Jimbo,

Public Transportation in LA!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AH! Sorry. While it is true that public "transpoortation" in LA has greatly improved over the past couple of decades, suffice it to say there was better public transportation in Paris circa 1781 than there is in LA today.

Unless you wish to spend most of your two day visit waiting, riding and transfering, I would give hard thought to a rent-a-wreck.

Strive

You ask if a car is an ABSOLUTE must, and it is not. It will work out less expensive in the long run, but if you are not used to driving on the right...LA is not the place to start.
With no car, stay at the Holiday Inn Brentwood-Bel Air. It is an easy shuttle ride from LAX. The hotel will shuttle you to the Getty Center (you can even walk) and to restaurants in Beverly Hills and near UCLA. Bus #2 eastbound from UCLA will take you to downtown. It is an hourlong trip, but enjoy the view of Sunset Blvd. Another option is the bus to Hollywood, get out to see Graumans' Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame, then take the quick subway to downtown and back.
While the busses can be slow and crowded, they are not as bad as the people who shun them would lead you to believe.

Good morning again to all of you, and thanks once again for all your input and good wishes, even you RNC!

Okay, I think it boils down to this, hire a car for easy driving around UNLESS the things I want to see are easy access. I think I've got a list as follows (so far):

1. Walt Disney Concert Hall
2. Getty Museum
3. Chinese Theatre
4. MOCA (is this worthwhile?)

Other than that, it's a trip down to a beach somewhere for a day.

What do we think of that lot?

Have a nice day!

TTT

hi jimbo,

i am not from the LA area, but i do think a car is an absolute must.
in fact, it isn't even that hard to navigate the city, as road names do not change frequently and you've got axes that cross the whole town. you just ought to take a look at the map before getting started and make yourself familiar with the directions (i.e. north/south/west/east). it'll work out fine!
As to your itinerary: i think a casual drive down hollywood boulevard will suffice- you don't need to plan for much time at Mann's Chinese Theatre.
I do think that Getty's is THE attraction- half a day should be allowed for that (given the short period you are around, you could easily make it longer). The other half day might be awarded to MOCA and that Disney Concert Hall, which I am not familiar with.
Given the time you might spare by just driving by Mann's Chinese Theatre, you might want to include a visit to Pasadena and Huntington library. If you are staying in the Western area (which seems advisable according to your plans and specifications), you could take the Freeway there and drive back via downtown and switching on Sunset blvd./ crossing to Wilshire via La Brea or Melrose in Hollywood. In Beverly Hills switch to Sunset again and drive down to Santa Monica and take in the sunset over the ocean. on your occasional drive back, make it up to Mulholland and watch the lights of the city.
Sounds like a lot of driving, probably (which it is) but it will give you a nice impression of LA's diversity.
You will have enough time to stop and stroll a few times which might be advisable in e.g. Pasadena, West Hollywood, Rodeo Drive. These are also safe areas with nothing to worry about.
Enjoy that city, which is much more fascinating than its ambivalent reputation especially among us Europeans!
hsv