which South Bay hotel?
 

Here's the plan: Drive from SF to LA to attend the Rose Bowl parade.

The players: Mom and Dad, and 3 girls in college (only 1 is 21).

The choices: Portofino Hotel in Relondo Beach, or Manhattan Beach Marriot.

Where would be the best place to stay that would make everyone happy on New Years Eve?

The MB Marriott is in a business park area--there are some restaurants nearby, but will probably be "dead" on NYE. The Portofino is on the water, in the King Harbor area. There will be lots more "action" at the Portofino. Bike riding on the Strand and looking at all the surfer boys will be better at the Portofino.

Thanks TrvlMaven, that's exactly what I needed to know.

Is there a better place to stay in that area?

Do you know if Hermosa Beach is a reasonably safe place for my "almost adult kids" to hang out in on NYE?

I would appreciate any advice you could share.

Can you help us understand why you want to stay in South Bay if your goal is to go to Rose Bowl which is in Pasadena on the other side of the county? Both of these areas are basically suburbs of LA, but in opposite directions from central LA. You would have to be in Pasadena pretty early to get good seats and there will be tons of traffic. Even without traffic, it will take 1-1.5 hours to get there from South Bay. If you're going to be there at 6am, you would probably have to leave South Bay at 3am. And many get there way before 6am. There is going to be lots of traffic around that area.

Are you also planning to sightsee in LA? South Beach is not very convenient for that either. And if your reason is enjoying the beach, it will be pretty cold. It's already pretty cold right now and beach areas are about 10 degrees colder than inland. Plus, no one under 21 will be able to get into any bar. If you really want to stay in that area regardless, something relatively close to Hermosa would probably be best. There will probably be young people on the street there where all the bars are.

However, I would reconsider your choice of neighborhood to stay. How many nights are you staying in the LA area? What are your plans for activities besides the Rose Bowl. We can help more if that information is provided. The most convenient thing for the Rose Bowl would be to stay in Pasadena itself. Or, if you don't mind a 45 mins drive (without traffic) and your girls want to be in a relatively happening area, then Hollywood would probably be best. However, most NYE events in LA for young people happen at bars and clubs, which are 21 and over and cost $50-150. Not sure if there is an age restriction for the Paramount Pictures event, but they can look into that. It's in Hollywood as well.

I'll just comment on the questions you asked:

The Portofino will offer you a nice view of the harbor. The boats will should still be lit up with their holiday lights. They have bikes for their guests use for a ride up or down the Strand. You are also within walking distance of lots of good restaurants. There is whale watching out of Redondo Beach, if that interests you at all. However, it is about 15 minutes farther from the freeway than the MB Marriott, adding to your commute when you want to leave the RB area.

The MB Marriott is closer to the freeway and in the middle of a retail and restaurant corridor. There is good shopping within walking distance at the Manhattan Village Mall. Downtown MB, with its shops and restaurants is just a short drive or cab ride away. www.downtownmanhattanbeach.com

Hermosa Beach on NYE will be like any other weekend on New Year's Eve, which is to say lots of drunken 20-somethings staggering around, waiting in line to get into the bars.

You might want to check out what going on at the www.comedyandmagicclub.com. Jay Leno will be there on the 30th (probably already sold out).

Yeah, I don't really think the Mariott is bad at all. It's on the east side of Rosecrans, right near the Manhattan Village Mall, Bristol Farms, and lots of restaurants. And there is housing right on the other side of the golf Course. If you have a car you are right near some of the nicer beaches in the county for strolling and people watching.

smartcookie, I see your point. I can't find a hotel in Pasadena. I considered Hollywood and Santa Monica but couldn't find a desirable looking hotel for less than 300/room.

I'm only willing to spend up to 200/nt.

We will be staying for 2 nights. So one day in Pasadena, and one day exploring. I didn't realize it would take that long to get to Pasadena, I figured about an hour. We have parade tickets if that makes any difference.

How cold is cold? We're from the Midwest so anythings got to better than freezing and snow.

As for sightseeing, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks for the help.

The beach areas are colder in summer. This isn't true in winter, in fact they may often be warmer. While it gets below freezing overnight in Pasadena, that is quite rare near the ocean. "Cold" for us is a high in the 40's or 50's, but often New Years Day is in the 60's or even warmer.

The parade starts at 8 am. I don't think it's necessary to leave 5 hours beforehand. Unless you can get lodging in Pasadena and can walk, you really should leave 2 to 3 hours ahead of time no matter where you stay. The congestion is all around Pasadena, so it really doesn't matter if you are 10 miles farther out.

I live in Manhattan Beach and have been to the parade countless times. Forty-five minutes to an hour is all you would need at that early hour to get to Pasadena. We visit friends all the time, so I know. You would need more time to navigate the streets if you didn't know exactly where you were going to view the parade. It will be more crowded the later it gets in the morning, once in the city. Good that you have reserved seats. Does that include parking?

With just two nights, I'd stay at the Marriott. It's freeway close, and also very close to shops and restaurants for the girls in our downtown area. Movie complex across the street.

It's always colder right by the beach or up where the elevation is higher. By cold, I mean 40s or 50s. It's already that cold right now. So, you would need a sweater and/or a light jacket depending on how sensitive you are. Strolling along the beach will be pretty chilly. It's fine, but just want to make sure you don't expect to suntan or lay out on the beach, or even walk around in a t-shirt at the beach.

I would still stay closer to Pasadena. It will definitely take 1.5 hours just to get to the vicinity of Pasadena, and then you'll spend a bunch of time in traffic there to get to where you need to be. Even if you were planning to get there exactly at 8am, which is pretty late, you would still need to leave from South Bay at 5am at the latest. I just think there are better options and it doesn't seem like you have a good reason to stay in South Bay. There are nice hotels in your price range closer to Pasadena. You can look into hotels near Universal Studios for example (Hilton, Sheraton, etc there), Magic Castle, Orchid Suites, and Celebrity Hotel in Hollywood, Elan Modern in West Hollywood. Century City and Downtown has some cheap hotels around that time since they're business districts. Check out www.travelzoo.com for some specials. Also, since a specific spot is not really necessary, you can bid on Priceline for something in an area you want best. You can easily get a 3-4 star hotel for $100 or even less that way. www.biddingfortravel.com is a good website to check out to see what others have gotten before you bid. It takes at least 45 mins to get to South Bay from Hollywood, so in my opinion it's more convenient to stay there. Downtown is probably most convenient to Pasadena and there are some events for NYE there. Hollywood would be closer to most major attractions.

In terms of things to see, since you only have one day, I would most definitely go to the Getty. Other than that, I would check out Walk of Fame/Chinese Theater (since it's famous and only takes 1 hour, though not that special), the Grove, Santa Monica Pier/Promenade, Rodeo Drive, and drive down scenic Sunset Blvd.

The low last night in Pasadena was 38. The low last night in Manhattan Beach was 45.

You can pretty much look at any winter day and find the same fact.

Of course some people have their minds made up and get confused by facts.

no. some people just like to entertain themselves by arguing pointless things (with respect to OP's question), and only pick out the "facts" that fit their assumptions.

verifiable forecast for the week in Pasadena from weather.yahoo.com:

High: 66° Low: 42°
High: 69° Low: 43°
High: 67° Low: 43°
High: 69° Low: 44°
High: 64° Low: 44°

forecast for the week in Hermosa:

High: 64° Low: 45°
High: 65° Low: 46°
High: 66° Low: 47°
High: 66° Low: 47°
High: 60° Low: 47°

Obviously, unless they're outside in the middle of the night, it will be warmer in Pasadena (not that anyone suggested that Pasadena specifically is warmer in the first place. West Hollywood is warmer than both for example by your logic of only looking at the lows which are temps from the middle of the night).

I agree with MBNancy, it will not take more than an hour to drive from Manhattan Beach to Pasadena on New Year's Day. smartcookie, You keep talking about traffic but really what kind of traffic is there going to be at 5am on New Year's Day.

Before I moved to San Diego County, I used to live in San Dimas. I would get up around 5am, drive to Pasadena in 20 minutes with barely a car on the freeway. I would park towards the end of the parade and have a spot within an hour. Now obviously it's further to drive to Pasadena from Manhattan Beach but there really isn't going to be the traffic you're talking about. The hardest thing would be to find a parking spot and if you avoid the area of the beginning of the parade around Colorado and Orange Grove Ave, I think parking can be found.

Cherish, as far as weather, the difference in a couple of degrees as posted by smartcookie shouldn't make a difference. The only thing that would make Pasadena a lot colder would be if there is some type of cloud cover at the beach. Then it would be warmer at the beach.

Have you looked at other cities around Pasadena? Arcadia, Monrovia, Glendale even Burbank?
I personally think your girls would enjoy the Manhattan Beach area better as you could spend your other day along the boardwalk, etc. Hermosa Beach will definitely have lots of drunk 20 year olds on New Years Eve!

Sorry, didn't see that you had reserved seats? Where are your seats located? Maybe we could give you some hints as to how to get to that location without hitting the worst traffic.

That sentence in my post should have read "Hermosa Beach on NYE will be like any weekend in Hermosa Beach...." Yeesh, proofreading!

I have been looking in our local South Bay papers & websites to see what is happening here on New Year's Eve and, sorry to say, it looks pretty bleak --especially for the under-21 set. There seems to be some kind of New Year's Celebration at Hermosa's Pier Plaza, but I can't find any info about it.

Casting a little wider net, there is a fireworks show in Marina del Rey. The Queen Mary, in Long Beach, also has some kind of party.

It has been said here before, the L.A. area is pretty lame in terms of NYE celebrations.

Paula, the seats are at 477 E Colorado
and includes parking. It would be great to know the best way to get there.

Ivk, we don't need a NYE party, but the fireworks sound great. Can you recommend a good place to see them from?

I have been to the parade way too many times (the curse of living in Pasadena and having friends who want to go). My tix are at the beginning of the parade, but I looked at where you are sitting, so this would be my suggestion (if wrong, please someone chime in).

First of all, stay away from the 134 and 210. The traffic is brutal on those two freeways getting in (and I arrive each year a little b4 6 am).

Your tix look to be at about Los Robles and Colorado. Take the 110 freeway from South Bay until it ends in Pasadena (take 405 N to 110N and just stay on it until it ends). There are a little quicker ways to get up here, but this early in the morning, it should be a snap (I used to live in Long Beach), and if you don't know all the freeway numbers, this is easiest, I believe. When 110 ends it becomes Arroyo Parkway. Stay straight.

I don't know where your free parking is, but I would just head up Arroyo toward Colorado Blvd and my guess it is somewhere in this vicinity.

Los Robles is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile (guesstimate) east of Arroyo (you will pass Marengo). Maybe if you give me the address of your parking I might be able to help you more.

((H))

Maitaitom gives good advice about staying away from the 134/210. His directions look good except for one thing.

When trying to get on the 110 North from Manhattan Beach, you need to so on the 405 South not North. It is backtracking a little but doesn't take long. My daughter who lives in Redondo Beach always goes that way. But if you end up staying in Manhattan Beach which is a little further north instead of backtracking a few miles to get to the 110N, I would get on the 405N then take the 105East to the 110N. Get out a map and you will see that this is a quicker way from Manhattan Beach.

Thanks Paula. I got my beaches mixed up.

((H))

Let me tell you the way it took me 45 minutes last week to get to Pasadena from Manhattan Beach.

You avoid the 10 min. it takes to get on the 405, the south bay curb and interchange in Santa Monica. Paula's way works too.

If you are staying at the MB Marriott, you will be at Aviation Blvd. and Rosecrans. Go north toward LAX on Aviation Blvd. for a quick 2 miles, and you will run into the 105 Freeway at Imperial Blvd. Take the ramp east to the 110 and go all the way until the freeway. You will be using the car pool lanes, and at that early time you will just sail, until you get to the parade area.

Please let us know what you decide.

MBNancy-You're right. There isn't much reason to get on the 405N to get to the 105. I just figured if the hotel was close to the 405 and Cherish wasn't really familiar with the South Bay then hoping on the 405N would be easier. At least at that time of morning there wouldn't be much freeway traffic. Obviously during a non-Holiday time period, I avoid the 405 as much as possible!!

Cherish,

The fireworks show goes off at midnight at Burton Chase Park. If it is not too late, maybe you could make dinner reservations somewhere in the Marina, and watch them from the outside seating area? You can check www.visitmarina.com for more information.

Also, if you do choose to spend NYE in the Marina, you might look at lodging there. The MdR Marriott, Foghorn Harbor Inn, Courtyard by Marriott are usually reasonably priced.

Hermosa Beach is having their annual NY's Eve concert at the pier, with an outdoor band but no fireworks.

Time: 8 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. Complete Description:
Ring in the New Year...beachside! The City of Hermosa Beach welcomes you to Pier Plaza for a special New Year's musical performance. The band will entertain an outdoor crowd of spectators. Please note that there will NOT be a fireworks display. The concert is free.

mlgb, thanks for that info, I think my 3 DD's would just love that.

How far is Marina del Rey from Hermosa beach? Could I have dinner and watch the fireworks, while my kid's hang out at Hermosa Beach and still be able to pick them up shortly after midnight? Or is that area too congested or too far to even try that?

It's not far but it could be quite congested after midnight.

Maybe you could have dinner in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa and find a spot up in Playa del Rey where you can see the fireworks (at least you'll be on the south side of Ballona Creek). Or give the girls cabfare!

I would just have your daughters take a cab and meet you back at the hotel. There are usually plenty of cabs lined up at Pier Plaza.

I was at the Christmas Fireworks over the MB Pier last night. Everyone comes out for it and the traffic was terrific, as it will be NYE in Hermosa. Have the girls take a cab back to the hotel. You'll never find them.

If you are at a restaurant in Marina del Rey, be sure and make your reservations now, as it is crowded there too. We were in the decorated boat parade, and thousands of people come out for these events. I think the distance might be 10 miles, between the two cities.

Hi MBNancy,

That's exactly what I had in mind when I responded this morning. It was a zoo down there last night. Weren't the fireworks wonderful, though? We were at a friend's house on The Strand for a Christmas party, and were watching the throngs of people walk by. Even thought we were well south of the pier, near the border of MB and HB, it was still crazy.

Cherish, in addition to the crowds, there will probably be street closures which will make it very difficult to drive down to the pier area.

Ivk, We were at the VIP area at the base of the pier, in the parking lot in front of Beaches restaurant.

Cafe Pierre catered the delicious dinner, and we had nice seats and round tables to sit at during the evening.

The Fireworks were great, but the grand finale was fantastic. The ground shook under us, it was so loud. Could you hear the music that went with the show?

Anyway, we went to the Kettle for a late breakfast, driving two cars. Left one in the parking structure, and went home in the other. We used a shuttle system for our family and guests at 4 PM, because by then there were no parking spaces to be had near the pier. I only had to walk up a couple blocks to get my car at the end, and our grandchild and dil got a ride, and 2 drivers who we drove over to get the other cars, so they could go pick up the rest. Yes, streets were blocked off, but we knew the back streets to take.

Cherish, it is worth the trouble, as the people attending are so nice at these events. Did you decide on a hotel yet?