LA area folks - Rose Bowl
Sep 19th, 2006, 02:13 PM
#1
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LA area folks - Rose Bowl
Any gotcha's to be aware of when looking for Rose Bowl parade packages? Any hotels where reality does not match up with the web page? Suggestions welcomed.
Sep 21st, 2006, 09:06 AM
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Bob, we did the RBP last year, and had a blast. You can do it much easier and cheaper on your own without a package.
1. Find a cheap fare to LAX or Orange County or Burbank. Since you will need a car in LA anyway, choose the fare/airport which is cheapest.
2. Rent a car on Princeline.com.
3. Choose a nice hotel near LAX--these are usually used by businessmen, and since they will be unoccupied over New Years, you can usually get great rates.
4. Go to Sharpseating.com to choose your tickets and buy them direct. Buy a parking pass near your seats.
5. BUY THE EXTRA TICKET FOR THE POST-PARADE FLOAT SHOW--this is as much fun as the actual parade, plus you can take close up photos.
6. The morning of the RBP, eat a nice breakfast, drive out there early to get your parking space. BEFORE you leave your hotel, visit the bathroom, if you get my meaning. The only 'facilities' are portapotties, and they will have been ah, 'well used' by all of the folks/locals who camp out on the sidewalks the night before. ALSO, limit your liquid intake, for the same reason!
7. Dress in layers, as it is cold in the early morning. Bring your binoculars. And a seat cushion.
8. Just before the parade starts, stand out on the street so you can get a good view of the B-2 bomber which flies down Colorado Blvd.
9. Enjoy the parade--don't go crazy with the camera, as you can take much better shots at the Post Parade Viewing.
10. After the parade, go to the Viewing. You can talk with the builders/float operators, and find out cool stuff about each float.
11. Sometime while you're in LA, go to The Getty. It's terrific.
Enjoy the parade. It was one of my 'must do before I die' things, and we all had a great time.
1. Find a cheap fare to LAX or Orange County or Burbank. Since you will need a car in LA anyway, choose the fare/airport which is cheapest.
2. Rent a car on Princeline.com.
3. Choose a nice hotel near LAX--these are usually used by businessmen, and since they will be unoccupied over New Years, you can usually get great rates.
4. Go to Sharpseating.com to choose your tickets and buy them direct. Buy a parking pass near your seats.
5. BUY THE EXTRA TICKET FOR THE POST-PARADE FLOAT SHOW--this is as much fun as the actual parade, plus you can take close up photos.
6. The morning of the RBP, eat a nice breakfast, drive out there early to get your parking space. BEFORE you leave your hotel, visit the bathroom, if you get my meaning. The only 'facilities' are portapotties, and they will have been ah, 'well used' by all of the folks/locals who camp out on the sidewalks the night before. ALSO, limit your liquid intake, for the same reason!
7. Dress in layers, as it is cold in the early morning. Bring your binoculars. And a seat cushion.
8. Just before the parade starts, stand out on the street so you can get a good view of the B-2 bomber which flies down Colorado Blvd.
9. Enjoy the parade--don't go crazy with the camera, as you can take much better shots at the Post Parade Viewing.
10. After the parade, go to the Viewing. You can talk with the builders/float operators, and find out cool stuff about each float.
11. Sometime while you're in LA, go to The Getty. It's terrific.
Enjoy the parade. It was one of my 'must do before I die' things, and we all had a great time.
Sep 22nd, 2006, 10:47 PM
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If you have a car I think there are a lot of areas I would recommend rather than LAX. The worst city to get a hotel around the Rose Bowl is Pasadena but surrounding cities aren't that terrible and think Orange County would not be that bad either - especially on Priceline or Hot Wire. If you want to be in the Pasadena Area, try Monrovia, Arcadia, Glendale as I have heard of people getting decent prices in those areas this long before the Rose Bowl. It is definitely a fun experience and you will not regret going. Have fun!!
Sep 25th, 2006, 10:09 AM
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I travel a bunch, and mentioned LAX hotels because they are generally geared to business travelers and likely to be available. Nice selection to use hotel points, also. We pick ones with free/cheap parking. Plus, it is very easy to get to Pasadena for the RBP early in the am--all highway and very quick.
