Briz-chick

Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are travelling with Air NZ from London to Brisbane in June where L.A. is the stop-over. We thought we'd take advantage of being in that part of the world and stay for 2-3 nights.

Which is the best part to stay? We're in our 20's-30's so like a good bar and restaurant. We also want to see all the popular sites like Sunset Bvld, Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood sign etc.

We don't want to spend too much on a hotel and we're not overly fussy. Just want to stay in a nice part of town that is close to the sights/transport!

Thanks for any help you can provide!

fatbrit

Would suggest you rent a car for the 2 or 3 days, otherwise you won't be going far at all! Public transport is not an option in the US unless you have superior self-defence skills and no sense of smell.

Personally, I like the Redondo Beach area for airport stopovers: just south of LAX on the PCH, reasonable prices.

Englishmum

Los Angeles is such a sprawling place it's difficult to advise - it all depends on what your main criteria is. The last time we stayed in LA a few years ago (with our children) we stayed in two places; the Buena Vista vicinity (Embassy Suites hotel - not as plush/upscale as most of the Embassy Suites hotels unless it's been upgraded recently) for the theme parks and the Holocaust Museum, then we stayed in an hotel in Santa Monica (can't remember which one!).

Your best bet is to check out my favourite website for choosing hotels; http://www.tripadvisor.com

The Los Angeles info is here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g...Vacations.html

(You can choose hotels by budget then look at the comments from recent guests....yes, warts and all. Top Tip: always look at the hotel's own websites for special offers which are often better than booking via a third party. Often if you book with companies like Expedia.com, Travelocity, Priceline etc. you are committed to that hotel with no refunds, even if your plans change. If you book directly with the hotel you can often cancel until approx 4pm on the same day you're due to check in without penalty...I've also heard that often people who have booked with those kinds of online booking agents get the least desirable rooms in the hotel, but I don't know if this is true or not).

Chandler

Public transport in LA is a nightmare. It works (kind of) by LA is far too big to travel across via bus.

Santa Monica is a great place to stay. It's full of bars, restaurants, and great shops in addition to being right on the boardwalk. Venice Beach is 10 mins walk down the beach whilst Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and the world class Guggenheim museum are all easily reached with a short bus ride.

Eskimo

How much money is not too much ? if moneys no option stay at the Mondrian on Sunset. Hire a car and you are within 20 mins of all the places you listed

looselips

I would stay in Santa Monica and agree with others if you can rent a car do (but if you can't then Santa Monica is a good base and your hotel should be able to help with some kind of daily bus tours, bike rentals to Venice Beach etc ).

I would take a day to just drive & explore. From a base of Santa Monica (right on the Pacific Coast Highway) hit the John Paul Getty Museum then drive through Topanga Canyon & Mullholland Drive, down Benedict Canyon.Hit Bel Air/Beverley Hills, valet park on Rodeo Drive & walk around, do real shopping on Melrose Ave then head to Hollywood. Drive along Sunset Blvd (sunset strip) stop to eat, then Hollywood Blvd, Manns Chinese Theatre & stars on the pavement.Up to the Hollywood sign close up (drive up Beachwood Drive north of Hollywood Boulevard into the hills) or go to Griffith Park Observatory & see the sign from there.

At night plenty of bars/pubs/restaurants on Main Street Santa Monica so you can ditch the car and drink!

The 'Portrait Los Angeles' maps are fool proof -they are sort of picture maps that show you all the landmarks.....pick 'em up at the airport info desk or any tourist shop.

Very jealous!

Briz-chick

Thank you for your help everyone. Santa Monica sounds great, and close to all the places we'd like to see, so I'll try to find a hotel there!

Lord Lionheart

I live in Santa Monica, what's your budget?

Eskimo

you can always find "room" for a lady huh


Briz when you're here go in the Kings Head and tell em Tom sent you - you will get a great reception - honest

Briz-chick

$100 per night is all we can afford really, less is better - well, to be truthful, we can't afford to go full stop (period!), but didn't want to miss the chance of being in LA!

What we'd like is cheapest place that's not a dump. Also somewhere close (not more than 10-15 minutes walk) from the main action...is this asking too much? I get the feeling that SM is more expensive than downtown LA...I searched for a hotel last night (on hotel booking engines) and most either didn't have any hotels in SM or they were $150+. I need to take the time to search the US yellow pages or similar and look up each hotel individually on the web.

Thanks for your help - it's so hard choosing where to stay when you don't know the city!

Eskimo, hmmm, sure he won't give me a slap for knowing you??

Lord Lionheart

Try the Cal-mar in Santa Monica ;

http://www.santamonica.com/n-accommo...adcal-mar.html

Great location, probably $120 a night?? or the Marina del Rey hotel;

http://www.marinadelreyhotel.com/

I think iot's about $99 a night??

Marina del Rey is a bus ride from Santa Monica. PM me if you need more help?

Lord Lionheart

Shut your cakehole. You are ruining my image with the ladies

Eskimo

The one of bare assed brummie drunk you mean

CaliforniaBride

Oh Shaddap Jasper! Bloody Brummies can get themselves over here but they can't get a decent football team!!

Eskimo

go back to your "school" work baggie you've got an early start