Quick question for the more experienced- We are arriving in LA early July and can get an accomodation/car pakg. from our hotel in Santa Monica. Would need a cab from the airport to Santa Monica. Is this easily accomplished, and how much? Or, should we simply rent the car to be picked up at LAX. I am a bit worried about LAX's size and messing around with getting the car, figuring out directions, etc. after flight from east coast.appreciate your responses. Thanks.

All car rentals are off-site from LAX. The different rental places supply shuttles from the airport to their facility. It is an easy drive (about 20 minutes) up Lincoln Boulevard, to Santa Monica. Don't know about the cost of a cab, because everytime we go out there (my parents live in Santa Monica) e rent a car or van from the airport area, usually Dollar Rent a car.

Hi, I'd definitely rent the car at LAX because a taxi from LAX to Santa Monica (and back)would be expensive. LAX is all set up with shuttles to take you to the car rental places and the drive to Santa Monica is easy. (I live in Santa Monica)

I'm going to LA in April and found the best rental rates at Fox (it's a local company). I think we're paying around $110/week for the third grade of car (not economy or compact). I don't know if the rates are still the same, but they also have discount coupons on their site, too.

Thanks all. I will rent car at LAX!

Look under rentalcars.com. I just rented a full size SUV from Dollar from LAX for $189/wk for April.

Definately rent the car. It's easy and a quick drive to Santa Monica. The cab cost alone makes the car rental a better idea. I'd stick with a national car rental company. I've rented from several at LAX and they are great. As for Fox Car Rental, I say buyer beware. I've rented from them and the rates were cheap and so were the cars. I spent most of my driving time praying the car wouldn't fall apart.

pd,
We've rented cars many times from LAX and have never had any problems. The individual rental car companies have shuttle busses that pick-up right outside baggage claim. Earlier this month we got a pretty good rate from Thrifty - $129/wk for a Dodge Intrepid. Plus the Thrifty lot is right on Century Blvd. making it very easy to return. Does anyone even take a cab in LA?
JoeG

FYI Alamo's rental lot seems to be the furthest away from LAX.

And the only time we rented from Alamo at LAX, we stood in line there and with the clerk for something like two hours trying to get our car that was reserved. They were the most disorganized agency I've ever seen!

kkj: Yikes! I'll cross my fingers as far as the Fox car goes... wish me luck.