Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going to LA for the first time in late december for one week. We're staying on a hostel on Melrose Rd.
Is it true what we heard that you REALLY need to have a car in this town? If so, is it easy to drive in LA and where can we find cheap rentals?

Tommie,
Well, unless you and your girlfriend have a wad of money lying around to spend on cabs, yeah you need a car. Unlike most other major cities, LA is VERY spread out and public transit consists of buses (good luck), and the metro-link - which works providing you're willing to go where IT goes, and then plan on either walking, taking a bus, or riding a cab to reach your ultimate destination.

I personally don't think driving in LA is all that bad - but I live in So. Calif and go to LA frequently. I don't think it's any more difficult to drive here than any other large city. Parking is a major hassle - but where isn't in a large city? The only thing most tourists have issues with is the traffic - and there is a lot of it. But the week between Christmas and New Year's is actually pretty light as far as traffic goes, and if you can avoid any rush hour times, you should be OK.

As to inexpensive rentals, I would suggest checking around. Many offer discounts, such as AAA membership or if you use a specific credit card.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

Tommie:

Agree with everything Michele said. Since you're staying on Melrose, there's a lot you can walk to or grab a bus to see along Melrose/Sunset/Hollywood Blvds., but you'd really be short-changing yourself if you were not to have a car. If you're flying in, the best combination of convenience and price on a rental would be at the airport. Look for a weekly rate at one of the major companies. And yes, it is very easy to drive in L.A., but get a GOOD map before you leave on the trip.

You can try rent-a-wreck, which rents older, beat up cars. I used them a few years ago when my car was stolen. Unfortunately the rental broke down on the freeway during the LA riots! You get what you pay for.

You really need a car! Try bidding on Priceline for the smallest, cheapest one available. In the end it will save you money. Also get a good freeway map of the LA area and remember to use your turn signal!

Make sure you get a map just on how to get out of the airport, and THEN how to get on the right freeway! (Don't want to end up in Watts like I did...)

I lived there about 15 years and think LA is very easy to drive in; probably the easiest large city in the US. Weather is almost always great (which helps) except for occasional rain, roads are well-marked and in pretty good condition and the drivers are a lot better than in many other cities, and more polite, also (I live in DC now and the drivers here are the worst and rudest on earth, I never had many problems in LA like here on the freeways). I agree with getting a car at the airport or something; I've rented from Rent-a-Wreck and their rates have gone up so much from when they started that they aren't much cheaper (if any) than regular rental companies, but their cars are a lot worse (I got one once that I was a little afraid to drive). It's not worth it. You wouldn't have to have a car, I suppose, if you only did stuff around West Hollywood (assuming you mean Melrose Avenue), but if you're there a week, I don't think you'll like that. If you are really pressed for money, there are other hostels in LA, some that have free shuttle service to various locations (ie, Universal, the beach), and airport pickup, and those would be a better deal for you if you don't want a car. There's one in W Hollywood on Cahuenga, and one in Venice and Santa Monica. Check out www.hostelhandbook.com. If you can get a good rate on a rental car, though (ie, $20 a day or so, you can in many cities), that would be the way to go.

Take it from one who used to live there. Not having at least one car (small joke)is as rediculous as having 2 cars in NY City. LA does not have a mass transit system (not worth mentioning anyway) and it is way-way-way to spread out to effectively cab.

I¡¦m definitely the minority. My wife & I spent there for a few days without a car. We traveled a lot with MetroRail (like underground) to most major tourist sites, like Universal Studio, Hollywood, Long Beach, etc.

Check out for the public transport in LA: http://www.mta.net/

Overall, it¡¦s feasible to get around in LA without a car, but I will recommend you rent one. Otherwise, you will spend some time wait at the bus stop and restrict yourself around LA downtown only.