torgirl

We are arriving in L.A. (Burbank Airport) on Friday Aug. 10 at 1.p.m. We are only in town for the weekend. I was able to get tickets to the Getty Villa at 3.p.m. (no Sat/Sun tickets available). We are staying in the Silver Lake area. Will it be too much traffic to go from the Burbank airport to the Getty Villa and then back into town to the Silver Lake area on a Friday evening? Perhaps the L.A. experts can advise? It's my first visit to L.A. and I really want to visit the Getty Villa and that would be the only chance. Also, I wondered if we would avoided the freeway going back to Silver Lake area if I would see more of the neighborhoods? Thanks for your feedback.
Kathy

mlgb

By the time you get your luggage and rental car, I think it's going to be tricky as far as getting to Malibu by 3pm. Friday rush hour outbound. Not good. Coming back will be less of a problem.

janisj

I agree. I seriously doubt you will get your rental car sorted out and to the Getty by 3:00. It is possible but the stars will have to align perfectly . . . .

yk

2 thoughts:

1) can you stand-by for an earlier flight to get into Burbank?

2) I think the Villa will let you in - as long as you get there before 3:30pm... We were there back in February and we were about 15 minutes late for our 10am slot, and they didn't care at all.

Good luck!

clarkgriswold

If your flight's right on time, I'd say you'd just make it if you luck out with average Friday 1:30pm traffic. Car Rental at Burbank is easy pickup, but you still might wanna sign up for the quick-pickup club with your car rental company.

If you're running late, just detour and head for the Getty Center instead. No reservations necessary there.

Sunset Boulevard from the Getty Villa to Silverlake would definitely be a nice touristy drive back in the evening, maybe have dinner in Malibu first and wait out some traffic.

slangevar

I always recommend taking the Sunset route, too... just know that it will take at least an hour, maybe longer. And the later you leave, the worse traffic you'll hit (Sunset from Beverly Hills through Hollywood is beastly on a Friday night).

I'd eat an early dinner at the Getty Villa's restaurant and maybe try to hit Sunset by 6-6:30? You'll probably get to Silverlake by 7-7:30, maybe 8.

Also see if you can get your hands on a Thomas Guide. It's our local driving map book and it makes a HUGE difference when you're driving surface streets.

Have fun - the Getty Villa is lovely!

torgirl

Thank you all for your great feedback, insights and tips! Looking forward to being in L.A.
Kathy

mlgb

Oh dear, I hope slangevar did not suggest that they take Sunset outbound toward Malibu. They should take the 101 Freeway to Malibu Canyon Road, shouldn't they?

Coming back in the evening Sunset would be okay.

torgirl

That's a good question. Which route should we take to the Getty Villa from Burbank Airport? Mapquest says take 101 to 405 to 10 to 1. But then I know from experience that Mapquest is not necessarily the best source. Thank you MLGB for the 101 to Malibu Canyon Rd suggestion. Anyone else have suggestions on the route?

We will try Sunset back in to Silver Lake depending on how late we are.

kleroux

Altho the Getty Villa has a Malibu address, its actually in Pacific Palisades...not far North of Sunset blvd. You might be better off taking the freeway towards Canoga Park/Woodland Hills and then over Topanga Canyon and then South on Pacific Coast Hwy to the Getty. Taking Malibu Canyon over the hill is miles out of your way. THerefore don't plan on eating in Malibu either. You might try eating in Pacific Palisades, since Sunset Blvd. goes right through it on its way East.

slangevar

Oh lord no... Sunset route BACK from Getty Villa... take the freeway to the Getty Villa from Burbank.

I would probably take the 101 to the 405, but I'm a freeway nut... mlgb's suggestions of Malibu Canyon Road is lovely... much prettier drive, and you miss the g-dforsaken 405.

Make sure you sprint out of that airport, though... the closer to 3 you get, the worse traffic on the 101 N out to the valley (and the 405 S, for that matter).

lynnejoel1015

be warned. driving that stretch of sunset boulevard (west side of town, near getty villa / brentwood / ucla area) can be a bit scary at night, particularly if you want to sightsee.

it's very curvy and people drive very fast. you have to keep up. don't purposely drive like a maniac or anything, just be ready to drive skillfully, ESPECIALLY on a friday night.

slangevar

As long as they hit the road by about 6 or 6:30, they should be fine. It's not quite dark now and it's 8:10, so they should be in Silverlake by then. But generally that is good advice... driving in LA at night is always an adventure!

mowmow

Split up to save time. Send somebody over to pick up the rental car (sign up for quick pick-up) while the others wait for the luggage, then swing back and pick everybody up. That way you can make it out of the airport in about 30 min.

Not an LA native, so I can't help with the way to the Villa, but I'd avoid the 405. Only time I've ever seen it moving beyond a snail's crawl is 4am.

mlgb

kleroux has suggested the best route. Of course if there is an accident on the westbound Ventura Freeway (101) all bets are off.

Listen to radio stations AM 1070 and 980 for traffic reports.

ggreen

I always suggest Malibu Seafood as a favorite place to eat. It's north of the Getty Villa on the PCH, just a seafood shack with picnic tables overlooking the ocean across the street - and the best tuna burger I've ever eaten in my life! Makes me long to go to Cali every time I think about it... Look for the big lobster sign on the freeway. www.malibuseafood.com

Have a great time at the Villa! It's really lovely.

torgirl

Just wanted to give a big thank you to those who offered suggestions for our visit to the Getty Villa. We arrived in Burbank as scheduled at 1 p.m., took the 101 to Topango Canyon Rd route to the Villa and got there at 2.30. They let us in early and we had a wonderful time exploring the Museum. It was outstanding and we really enjoyed it. Also had time to have a late lunch at their restaurant and it was delicious. We then took the scenic route to Silver Lake via Sunset and enjoyed seeing the neighborhoods. There was some traffic but it was not bad even on a Friday evening. We also drove back up to Malibu and beyond on Sunday morning. Stopped in at the Paradise Cove restaurant but it was so busy and touristy that it didn't really appeal to us to stay. I would only go there again on a weekday.
Overall, we had a wonderful weekend in L.A. We came for a wedding on Sunday and stayed at the Marriott Downtown. The hotel staff were wonderful and I would stay there again.

mlgb

Thanks for the report back. That Marriott is sort of a forgotten hotel and it is a rather good location for downtown, used to work just down the block. Glad it all worked out.