Movie Star Home Tours

Starline Tours

Starline Tours is the oldest and best known in the business (yep, you’ve seen them in Speed and The Osbournes). They’ve been dishing the dirt on celebrity real estate since 1935, so they know their stuff. A two hour tour with Starline will take you past a whopping 40 celebrity homesteads, and you’ll be accompanied by a tour guide to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Some of the many famous homes Starline promises to cruise past belong to Britney Spears, Nicolas Cage, Madonna, Halle Berry, and for you daytime TV fans, Bob Barker and Dr. Phil. In addition to the homes, the tour will also take in L.A. landmarks like Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive. Your tour even begins and ends at a site of movie history, as you will be picked up and dropped off in front of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Starline tours run every day, year round, with departures every half hour, on the half hour. The two hour tour costs $37 for adults, $27 for children. Though Grauman’s marks the official beginning and end to the tour, you can hop on at a number of locations throughout the city, including many hotels, for an additional fee ($41 for adults, $32 for children).

While you’re in L.A., should you decide to do anything besides celeb hunt, Starline also offers transportation to many other destinations of choice, such as Disneyland, Venice Beach, Las Vegas, and along the California coast.

For more information, call 1-800-959-3131.

Hollywood Tours

Hollywood Tours gives Starline a run for their money, promising 45 celebrity homes on their two hour tour. Some of the homes you’ll see belong to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, Robert Redford, Mick Jagger, and Jennifer Lopez. In addition to the home tour, you’ll cruise past many sites of movie magic, like the house that “exploded” in Lethal Weapon and the fire escape where Julia Roberts and Richard Gere sealed the deal in Pretty Woman. Of course, you’ll also see Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, and the Walk of Fame.

Hollywood Tours takes you one place you can’t get with Starline, and that is directly up to the famous Hollywood sign at the top of Mulholland Drive - a great photo op!

The tour takes off daily, year round, at 11:30am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm in front of Hollywood Tours offices on Hollywood Blvd. Prices for adults are $37.95 (or $32.95, if you book online) and $21.95 for children (no discount for the online booking for kids tickets).

Hollywood Tours can also take you to other California hot spots like Universal Studios, Sea World, and Six Flags, as well as Las Vegas tours.

For more info, call 1-800-789-9575.

Movie Star Homes Tour

George Clooney

Movie Star Homes Tour is for those on a budget, or those with the determination to tackle L.A’s famous gridlock traffic. Gone is that nice, air conditioned coach with the knowledgeable tour guide. In is your car and a map provided to you by Movie Star Homes Tour. There are some advantages to this method, though. The map is updated every 90 days, so new celebrity homes are constantly being added - often faster than the other companies. The map gives you clear, easy to follow directions to homes and other tourist attractions and plenty of coupons. And the cost - you can’t beat it - $6.95 for the whole package.

Some homes you’ll see on your self-guided tour include Paris Hilton’s, Teri Hatcher’s, Usher’s, and George Clooney’s.

Things To Keep in Mind

Like anything where there is a fast buck to be made, you’re likely to encounter plenty of people in Hollywood claiming to have the inside track on star homes and willing to sell you a map for a few dollars less than the next guys. Don’t get taken - go with a reputable tour group. If you’re not sure, check the company out online before handing over any of your hard earned cash.