Travelling Around LA

Lokolo

OK so I am going to plan on going on holiday with a few mates.

Go to Las Vegas from Monday 6th June to Friday 10th June. Driving from LV to LA on the Friday.

Staying in LA from Friday -> Wednesday.

Now, I am 22, so to hire a car would mean extra $25 + tax a day for Young Driver surcharge, I would also need to have a hotel with car parking, which severely limits my options, so I'd rather not have the car after the Friday.

The place I have found it; 14814 Hawthorne Boulevard

This is closish to Manhatten Beach, LA Galaxy and the airport. (but still a number of miles). Not close to Universal Studios.

Is it going to be easy to get around these places without a car? Or is a car really a necessity?

Alpine_Star

Lokolo wrote: »

I would also need to have a hotel with car parking, which severely limits my options, so I'd rather not have the car after the Friday.

Is it going to be easy to get around these places without a car? Or is a car really a necessity?

Hotels invariably have car parking. You'd be hard pushed to find a hotel in all of California that doesn't have a car park.

A car is essential even in downtown LA. Public transport almost doesn't exist so not really an option.

Lokolo

Alpine_Star wrote: »

Hotels invariably have car parking. You'd be hard pushed to find a hotel in all of California that doesn't have a car park.

A car is essential even in downtown LA. Public transport almost doesn't exist so not really an option.

Well the hotel I want to stay at doesn't

We are on a tightish budget. I even just looked at the Las Vegas thread and they said the bad hotels - one of which is the one I want to stay at!

Doh.

Alpine_Star

TBH I wouldn't even bother booking hotels before you go. They are so numerous that you'd be better off looking round when you get there rather than committing to one and findinng better/cheaper ones there. At that time of year capacity isn't going to be too much of an issue.

Flyboy152

Lokolo wrote: »

OK so I am going to plan on going on holiday with a few mates.

Go to Las Vegas from Monday 6th June to Friday 10th June. Driving from LV to LA on the Friday.

Staying in LA from Friday -> Wednesday.

Now, I am 22, so to hire a car would mean extra $25 + tax a day for Young Driver surcharge, I would also need to have a hotel with car parking, which severely limits my options, so I'd rather not have the car after the Friday.

The place I have found it; 14814 Hawthorne Boulevard

This is closish to Manhatten Beach, LA Galaxy and the airport. (but still a number of miles). Not close to Universal Studios.

Is it going to be easy to get around these places without a car? Or is a car really a necessity?

If you want to feel safe, then yes a car is essential, especially if you are venturing downtown Los Angeles and of course it's quite difficult driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles without a car.

In Las Vegas it can be very useful if you want to visit the Hoover Dam or Lake Mead area. If you have the funds, do not miss the Grand Canyon, it really is the experience of a lifetime.

Lokolo

Hmmmm OK.

I'll have a look at other hotels (both LV and LA!).

Just a lot of the hotels which look resonable want £1k+ for 4 of us, which we don't really want to do (especially if we have to pay £500 for car hire for the week!)

dmg24

I have done LA twice without a car. Anyone who thinks their public transport is non existent must be blind!

Have you looked at getting a hotel through Priceline?

Lokolo

dmg24 wrote: »

I have done LA twice without a car. Anyone who thinks their public transport is non existent must be blind!

Have you looked at getting a hotel through Priceline?

Never heard of them! Been looking at Expedia. Will have a look after dinner.

Alpine_Star

dmg24 wrote: »

I have done LA twice without a car. Anyone who thinks their public transport is non existent must be blind!

I suppose it depends on your budget/priorities. IMO waiting at bus stops with the local low life should be avoided if possible..

dmg24

Lokolo wrote: »

Never heard of them! Been looking at Expedia. Will have a look after dinner.

There is an excellent thread on here about PL by blindman, and before you do any bidding you would be well advised to spend time on www.betterbidding.com. I have stayed at the Hyatt Century City twice through PL, and know of others who have stayed at the Andaz.

Alpine_Star wrote: »

I suppose it depends on your budget/priorities. IMO waiting at bus stops with the local low life should be avoided if possible..

I can honestly say I never experienced any 'low life' on the buses there. They were clean, on time and far cheaper than here. I don't see how you can even make such a judgment on the system, when in your previous post you state that it almost doesn't exist?

Falkirkgal

We stayed in LA without a car. We stayed at the Elan and used buses to get around. We found it very cheap(equivalent of 50p to get to Venice Beach) and we enjoyed the trip on the bus.The buses were very modern and clean and we never had any problems. We also used the underground and it was easy to use and we felt safe.