Hop over to LA for a short break? Worth it?

[Saab34]

Guys, after some advice from experienced LA travelers!

Basically I got a little glued to that VAustralia Ad in the newspaper advertising 3 Days in LA for $1199, but considering its average accommodation I thought It would just be easier to book flight/hotel separately and get something better for a good price... So is LA an Ideal place to go for 5~ days to see the sights? I am planning to back early next year anyway, but how can you say no to $900 r/t for this november.

-I was considering basing myself from one of LAX Airport hotels, wise move? One of the Sheraton hotels there seemed reasonably priced

 

[dajop]

Nah, forget LA, go all the way to NYC. Just came back from for a week there (or technically 8 days) and loved it (second time I've done that), even though a lot of people thought I was mad, as it was so short given the travel time.

Though seriously, 5 days in LA is probably is no different on the insanity stakes - people do it for business so why not do it for leisure? Go for it and enjoy!

I haven't spent a lot of time in LA so leave that advice to others but I guess , that provided you have a car, staying near the airport would be just as good as staying anywhere.

 

[N860CR]

I went over for 3 nights back in April on a fairly cheap fare (QF - A380 each way).

Stayed at the Celebrity Hotel in Hollywood, which is just up from Hollywood Highland. I paid a bit extra for the suite, but even then it worked out to less than $200AU a night and it was very good.

 

[N860CR]

Oh and they had free parking - and you'll need a car. I've done LA without and its just not worth it.

 

[NYCguy]

Los Angeles is a God-forsaken hell-hole that nobody would visit unless they absolutely had to. I agree with the advice given above - fly on to New York, it's much more interesting. If NYC is too far, San Francisco is a great town, and you can get a LAX/SFO/LAX fare for AU$200 or less. Once you get to NYC, you'll forget all about how long it took to get there...

 

[harvyk]

Go to San Francisco, you can even get direct flights from SYD - SFO by-passing the whole LAX experience (not a bad thing, worst airport I've ever been too), also the direct flight to SFO is about the same price as SYD - LAX, and flights plus 3 nights in the city can be had for around $1,200 (there are some cheap hotel deals going right now)

I'm doing this trip myself next month (except add on an extra night)

 

[winfred]

2 days in LA & drive to Las vegas for 3 days!! I wish I have the time. You can shop at the outlet malls on the way from LA to Las Vegas, hotel hopping in vagas, shows, more shopping, fancy restaurants - so much to do!! Lets make it 1 day in LA & 4 days in Vegas.

 

[localknowledge]

Majority of posters are correct, LA gets average after a while, but well worth a short visit for stamps and to get the hollywood feel. Some suggestions. Go straight to a SPG or Hilton property at Universal City and depending on the time of arrival, jump straight into a VIP tour at Universal Studios:

Universal Studios Hollywood - VIP Experience

Should be able to find cheaper at resellers such as expedia.

Then next day, sleep in to adjust to jetlag, then hire a car (in Universal City or get short cab ride to location of a hire car place) and goto a live taping of Jimmy Kimmel, Conan, or Jay (if audience permitted) when he starts again in a few months. Look at the hollywood blv for no longer than 5 mins (pavement) then drive to las vegas, should make it by dusk or just after and looks pretty cool to drive into.

Stay there 1-2 nights and if adventuous, drive to Area 51 for some base spotting from Tickaboo peak. do google search for map and driving directions, myself and my partner got there with an internet map, recommend a GPS though as we got lost for bout an hour, was kind of scary. We also saw a rabbit (or hare) the size of a kangaroo. (WTF!!)

Then back to Vegas, if time another day to fit in grand canyon and hoover dam (hoover only need 1-2 hrs) then fly (or drive) back to LA ready for your departure.

San Fran is very good to visit if you have time. If not, make it a separate trip. We saw San Fran by taking a celebrity cruise ( www.celebrity.com ) from Vancouver - up alaskan inside passage - back down finishing in San Fran having eggs bennedict cruising in under the golden gate bridge. Also, the cruise was tops (incomparable to our local P&O ones), sipping alaskan amber in a hot-tub on top deck watching ice bergs float by, fantastic! Oops, sorry for cruising tanget

New York is a place to see, but recommend no less than a week, too much to see, unfortunately expensive accomodation even in todays conditions.

Myself and partner heading there (LA) in Oct on the QF-A380 both directions, possibly for a panama canal cruise and Austin Texas and Memphis Blues circuit. All the best!

 

[N860CR]

In fairness to LA... I used to absolutley hate the place, however after the trip this year where I had a car for the whole time I was there and was free to do everything at my pace - it grew on me. LA is a PITA to get around and I think that turns many people off it (I've done the "walk 2 hours to get not even close to where you're going" thing in LA before and yes, you do develop a dislike!)

 

[dajop]

New York is a place to see, but recommend no less than a week, too much to see, unfortunately expensive accomodation even in todays conditions.

Paid $109 USD/night ++ at Hilton Garden Inn, opposite Macy's and a block from Empire State. 10min walk from TImes Square. Pretty good for NYC.

That aside, like your suggestions, sounds like an interesting, jam packed trip.

 

[dajop]

New York is a place to see, but recommend no less than a week, too much to see, unfortunately expensive accomodation even in todays conditions.

Paid $109 USD/night ++ at Hilton Garden Inn, opposite Macy's and a block from Empire State. 10min walk from TImes Square. Pretty good for NYC.

That aside, quick vist to LA + Vegas/Canyon sounds like a good way of spending a short break.

 

[auriga]

LA is fantastic. You must have a car though. Wish they could do something about the traffic!

 

[BARNABY]

Hey Dajop, the US$109.00 pn at the Hilton Garden Inn looked very attractive! I am off to NYC in middle October (5 nights) and best rate I can get is US$219.00 pn. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Keith009]

Back in Melbourne now from my latest trip which included 6 days in LA - it was definitely not long enough a time to spend in LA! Awesome awesome city. Though to be technical, I did spend a day in Orange County to get a hair makeover so that made it only 5 days in LA. Still, I managed to cram in as much shopping, eating and drunken nights as possible and had a totally fantastic time. 5 days is probably enough of a taster visit to get a feel of the city if it's your first time there.

Oh and yes get a car. Though if you stay at the W or SLS hotels, they offer free one way limo transfers to anywhere in LA.

The only criticism I have of LA is the 2am closing time for bars but that's for all of California. They start kicking people out at 1.45am as the bar has to be literally empty by 2am.

 

[laffer]

If you cannot go to NYC then I recommend SFO. Priceline the hotels as well and you will be

 

[FlyboyAl]

I actually love LA. Yes, we always get a car as its always cheaper than a cab to anywhere decent.
We usually stay at Manhattan Beach - close to LAX and some great boutique shops and on a sunny day, the sights are definitely worth looking at
also some good eating down around Redondo and Hermosa beaches
Also enjoy Orange County and the Irvine Center, plus the new shopping precinct on the corner of Jamboree and Baranaca in Irvine. Great outlet shopping at Ontario Mills (yes its a longish drive but worth it), and there is always Hollywood and Disneyland.

I'd actually love to pick up my business and take it to LA - I'd just love to have access to a population base that is so big!!!!!

 

[dajop]

Hey Dajop, the US$109.00 pn at the Hilton Garden Inn looked very attractive! I am off to NYC in middle October (5 nights) and best rate I can get is US$219.00 pn. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks.

Believe it or not, $219 for October is actually not bad! I visited NYC in October 2006 & 7 (just for a single night enroute to elsewhere as part of a oneworld circle pacific fare) and anything 3* or higher was around $300+, same in Oct 08 when I checked pricing (I skipped NYC that time). Seems that June/July period prices are much lower than Oct/Nov.

Can't offer a lot of advice to find something cheaper, other than hotel hopping which we did to both get lower prices and help retain Hhonors status (the HGI on 35th St was not $109 every night we were in NYC - some nights it was $209). On the downside, moving hotels can be a bit of a pain, but we organised it such that it only ever involved a single subway ride between hotels. On the upside, you can wake up/experience in different neighbourhoods, and potentially save some $$$ in the process.

Other option is bid for something on priceline or hotwire - google "priceline tips" or "hotwire tips" and there are forums that give good guides to prices paid and hotels coming back successful.

 

[Maca44]

Majority of posters are correct, LA gets average after a while, but well worth a short visit for stamps and to get the hollywood feel. Some suggestions. Go straight to a SPG or Hilton property at Universal City and depending on the time of arrival, jump straight into a VIP tour at Universal Studios:

Universal Studios Hollywood - VIP Experience

Should be able to find cheaper at resellers such as expedia.

Look at the Hollywood Blv for no longer than 5 mins (pavement).

San Fran is very good to visit if you have time. If not, make it a separate trip.

I agree with the above info, especially the VIP Experience at Universal and although the cost for this tour is relatively high; at the end of the day you will be happy with what you receive. Max of 15 in a tour, tour guide, no lining up for anything, and you really do feel special at the end of the day.

Hollywood Bvd at night is something like Sydney's Kings Cross, just full of prostitutes, pimps and junkies..only ten times worse.

San Francisco is a great place, and if you have the time you can drive up Hwy 1 along the coast past Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel, Hearst Castle (although takes a long time to tour the castle, but worth it). All you need is time to do anything.

 

[docjames]

Though to be technical, I did spend a day in Orange County to get a hair makeover so that made it only 5 days in LA. .

Sorry, cant let that one pass.

WTH did they do to your hair that it took them a day to do it? :shock:

Puts advanced hair to shame........

 

[notzac]

San Francisco is a great place, and if you have the time you can drive up Hwy 1 along the coast past Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel, Hearst Castle (although takes a long time to tour the castle, but worth it). All you need is time to do anything.

Agreed - it's a stunning drive, I just wish I'd had more time doing it (I drove from LA to SF over two days). Hearst Castle is amazing.