I ordinarily stay at the Sunset Marquis (West Hollywood) https://sunsetmarquis.com/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAApKNxuYyWYhEIjOSscOMiZN1Q4ZIA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqde85-vKiwMVUZZQBh2dPRu3EAAYASAAEgIFsvD_BwE when in LA. I use Uber to get from A to B and like others have my whits about me particularly in certain areas, but be sensible and there is nothing to worry about. The city has lots to offer - film studio tours, great sporting venues LA Galaxy, Dodgers stadium, Staples Centre for 2 x NBA and 1 x NHL teams, the Hollywood Bowl is an amazing outdoor concert venue etc. I go for pleasure with family and also for work (average once a year for many years now) and have enjoyed every visit so far. Am gutted for the residents who were impacted by the fires.
Santa Monica might be a good option - close to airport and ocean. Alternative might be a little further north at West Hollywood, or Studio City. Both close to Sunset Boulevard, the Getty museum, and (if you like movies) Laurel Canyon and Mulholland Drive.
studio city would be my choice. easy access from LAX without going through the hellish traffic and decent hotel/parking options that won't bankrupt you also just down the road from the hollywood sign if you want to head there and not too far from the Griffith Observatory which is a great place to visit
Been several times and always stayed at The Shore in Santa Monica. Not cheap, but very good, Easy access from LAX...walk along the beach to Venice...uber to anywhere else you want to go...walkable to shops, restaurants, bars etc https://www.shorehotel.com/
Been several times and always stayed at The Shore in Santa Monica. Not cheap, but very good, Easy access from LAX...walk along the beach to Venice...uber to anywhere else you want to go...walkable to shops, restaurants, bars etc https://www.shorehotel.com/
Blimey! Just had a look at their website. Nearly half price of what Expedia etc. offer. I'll have a proper look after work. Thanks for the link.
Off topic but it does have some nice areas. Jack London Square has plenty to do and is on the water. Alameda, across the water from Jack London Square, is also nice. A very nice marina on both sides. There are also nice residential areas in Oakland. But, I agree a lot of Oakland is pretty shitty. Anyway, off topic all of this.
I did a guided tour called ‘A Day In LA’, which I’d recommend. Cost about $100 and is about 6-7 hours going from landmark to landmark on a bus with a driver who combines as the guide. You get out and have about 45 mins at each place.
Was a much easier way to see Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica, Hollywood Sign etc than getting Ubers everywhere.
Been several times and always stayed at The Shore in Santa Monica. Not cheap, but very good, Easy access from LAX...walk along the beach to Venice...uber to anywhere else you want to go...walkable to shops, restaurants, bars etc https://www.shorehotel.com/
Blimey! Just had a look at their website. Nearly half price of what Expedia etc. offer. I'll have a proper look after work. Thanks for the link.
I understand the convenience of Expedia, Booking etc, but always advise people once they are past the research stage to contact preferred accommodation directly. Majority of the time they will confirm a better offer, whether that's price or throw in something complimentary depending on hotel facilities.
Been several times and always stayed at The Shore in Santa Monica. Not cheap, but very good, Easy access from LAX...walk along the beach to Venice...uber to anywhere else you want to go...walkable to shops, restaurants, bars etc https://www.shorehotel.com/
it’s normally around US$1500 for three nights (still is through Expedia etc), but the hotel is running a special where we ended up paying US$815 and includes less than half price parking and also welcome drinks. Booked, done and dusted! Non refundable, but we won’t find anything better than that. And if flight gets cancelled, we’re covered by travel insurance.
And thanks to other posters for steering me away from Hollywood.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Stay as far away from downtown Hollywood London. It’s a crime ridden dump .
Stay as far away from downtown Hollywood London Woolwich. It’s a crime ridden dump .
I can agree with that. My birthplace is a shit hole.
Had the pleasure of Brussels suburbs this morning. Makes Woolwich look like Santa Monica (keeping the thread on track with a California reference).
Have you been to Liege? The suburbs there (near the football stadium) are pretty grim, sure they still have bombed out buildings from the war. Very grim.
Lived in LA in the 80s….traffic a nightmare but enjoyed it. We went a few years ago for a wedding. Stay in Marina Del Ray Hotel which I would recommend. Venice Beach and Santa Monica nearby. Also not far from Manhattan Beach which is a nice spot for food and drinks. Visit the Griffith Observatory, Hearst Mansion in Malibu. Can do Universal Studios if you like that sort of thing. Laguna Beach is south of LA but is lovely.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Never been there, but I’m sure they’ll be some decent beers. Just search for craft beer on google maps. I’ve only been around San Diego and there was decent beer everywhere.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Never been there, but I’m sure they’ll be some decent beers. Just search for craft beer on google maps. I’ve only been around San Diego and there was decent beer everywhere.
I know, I had 8 hours in San Francisco in June and had an amazing Hazy IPA. Also the most expensive beer I’ve ever purchased (US$20). But they’ve got so many shit beers too. Bud Ice, Miller Lite, Coors etc 🤢
Craft beer is as big in California as it is in the UK, particularly pale ales/IPAs. Saying it's just Coors and Miller is like saying GB is just Fosters and Carling. Supermarkets and bottle shops have a good range if you're on a budget, though their beers are a bit strong for me.
Regarding LA, I'd say Santa Monica as well. It's vaguely central to the airport and tourist places. I don't think Downtown is worth your limited time.
Craft beer is as big in California as it is in the UK, particularly pale ales/IPAs. Saying it's just Coors and Miller is like saying GB is just Fosters and Carling. Supermarkets and bottle shops have a good range if you're on a budget, though their beers are a bit strong for me.
Regarding LA, I'd say Santa Monica as well. It's vaguely central to the airport and tourist places. I don't think Downtown is worth your limited time.
Reg downtown, we might indeed give it a miss.
Probably one full day checking out Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Griffiths Observatory. The kids wants to go to Raging Waters (waterpark), not Disney, Universal of Six Flags. I can imagine a visit there will take most of the day out of the calendar as it’s about an hour from Santa Monica. On the day is arrival, we’ll probably just hang out by the pool/beach. Same for for the day we leave. We can leave our luggage at the hotel after checkout and not flying out before 10pm, so heading to airport around 6pm. Will probably just spend the day by the beach. And the kids keep going on about these fastfood joints called Raising Cane, Wingstop and Crumbl.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Next time do 5 days in Tokyo and 0 in LA/California/USA.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Next time do 5 days in Tokyo and 0 in LA/California/USA.
Or go via Dubai on emirates, which we are doing in January.
Craft beer is as big in California as it is in the UK, particularly pale ales/IPAs. Saying it's just Coors and Miller is like saying GB is just Fosters and Carling. Supermarkets and bottle shops have a good range if you're on a budget, though their beers are a bit strong for me.
Regarding LA, I'd say Santa Monica as well. It's vaguely central to the airport and tourist places. I don't think Downtown is worth your limited time.
Reg downtown, we might indeed give it a miss.
Probably one full day checking out Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Griffiths Observatory. The kids wants to go to Raging Waters (waterpark), not Disney, Universal of Six Flags. I can imagine a visit there will take most of the day out of the calendar as it’s about an hour from Santa Monica. On the day is arrival, we’ll probably just hang out by the pool/beach. Same for for the day we leave. We can leave our luggage at the hotel after checkout and not flying out before 10pm, so heading to airport around 6pm. Will probably just spend the day by the beach. And the kids keep going on about these fastfood joints called Raising Cane, Wingstop and Crumbl.
Unsure how old are your kids, Danepak, but I recommend one of the highlight of our 2nd trip to LA in 1989 when our daughter was 11 and our son 13.
We were staying in Long Beach with a couple who had befriended us when we were there for the '84 Olympics and La Brea Tar Pits In Hancock Park, off Wilshire Blvd was one of the "attractions" that our hosts always made sure to take visitors to. A very special, unique site....
If this is not on your radar, it's definitely worth googling and consider visiting.
Nope, our flight back to NZ is via LA. On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
Next time do 5 days in Tokyo and 0 in LA/California/USA.
Or go via Dubai on emirates, which we are doing in January.
Comments
when in LA. I use Uber to get from A to B and like others have my whits about me particularly in certain areas, but be sensible and there is nothing to worry about. The city has lots to offer - film studio tours, great sporting venues LA Galaxy, Dodgers stadium, Staples Centre for 2 x NBA and 1 x NHL teams, the Hollywood Bowl is an amazing outdoor concert venue etc. I go for pleasure with family and also for work (average once a year for many years now) and have enjoyed every visit so far. Am gutted for the residents who were impacted by the fires.
FTR Skid Row had more than one good song...
also just down the road from the hollywood sign if you want to head there and not too far from the Griffith Observatory which is a great place to visit
Blimey! Just had a look at their website. Nearly half price of what Expedia etc. offer. I'll have a proper look after work. Thanks for the link.
Was a much easier way to see Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica, Hollywood Sign etc than getting Ubers everywhere.
A huge thank you!
it’s normally around US$1500 for three nights (still is through Expedia etc), but the hotel is running a special where we ended up paying US$815 and includes less than half price parking and also welcome drinks.
Booked, done and dusted!
Non refundable, but we won’t find anything better than that. And if flight gets cancelled, we’re covered by travel insurance.
And thanks to other posters for steering me away from Hollywood.
On our way up, we have two days in Tokyo, so it’s sushi and sake on the way out and burgers and shit beers on the way home.
No bomb damage but gorgeous Uni undergraduates in bars around the centre.
But they’ve got so many shit beers too. Bud Ice, Miller Lite, Coors etc 🤢
The kids wants to go to Raging Waters (waterpark), not Disney, Universal of Six Flags. I can imagine a visit there will take most of the day out of the calendar as it’s about an hour from Santa Monica.
On the day is arrival, we’ll probably just hang out by the pool/beach.
Same for for the day we leave. We can leave our luggage at the hotel after checkout and not flying out before 10pm, so heading to airport around 6pm. Will probably just spend the day by the beach.
And the kids keep going on about these fastfood joints called Raising Cane, Wingstop and Crumbl.
We were staying in Long Beach with a couple who had befriended us when we were there for the '84 Olympics and La Brea Tar Pits In Hancock Park, off Wilshire Blvd was one of the "attractions" that our hosts always made sure to take visitors to. A very special, unique site....
If this is not on your radar, it's definitely worth googling and consider visiting.