Family staying in Beverly Hills - should I rent car as needed?
 

My family of five will be staying in Beverly Hills (Hilton) for 6 days. Should I rent a car as I need it and rely on taxi's / Public trans / walking for most of my travels. OR should I rent a car for the duration?

Rent a car right from the start. LA is very spread out and Beverly Hills will not offer you enough to keep your interest for 6 days. Plus you'd miss way too much!

We just stayed there in December. You won't be able to walk to many sites except Rodeo Drive and other shopping. Also, a cab for 5 is a problem - some drivers won't take that many people. Don't know about buses, but I would rent the car.

You must rent a car in LA--period.

I'm a big proponent of mass transit and rarely rent a car when I travel. Except in LA. The culture is so completely oriented toward autombiles that in most areas you see very little pedestrian traffic. The only exception might be downtown Santa Monica.<BR><BR>I'm reminded of a amusing incident on a side trip we took to Santa Barbara. We checked into our hotel then asked for directions to a restaurant where I had made reservations. The concierge provided very detailed, and complicated, directions, but when we began to follow them we realized that the restaruant was, at most, a ten minute walk. He hadn't even thought to suggest leaving the car at the garage.

you'll need a car...good luck...listen to traffic reports and plan carefully when you are leaving and returning to the area. (have no idea if you are planning on disneyland for a couple of days but if so, stay in that area and avoid the driving...then you could go stay at the hilton for the remainder)

Get a car for the entire stay, no one walks in Los Angeles and there is little public transportation. Taxi's will not take 5 people. I live in Los Angeles, there is no way to be without a car and see any of the "sights". Do be sure to get up to the Getty Museum while in town, it's fantastic. Pay close attention to traffic reports and try and stay off the freeways at the height of rush hour (freeways are always crowded, but less during mid-day, etc.). Get a good map and be sure you know where you are going, don't wait till you are upon the exit and decide "that's it, I gotta get off now" and try and get across 5 lanes of traffic -- better to go one exit past your stop and backtrack, it's a lot safer.