Q & A: More affordable options to Universal Studios
Posted on August 10th, 2009 – 7:25 AMBy Elizabeth Larsen
Q: I am taking my 10 and 12-year old sons to Los Angeles at the end of August. I wanted to take them to Universal Studios Hollywood, but the tickets are $69 each. What’s more, I’ve been told at this time of year we need to get Front of the Line passes because it’s so crowded. Those tickets costs $129 each. Can you suggest a less expensive way to experience behind-the-scenes Hollywood?A: There’s no doubt that Universal Studios is pricey. That’s because in addition to the studio tour, the ticket price also includes general admission to their amusement park. Because your kids can go on rides at home, I’d suggest the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour. Kids ages 8 and older are welcome and it costs $45 per person for a tour that lasts just over 2 hours. Then I’d head over to Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood to check out the  footprints of movie stars dating back to the 1920s. It doesn’t cost a penny, unless you want to have your photo taken with one of the characters–Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader–trolling the area for tips.Â


Kerri Westenberg has globe-trotted for National Geographic and other magazines. Now she zips around the region, on the lookout for travel news you can use.
Elizabeth Larsen lived in Salzburg, Austria, and has traveled throughout Europe and the Americas. She can say "diaper," "bottle" and "crib" in four languages.
Troy Melhus has heli-skied on glaciers, dived alongside Monk seals and raced for 24 hours on a mountain bike. All this, and he rarely spends more than $500 on a trip.