I have a two-week work assignment near Alhambra that requires me to stay over the weekend. I prefer to stay at a Residence Inn and there's one located in Arcadia that appears to be decent commute each day. However, since I also like the UCLA and Santa Monica mountains area I'm considering staying at the Residence Inn in Beverly Hills (same rate as Arcadia), particularly for the weekend. However, I'd like to know what kind of commute I'd be setting myself up for every day if I choose that option.

From the location of the lodging it appears I'm pretty close to I-10 (Santa Monica/Pomona Freeway), but I'm not quite sure what that's like outbound early every morning and inbound in the evening.

Thoughts??

I am a native Angelino (and UCLA alum), now living in Florida. It's been years since I lived there, but only a few months since I've been to Southern California. Therefore, my recollections of just how aggravating a commute from West L.A./Westwood are dated and probably do not measure up to the current reality. So, with that disclaimer, I would opt for the Arcadia location in a heartbeat. You could probably take Huntington Drive most of the way and never have to use a freeway at all.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Much has been written about the miserable east-west traffic on the 10 freeway. I guarantee that it is much worse than Orlando Vic experienced in his day. That "Beverly Hills" Residence Inn is not close to the Santa Monica Mountains. I don't see that location as being worth the daily commute to Alhambra.

Arcadia and Pasadena are closer to actual foothills and the Angeles National Forest. The Pasadena area is very green and pretty and has lots to offer in dining and cultural attractions. I would opt for the shorter commute and stay in Arcadia. You could always make the drive to UCLA/Santa Monica Mountain area over the weekend, when traffic shouldn't be as bad.

Check this site for actual driving conditions. If you click the "Route" button, you can put in the freeway entrance and exit and it will figure the drive time based on actual conditions. Google Maps shows 45 minutes under ideal conditions and an hour or more in traffic.

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?lat=...-118.02268&z=1

BTW, Alhambra has become the new Chinatown. Plenty of good Chinese food there. Ask around.

Aradia without question. The westside traffic gets worse every year.

The Burbank Residence Inn or the Embassy Suites in Glendale would be a good compromise. What time will your commute to Alhambra be happening every day?

Thanks everyone. Joe, I'm guessing I'd be leaving around 6:30 in the morning and returning around 5:00 in the evening.

Definitely wouldn't want to be driving Alhambra to Bev Hills at 5pm. Arcadia would be about the same commute as to Glendale. Burbank would be a bit tougher at 5pm than Glendale, but not bad as there are many routes besides the freeway that you can take if the freeway gets jammed.

Burbank Residence inn is fairly new, and in a nice location near downtown Burbank with TONS of dining and shopping options and 30 movie theatres. It's also easier to get from Burbank to whatever-you-want-to-see on weekends than from Arcadia. Burbank would be my choice. From Burbank in the mornings you'd just hop the 5 freeway south to the 10 east, but at 5pm you might rather drive north on Fremont into Pasadena and take the 134 west exiting at San Fernando road , then taking a right on San Fernando back to your hotel. Your morning commute would be not much more than 20 minutes since the Inn is right near the 5 freeway entrance, afternoons you would be looking at probably 35 minutes though.