I will be visiting Los Angeles for the first time and will be there for 3 nights. So I will have 2 full days there. I want to make the most of it and see as much as I can . I may never have a chance to return.

I'm thinking that taking tours will be the easiest way to see the important things.
I am not interested in museums. I am interested in seeing Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, some beaches.

So, my question is... In which area would it be best to stay ?
If I use Priceline , what area would be best to bid on ?

I'd appreciate any help .

I would stay in Santa Monica and take advantage of Amazing LA Tours. The buses leave one block away from the Promenade in Santa Monica.

http://amazinglatours.com

The weather is usually amazing in Santa Monica. You may even see a star or two on the promenade. I have. It is within walking distance of the SM Pier and Venice Beach.

Thank you Hershey. I knew you'd have information for me. .

How are you arriving? Car, train, plane? And what time of year?

The Hop on Hop Off tours are good too. You can buy the 24 hour pass, and upgrade it to a 48 hr pass if you decide to continue touring on day 2.

Santa Monica is a good idea. It's a pretty spot, with so much to do there. You can rent a bike and ride on the beach path as far as you want. It's easy to walk or bike to Venice and Marina del Rey from there.

I am arriving by plane at 10 pm on day 1. I have day 2 and 3 free, leaving on day 4 early afternoon .

The 48 hour hop on , hop off sounds good. I would have to take the Movie star tour sometime in the midst of hopping off.

It's falling into place in my head now.
Thank you all so much . I'll try bidding on Priceline for Santa Monica.
I've had very good luck with Priceline in the past but haven't used it for a long time .

I think Santa Monica would be good, too! I amy have to join you on some of the tours!

Cat, I would love for you to join me on the tours. That would be great !

kodi, what hotel did you choose? If you search for a 3- or 4-star hotel in Santa Monica, you probably can't go wrong.

Tabernash, I haven't done that yet... . I would like to stay within walking distance to the water. Is that possible? If I do Priceline I might not end up near the water, so might not go that route .

kodi, I think you're right about that.

The places on the beach, like The Shutters, are very expensive. Well worth it, though, if you can drop that kind of money.

Smack in Santa Monica, across from the ferris wheel and the beach, is the Georgian hotel. Check it out. It's mid- to high-priced. An historic building.

There's also a chain hotel that's as close to the beach as possible. I will have to think of the name, maybe Holiday Inn. It is directly behind this Irish pub my son likes, on Main. If you want the name, I can find it.

http://baysidehotel.com/

This place looks cute. More motel-like, but cute.

Anyone ever been there to comment on it?

I am sort of researching places to stay, as well, because we will probably visit DS in November. We like to stay near the beach, also. Our standbys are south of Santa Monica a little ways: The Jamaica Bay Inn, at Marina del Rey; and The Inn at Venice Beach, near the pier. Both are reliable, newly renovated, and decently priced.

Wow, there is no availability at Bayside. I guess I'd better get cracking .
I'm very much a budget traveller, so perhaps won't be staying on the beach, but hopefully I an et within walking disance.

Is that possible?

Yes. But they could be seedy, if you're not careful. Especially around Venice Beach it can get funky. I have stayed at the Inn at Venice Beach, by myself, a couple of times. Cheap parking and complimentary continental breakfast, in a cute inner courtyard.

Look at others in the Pacifica group. They have a couple of propeerties that have not been renovated yet, so are cheaper and a mile or so from the water. I have never been inside them, though, and they look pretty industrial.

Thank you tabernash. I will check it out. I didn't realize I should be booking for Feb already .

Kodi, if you wanted to stay a little further south, there are some decent hotels in Redondo Beach for a lot less. Are you going to be renting a car?

No I won't be renting a car... But I do want to be close to the hop on hop off route.... At least I think that's my plan .
I'm going to look at a map to see where Redondo beach is.

Redondo is too far without a car.

Yeah, that definitely won't work without a car.

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/califo...izlist-_-47152

I am pretty sure this is the chain hotel I noticed, right at the water, close to the park and Main Street shops.