Town close to LAX
 

I am trying to find a town close to LA that we can spend a night or 2 at and then fly out of LAX. We are going to be in Santa Barabara right before that and would love a town such as that. any ideas?

Everyone else will tell you to go to Santa Monica, but I will suggest El Segundo or Manhattan Beach. You can find a number of suite type hotels there at reasonable rates. Some provide shuttles to the airport, but I'm assuming you'll have a car to get around during the day.

Manhattan Beach would be my pick but depends on when you're going since they just had a huge sewage spill onto the beach. They are pretending that it is no big deal but it's a mess and the beach should be avoided for a couple of months at least.

we are planning on going in the beginning of March. I know its too cold for the beach, but we would like to be on the water anyway.

let me ask another question...do you think its too far to get to the airport from Santa Barbara on a Saturday morning?

Short answer: Yes, it's too far.

Explanation: Santa Barbara is over 100 miles from LAX. Most of that is driving on US-101 (Ventura Freeway)-- which even on a weekend morning can be busy. Factor in one hour to 90 minutes in LAX security lines (or longer? I haven't flown through LAX in several years), after 15 to 30 minutes to return the rental....

Nope. Why kill yourself to get to the airport the morning you fly? I would suggest you stay the night before in Marina del Rey (just north of LAX), maybe at the Ritz-Carlton.... That could be nice.

I also agree - don't drive down from Santa Barbara on Sat. morning. It is always busy on that route and would just be too hectic. Stay in either Manhattan Beach or El Segundo or Marina Del Rey (the Ritz Carlton would be my choice there too) and relax and enjoy yourself the night before you fly. Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice...I am now even more confused, maybe someone can clear this up for me. Flying into San Diego and spending 3 nights in La Jolla (La Valencia), then driving to Laguna Beach for 2 days, then Santa Barbara, then to Marina Del Ray to get us close to the airport. I think its too many stops. is there a better plan I should make? We are traveling with an 8 month old.

I'd skip Laguna beach. Spend the extra time in either La Jolla or Santa Barbara, you'll be just as happy and more relaxed.

You can drive to LA mid-day on Friday and get a hotel there for the night- either at the airport or in Manahattan Beach or El Segundo. Plenty of places to eat in either town and both are about 10 minutes from the airport. If you get a hotel with free shuttle, one of you can return your car the night before, avoiding the hassle in the morning.

Marina Del Rey is a good choice of the last night. Although I absolutely love Laguna having grown up there, I would tack on an extra day in La Jolla and SB and maybe stop in Laguna for breakfast or lunch on the way up to SB. A little out of the way but not terrible.

I love spending time in Laguna but I have to agree with the others that you might want to cut it out of your itinerary as a place to stay. Just too hard with an 8 mos old. Do stop there for lunch and some time to look around when going from La Jolla to Santa Barbara and you will know if you'd like to come back sometime. It's a great town but so are La Jolla and Santa Barbara. Have a great trip.

You could fly out of Santa Barbara.

I wouldn't wanna add a 4th hotel switch in there just to be near LAX, if it were me I'd just save Laguna for last. You'd have, what, a 40 minute drive on Saturday morning to LAX?

Yes, La Jolla to Santa Barbara will be a long day, but you can drive the coastal route some of the way and it should be enjoyable. Just because Californians are addicted to their freeways doesn't mean that visitors can't take more leisurely routes. Santa Monica to SB would be a nice drive up route 1, lunch maybe in Malibu?

(However, since you're talking March, be sure to check the SB weather forecast as soon as you're in California. If it calls for lots of rain, cancel Santa Barbara as it can get miserable/flooded etc at times and wouldn't be worth the trip. Just go to Laguna...then maybe final night Manh Beach or Santa Monica. Plan B !)

thank you all for your advice, we are going to cut Laguna out and stop there for breakfast instead, and spend the last night at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Ray. Just so I have an idea, whats the drive time from La Jolla to SB?

weekend time 3 1/2 hours.

I think they'll be traveling weekday...leave La Jolla maybe 9:30am, no earlier? Eat lunch early and get through the LA Area up to Ventura before 3pm! I'm no expert on this route though...maybe someone else has a better idea.

I'd make it North out of La Jolla on the I-5.

I'd then get off at San Clemente or slightly further North at Dana Point and follow PCH to Long Beach. At Lakewood Blvd. I'd hit the I-405 and follow it until it hits the I-10 to Santa Monica.

From Santa Monica, I'd follow PCH up North again until it merges with the I-101 at Oxnard.

Then stay on the I-101 until Santa Barbara.

Driving time will be a bit longer (I'd allow for 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic. But it's just a nice leisurely drive IMHO. First you get to see those nice beach communities such as Laguna, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.
From Santa Monica on North through Malibu, the coastline gets more rugged but spectacular. It's a great drive and I just love it.

Thank You! We will plan on leaving La Jolla in the am and make some stops along the way. We are driving to SB on a Monday.

I agree with hsv...mostly. I would go to Beach Cities just north of San Clemente and go into Laguna for a break. Then I would hit the toll road out Laguna Canyon or drive to Newport and get out to the freeway from Newport Coast or Mac Carthur. The rest I would skip. Too slow and not spectacular!

At Santa Monica I would take the 10 to PCH and follow it to Oxnard like suggested.

Another Break would be in Malibu just north of Pepperdine. Malibu Country Mart. An enclave of yummy restaurants and shops with a nice playground in the middle.