Good base for 2 days in LA
 

Hi

When we land in LA airport we are going to stay for two nights before heading to palm springs. It is our first time visit LA and I'm getting confused about the best place to base ourselves!! We will be a party of 6 adults.

I have found a good priced room in El Segundo, near manhatten beach? We will have car. Would this be a good place to stay? Or are we better looking for something more central?

If we did stay here, would be we best driving into the main areas, such as Beverley Hills, Hollywood stars etc, or is it easier to use public transport to save parking and traffic hassle?

We are staying on the coast for our second week after palm springs so we will probaby see the beaches then? I would like to see Venice and Santa Monica though.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

There is really no such thing as "central" in LA. Where you stay depends on what you want to do and see - if those things are near each other, stay in that area, if not, then it doesn't really matter, just stay somewhere you like - Santa Monica or Marina del Rey if you want to be near the beach, Hollywood, West LA for proximity to Becerly Hills and Westwood, Pasadena, etc Wherever you stay, driving is much easier than public transportation, especially with 6 people.

Thanks,

What are parking charges like?

We arrive quite late on the first night from the UK, so will want to be somewhere where we can walk out and eat. Then the next day will probably be used to see the attractions in Hollywood / Beverly Hills and also Santa Monica. And again spend the evening going out for a meal (ideally without having to take the car!) We don't mind walking.

Would El Segundo be ok?

Thanks again!!

I'll reiterate my answer to your earlier post re way stops and add a thought or two...

Pasadena (If you like museums, gardens and shopping): You could visit The Huntington Museum, Gardens and Library, go for tea at any number of Tea places (Huntington/Langham Hotel, Scarlet Tea Room, Rose Cottage, Huntington Gardens), tour Gamble House (a Greene and Greene design), visit the Norton Simon Museum and go to Old Town for dining and shopping, and also in Pasadena check out Gold Class Cinemas for a movie in a super comfy setting. If it is the second Sunday of the month you could attend the giant Rose Bowl Flea Market. If you are looking for outdoor activities, you could ... go hiking in the nearby foothills or climb Mt. Hollywood, go horseback riding in Griffith Park, visit Descanso Gardens or the LA Arboretum, take in an outdoor concert at The Greek or the Hollywood Bowl. From Pasadena, you are also close to downtown activities such as museums, Disney Music Hall, Chinatown, Angel's Flight, and LA Live among other things. It is also relatively close (certainly closer than Dana Point) to Universal Studios and Hollywood (Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood and Highland shopping and dining complex, El Capitan and Grauman's Chinese Theater). It is a bit of a trek to the beaches 45min-hour (if traffic is kind).

If you are thinking you might prefer the beaches, then consider Santa Monica and check out the Getty Villa in Malibu or the Getty Museum in Brentwood off the 405. Lots of cute beach towns, shopping and dining options. Also, farmer's markets and neighborhoods to explore.

As SF7307 suggested - You might decide if there is a must-do activity or several and then base yourself closest to such activity. There will be plenty of options once you have picked your spot.

Have a great trip.

El Segundo is not really a late-night walk-to-dining type of place, at least from most of the hotels there which are not in a walkable (as in lots of dining nearby) neighborhood. Where is the hotel that you found, and what's your budget (approx) per room per night? A couple of the El Segundo hotels are very close to metro stations, but metro has no train service to Beverly Hills and the service to Hollywood sites is roundabout from the airport area.

If you want to see Venice and SMonica but don't want the high hotel rates in Santa Monica, consider the Foghorn Hotel or the Marina International in Marina del Rey. They are convenient to the airport yet set apart, at the waterfront with cafes nearby, and a short hop on the bus to Santa Monica or a nice long walk on the beach to Venice.

Best bet for seeing Bev Hills and Hollywood would probably be to have Starline Tours pick you up and your hotel. If you want to drive, the traffic is not bad on Sat and Sun mornings, and parking is readily available at all times everywhere. Maybe $2 per hour in Bev Hills and the same around Hollywood.

What kind of car are you hiring that will handle 6 persons and all that baggage?

www.foghornhotel.com

www.marinaintlhotel.com

www.hilgardhouse.com

The 3rd hotel is in the Westwood/UCLA neighborhood of the city. This is 15-20 min drive from LAX. Walkable neighborhood with lots of cafes, pubs and restaurants because it is adjacent to the university and the hospital. Safe and comfortable. Two blocks away are bus stops, 14 minutes to Santa Monica, 10 minutes to Beverly Hills, 12 minutes to The Getty Center (nice afternoon) and 22 minutes plus another 2 blocks walk up to Hollywood Walk of Fame. So from here, you would not need to worry about driving and parking. Bus service is very frequent because of the student population, rides are $1.50 per, and you'll get nice little tours of various neighborhoods while riding the metro bus.

The hotel is called Hyatt House Los Angeles? It would be working out around $340 for two nights? or alternatively I have found one in Santa Monica for $690 or about $650 in Hollywood? There are some cheap hotels near the airport but I didn't think this would be the best place to stay?

El Segundo is obviously a lot cheaper, but is it not worth it??

We will be arriving at around 8pm, will traffic be clear then to get to the hotels?

We are hiring a 7 seater so hopefuly it will be big enough!!

Really appreciate everyone's advice!

I would pick Santa Monica.

the 7-sweater will (obviously) seat all of you, but also carrying luggage for 6 - it won't be easy!

Take a look at the Ramada and the Four Points Sheraton in Culver City. They are close to the airport (about 10 minutes) and there is a shopping mall close by with food. It's not gourmet, but it will work at least for your first night's meal. You would also drive along Sepulveda Boulevard through Westchester to get to Culver City, and there are several restaurants in Westchester where you could stop before the hotel. Do some research ahead of time on what time restaurants close on the day you arrive, as you probably won't get out of the airport until at least 9 p.m., even later if you are picking up your rental.

Cheap and Cheerful in Santa Monica are the Cal Mar Apartments and the little Bayside Hotel.


www.calmarhotel.com
www.baysidehotel.com

More upscale, consider Hotel Ambrose and the Sheraton Delfina, both often have specials that come in well under the $320 per night that you're finding at other hotels.

Hi,

Could anyone give advice on what Redondo Beach is like?

Is it safe to walk around in the evening?

Thanks

Also, Culver City?

Thanks again

Redondo Beach is safe and walkable but if you are planning to spend your time in Hollywood the next day Santa Monica would be a whole lot closer. You said you wanted to see SM and Venice so again, stay in Santa Monica.

One thing you might do is stay near the airport your arrival night, then rent the car the next morning, tour Hollywood, then spend that night in Santa Monica before heading the next day to PS. I hate moving hotels but in your case with the late arrival and jet lag it might work for you.

I did not see what day you are arriving, only that it is late which helps you miss evening rush hour. Is your second day a weekday or weekend, as it makes a difference as to when to head in and out for sightseeing. The tour bus trip of the areas you want to see is pretty much your only option if you don't want to drive as public transportation is not good or easy to find.

The day you leave the beach area for PS wait until 10am and you would be fine.

Have fun!

Thank you, that's helpful!

We arrive on a Friday evening, and then have Saturday in LA before heading to PS on the Sunday. It's Easter weekend though so it might make it busier?

Santa Monica appears to be double the price of other areas? We are happy to stay inland away from the beach as we have our second week on the coast.

Any recommendations inland?

Thanks again

A quick check on Tripadvisor shows the Best Western Plus Gateway in Santa Monica at $159. It is a mile from the beach with a hotel shuttle that runs until 8pm and a local bus you can take after that. Nothing special, but convenient to the pier and promenade in SM, and to the sights I think you are wanting to see in west LA. The tour bus stops at the motel, but I imagine it will stop anywhere for 6 customers.I have never seen this motel, nor do I live in Santa Monica, but the reviews do not look too bad if you are just looking for a simple place to stay. Read the reviews and decide for yourself. You might also try, if you have not already done so, to search the forum for recommended places in Hollywood or surrounding areas.

Since you are arriving late Friday and will be touring Saturday I doubt you will have any problems with Easter Sunday closures. The drive to PS on Sunday should be a breeze at whatever hour.

Hopefully someone will chime in with the perfect hotel for you if this one doesn't work. Enjoy your stay in California!

Redondo Beach is nice as long as you stay away from the North Redondo Beach area as there are some pockets with gang problems, the problem with Redondo is it takes about 15 minutes to drive to the freeway, look into Manhattan Beach instead.