5 hour Layover at LAX
 

I have a layover from 6:15-11:40pm

Is there anywhere to get a manicure/pedicure at night not very near the airport. I do not want to spend $20 each way on a cab to go too far.

Thank you

I actually found a great thread: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...urs-at-lax.cfm

Is there public transit from LAX to Manhattan Beach? Is it safe at night?

Are you sure you actually have time to leave the airport? Is you incoming flight usually on time? Will you have luggage to deal with? What time do you have to check in for your ongoing flight (some require 3 hour check-in)?

<i> (some require 3 hour check-in)?</i>

never heard of that requirement

AAfrequentFlyer:International flights often require a 3 hr check in. We needed 3 hrs from LAX to Germany last summer.

Require? - NO

I always check in about an hour/hour and a half before our international flights...

YOMD

AAFF: Perhaps, you are right, maybe it was not required, but recommended on the website. We just felt better not having to worry about delays in security or with traffic, so we left home in plenty of time and were there about 2 1/2 hrs to 3 hrs before our flight. It seemed to take us a while to check in, go through security and get to the boarding gate. I guess, we don't fly international enough to take a chance on the 1 1/2 hr window. We were late at Heathrow once, only an hr and a half to spare and they almost did not check us in or allow us to board. We're more cautious now.

AAFF: Perhaps, you are right, maybe it was not required, but recommended on the website. We just felt better not having to worry about delays in security or with traffic, so we left home in plenty of time and were there about 2 1/2 hrs to 3 hrs before our flight. It seemed to take us a while to check in, go through security and get to the boarding gate. I guess, we don't fly international enough to take a chance on the 1 1/2 hr window. We were late at Heathrow once, only an hr and a half to spare and they almost did not check us in or allow us to board. We're more cautious now.

It's a recommendation, not a requirement. It's fine if you fly once, twice a year and you want to be sure, but I used to fly over 100K miles a year and there was no way in hell I would get to the airport 3 hours ahead of time, unless of course it was Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) or London (British Airways), where I had access to some of the best first class lounges in the world.... :-D

I don't see an answer to your question in this thread. See this link for nearby salons and check with them to find out their operating hours.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Manic...ient=firefox-a

If you are coming in from overseas you need to allow lots of time for customs/immigtation/ last month it tool me 3 hours just to get through passport control

Are either of your flights international? If so -- don't even consider leaving the airport.

A friend of ours was flying from LAX to Madrid recently and he got to the airport 3 minutes less than 2 hours before the flight and they told him he would have to take a flight the next day as he HAD to be there 2 hours or more before the flight. I would not risk being there less than 2 hours after hearing his story.

I'd have to agree with janisj. Maybe, I'm too cautious, but with LA traffic, security concerns, etc (AND if it's an international flight as well) I wouldn't leave the airport. Too much hassle and aggravation for me.

<b> Cali </b>

there is no such requirement..... 1 hour is sufficient, period.

I do agree with the five hour break analysis. It's not sufficient to go anywhere at LAX, except maybe the http://www.encounterlax.com. It's a nice place to chill out and have some pretty decent food. You can use the terminal transfer bus to get close enough to the place and then use it again to get to the international terminal. The best part is that's it's free.

The problem is your carry ons. If you have big ones, then you better be ready to sweat some as you carry it around.

Security? when connecting from domestic to international at LAX, you will need to go through security regardless, so that's not an issue.

There are spas listed at both the Westin and Radisson hotels, which claim to be the closest to LAX. I'm not sure 5 hours is enough time to leave the airport, but both of these hotels have free shuttles.

One hour at LAX for anything other than Southwest will just ensure that you miss your flight.

If you have an international flight chances are you cannot check in online and will have to go through 3 security checks. Two hours can be cutting it too close.

The OP is connecting in LAX, not originating in LAX, and I think that allows for more time. It's still a little tight in my opinion. I wonder if there's a spa in the airport itself? A lot of big airports have them now.

"<i>The OP is connecting in LAX, not originating in LAX, and I think that allows for more time.</i>"

Not really IMO -- it takes quite some time to get from one terminal to the others.