to see Manhattan by air then take your comb-over to the downtown Manhattan heliport where for US$150 you can soar over the architectural wonders of Manhattan in a Bell 407 chopper. It's the best 15 New York minutes you can spend with your clothes on. Helicopter Flight Services, Pier 6 East River, New York NY. (www.heliny.com). Manhattan by Sail, 225 Broadway, Suite 3407, New York NY. (www.manhattanbysail.com). 

Stay 

Just a stone's throw from 5th Avenue and two blocks from bustling Times Square sits the Sofitel New York in all its 30-storey glory. By New York standards these luxurious rooms have a pretty generous footprint and are equipped with everything a newbie could wish for. An opulent foyer leads down to the art deco bar and restaurant, which serves up the type of breakfast that you'll need in order to spend the day darting across this town. The fact that the staff greet you in French is enough to win us over.
45 West 44th St, New York NY. (www.sofitel.com).

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48 hours in London

Stunning architecture, wonderful shopping and claustrophobic tubes gives London its gusto. Unravelling this town isn't easy, so why not start off with these Time Out tips?   

1. Take a trawl through the West End 

No visit to London is complete without a visit to the West End, where you'll find the theatre district, galleries, museums, Soho and Chinatown. Start at Piccadilly Circus, and then wander up Carnaby Street until you get to Liberty, the historic Tudor building on Regent Street, with some of the most artistic window displays in town. Push on up to Oxford Circus to check out Topshop (see p34 to win a $500 Topshop spree) and then head down towards Marble Arch to check out Selfridges - the world's best department store. Entry to both National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery is free - don't miss them. Take in a show, people watch or buy a Princess Diana Queen of Hearts salt-and-pepper shaker.

2. Cast your eye over London and make a date with the Tate

Since it was first erected in 1999, the 135-metre tall London Eye has been providing visitors with bird's eye views of beautiful London, all in the comfort of your own pod. You may feel like a touristy git lining up for a spot on the world's second biggest Ferris wheel but it's a helluva view. Once on solid ground make your way across to the Tate Modern art museum and immerse yourself in the most important artworks of the last century from Fauvism through to Pop Art. If the permanent collections (don't miss the Rothko room) and touring exhibitions aren't amazing enough, the enormous building (a former power station) and gift-tastic art museum store will leave you pretty much speechless. London Eye, Westminster Bridge Road, London. (www.londoneye.com).   Tate Modern, Bankside, London. (www.tate.org.uk/modern).   

3. Country-hop on the Eurostar  

It might seem churlish to leave London when you've only just arrived but one of the best things about it is the fact that Europe is on the doorstep. In Sydney, a two-and-a-half hour train ride will get you to Wyong. In London, it'll see you in Paris (see opposite) thanks to the high-speed  Eurostar which departs regularly from the newly renovated St Pancras Station. The scenic journey will take you to Paris' Gare du Nord station in the beating heart of Paris for around AU$100 in Standard Class with Leisure Select and Business Classes also available. Our tip is to take the 7am trip out, have a long lunch in Paris and hop on the 9.30pm back to London, getting you in before midnight. How très international of you! St Pancras Station, Pancras Rd, London. (www. stpancras.comwww.eurostar.com).  

4. Lunch on a legend and dine on cloud nine

If you're planning on splashing out on a once-in-a-lifetime luncheon, the British Pullman Orient Express is your ticket to extravagance. This train is comprised of 11 intricately restored carriages from the 1920s golden age of travel. Each carriage has a unique story and hosts a five-course lunch during the round-trip journey from Victoria Station to Whitstable, where a Champagne and brass band reception awaits you. After returning to the modern day, keep the good times rolling with dinner at Richard Branson's Babylon restaurant at Kensington's Roof Gardens. This exclusive members' club has opened its doors to visitors via Babylon's top-notch yet affordable menu, and is surrounded by a lush rooftop garden complete with live flamingos wondering free. We just love those oh-so-subtle Branson touches. Orient Express (www.orient-express.com). Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High St, London. (www.roofgardens.virgin.com). 

Stay 

London Hotels don't come much more distinguished than the Sofitel St James. This French-inspired hotel is located in the former home of Cox & Kings Bank and is spilling over with design features, particularly in the opulent suites where English and French aesthetics meet. An in-house gym, fabulous restaurant and ornate sitting room tip the oooh scales while the newly launched So SPA already has local Londoners and guests alike booking themselves in for some of the city's most talked about treatments. Step outside and nearby Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and the bustling theatre district and Soho areas await your inspection. It's old-world charm with all the mod cons, providing one of the best stays in London.
6 Waterloo Pl, London. (+44 (0)20 7747 2200 www.sofitelstjames.com).      

Getting there 

If you're ever going to treat yourself to a higher class of travel, Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class experience offers enough perks to please even the most pampered Hollywood celebrity. As if über-comfy flatbeds, on-demand entertainment systems and a sit-down bar weren't enough to float your boat while in the air, Virgin Atlantic also offers a range of the world's most extravagant lounges in both departures and arrivals at key international airports. Virgin's Revival Lounge at London Heathrow airport offers luxury showers, massages and full breakfasts for those who need a wake-and-make-over before setting foot on foreign soil. Unlike most one-night stands that leave you feeling cheap, Virgin farewells you in style with a luxury bar, restaurant, relaxation area, full beauty salon, snooker tables, saunas, spas and showers in their spoil-yourself-stupid departure lounge on the way out of London Heathrow just for good measure. The Heathrow Club House won the award for the World's Best Business Class Lounge this year so get ready to set your OMG gun to stun.
d For your ultimate lounge fix visit www.virginatlantic.com. 

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48 hours in Paris

The city of lights and love doesn't have to work hard to sweep you off your feet. Whether you soak in her sights or tap into the local way of life, this amazing city is waiting to unfurl before you      

1. Wake me up before you Van Gogh-go

Paris is spilling over with amazing art museums and while The Da Vinci Code drew the world's attention to the Louvre, our money is on the Musée d'Orsay. This former railway station is located in the centre of Paris on the banks of the Seine, opposite the Tuileries Gardens and, as one of Paris' most beautiful museums, today features famous art works from the period 1848 to 1914. A visit here will treat you to a stunning array of paintings by Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and of course Van Gogh as well as world class collections across sculpture, decorative arts, photography and architectural drawing. A word to the wise: you need at least two hours here in order to take it all in without giving yourself an art-iac arrest. Musée d'Orsay, 62 rue de Lille, Paris. (www.musee-orsay.fr).  

2. Meander through Le Marais 

This historic area of Paris, once known for its large Jewish community, is today one of the city's nightlife hotspots. Gay meets straight at Le Marais, where you will find Parisian boys chatting up English birds at an Irish pub right next door to a leather bar where handlebar moustachioed men cruise back rooms for a little ménage à trois (or quatre or cinq). Clubs and bars start filling up at 11pm and run through to the early hours of the morning. By day Le Marais changes hats and hosts a number of quirky stores and charming cafés as well as some historic shopfronts and residencies that date back to 1607. It's the colourful underbelly of Paris without the crime or grime. For everything  on Le Marais log onto www.parismarais.com.  

3. Eye off the Eiffel and cruise the Seine 

The authentic way to get to the Eiffel Tower is by the good old public bus. The number 42 bus from Gare du Nord station will take you there via some great scenic views - plus you get to travel with real live Parisians on a morning commute. Get off where the bus makes a left turn onto the avenue de La Bourdonnais just before the Tower. Once you've admired and climbed this world famous icon and taken an entire memory stick full of photos, walk across the street and down the steps to the riverbank and take a cruise on the Seine. Most operators run tours lasting between one and four hours that cruise past some of Paris' major icons such as the Tuileries Gardens by the Louvre Museum, the Pont-Neuf, and Notre Dame. Basic one-hour tours start at 11 euros, while dinner cruises hit the 135 euro mark. More information on cruising the Seine atwww.netcapricorn.com.    

4. Get high with a sugar hit 

Paris is justly famous for its outstanding sweets and desserts. Pierre Hermé is an unassuming little store in Paris's 6th arrondisement that serves up what are arguably the city's best macaroons (and that is quite a claim). Queuing for a gourmet maccas (and no, we're not talking about the new McAngus) is half the experience, so prepare to join other local sugar junkies for the privilege. Once you've bagged your goodies stroll directly across the street and relish in the consumption of these little gems while sitting by the fountain on Rue Bonaparte - romantic even if you're by yourself. If you're looking to stay on a glucose high, grab an ice cream chaser at Les Glacier Berthillion - Paris's most lick-worthy spot, renowned for amazingly rich flavours. Hermé Pierre Paris, 72, rue Bonaparte, Paris. (www.pierreherme.com). d Glacier Berthillion, 29-31 rue Saint Louis en L'Ile, Paris (+33 1 4354 3161 www.berthillon.fr).    

Stay 

If you want your stay in Paris to incorporate a little room to move, then the Pullman Bercy, situated in the heart of the charming Bercy Village in the 12th arrondisement, provides a sensational option. The Pullman offers 396 rooms and has a little secret known as the Concept Room. For no extra cost you can book this uniquely designed suite where technology and comfort meet through the room's oversized shower complete with auto-adjusting shower glass and heads, audio visual hubs and workstations, and a glass TV screen panel suspended on the room's floor-to-ceiling window area. It's the future of hotel rooms in one of the world's most historic cities. Pullman Bercy, 1 Rue de Libourne, 1 Ave des Terroirs de France, Paris. (+33 1 4467 3400 www.accorhotels.com).

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