ohiostatebuckeye

Well if you are in LA , you should try Laguna Beach , Newport Beach because they are just truly amazing beach towns. However , for that you would have to rent a car because a cab from LAX would be just too expensive. I moved to LA from OHIO and also had the same view on traffic , but as long as you can avoid driving during peak hours , you should be fine.

Songdoc

No way I would stay downtown. And I wouldn't even dream of doing public transportation in L.A..

With your limited time, I'd stay in Santa Monica where you'll have lots of stores, restaurants, and beach access. You can walk (or take a short taxi ride) to wander through the canals in Venice and see the vendors on the boardwalk. I like to stay at the Inn at Venice Beach -- but Venice might not be your taste. It's a funky, wild scene. I find it fun and interesting.

Take guided bus day tours to Hollywood and wherever else you decide to go.

I like the Getty Museum -- and I LOVE the Getty Villa, but with such a short time to see L.A., you probably don't want to spend most of a day in a museum.

bc

Thanks to all. We have decided to stay in Santa Monica after all. We have narrowed it down to a two bedroom, two bathroom suite at the Embassy Apartments Hotel or two rooms at the Georgian Hotel. Both are more than we wanted to spend, but cheaper than a lot of the other options. I am still determined to spend one day in the Hollywood area doing the tourist thing. Still trying to figure out the best way to do that. But staying in Santa Monica would allow us to enjoy our visit in the evenings/nights also.

jv827

I think you'll be happy you made the choice to stay in Santa Monica, bc. Though downtown has certainly been built up the last few years, SM will offer you better options for the type of walking around, shopping, dining, etc. that you wanted.

PeaceOut

Santa Monica is a good choce. You can walk or bike on the beach path down to Marina del Rey.

The Shutters hotel has a nice mid-priced restaurant that's great for lunch or dinner, called Coast.

Have fun!

mlgb

You might be interested in this trip report of a recent visitor who ignored the "YOU MUST HAVE A CAR" bleats

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...hout-a-car.cfm

Personally I do not think Santa Monica is a good location for a budget visitor who wants to visit Hollywood and does not have a car.

But many do enjoy the ambiance.

I guess my idea of "budget" is different than others!

bc

Thanks, migb...I found that very interesting. We are very used to public transportation in big cities, but still have not made the final decision on driving vs public trans. We are definitely set on staying in Santa Monica...it appears to be a great place for walking and drinking in the atmosphere. I think we may end up doing a combination of rental and bus.

socialworker

My profile pic is on the veranda of the Georgian. Click on my name to see it.

bc

Socialworker: Fabulous! I think we have decided on the Georgian...it really looks great. We are debating on ocean view rooms or not...we typically get an ocean view room if we can (budget wise). Looking at their website, it appears that some of the rooms look like they have beautiful views, but some of them appear to be small windows that just do not look like they are worth the extra to be in an ocean view room. Do you have any opinion?

socialworker

We did not stay there, although we had lunch on the veranda several times during our 3 month stay in LA early this year.

The lobby there is so lovely and civilized. Small and simply elegant with a European hotel vibe.

I cannot offer advice on the pros and cons of the ocean view but the hotel itself seems like a really nice place to stay.

Tomsd

Unless you are used to driving on freeways - in traffic - suggest you stick to a tour or public transportation. Why spoil a beautiful cruise experience by getting lost or stuck in traffic.

And do think you made the right choice to stay at Santa Monica - and even if you can't get to the main Getty Musuem - the Getty Villa in Malibu is just georgeous. http://www.getty.edu/visit/

Tomsd

And if there are 4 of you - spring for a taxi from San Pedro to the hotel - and later - from the hotel there to the airport - although you might be able to get some kind of van service from the hotel to the airport.

tracys2cents

Love the Georgian but the ocean-view rooms are not really worth any additional charge. Yes the windows are smallish, and there are palm trees blocking some view. Worse though is the traffic on that side of the hotel. I would request quiet rooms towards the back, unless you are from maybe Manhattan and the buzz of traffic all night doesn't bother you.

Tomsd

To each their own, but moi - I would probably not even hear the noise while loving the view and sitting there with some wine and cheese and cold cuts and enjoying one's first time in Cal with a view of the Blue Pacific and all the "craziness"/beach scene going on outside the hotel.

mlgb

I didn't read to see if you mentioned your dates, but bear in mind that there will be closures of the 405 Freeway leading up to Carmageddon II weekend of September 29/30.

There are alternative routes to Santa Monica, but allow extra time if you need to catch a flight.

If you need to search for Freeway closure notices, you can use the Caltrans District 7 website

http://www.lcswebreports.dot.ca.gov/...hPreAction.do?

maitaitom

Here are a few ideas of places to visit:

Getty Museum
http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...s_Angeles.html

Getty Villa:

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/..._-_Malibu.html

If you stay downtown, you can check out Angel's Flight while there.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...s_Angeles.html

bc

You guys have been so helpful. I was really stumped on this one...Los Angeles seems to be a confusing place. I agree with you Tomsd on an ocean view, but the pix on Tripadvisor left me cold. When I think of an ocean view, I think of a large window with a balcony. I think we may stick with a back room tracys2cents in this case. This seems to be a very nice hotel but I think sitting outside on the verandah or something at night would be a good way to get our ocean "fix"--although after a week at sea, we may not need it as much. I do agree with you on the tax tomsd...I am sure that is what we will do. One last question...and I will leave you all alone...I would like to also see Marina del Rey (just because it was mentioned as a possible place to stay and it does look very pretty. If we rented a car, would it be difficult to drive from Santa Monica to there? Thanks.

nankie

No, the drive between Marina del Rey and Santa Monica is easy. It is about 5 miles and non-freeway. Usually takes about 20 - 30 minutes depending on traffic (heavier during rush hours). You can go along Ocean Ave, which is closest to the beach (and changes names along the way, to Pacific) or you can go down Main St in Santa Monica, a neat shopping area. Lincoln Blvd is another main street that connects the two, but I would avoid it - usually more congested and much less attractive.

You will go through Venice, as it is in-between those two, and it also has an interesting, upscale quirky shopping area - Abott Kinney Blvd. If you have time, a walk along the Venice Canals is always nice.

A fun thing to do in Marina del Rey is rent a bike and ride along the beach path. You can bike between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey - it's about 3 miles along the beach - pier (Venice) to pier (Santa Monica). Or walk along the jetty which is at the south end of Marina del Rey.

Tomsd

Fiddely foo. Lost a post trying to retreive this page - so here it is: Sunset Boulevard - which if you rent a car - can take you all the way from the beach at Santa Monica into Hollywood (through Beverly Hills, etc) - without having to get on a freeway. http://tinyurl.com/9t6odlj, and http://discoverlosangeles.com/gettin...ves-in-la.html

(BTW - since you said you are in your 60's - did you ever watch the old TV Series - 77 Sunset Strip - the detective show - with the car hop - Kookie - who was always combing his hair? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QGvjXDIJ54 )

If you rented a car for two days at the LA airport (or close - check www.carrentals.com, which I always use first - as it lists all the car companies and usually has the best rates) - you could easily drive up the Coast hiway/Pacific Coast Hiway/1 from the airport to your hotel - and then also use it to get to Marina del Rey - or IMO - a prettier drive is up/north on the PCH to the Getty Villa and then even further out Malibu.

You could also take Sunset over to the 405 and be at the main Getty museum.

bc

Wow! More good info! I think we have a plan....Tomsd, we are not arriving in LA by plane...we are ending a cruise in San Pedro. I am learning toward a cab from the dock to the hotel, then renting a car for the two, well three days (okay...I think we are going to extend the trip by one day...we have another commitment coming up that week so we will be cutting in close, but you guys have us so excited we are stretching things) and driving to Hollywood by the route you mentioned, Tomsd. Then we will spend the rest of the time exploring the routes mentioned by you and nankie. Thanks so much, this is great info and great resources. And yes....we remember 77 Sunset Strip very well. I was probably the only young girl with a crush on Efrem Zimbalist Jr instead of Kookie!