Worth spending a night in LA en route to vegas?

[GCC]

I am heading to a meeting in Las Vegas this February. Arrive LAX Tuesday morning on QF11, and as I don't really have anything to do in Vegas until Wednesday I'm tossing up between transferring to a Vegas flight, or heading to Santa Monica for a night and then flying to Vegas the next day.

Although I transit via LAX once or twice a year, it is over 10 years since I actually spent any time in LA. It is also well over 10 years since I was in Vegas. Not really into casinos and gambling.

I like the idea of recovering from the jetlag by the beach, but am worried that traffic between Santa Monica / LAX, airport hassles etc will mean it is a bit of a waste of time?

 

[opusman]

Shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes to get to Santa Monica from LAX, I say do it!

 

[Clivem]

LAX to Santa Monica via Lincoln Blvd is normally a good run, opusman is on the money.......on some early morning trips it amazes me how quick it can be.
Shore Hotel @ 1515 Ocean Ave is a good head rest - Blue Plate Taco right out the front is great for a good feed, drinks and good service as the sun goes down over the Pacific.
Third St. Promenade is not bad either -Apple store with its glass Roof /façade yet no visible A/C and the converse flag-ship store are worth a look if that's your thing. Walk along the front and Pier to people watch.
Only thing left is the trip to the 'In N Out' for a Double Double Animal style .....and some plane watching for the 24R incoming.
Its a do it from me also

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

I was really disappointed with LA and Santa Monica

If it was me I would head straight to vegas....do some shopping, hire a car and drive to Hoover dam, go watch a show.

I think the only great thing about LA is Disneyland and California.

I said to my husband when we go again, we will base ourselves in Anaheim and drive into LA/Santa Monica....

 

[harvyk]

Santa Monica is certainly nice for a visit, but I don't think I would be going there for a beach day, I'd make sure you have a couple of things on your itin. (Of course it's all highly dependant on how you handle jetlag).
Driving time would be highly dependant on time of day, that said half an hour to an hour is probably reasonable.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm with opus man and Clivem. The run on Lincoln from LAX to Santa Monica/Venice/Marina del Rey is pretty good. I'd personally avoid Venice unless your into purchasing some medicinal marijuan_ but both Santa Monica and Marina del Rey are great spots to blast off the jet lag.

 

[vetrade]

If you've been to Santa Monica / Venus Beach before you won't find it any more interesting today than it was 10 years ago. The beach there is definitely great for a relaxing walk but remember you will be there in winter. And considering that it's only just over an hour flight to LAS I would personally prefer to get to LAS without stopping because you'll probably waste more time leaving and returning to LAX than you will transiting straight to LAS.

If you aren't into casinos/gambling then there's other things to do not far from Vegas. If you want to see a place that is way different to what you will see in Oz you could spend a few hours at the Outdoor World store. But be warned they require you to check-in your gun at the front counter if you're "packing"!!! It has the biggest range of outdoor sporting goods I've ever seen - fishing, archery, hunting etc and even an aquarium and a whole lot of stuffed animals including lions and moose etc - it's huge. Within walking distance of the strip, just south of LAS airport and near the premium outlet stores (if you're into shopping).

 

[GCC]

Thanks for replies, 3 for 3 against!

"you'll probably waste more time leaving and returning to LAX than you will transiting straight to LAS."

That's my dilemma as I'll need to be on the LAS flight by around 11.00 the next day. The other thing that worries me is possibly not being able to check in to a hotel until 3pm.

My itinerary is roughly: get to hotel hopefully by 11.30, hope for check in, have a walk on beach / pier, have a nap, have dinner / drink, hope for sleep, leave hotel around 8.00 AM to return to LAX.

I just found out my meeting in Vegas wraps up at 5.30pm Saturday, and I'm QF 12 on Sunday night. So possibly I could do this in reverse, fly LAX Saturday night, straight to hotel beach day Sunday then off to LAX Sunday PM and fly home.

 

[markis10]

If you aren't into casinos/gambling then there's other things to do not far from Vegas. If you want to see a place that is way different to what you will see in Oz you could spend a few hours at the Outdoor World store. But be warned they require you to check-in your gun at the front counter if you're "packing"!!! It has the biggest range of outdoor sporting goods I've ever seen - fishing, archery, hunting etc and even an aquarium and a whole lot of stuffed animals including lions and moose etc - it's huge. Within walking distance of the strip, just south of LAS airport and near the premium outlet stores (if you're into shopping).

Agree, and its a good opportunity to play with real big Tonka trucks

Dig This ® Las Vegas Heavy Equipment Playground - Voted The Number 1 Attraction in Vegas on TripAdvisor.com

 

[Reveen]

Avoid LAX. Go straight to LAS.

 

[GCC]

I'm being swayed by the straight to LAS argument. Prices for Santa Monica hotels are outrageous. The Shore Hotel that opus man suggested is coming in at around A$450 per night for a non refundable booking.

Here's my follow up question - where to stay in Vegas? Does anyone have experience of the Mandalay Bay?

 

[Warks]

I had a day up at Santa Monica back in October just to break up my MCO-LAX-SYD journey. Stayed at LAX and caught the Blue bus to SM for the princely sum of a dollar. Took a fair while to get there and I made the mistake of going to Venice Beach just to say I've been there. What a seedy dump? Why do they always push it on the travel shows? Dirty filthy place with all sorts of dodgy characters everywhere. The 'legal' drugs on sale doesn't help.

SM was a lot better for a wander around but I wouldn't go there for the beach. Had the world's busiest Apple store. Also had a Tesla store on the main street.

 

[vetrade]

I'm being swayed by the straight to LAS argument. Prices for Santa Monica hotels are outrageous. The Shore Hotel that opus man suggested is coming in at around A$450 per night for a non refundable booking.

Here's my follow up question - where to stay in Vegas? Does anyone have experience of the Mandalay Bay?

Mandalay Bay is very good and should be very reasonably priced in Feb. It's close to McCarran Airport at the southern end of the strip which I prefer as it's a little quieter (compared to most of Vegas). Because it has a beach it's popular with families which can be a drawback during vacation periods because of a lot of kids running around. That shouldn't affect you in Feb though. Another very good option is the Signature at MGM Grand which is separate (but connected) to their casino and has very nice apartment style rooms. Price for both should be sub $US140 in Feb. but be aware that most hotels in LV add a resort fee of $20 - 40 which likely won't be included in the quoted price. You can get a cheaper rate at the Signature through Jet Luxury Resorts which manages some of the apartments for their owners - check-in is at reception just the same as if you book through the hotel.

 

[NM]

I'd be connecting straight to final destination, whether LAS or anything else, and then relaxing and getting over the jetlag there. In the other direction, I have been known to arrange a full day in LAX and spend it at Disney, Universal, Knots-berry Farm etc. The various LA beaches do not present any attraction to me.

 

[GCC]

Mandalay Bay is very good and should be very reasonably priced in Feb. It's close to McCarran Airport at the southern end of the strip which I prefer as it's a little quieter (compared to most of Vegas). Because it has a beach it's popular with families which can be a drawback during vacation periods because of a lot of kids running around. That shouldn't affect you in Feb though. Another very good option is the Signature at MGM Grand which is separate (but connected) to their casino and has very nice apartment style rooms. Price for both should be sub $US140 in Feb. but be aware that most hotels in LV add a resort fee of $20 - 40 which likely won't be included in the quoted price. You can get a cheaper rate at the Signature through Jet Luxury Resorts which manages some of the apartments for their owners - check-in is at reception just the same as if you book through the hotel.

Thanks for the tip. I booked the Signature at MGM, seems like a quieter option and actually much cheaper than the Mandalay. Also read a lot of reviews lamenting the fact that as casinos are smoking, the attached hotels can be smelly, and the signature is 100% non smoking. I joined MLife, the MGM loyalty program, got a good rate there plus options to upgrade, guarantee early check in etc.

Decided to connect straight to LAS in the end, will go on a light plane tour to the Grand Canyon, see a show, and then some outlet shopping + visiting the outdoor world store / colossus will give me plenty to do.

 

[Blinky]

I spend a lot of time on a forum with a lot of Americans. Their overwhelming opinion on LA? If you find yourself there, get the first plane out.

 

[UP4014]

I'd consider renting a car and driving to Vegas, cheap, fresh air (sort of) and no one way fees between California and Nevada. Drive Route 66 to Needles then north to stay off the freeway.

By the time you do the checking in and out and in at the airport again the drive will be calm relatively speaking.

Matt

 

[cove]

You could try Hotel MDR which is over the road from Ruth's Chris steakhouse in Marina del Rey and use your RAC membership to get 10% off using the AAA membership affiliation. The hotel is a Hilton Doubletree. Nothing too special but a fair price and you are one block from In N Out.
I think you can hire a bike at Sport Chalet over the road, cycle past the medical marijuan_ at Venice Beach and think how a D9 bulldozer could help out then up to Santa Monica.