Hugo's located at 8401 Santa Monica Boulevard?? I'll be staying in Universal City and need to get to this address, preferably by just the red line train and nothing else? I know, I'm probably dreaming....

Not by the Red Line, which stops in Hollywood. Hugo's is in WEST Hollywood, a few miles west. You can use the trip planner on www.mta.net to figure out the public transportation route.

Alternatively, just take the Red Line to its terminus and grab a cab.

Okay, thanks! I've taken the red line before and will check out their site (though it seems hard to navigate). Can you tell me the name of the station I'd get off at? Is there one called Santa Monica Blvd.? I remember getting off at the station called Willshire and it CROSSED Santa Monica Blvd.--but that was in Beverly Hills.

The station you're thinking of is VERMONT/Santa Monica-- well east of where you want to go. The westernmost Red Line station is Wilshire/Western, 3775 Wilshire Blvd. You are at that point a little less than 6 miles from your destination. The Red Line only goes to mid-Wilshire.

MTA Trip Planner does suggest possible itineraries, rail and/or bus. One will dump you at Sunset and Kings Road, at which point you will need to walk down to Santa Monica Blvd-- three or four blocks, downhill.

Do yourself a favor and either rent a car, or ride Red Line to the end and get the cab. You'll be much happier.

The light rail system in LA hasn't passed through Beverly Hills since the mid-40s, unfortunately (late lamented Pacific Red Car Line). Wilshire does indeed cross Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills (WEST of where you want to go), but there hasn't been a rail station near there for decades....

If you don't mind a little walk, get off the Red Line at Hollywood/Highland and walk down Highland to Sunset (not too far a walk).

From there you can get a Westbound #2 bus which goes all the way across Sunset.

If you get off in the Kings Road area you can walk down to Hugo's on Santa Monica Blvd.

OR - catch the #217 bus at Hollywood/Highland going west across Hollywood. It'll turn down Fairfax. Get off at Fairfax & Santa Monica and walk the few blocks to Hugo's (this is probably the easier option that involves the least amount of walking - maybe 1/2 mile). This bus runs pretty frequently.

You can download timetables for these buses at www.mta.net. It's definitely very do-able.

Public transit and L.A. just don't go together. If there's anyplace where you NEED a car, that's it.

I agree. But if you're going short distances (like this) and you're in an area like Hollywood with tons of buses, it's fine.

Plus, the trip on the Red Line from Universal to Hollywood would be very fast and efficient.

If a trip to Hugos from Universal is his only trip around town, there's no need to rent a car or spend the money on a cab.