We (2) arrive LAX late Fri evening in Oct and want to go to Catalina Island for 2 nights. Would appreciate any advice on best way to get to ferry (will probably have to overnight somewhere) and also if anyone has any recommendations for accommodation. Thank you so much!

Don't stay at the Best Western.

When you make your hotel res they can help with the ferry. The Catalina website is very helpful.

Love Catalina! Since you are there in the off season, stay somewhere close to the beach so you can walk home. Everything touristy closes early, so do things in the AM. See a movie at the casino!

October means Jazz Festival on Catalina--for 3 consecutive weekends: www.jazztrax.com/jazz/catalina.html

If you haven't already booked your Catalina lodging, I would do so ASAP. The hotels & inns fill up quickly on Jazz Fest weekends.

From LAX to the Port of LA hotels, try Super Shuttle or Prime Time Shuttle.
www.supershuttle.com
www.primetimeshuttle.com

The Crowne Plaza in San Pedro is close to the ferry terminal and may have a free shuttle to the port.

Not sure on best way to get to the ferry but I do know that some hotels on Catalina include the ferry ticket with your stay. I've also found the website to be very helpful. There are several locations to get a ferry too. I've used the one from Balboa Island in Newport Beach twice. Balboa Island is pretty cool. There should be lodging on the island.

Which Best Western are you not recommending and why?

October is Catalina Islands biggest month for Jazz and you might be out of luck on lodging.
Rates are triple what they normally are.
Catalina Express is a great way to get there.
From Long Beach would be your closest from LAX.
Never seen a hotel with a ferry included.
We have a mooring in Avalon, so we stay on our boat, which is the best way to hang in Avalon.
Since you're flying in late, I would get a place close by.
I am not a fan of BW.
Terranea resort has a $204 a night in Palos Verde on perfectescapes.com

Catalina Express does offer hotel/ferry packages, but again, good deals may be difficult to find in October:
www.catalinaexpress.com/packages.php5

You can either stay at an LAX hotel (free shuttle from LAX to hotel) and pay for a shuttle to one of the ports, or pay for a shuttle from LAX to a port-area hotel (about 20-30 minutes from LAX at that time of night) and get a free shuttle from your port-area hotel to the ferry terminal in the morning.

If you are going to spend any time at all on the mainland before or after Catalina, then downtown Long Beach offers more than downtown San Pedro.

There is also a ferry from Marina del Rey:
http://www.catalinaferries.com/?gcli...FQqwsgodIiR9wQ

I love to stay on board the Queen Mary the night before,it's a short walk to the Catalina Express.

never knew that the Cat express has travel packages.
Queen Mary would be a good call.
There is a BW if memory serves that is actually pretty nice and up by the golf course.
check out the visitcatalinaisland.com website.
been going for 40 years and Catalina, never gets old!
have fun!

Catalina ferries are not really ferries but smaller excursion boats. Generally out of San Pedro or Long Beach if you're coming from LA, or Newport Beach, if coming from one of our southerly towns. The Queen Mary in Long Beach is directly across from the LB Catalina Express terminal, so that is indeed a good place to stop, but just going to a hotel around LAX will be cheaper and after arriving late night, may be your best bet.

On Catalina Island --
The Pavillion Lodge has just gone through a major remodel, and looks great, although the prices have gone up. You could spend an absolute fortune if you want by going to the Inn at Mt. Ada atop Avalon Harbor, built by Wm. Wrigley Jr. (who owned the island at one time) and named after his wife. Or stay super cheap at the Atwater (no elevator), which was one of the first (if not THE first) hotels built in Catalina in the 20's. Or stay where we generally stay at the Hotel Metropole, which has rooms from the upper-mid price range to their new condo styled rooms built where the Blue Parrot used to be above Coney Island West hot dog stand, with good views of the harbor. We stayed at most of the hotels, and I'd say they all have their pluses and minuses. Only place I probably wouldn't stay at again is the Catalina Canyon resort and spa -- it's just too far away from the action, and I didn't think it was particularly well maintained. But sometimes it's the only place you can find a room, and it's better than camping in one of the teepee tents!

Sorry - it's no longer a BW, but it's the Catalina Canyon. I agree it's too far away. Since it's no longer a BW hopefully the mgmt is better...

I am also mistaken about the off season - didn't know about the Jazz fest. It's a tiny island - I'm not sure I'd enjoy it so much when it's crowded. There's a small golf course, horseback riding and nature tours. All fun.

Hi Hilda-Bell.

You didn't mention what type of experience you were looking to have at Catalina, but we prefer to 'visit' the action and soak up the serenity. We've stayed at the link below and thoroughly enjoyed it. Most rentals provide a golf cart to drive into Avalon. Warning: secure groceries on cart.



http://www.catalinavacations.com/hamilton-villas.asp

That link is awesome SOCAL..
I like Hamilton Cove a lot.
Wish I would of bought when it was new and only $100-200k.
The Jazz crowd is way different than the cruise crowd or the day trippers.
Prefer the Jazz crowd anyday and there is music in the air and a great vibe..so it may be busy but in a good way.

$100-200k? LOL what can you get for that today?

Thanks for the Jazz Fest crowd info ksucat! Sounds like this native So. Cal would really enjoy that experience. Next year?

This is the offical catalina chamer of commerce website. It has all sorts of info to help w/your ?s and they will help make reservations too.
Note the section on mainland shuttle & hotels as well...
http://www.catalinachamber.com/