I'm not sure there is much to blog about yet but we have arrived in LA safely and without any hassles. No lost jackets this time! The journey to Heathrow went without hitch. It took about 2 hours and all for £11 each - amazing value!

Having checked in we had a leisurely lunch - very nice eggs Benedict before making our way to the boarding gate. Our Air New Zealand flight left pretty much on time. I have to say that as long haul flights go this was one of the better ones. There was more legroom than often. The entertainment was good - we watched Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel and the food was as good as airline food in economy gets!

We landed in LA at just after 6pm local time and were reasonably quickly through immigration and security. We picked up our hire car and were off to Santa Monica. We reached our hotel with only one wrong turn, which we realised as soon as we had done it!

The Hotel California is a little shabby but given its intentional retro theme is acceptable and it's clean. The bed is comfy and the shower works! What more could we want? No kettle but we successfully managed a cup of tea using the coffee maker! The car is parked just outside the door for a fee that will cost us more than the rental of said car but that's America for you!

We have slept as much as we can - our bodies are telling us it is early afternoon not early morning - so we think it is time to blog and avail ourselves of the free bagels in reception that pass for breakfast! We are close to the beach but as yet haven't seen it because it was dark when we arrived and it is just becoming light as I write! We have plans for the day but I'll keep you guessing about those till my next blog!

A surfboard for headboard - we must be in LA!