Help With Transportation - Please

[bowen9475]

We are flying into LAX on a Friday. Spending the day in the area Saturday. Cruising on Carnival out of Long Beach on Sunday. Suggestions on how to get from LAX to our hotel to the port? After the cruise ends on Thursday we are heading back to Anaheim for a few days in Disneyland. Other suggestions for transportation leaving the port to our hotel and back to LAX at the end of the trip? Thanks!

[Bruin Steve]

We are flying into LAX on a Friday. Spending the day in the area Saturday. Cruising on Carnival out of Long Beach on Sunday. Suggestions on how to get from LAX to our hotel to the port? After the cruise ends on Thursday we are heading back to Anaheim for a few days in Disneyland. Other suggestions for transportation leaving the port to our hotel and back to LAX at the end of the trip? Thanks!

 

You didn't say where you are staying pre-cruise...

LA is a BIG area, so "in the area" means nothing...

 

Generally, though, the best way to get around LA would be with a rental car--though many people are hesitant to get one (driving here really is not all that bad as long as you know where you are going and prepared for a little traffic at times).

 

Otherwise, shared shuttles usually work out as the more reasonable choice for most--for LAX to hotel and hotel to pier. But, hopefully, your hotel is in a location which will not otherwise leave you stranded. If your hotel is in the Downtown area of Santa Monica or in Beverly Hills or Hollywood, you can always use the HOHO bus tour or any of the tour companies--who all pick up in those areas...If you are staying in Long Beach and want to book a tour into Los Angeles, Sunseeker Tours is your best bet for tours with Long Beach pick-ups...

 

Puplic transportation is pretty inefficient and makes little sense for most tourists--especially if you want to visit multiple places. Taxis are not easy to find in LA and can be VERY expensive.

 

So, please give us more info...like where you are staying and what you want to see while here...

 

As to Post-cruise, ASSUMING YOU ARE STAYING AT DISNEY, arrange ahead of time with one of the shuttle companies for a shuttle from the port to Disney and from Disney to LAX...

[bowen9475]

Honestly don't know where we staying the first few nights yet. Only have Saturday. Would like to see the Hollywood area. We'd probably look into a tour to book. After the cruise we would be staying at an offsite hotel. Need actual names of car rental companies and locations or shuttle services to use. Not at all familiar with the area. Thanks again.

[Captain Canuck]

last cruise out of LA stayed at the Radisson by the airport. free shuttle to the hotel.

 

did a tour of LA that picked us up at the hotel. hit the highlights.

 

to long beach used one of the big shuttle companies.

 

rental car is a way to go but drop off at long beach seemed a bit complicated and while I have driven in LA it is not my idea of fun.

[Bruin Steve]

Honestly don't know where we staying the first few nights yet. Only have Saturday. Would like to see the Hollywood area. We'd probably look into a tour to book. After the cruise we would be staying at an offsite hotel. Need actual names of car rental companies and locations or shuttle services to use. Not at all familiar with the area. Thanks again.

 

Okay...

First, as to where to stay pre-cruise in LA:

My preference is Santa Monica--because there's only so much time you'll wish to spend in Hollywood. Santa Monica is among the nicest and most tourist friendly areas of LA...Weather is always outstanding as the ocean is a tempering force...never any smog at all. Santa Monica is also home to a large number of interesting restaurant choices and lots of things to do--including nightlife. The Santa Monica Pier (with rides and attractions) and the Third Street Promenade (pedestrian only street with shops, restaurants, street performers, etc.). It's a short taxi or bus ride (or long walk--or you can rent bicycles) to the Venice Boardwalk. And, even without a car, it's easy to get to Hollywood since the HOHO bus uses it as a "hub". The only issue for some is that hotels here tend to be a bit on the pricey side (You get what you pay for). I've stayed at the Loews and the Marriott Le Marigot--and wholeheartedly recommend both--excellent hotels. Shutters on the Beach, Casa Del Mar and Fairmont Miramar are other "A List" choices. The Wyndham, Georgian, Shangri La and Huntley are also well located and decent choices. CalMar is an older, interesting property which is well located and a good "budget" alternative. The Meridien Delfina and the Doubletree are nice but a few blocks walk out of the way...

 

Another alternative is to stay right in Hollywood...but be aware--Hollywood is not as glamorous as the name sounds...lots of seedy characters and a bit scary at night...BUT, if you decide to brave it, the Loews at Hollywood and Highland is clearly the best hotel--both quality and location...The Roosevelt is the stately old Grande Dame of Hollywood hotels...Other than that, stick to the area immediately around Hollywood and Highland--and beware anything too unknown or low price--it likely could serve a clientele you might not be comfortable with...

 

An alternative to Santa Monica would be the area around Marina Del Rey/Venice Beach...The HOHO has added an extension here...and there is lots to do in the immediate area...and nice weather...Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Ritz Carlton, Inn at Venice Beach, Jamaica Bay Inn...

 

An alternative to Hollywood is the Universal City area--Hilton, Sheraton, Beverly Garland...

 

Stay in one of these areas and it would be reasonable to do without a car, see Hollywood and other major tourist sites (using a tour or HOHO bus) and have things to do at night and restaurants nearby...

 

Most cost efficient way to go LAX to Hotel to Pier is one of the shuttle companies--Super Shuttle, Prime Time, lots of others...but many prefer a private car over a shared shuttle so as to avoid waits and multiple stops (check out Super Shuttle's "Execucar").

 

I would NOT stay at LAX--just nothing much to do there--it is sort of an industrial area with no restaurants other than the hotel restaurants and just a little out of the way except for when arriving late or departing early from LAX...

 

Another alternative is to just stay in Long Beach (A List: Hyatt Regency, Hyatt at the Pike, Renaissance, Westin. B List: Maya Doubletree, Residence Inn Downtown, Hilton. Use Sunseeker for a tour to Hollywood and other LA sights during your free Saturday. You'll need only a shuttle from LAX. From these hotels to the pier, there are either free hotel shuttles (check with the hotel), the free city Passport shuttle or even taxis are cheap enough...And Long Beach (or at least this area of Long Beach) has enough shops, restaurants and attractions to keep you busy while not on your Hollywood tour.

 

Good luck...

[bowen9475]

Bruin Steve thanks for your help. Now a few more questions. We like the idea of staying the first couple nights in Santa Monica. Would shuttle services pick us up at LAX and bring us to a Santa Monica hotel? What about getting from Santa Monica to the port in Long Beach? After the cruise we would probably want to have a car. Any suggestions of where to rent near the port so we could return to LAX? Thanks all!

[Cruisin' Chick]

To answer the question about shuttle and land transportation services, many of them will do point to point pickup and drop off. Even if their online booking engine doesn't have more than airport to specific hotels or port to airport, etc., you can call their 800 number or use their contact email and give them the details of the dates, how many passengers, about how much luggage, the end points, etc. They'll give you a quote. A few companies just shuttle near whatever airport they service.