When to Use
User asks about Los Angeles for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or pursuing entertainment/creative careers. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Westside (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.) | neighborhoods-westside.md |
| Hollywood/Central | neighborhoods-central.md |
| South Bay | neighborhoods-southbay.md |
| Valley | neighborhoods-valley.md |
| East/Northeast | neighborhoods-east.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & what makes LA special | food-overview.md |
| Local specialties | food-local.md |
| By area | food-areas.md |
| Practical (apps, grocery, dietary) | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport (car culture reality) | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather & microclimates | climate.md |
| Local services | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry (Silicon Beach) | tech.md |
| Entertainment industry | entertainment.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, creative/entertainment
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Car Reality is Critical
LA is a car city. Period.
- 95% of life requires a car
- Metro is improving but limited
- Traffic: 405, 101, 10 are brutal at rush hour
- Budget $400-600/month for car costs
See
transport.mdfor survival guide.
3. Weather Microclimates
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Always sunny" | Coastal = June Gloom (May-July fog) |
| "Same weather everywhere" | Valley is 10-15°F HOTTER than coast |
| "Never rains" | Rainy season Dec-Mar |
Best weather: September-November (warmest, clearest)
4. Current Data
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent | $2,000-3,000 (varies wildly by area) |
| Senior SWE salary | $180K-350K total comp |
| Car insurance | $150-300/month (HIGH) |
| Tacos | $2-4 each |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Hollywood Walk of Fame (dirty, disappointing), Venice Beach boardwalk (sketchy)
- Do: Griffith Observatory (FREE, best views), Getty Center (FREE, world-class)
- Book ahead: Universal Studios, popular restaurants
6. Neighborhood Spread
LA is HUGE. Where you live = your lifestyle.
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young tech workers | Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista |
| Entertainment industry | West Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake |
| Families | Pasadena, South Bay, Studio City |
| Budget-conscious | Valley (Sherman Oaks, Burbank), Koreatown |
| Beach lifestyle | Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Venice |
7. Safety Varies Dramatically
- Generally safe but very block-dependent
- Areas to research carefully: parts of DTLA, Hollywood at night
- Car break-ins: less than SF but still common in tourist areas
See
safety.mdfor specifics.
LA-Specific Traps
- "I don't need a car" — You do. Metro is improving but not enough.
- Hollywood glamour — Hollywood Blvd is grimy and disappointing.
- "Traffic isn't that bad" — It is. Plan 1.5-2x Google Maps time.
- Valley = undesirable — Actually great value, more space, family-friendly.
- Beach = best living — Coastal fog May-July. Valley is sunnier.
- Everything is close — LA is 50+ miles across. Plan your life by area.
- Universal over Disneyland — Disneyland is better but in Anaheim (1+ hr).