Brian_S

Hi everyone, just found this site. We are flying into LAX next February and staying overnight. Our flight doesn't leave for Sydney until 11pm the next night. Don't really want to wait around the airport all day. Any suggestions. Thanks

clarkgriswold

Who's "we"? , just a couple of adults? Have you visited LA before and already seen some things or would this be your first time. Are you old enough to rent a car for 24 hours? Where are you staying and what do you like to do/see?

Brian_S

We are a couple of seniors. We spent a week in LA 25 years ago. We haven't booked our hotel yet. We are not beach people but wouldn't mind renting a car and seeing the sights.

clarkgriswold

Sorry , another question....what time of day is your flight arriving and is it a weekday or a weekend? (Weekday traffic is pretty rough during certain hours of the day). Also please let us know if there's anything in particular that you want to visit....The Getty Center, Auto Museum, Observatory, Walk of Fame/Hollywood, Universal Studio, Rodeo Drive, Zoo? And will you have much luggage to drag around?

Tabernash2

What time do you arrive in LA?

jamie99

Try rentalcars.com, they will include all the insurance you need coming from Australia (they are the parent company of traveljigsaw).
Can't help with things to do or where to stay without more info and budget for hotel. There are a couple near LAX that allow 24 hour checkin.

tomfuller

There is a shuttle service between LAX (airport) and Los Angeles Union Station (train station). You can easily take a Pacific Surfliner train to Santa Barbara. Spend a few daylight hours seeing Santa Barbara before heading back to LAX.
I'd sleep on the plane on the way home rather than pay for a rental car or a hotel in Los Angeles.
The Santa Barbara train station is at the foot of State Street within walking distance of the pier. The pier has some good restaurants on it. The zoo and the mission are the best attractions in Santa Barbara IMO.

Tabernash2

tom, they only have the one night. That would be a journey I'd only do for a couple of nights.

There are lots of things to do close enough to LAX. You're not beach people, but I'd still recommend you stay closer to the ocean, rather than venture into the more heavily trafficked parts of LA.

I always think Santa Monica is a good place for just about everything. For a splurge, Shutters at the Beach is a fantastic hotel. Or eat at their Coast restaurant, with full on ocean views.

Brian_S

Thanks for the quick replies and suggestions. We get in on a Sunday afternoom at 3:30. Our flight leaves at 11PM on Monday. We are Canadians spending the winter in Florida. We are flying to Lax to meet a tour group coming from Toronto and doing a cruise and land tour of New Zealand and Australia.

tomfuller

If Santa Barbara doesn't appeal to you you could take a Surfliner south to Oceanside. The Surfliners are unreserved so that if you miss the one at 5:10PM you can go on the next one with the same ticket. Checked baggage service is available from Los Angeles to Oceanside. The trip is almost 2 hours with a good bit of it along the ocean.

eroz

I'd rent a car and stay in Santa Monica or Manhattan beach areas so you can relax and walk around and eat. Drive to Carmel or Rodeo drive or visit the Getty Museum! You pretty much have all day so could also go to Universal Studios or one of those Hollywood tours too.

clarkgriswold

You could take the Flyaway Coach bus to Westwood, walk over to the Hilgard House hotel, have a nice dinner nearby, and then visit The Getty Center on Monday (few minutes by bus). I imagine the hotel would store your bags for you all day while you're out and about. Spend the afternoon and have dinner maybe in nearby Beverly Hills or in Santa Monica, both are just 12 minutes by bus from Westwood.
Or, I imagine since you're leaving on a tour you'll have a lot of luggage that has to be claimed and then re-checked? If so you'll need a car, with a trunk. Hilgard house has free parking so still a decent choice. At 8pm on Monday you'll have to allow only about 30 minutes to get back to LAX and return the car/shuttle to terminal. Or take the 8pm Flyaway Shuttle.

Jean

It's hard to know what to recommend without knowing your interests or your pacing preferences. Although you could drive around a bit Sunday night (in the dark), you'd really only have Monday to hit any sightseeing spots.

I'm sure eroz didn't mean "drive to Carmel." That would be a 12-hour round trip.

Clarkgriswold's suggestion is OK logistically, but the Getty Center and the Hammer Museum in Westwood are both closed on Mondays. On Sunday, the Getty closes at 5:30p and the Hammer at 5:00p. I don't know when the last entry to the Getty parking lot is, but I doubt you could arrive in time to make it worthwhile.

You could probably get walk-up tickets for a play Sunday night at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, although buying in advance is the best insurance if this is something you really want to do. During performance runs, there are usually 7:00p curtains on Sundays. Otherwise, IMO, Westwood is pretty quiet on Sunday nights.

http://geffenplayhouse.com/

Brian_S

Thanks everyone for your ideas. Thanks Jean for the info on the Getty Center. That was one thing I was considering. If we were to drive up to Santa Barbara,how long of a drive would it be from say Santa Monica? What would be the traffic situation if we were heading back to LAX at supper time?

Jean

IMO, in February, it wouldn't be worth the drive to Santa Barbara, but you do have enough time. It's about 2.5 hours from LAX to SB, about 2 hours from Santa Monica to SB. You'd only have an hour or so of daylight on your drive on Sunday, and you'd be dealing with commuter traffic if you drove on Monday morning. Because it's so critical you'd be back in time Monday evening, you'd have to give yourselves loads of time, probably 3 hours at that time to be safe.

If it's raining, the drive times could get really long. February is our wettest month, and Santa Barbara usually gets more rainfall than Los Angeles. If it's a huge storm, don't even think of doing this.

clarkgriswold

Consider Foghorn Hotel in Marina del Rey. They'll send pick-up to the airport for you, you'll wake up by the sea, can take a harbor boat tour on Monday or connect to the Hop-On Hop Off bus for an all-day tour (check pricing). You could also easily take city bus to Santa Monica from here. Just check that they'll store your baggage til 8pm or so on check-out day, you'll be just 8-10 mins from the airport.

Tabernash2

The Foghorn is next to the Jamaica Bay Inn. We've walked by looked at it from the outside several times. It looks ok. Not great, but ok. It would be fine for one night, and the location is stellar. Didn't know they have airport pick-up service.

jamie99

I agree with eroz about Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach. In Manhattan Beach, the Sea View Inn is quite popular and one block from the beach, pretty affordable for a beach stay but it is popular and books up fast, might want to check it out.

Jean

The Sea View Inn is popular but probably not so much in February.

If you can splurge, look at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. It's closer to a greater number of shops and restaurants than the Sea View Inn. You wouldn't need a car.

http://www.shadehotel.com/

clarkgriswold

"Not beach people"....they'd rather see some sights. Maybe we should focus more on what they'd like to see but OP hasn't really decided I guess.