Safety in Los Angeles
 

Hi there. My family will be vacationing in LA soon, staying at LA Marriott Downtown. Are the nearest Metro subway safe to travel on, especially at night? In particular, is it safe to travel back from Universal Studios to the hotel using the subway at night? Or can we pick up a cab from Universal Studios (how much)?

Also, what are the nearest shopping malls to the hotel? Any good restaurants and cafes nearby?

Is it easy to get to the Farmers Market from the hotel?

Any advice or tips on nearby places. Thanks a lot.

stsu

If you can change your hotel location, change it. If you are on vacation you should consider staying in a better location. And you need a car...

I agree with TxTravelPro. If you can cancel your reservation do so. Unless things have changed dramatically since I lived in California you will be staying in the financial business district which is bordered by some (IMO) iffy sections. I think the hotel is near Broadway Mall and Japanese Village for shopping but there's nothing special about them. Also, I definitely think you need to rent a car. No doubt you can call a car service to bring you back and forth but you will be spending a lot more money than if you rented a car.

When vacationing in California:

You need a car in Los Angeles

You don't need a car in San Francisco

I would suggest that you change to any hotel along the coast in Los Angeles and, depending on where you are going, perhaps, finding something near Disneyland, Anaheim, would be best. You can drive up to Universal Studios. Avoid downtown LA as the other posters have advised you.

I forgot to mention that you will be less than a mile from The Farmer's Market. As for restaurants, I remember a restored early 1900's firehouse on Figueroa that served American food. The Original Pantry on Figueroa is open 24 hours and serves an artery clogging breakfast. It's like being transported back in time to old LA. Phillipe's on Alameda is famous for its French Dip sandwich with your choice of meat and a mustard that will bring tears to your eyes. I really do think you should consider another area to stay in though. Try one of the chain motels such as Comfort Inn, Days Inn or even Super 8. They all have Hollywood area locations and they offer free parking, and in some locations a pool.

Is there some reason you don't want to rent a car? If so, I would recommend staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. There is a metro stop right on the corner near the hotel that takes you up to Universal. There is also easy bus access in Hollywood to the Farmers Market etc. LA is so huge that having a car would really make your experience here a better one. There's not much going on downtown LA. I wouldn't stay down there.

Let's add to the pile-on.... Downtown isn't so much unsafe as it is <b>dull</b>. Nothing much to do there. You can get good deals on hotels in Beverly Hills and parts of the Westside.

Unfortunately, you will need a car. I'm assuming you're coming to the US from abroad. Los Angeles is a vast metropolitan area, with its attractions spread out over several counties. And the public transportation system is not set up for tourists. Just rent a car.

By the way, are you talking about the world-famous Farmer's Market in West Hollywood, next to CBS Television City? That's several miles west of downtown LA. Merilee, are you referring to the Grand Central Market downtown? Very different, but still pretty cool.

The Best Western Sunset Plaza, on Sunset in West Hollywood, would be a good choice. I'd start looking there.

rjw lgb ca,
I'm referring to the Farmer's Market on 3rd Street between Fairfax and LaBrea. I remember a clock tower and Bennett's Ice Cream, D'Amore's Pizza and The Gumbo Pot. They were all pretty good. Don't know now.

Hi merrilee-- Yep, that's the Farmer's Market next to CBS Television City, by the new Grove (shopping plaza). Over six <i>miles</i> away from the downtown Marriott.

Which reminds me-- the Farmer's Daughter Motel is basically across from the Farmer's Market, and despite the crazy name, it's supposed to be a good little hotel. You might look here.

rjw lgb ca,
Funny thing about 6 miles in LA is that it can mean 6 hours on the freeway!

Merrilee, you know it! :) Luckily, a quick trot down Wilshire or Olympic and you avoid the freeway altogether. It avoids the huge Frustration Factor of just sitting in traffic, listening to the traffic reports on the radio, pounding the steering wheel in anger....

Why is it that it doesn't matter if you are going 15 miles or 50 the same answer to how far is it is an hour no matter where it is LOL?
I agree, get a car not that that is a joy to deal with here but it is better then public transport which not only isn't set up for tourists it isn't set up for natives!!
The area you are staying in just isn't much IMHO when there are better places to stay.

Monique, time was when you could confidently say that the time to get anywhere on the Westside was &quot;15 to 20 minutes, tops&quot;. At least when I moved here 18 years ago. Not any more. I'm a &quot;30 minutes maybe, give yourself 45 and grab a latte&quot; guy now....

I'm not going to tell you where to stay. Everyone has an opinion.

However, downtown L.A. is not dull. The new Disney Concert Hall is spectacular even if you never get inside. But if you're interested, the Disney/Music Center complex houses the symphony, opera, dance and live theater. Nearby is the new cathedral which is very impressive. Free concerts are held in the cathedral several times a month.

Also downtown are the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Temporary Contemporary Museum, the Japanese American Museum, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and great ethnic and &quot;American&quot; restaurants.

Fantastic theaters from the Golden Age of movies have been renovated and occasionally have screenings and/or live stage performances.

A bus or taxi down Figueroa Blvd. will take you to the Science Center, an IMAX theater, the Natural History Museum and the campus of the University of Southern California where more concerts and live theater are staged.

If the arts aren't your thing, there are sporting events and concerts at Staples Center and, in season, Dodger games in Chavez Ravine.

There is shopping in Little Tokyo, Chinatown and at the 7th Street Marketplace (7th and Figueroa).