Hollywood / LA

John259

I only just discovered this article so I haven't yet read it in detail but it seems good, and it includes information about public transport options and whether a car is needed:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Los_Angeles

Bri1

Most Hotels & motels have free parking in Hollywood (& most every other area apart from some congested down-town area's), there is even free on street if you park in back streets away from the main area which have parking meters on streets such as Hollywood Bivd etc or there is indoor parking in the heart of Hollywood near the Manns Chinese theatre for only $10.

As others have mentioned Hollywood is not a very glamorous area for most part, but it is a lot less sleazy than it used to be a few years ago, distances between attractions tend to be further than you think, a car is more convenient as it gives you more time at the places you want to be, public transport has to be fathomed out with not great information & will involve a great deal of walking & waiting in probable hot temperatures, whilst a nice air conditioned car will make the whole experience more pleasant & do-able.

If you book a cheaper Hotel or Motel which won't be hard on the prices you are currently working on then the car would be paid for anyway, on a trip to LA the car is just about the cheapest item after flights & accommodation, I have just booked a car for 16 days in LA for next march cost me £253 all in no extra's to pay for a Mid sized car there are smaller & cheaper categories available as well, driving in CA is a more pleasant easier experience than it is in the UK

burnoutbabe

poormaria wrote: »

I'm really starting to worry about this part of our trip now that we are getting so much conflicting advice

If we had to get a car wouldn't it work out more expensive plus there is the parking? And not being able to drive on the wrong side etc?

If we did get the car would it being better staying in a nicer hotel elsewhere?

I need to make a decision by tomorrow really and I'm
Really stuck

We're not getting a car and will do metro to Universal and get a Hop On Hop off Bus to tour around the other sites, plus to go over to Santa Monica. It will be fine

HHarry

Maria,


You don't need a car - there's a couple of us on this thread that have done it without, and it was fine. We specifically chose not to have a car as we didn't want the hassle of trying to drive in the city, and seeing the traffic at times I'm glad we made that decision. The only time a car would have been nice would be getting back to Hollywood from Santa Monica - the hop on bus takes the long way round, but we could have jumped on a normal bus.


I also don't think that where you stay is all that important. You're going to have to travel at some point, so find a hotel in your price range, possibly nearish to some of the things you know you're going to want to see, and check the reviews on Tripadvisor. It'll be fine.


As to whether LA is worth doing - well you're there anyway, just give it a go. There are prettier, smaller, cheaper places, but who's to say that you'll enjoy them more? Some people rave about Malibu - to us it looked like a dump. We loved Carmel, our friends found it a bit false. Only you can decide.


We were more than happy to have spent a few days in LA, seeing the sights and gawping at things you see on the TV. We might go back, we might try somewhere different - surely that's all part of the adventure!

poormaria

thanks SO much for all your replies. I really appreciate it and have felt better reading through - still not sure on the car situation as yet but more open to it if its not silly prices which sounds like its not.

I am going to take a look through the articles and make a decision

Really I am not going until the 12th october but will be in another location but I suppose nothing stopping me booking whilst away, and doing more research

Its just do I wait to book or get it done so at least I have made one decision

THanks
m

(PS-thanked you all)

poormaria

Only plan to do/see so far is:

Hollywoodssign (from a distance)
walk of fame
santa monica
universal

sjw64

What ever you do ... do it soon. You fly out in just over a week!

ABARKIE

Hi

Have you considered Orchard Suites in Hollywood, fantastic location

http://www.orchidsuites.com/

Stayed here in 2011, had a great time

[Deleted User]

poormaria wrote: »

Only plan to do/see so far is:

Hollywoodssign (from a distance)
walk of fame
santa monica
universal

You really need to take the advice being given on here very seriously.
A car in LA is not just a mode of transport it's a means of self-defence.
Doing what you hope to do without a car is foolhardy at best and dangerous at worst.
Spend the extra money.
Seriously.

dickydonkin

Deleted_User wrote: »

Doing what you hope to do without a car is foolhardy at best and dangerous at worst.

Dear me - the OP will not want to go out of her hotel room with 'advice' like this offered.

Like all cities of the world, LA and surrounding areas have undesirable areas and you avoid them where possible.

Personally I would not attempt to travel around LA without a car for practical reasons not because I wish to encase myself in a tin box to protect me from the locals.

OP - the sights you wish to see are (in the main) all included in LA city tours provided by many companies who will shuttle you from your hotel - perhaps you could consider organising one of these trips before you go to allay all of your concerns which could spoil your trip.

I can remember many years ago on my first trip to LA me and my wife to be had a short stopover in LA before travelling to Hawaii and we booked one of these tours that included all of the sights you wish to see.

Maybe something to consider.