Summerfield Suites - El Segundo??

[aloisia]

Would this area be suitable for 2-3 nights pre-cruise? We are a family of 5 and a 2 bedroom suite would be perfect. We would have a rental car.

Plans would include sightseeing ... Hollywood, Studio tour, beach afternoon then head down to San Pedro. From map quest, the hotel appears to be close to Manhattan Beach.

 

Thank you.

[CaseyJr]

El Segundo is very close to MB. It is also close to the 105 and 405 freeways, either of which you can take to get into Hollywood. Of the three (Hollywood, beaches, port), getting to Hollywood will be your biggest trek. Plan your timing wisely to avoid being stuck in traffic.

[Bruin Steve]

Would this area be suitable for 2-3 nights pre-cruise? We are a family of 5 and a 2 bedroom suite would be perfect. We would have a rental car.

Plans would include sightseeing ... Hollywood, Studio tour, beach afternoon then head down to San Pedro. From map quest, the hotel appears to be close to Manhattan Beach.

 

Thank you.

 

El Segundo would work...You are limited in needing a room that sleeps five...much easier to find choices if you went to two rooms...

 

I don't think El Segundo is a particularly great town...it's LAX-adjacent...to the south...an industrial town dominated by Oil Refineries (The name of the town, El Segundo, means "The Second" in Spanish--named that because it was the home of the second oil refinery of the Standard Oil Company)...It's not a terrible place, just not the most attractive...there are a few restaurants nearby but not much else...But, of course, you have a car and can go anywhere...but, be prepared to do a lot of driving...

 

Here are some alternates, some with 2 bedroom suites in some better locations:

 

Beverly Hills area:

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxrb-residence-inn-beverly-hills/?propertyCode=laxrb&fromDate=11/16/2010&toDate=11/17/2010&numberOfGuests=2&numberOfChildren=3&numberOfRooms=1&__utma=200047549.404565700.1281978581.1281978581.1281978581.1&__utmb=200047549.2.10.1281978581&__utmc=200047549&__utmx=-&__utmz=200047549.1281978581.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=suite%20hotel%20culver%20city&__utmv=-&__utmk=29289023

 

Santa Monica:

 

http://www.embassyhotelapts.com/

 

http://www.calmarhotel.com/

(they have suites with two beds in the bedroom and a queen sized sofa in the Living Room)

 

http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/SMOPCDT-Doubletree-Guest-Suites-Santa-Monica-California/index.do

(I think the set-up is one bedroom suite, two double beds in the bedroom, sleeper sofa in the living room)

 

Venice Beach:

 

http://www.innatvenicebeach.com/

(Not sure how they handle five, but I thinl they can do it)

 

https://res.windsurfercrs.com/bbe/page1.aspx?propertyID=3556&pcode=VSVEB&langID=1&rate=&corp=

(Okay, this is a funky older place ...I don't know the room configuration, but, to sleep five, they say it requires the pull out couch and a rollaway...but the location is pretty cool--right on the Venice Boardwalk)

 

Personally, I love Santa Monica as a place to stay--countless shops and restaurants and attractions--the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park...the Venice Boardwalk is close by...It puts you much closer to other attractions as well...

 

You'd feel much more like you were experiencing a Los Angeles vacation than if you were in El Segundo...The car would be great for venturing out to Hollywood or Universal City/Burbank, etc...but, you could aslo keep it parked and walk to so many things...

 

Venice Beach is just down a little from Santa Monica and is a pretty cool place to stay...again, lots of restaurants and the Venice Boardwalk is at your feet...

 

Now, some of these hotels can be a bit pricey...but, in SoCal you pay for the LOCATION...

 

Good luck...

[Cruisin' Chick]

The problem with looking at some site like Mapquest is that you wouldn't don't get a good idea of the scope and size of LA County and the environs. When the driving time is listed, it's some sort of average, I guess. There's a major difference between driving somewhere after 7pm and earlier (rush hour is not just an hour in the morning and in the late afternoon, and not just during weekdays).

 

If you were planning to save money to stay at that particular hotel, you may be spending a lot of money on gas to get where you really want to sightsee, and a lot of time.

[aloisia]

Thank you everyone for the information and advice - shared with hubby (the freeway situation + rental car :eek:) well..... he wants me to look at Santa Monica or Beverly Hills as advised. ;) It seems tours will pick up in both areas and a shuttle can get us to port.

 

Thanks again!

[Jeff in Torrance]

I think that El Segundo is a good location for what you want to do. It's a unique town.........a little bit of "Mayberry" between the beach, power plants, refinery, airport, and the busy Sepulveda (California Hwy 1) area. Lots of moderately-priced eating places, no pretense, nice beach to the west.