I will be in L.A. for a couple of days and would like to see the sights and do typical touristy things. I found some great bargains on 3 to 4 star hotels on Hotwire, but they're all in the LAX area.

So my question is, is there any public transportation from the airport area to the touristy areas? Or is transportation to and from the airport such a hassle that it would it be better just to pay more for the convenience of a hotel that is in the middle of all the touristy things?

Any advice you West Coasters may offer is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

.... that, until they get the dang Green Line completed TO the airport (freakin' thing stops just short of it - WTF???), you are MUCH better just biting the sushi and going for something that's more in-town (i.e., closer-in than being at an "airport motel").

There ARE buses and the like from LAX, but...
they're buses. (Unless you don't mind them, they're okay, but... they're still buses.)

Transportation to & from LAX from most places around town IS a pain in the tushy because the subway/Green Line doesn't yet run TO the airport. Once it finally IS completed (maybe within my lifetime!), that will help out quite a bit IMNSHO.

(Of course, I'd recommend changing your flight to go in and out of Burbank instead of LAX, if at all possible - there's a LOT of buses that run by there, which go right INTO Hollyweird [as but one example]. It's also a lot closer to the touristy stuff. But if you're locked into LAX as your arrival and departure point, you're locked in.)

So, yeah.
Go for closer in.
It just means you'll have to make sure to leave wherever you're staying that much earlier in order to make it back to LAX so you won't be a frazzled mess going through security!

Good luck and let us know whatcha ended up doing.

0>:>)=


T.V.




-- I AM the people my parents warned me about. --

that might help to give you advice on where to be

The Bel Age, Le Montrose, Hyatt, Grafton, The Standard...none of those is exactly cheap, but if your budget is a little higher, consider the Sunset Marquis, the Mondrian, the Hermitage or the Chateau Marmont. You could also try the W in Westwood Village.

I was in the hotel business, in case you're wondering!

I don't recommend staying near LAX if you can avoid it.

R.

Thanks so much for everyone's advice. The deal is that I'm taking a cruise that leaves from the port in San Pedro. The cruise line offers a shuttle from LAX to the port, and I have already booked a non-refundable flight into LAX two days before the ship leaves (thanks, TV, for the Burbank airport recommendation - I have made a mental note for future reference!).

So if I stay in a hotel near the airport, there will be no time crunch in getting to the shuttle. And I can get a 4 star hotel in that area on Hotwire for $79/night, which is very tempting! But everyone, including the travel agent is telling me "you don't want to stay near the airport."

I wouldn't mind taking a bus from the aiport into the touristy areas, unless the bus ride is some kind of unthinkable ordeal. A friend tells me the bus ride is way too long and not scenic enough to make it worthwhile.

Since I will be in town for two days before the ship sails, I figured I should take the opportunity to go sight-seeing, but I haven't chosen anything in particular yet to see, except I'm leaning more toward Hollywood/entertainment tours than concert halls and museums - I have no shame! I just want to play starry-eyed tourist for a couple of days!

I will take everyone's advice and look into hotels not near the airport, including Radamaxifal's well-informed recommendations. Thanks again, everyone, for taking the time to reply!

I would rent a car if the only hotels that work for you are near LAX (or maybe no matter where). Then you can easily return the car.

To get from LAX to Santa Monica, West LA and the Hollywoods, you can take Blue Bus #3...but. And it's kind of a big but! No scenery, stinky people and a fairly long ride. Better to rent a car and pay for parking here and there. You can get combination hotel/car rental packages, too.

Also, taxis are very expensive in L.A., because of the distances involved and the frequent traffic.

Feel free to email me at heldentenor AT email DOT com ... I'm always glad to give my concierge experience some use!

BTW, a really different place to consider is the New Otani in Little Tokyo, downtown. Not as expensive as you might expect and it's memorable.

R.

[Edited to de-robot my email address.]

I neglected to mention that renting a car isn't an option because I haven't had a driver's license for a while now, since I live in a city with public transportation that gets me pretty much everywhere I need to go.

I will definitely investigate your suggested hotels - and thanks so much for your email address, too - I hope to make a decision quickly and not to have to pester everyone too much!

You're NOT pestering.
You're seeking necessary information.

That's SO allowed.

Best of luck and yeah, "play tourist" - Cruise knows there's enuf stuff there to gawk at!

Oh, and try not to laugh at the locals when they pronounce San Pedro.
Srsly.

=X>D=


T.V.

(who pronounces it 'wrong' too, even though he had Spanish in school....)



-- I AM the people my parents warned me about. --

As "San" (like Santa Claus) "Peeeeedro," which made me realize that some of my long lost southern accent is still embedded somewhere in my brain!

I also surprised and horrified myself a few years ago when I pronounced Yahoo as "Ya (like cat) - hoo - where did that come from?!

My ears are so attuned to the heavy regional accent and mispronunciations of the native Philadelphians around me (I love the people, but it's such an ugly accent, it's like aural torture), but I also have to confess that my inner hillbilly emerges from time to time!

Thanks so much for not feeling pestered - I'm a regular lurker from waaaaay back, post infrequently, always do a search before asking a question, and have learned so much here over the years, especially from very helpful regulars like you!

If you stay on Sunset and like Thai, eat at Sunset Thai, it's fantastic! If you're going out in the evening some fun places are the Abbey, the Cat and Fiddle, Howl at the Moon (Universal city walk) and of course the Rainbow Room. Have fun!

"They only come out at night. Or in this case, the day." Chief Wiggum

Thanks for all your recommendations!