LAX 14 hour transit, suggestions?

[opusman]

A friend has a 14 hour transit in LAX, arriving at about 7am, and has asked me for advice on how she can spend the time that doesn't mean sitting at the gate.

Are there any hotels at or near LAX with reasonable day rates?

They have no lounge access but are prepared to pay for one, but it seems like the paid lounge options limit you to 3 or 4 hours only?

Thanks!

 

[Quickstatus]

Get a nearby hotel at a day rate. Most if not all do day rates. Note a day rate typically is until 5pm

Note the booking engines often only sell overnight rooms. Just ring the hotel direct.

Once settled in, take an Uber to Santa Monica Pier

 

[cjd600]

Hilton website shows day rates, where available, if you select check in date and check out date as same. They have a few near LAX (free shuttle)

 

[Tiki]

A 14 hour transit means a red eye departure around 21:00? Personally, I wouldn't bother with a day room. I would either go shopping or if it's a first time visit do something touristy. Santa Monica or something. I always like a double animal burger at In N Out nearby. The point is to exhaust yourself doing something and sleep better on the red eye.

 

[justinbrett]

Once settled in, take an Uber to Santa Monica Pier

I would heavily caution this. It can take up to 2 hours to get from Santa Monica to LAX by car.

It's probably cheaper to rent a car. In fact, if you're not planning to actually stay in the hotel, you could rent a car and skip the hotel all together.

Either book the hotel and stay in it / around the hotels precinct, or rent a car and go somewhere nice. Don't do both.

 

[Quickstatus]

It can take up to 2 hours to get from Santa Monica to LAX by car.

So long as aware of the traffic, it's a no brainer. Avoid rush hour obviously

Have done it several times.

 

[Anna]

I’ve been to Santa Monica and back by local bus from LAX (I don’t mean a shuttle). It was quite easy.

I’ve also enjoyed trips to Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach while on long transits, but a friend who lives locally collected me and dropped me back at LAX each time.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The point is to exhaust yourself doing something and sleep better on the red eye.

If you've just done a trans-pacific arriving into LAX at 7am, good chance you've just arrived at what is night time for Australians and probably not slept much on the flight . Chances are you're already exhausted!

 

[Quickstatus]

If you've just done a trans-pacific arriving into LAX at 7am

Even if exhausted stay awake as long as possible if just arrived from transpacific

 

[RooFlyer]

This is pretty old, but may give some ideas if they want to get out and about

The Illustrated "What to do with a X hour transit at LAX" thread

INTRODUCTION Possibly one of the more frequently asked questions. Everyone knows LAX is a toilet, so if you have between 3 and 5 hours between flights, what can you do? I've noticed a bunch of things suggested in various threads, few of which I'd ever done, so on a recent return trip with 5...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

So long as aware of the traffic, it's a no brainer. Avoid rush hour obviously

The point there was to get a rental vs an Uber. Uber is about US$50 each way (I just checked on my app).

But also if you're getting a day room, what's the point if you're going out for the day?

The traffic is unpredictable - the fact that it can take 2 hours (even though with no traffic, it's about 20 minutes), means you have to allow at least that - and also your Uber could cost x10 at least. That said, Rush Hour isn't really a thing in LA anymore, it goes 24/7, it just gets even worse at those times.

Avoid rush hour obviously

Hard to do if you have an evening departure from LAX

Have done it several times.

As have I. My point was get a hotel or go out somewhere, don't do both.

And yes, the traffic was murder coming back on Friday night to catch QF12. Good thing I allowed plenty of time. Literally quicker to walk on the worst stretches.

 

[dajop]

Fly to San Diego and back! I jest. Probably quite costly.

But I did do this once (when returning to Australia, but was part of DCIRC fare so flights didn’t cost extra) Airport close to downtown. Very walkable city with good bus network, get to do security at SAN instead of Lax ! In San Diego before you even get to the rental car station at LAX.

 

[Quickstatus]

My point

Sure
My point is I've done both day room + SM + uber/rental car and found it worthwhile
I still prefer the rideshare

Fly to San Diego and back

Ive done SFO to lunch with a friend then back.

 

[jcwhizz]

I used to Uber to Venice beach for a walk and a decent lunch - not sure whether it’s still ok and whether the restaurant scene is still good post COVID

 

[justinbrett]

Fly to San Diego and back! I jest. Probably quite costly.

Probably cheaper than an Uber from Santa Monica in rush hour! Quicker too...

 

[Quickstatus]

[

a decent lunch

They say fried food not good for jet lag, but we did Bubba Gump Shrimp at the Pier a couple of times

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would grab a car and head somewhere interesting. We did that a few weeks ago, but we did get caught up in traffic - beware, add good contingency .

LAX-WINE: 3 Regions Within Reach of LA's Airport

Forget Napa and Sonoma! Fly into LAX and access these three up and coming wine regions for a taste of some of California's best wines

vinepair.com

 

[Quickstatus]

add good contingency .

That's the idea - just add padding the travel time.
Always good to be out and about after a flight

I've even done a Universal Studios quick whip around - not the park but whatever the street is called