I'm so glad I took a Guideline Tour over the many other advertised LA sightseeing tours. Rather than the typical big bus with the company name and logo painted on the side, we were picked up in a black Mercedes van that was air conditioned, comfortable, and relatively inconspicuous . The tour size was small (about 8 guests). Our tour guide, Paul, was fabulous. He had extensive knowledge of the LA area, he was easy to hear and understand, he interacted nicely with the group, he had a good sense of humor, and he was very accommodating. We got a great overall picture of this sprawling city, plus a few key stops (which were accompanied by very clear directions where to meet the van at the end of the stop). This is a great tour to take at the beginning of your visit because it provides such a great overview of LA.