La

sturll

pazza2000 wrote: »

California over Florida is a cert - those who have been to both will tell you that. In saying that though, Florida is great also -its just you are comparing it to the 'Best' when you compare it to California.

LA is the hub of Southern California -i actually recommend spending more than a few days there -those who go for a few days spend tend to spend it 'car-less' in Hollywood, which would justify the odd 'let down' comment -those who spend time there love it, actually i would go as far as to say that if you spend more than a week there with a car you could not say 'you dont like it' -it caters for all, and it caters with the best.



"I was in LA (El Segundo and Santa Monica) for 3 months"
La is rubbish. Seriously its an absolute let down. Anyone will tell you that"

-abnoxious, yes,!! However i would go as far as to say the above poster is stretching the truth about one of his somments. He spent 3months in what many regard as one of the most finest cities in the World(in terms of diversity, activities, lifestyle, economy, prosperity, community sprit, accolade, culture etc etc), yet he is as bold as to say anyone who has been to LA will tell you it is rubbish and an absolute let down....

-i think you have been proved wrong mate, no offence :-D

This is not a battle of wits or an argument either of us can win. Its is a debate of opinion so calm down child. (mate)
Stretching the truth? Is that how kids these days describe having an opinion? You'll be telling me next your exams were harder than mine and then phoning mummy when the nasty man disagrees with you.

The fact is i lived and worked in LA for 3 months. I lived in El Segundo which was too much ike a ghost town (near the airport) so at my own expense moved to Santa Monica (which i loved) I worked predominantly in the downtown area which is some way from SM or indeed Hollywood.
Hollywood - A dive, a dog sh*t riddled hall of fame which is nothing more than Blackpool front passing tourist shops.

I have been to some of the best restaurants and clubs that LA has. I have been to many parts of it and have been there 7 times since i lived there.

It is a sh*t hole. The metro is crap and runs only 1/3 of the city, the buses are ridiculous in that they run in grid routes and even with a car you'll be stopping every fifty yards at a traffic light. I can think of no where other that Universal or Santa Monica that is worth the visit and both those can easily be done within a day or two.

And please dont quote me diversity, culture etc, it is the most segmented city on earth. Hispanics live with Hispanics, African Americans live with African Americans and White Americans live with White Americans.

I put it to you that you are either a biased LAer or you have been on some tail end Thoma Cook fly drive.

pazza2000

sturll wrote: »

This is not a battle of wits or an argument either of us can win. Its is a debate of opinion so calm down child. (mate)
Stretching the truth? Is that how kids these days describe having an opinion? You'll be telling me next your exams were harder than mine and then phoning mummy when the nasty man disagrees with you.

The fact is i lived and worked in LA for 3 months. I lived in El Segundo which was too much ike a ghost town (near the airport) so at my own expense moved to Santa Monica (which i loved) I worked predominantly in the downtown area which is some way from SM or indeed Hollywood.
Hollywood - A dive, a dog sh*t riddled hall of fame which is nothing more than Blackpool front passing tourist shops.

I have been to some of the best restaurants and clubs that LA has. I have been to many parts of it and have been there 7 times since i lived there.

It is a sh*t hole. The metro is crap and runs only 1/3 of the city, the buses are ridiculous in that they run in grid routes and even with a car you'll be stopping every fifty yards at a traffic light. I can think of no where other that Universal or Santa Monica that is worth the visit and both those can easily be done within a day or two.

And please dont quote me diversity, culture etc, it is the most segmented city on earth. Hispanics live with Hispanics, African Americans live with African Americans and White Americans live with White Americans.

I put it to you that you are either a biased LAer or you have been on some tail end Thoma Cook fly drive.

I dont know what to say to this!! Maybe i guess i am a little to passionate, -its just that great a place :-D

Have a look at this forum, sums LA up really. Its a great place, those who are not to keen on it tend to have went car less or have spent little time in the traditional hotspots only such as Hollywood. Those who spend good time there and with a car, love it like i do. This guy above is an exception i guess .... all im saying is he contradicts himself, ill leave it at that :-)

JamesTGP

Many thanks for all the responses ... looks like there's mixed views on how good it can be without a car.
For the people who have been without a car ... where would you recommend staying (area wise) and how did you go about booking these excursions?
Thanks again!

elisebutt65

JamesTGP wrote: »

Many thanks for all the responses ... looks like there's mixed views on how good it can be without a car.
For the people who have been without a car ... where would you recommend staying (area wise) and how did you go about booking these excursions?
Thanks again!

We did a flydrive holiday to California - Dod Route 1 up the coast to SF where we gave the car back. If you're not taking a car then I would suggest Santa Monica as there is so much to see and do there. We booked one of those really naff homes of the starts tours by coach and it was soooo much fun! You can also book trips to Disney etc - most hotels/motels have leflets advertising these trips and just go via reception to book them.

I really would reconsider though and got to SF instead as it is so amazing there and it one of the few cities, bar NY that a car is a hindrance. Just going up and down on the trams is fun in itself, go to Alcatraz, go to the old Giardelli chocolate factory - the smell is amazing, take photo of the Haight-Ashbury street sign, etc,etc. Record shops are mazing there as well

leed

JamesTGP wrote: »

Many thanks for all the responses ... looks like there's mixed views on how good it can be without a car.
For the people who have been without a car ... where would you recommend staying (area wise) and how did you go about booking these excursions?
Thanks again!

Haven't been to Florida but we went to California last year and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves OH, DD age 20, DS age 17 and me! I would say do your homework on the internet before you go - we stayed in LA (Venice Beach) for a few days, admittedly we did have a car but were touring round LA, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco and down coast back to LA. We didn't necessarily do the usual touristy things but went to Warner Bros studio (Burbank) Getty Centre museum, Griffith Park Observatory. Hotel did have brochures about tours - but look on line first. Could try the LA Go Card http://www.golosangelescard.com/?GCID=S18000x014-2580-LAX-GoC&KEYWORD=la%20card&MATCHTYPE=search which do include some tours. May be cheaper to buy before you go.
What ever you do I hope you enjoy your holiday!:rotfl:

JamesTGP

Thanks for that ... I'll definitely look into some of these suggestions over the next day or two.
We're hopefully going to Warped Tour whilst out in LA too if we can sort the transport.

sturll

pazza2000 wrote: »

I dont know what to say to this!! Maybe i guess i am a little to passionate, -its just that great a place :-D

Have a look at this forum, sums LA up really. Its a great place, those who are not to keen on it tend to have went car less or have spent little time in the traditional hotspots only such as Hollywood. Those who spend good time there and with a car, love it like i do. This guy above is an exception i guess .... all im saying is he contradicts himself, ill leave it at that :-)

Where have i contradicted myself?

polarbearit

I'd probably avoid Florida & LA without a car, though you can get around it isn't that easy and there are better US cities for car-free travel.

Without a car you'd have an easier time looking at San Diego & San Francisco as much more compact west coast cities, then Boston & NYC on the East coast are better car-free.

1trainer1

i went to LA and it was very difficult to get around without a car, taxis are very expensive. it cost us $55 to get from the airport to our hotel (the beverly garland holiday inn) it was very close to unviersal studios and there was a free shuttle to universal. also the metro is very cheap and takes you to a few different places but as we were only ther for 3 days it was fine without a car.

if i go again i would hire a car as you can get around more.

realised

leed wrote: »

Haven't been to Florida but we went to California last year and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves OH, DD age 20, DS age 17 and me! I would say do your homework on the internet before you go - we stayed in LA (Venice Beach) for a few days, admittedly we did have a car but were touring round LA, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco and down coast back to LA. We didn't necessarily do the usual touristy things but went to Warner Bros studio (Burbank) Getty Centre museum, Griffith Park Observatory. Hotel did have brochures about tours - but look on line first. Could try the LA Go Card http://www.golosangelescard.com/?GCID=S18000x014-2580-LAX-GoC&KEYWORD=la%20card&MATCHTYPE=search which do include some tours. May be cheaper to buy before you go.
What ever you do I hope you enjoy your holiday!:rotfl:

Apologies if i'm slightly hijacking the thread but what hotel did you stay at in venice beach? I'm off to la soon and decided to stay around that area