HELP WITH HOTEL

[karkeeg16]

My grandson and I will be flying to Los Angeles on May 13th, 2022, to catch Carnival Panorama Ship on May 14th. I can't afford a hotel and a taxi to the Port. So, I am looking for a budget hotel that has a port transfer.

 

Please if anyone knows a budget hotel with a transfer to the Carnival Port Terminal, let me know. I know we still have around 240 days, but I am trying to pay each thing as it comes along.

[Bruin Steve]

There really isn't any such thing as "a budget hotel with a port transfer"...

And everyone's budget is different...

 

Are you flying in to LAX?  Not planning on any sightseeing--just fly in the day before the cruise?

Okay...You are going to need, in some form or fashion, the following:

--Ride from LAX to hotel...

--hotel for one night...

...ride from hotel to cruise port.

 

You CAN get rid of one of the two rides or another by staying either 1) Near LAX--most LAX hotels have free shuttles from the terminal to the hotel...But, there is really very little of interest near LAX...It is a drab industrial area...or 2)  Very near the Carnival Terminal--from where you can walk or maybe squeeze onto the free city "Passport" shuttle.  The Maya Doubletree and, arguably, the Residence Inn Downtown Long Beach are walking distance to the terminal...

 

But, really, logically, one long Uber/Lyft ride or two rides splitting the difference really make little difference in cost.  And, you MAY find a hotel with a shuttle to the port (like the Hotel Current clear on the other side of Long Beach)...but any "free" shuttle is really just blended into the hotel price...and your Uber from LAX to the Current will cost more than an Uber to, say, the Maya Doubletree...

 

Really, the question should be "What is my TOTAL budget for hotel and ground transportation?  It matters little how it's split up.  Next, know that hotels here in SoCal are likely quite a bit pricier than back home in Oklahoma.  If you see a "bargain" hotel, chances are there is something VERY wrong...Either it is an extremely substandard hotel, very poorly located--perhaps a high crime area, maybe very inconvenient...perhaps some place you will NOT feel safe or comfortable.

 

If I were you, I would stick to highly recommended hotels in the Long Beach Convention Center area (Try the aforementioned Maya Doubletree and Residence Inn, the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric at the Pike, the Renaissance, the Westin, the Hilton...Maybe the Best Western at the Convention Center (the one on 1st and Linden) or the Courtyard Marriott on 1st...Do NOT go out of this area or off this list.  Plan on whatever it costs plus whatever it will take for an Uber from LAX and an Uber to the port.  Just consider that part of your cost.

 

There are lots of restaurants in ALL price ranges in this are, walking distance from any of these hotels.  It is a safe area to walk around in, even at night...And you will be very close to the pier for the following morning.

 

Good luck.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

Not much to add. Steve said it all.

[karkeeg16]

On 9/11/2021 at 8:05 PM, Bruin Steve said:

There really isn't any such thing as "a budget hotel with a port transfer"...

And everyone's budget is different...

 

Are you flying in to LAX?  Not planning on any sightseeing--just fly in the day before the cruise?

Okay...You are going to need, in some form or fashion, the following:

--Ride from LAX to hotel...

--hotel for one night...

...ride from hotel to cruise port.

 

You CAN get rid of one of the two rides or another by staying either 1) Near LAX--most LAX hotels have free shuttles from the terminal to the hotel...But, there is really very little of interest near LAX...It is a drab industrial area...or 2)  Very near the Carnival Terminal--from where you can walk or maybe squeeze onto the free city "Passport" shuttle.  The Maya Doubletree and, arguably, the Residence Inn Downtown Long Beach are walking distance to the terminal...

 

But, really, logically, one long Uber/Lyft ride or two rides splitting the difference really make little difference in cost.  And, you MAY find a hotel with a shuttle to the port (like the Hotel Current clear on the other side of Long Beach)...but any "free" shuttle is really just blended into the hotel price...and your Uber from LAX to the Current will cost more than an Uber to, say, the Maya Doubletree...

 

Really, the question should be "What is my TOTAL budget for hotel and ground transportation?  It matters little how it's split up.  Next, know that hotels here in SoCal are likely quite a bit pricier than back home in Oklahoma.  If you see a "bargain" hotel, chances are there is something VERY wrong...Either it is an extremely substandard hotel, very poorly located--perhaps a high crime area, maybe very inconvenient...perhaps some place you will NOT feel safe or comfortable.

 

If I were you, I would stick to highly recommended hotels in the Long Beach Convention Center area (Try the aforementioned Maya Doubletree and Residence Inn, the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric at the Pike, the Renaissance, the Westin, the Hilton...Maybe the Best Western at the Convention Center (the one on 1st and Linden) or the Courtyard Marriott on 1st...Do NOT go out of this area or off this list.  Plan on whatever it costs plus whatever it will take for an Uber from LAX and an Uber to the port.  Just consider that part of your cost.

 

There are lots of restaurants in ALL price ranges in this are, walking distance from any of these hotels.  It is a safe area to walk around in, even at night...And you will be very close to the pier for the following morning.

 

Good luck.

Thanks. I have looked and am shocked at the prices. I guess I am going to have to go with whatever I find in the convention center area. I am thinking of using OPOLI from the airport to whatever hotel I get. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

1 hour ago, karkeeg16 said:

Thanks. I have looked and am shocked at the prices. I guess I am going to have to go with whatever I find in the convention center area. I am thinking of using OPOLI from the airport to whatever hotel I get. 

 

What kind of prices are you seeing?

[disneyochem]

Just reiterating the advice to stick to the recommended areas/hotel.  Have a friend who wanted to go cheap on a hotel and ended up in a very seedy part of town!  
 

It’s an expensive port to sail from but be safe.

 

(I have stayed at the Westin, Hyatt Regency and the Hilton—all good places to stay)

[karkeeg16]

4 hours ago, disneyochem said:

Just reiterating the advice to stick to the recommended areas/hotel.  Have a friend who wanted to go cheap on a hotel and ended up in a very seedy part of town!  
 

It’s an expensive port to sail from but be safe.

 

(I have stayed at the Westin, Hyatt Regency and the Hilton—all good places to stay)

I am seeing $200 and up. I can't afford that and pay for my transportation to the hotel and to the Port. I have made a reservation at the Rodeway Inn and Suite Pacific Coast Highway, with total being $112.00.

 

Opoli is $58.00 from LAX to Hotel; Cab from hotel to port is $35.00, not including tips for these. If you have any other information just let me know.

[disneyochem]

21 minutes ago, karkeeg16 said:

I am seeing $200 and up. I can't afford that and pay for my transportation to the hotel and to the Port. I have made a reservation at the Rodeway Inn and Suite Pacific Coast Highway, with total being $112.00.

 

Opoli is $58.00 from LAX to Hotel; Cab from hotel to port is $35.00, not including tips for these. If you have any other information just let me know.

Everyone has different budget priorities.  When budgeting for a cruise, I always include transportation/transfer/lodging/gratuities to see the true cost of a cruise. And, if I’m going to a port that I’m not familiar with, I tend to err on the side of caution and opt for a safe and clean hotel.  For my October 2022 Canada/New England cruise, I have budgeted $600 for transfers and one night lodging  A bit more than I like to pay, but it is part of the cost of cruising to stay at a better hotel.

 

I don’t want to seem “preachy” but I have cruised/visited that area enough to know that you get what you pay for.
 

You might want to make a “pay later, no deposit” reservation now for a hotel that is closer to the port and then watch the prices.  Some of those hotels provide a free shuttle service to the port as well as a breakfast.

 

Although I’m not familiar with the Rodeway Inn, I do know enough about the area that I would not stay there.  I would make adjustments in my budget to stay closer to the port.

 

[karkeeg16]

1 hour ago, disneyochem said:

Everyone has different budget priorities.  When budgeting for a cruise, I always include transportation/transfer/lodging/gratuities to see the true cost of a cruise. And, if I’m going to a port that I’m not familiar with, I tend to err on the side of caution and opt for a safe and clean hotel.  For my October 2022 Canada/New England cruise, I have budgeted $600 for transfers and one night lodging  A bit more than I like to pay, but it is part of the cost of cruising to stay at a better hotel.

 

I don’t want to seem “preachy” but I have cruised/visited that area enough to know that you get what you pay for.
 

You might want to make a “pay later, no deposit” reservation now for a hotel that is closer to the port and then watch the prices.  Some of those hotels provide a free shuttle service to the port as well as a breakfast.

 

Although I’m not familiar with the Rodeway Inn, I do know enough about the area that I would not stay there.  I would make adjustments in my budget to stay closer to the port.

 

Thanks for the info. I will see what I can do. I just did not realize that it was that expensive. I usually cruise out of Galveston.

 

[Bruin Steve]

1 hour ago, karkeeg16 said:

I am seeing $200 and up. I can't afford that and pay for my transportation to the hotel and to the Port. I have made a reservation at the Rodeway Inn and Suite Pacific Coast Highway, with total being $112.00.

 

Opoli is $58.00 from LAX to Hotel; Cab from hotel to port is $35.00, not including tips for these. If you have any other information just let me know.

 

You are planning on spending $205 between "hotel" (and I am using that term loosely here) and ground transportation.  The hotel you are booked at is, to keep it as clean as possible, in one of the more questionable neighborhoods you could hope to find.  It is Harbor City.  There are a string of CHEAP hotels adjoiuning this one.  Most people staying in these are NOT your typical tourists.  Acros the street there is  topless bar.  Within a block, there is a sex shop and a couple of "massage parlors".  You do have your choice of fast food restaurants.  OTOH, it IS cheap.  There is a reason.

 

Let's say, instead, you choose to stay in Long Beach.  Arbitrarily, I've picked out the Hyatt Centric at the Pike--a wonderful hotel in, possibly, the best location in Long Beach.  I just looked up YOUR date.  They have a Senior Rate and an AAA rate of $216...Depending on traffic/demand, an Uber from LAX will cost you $40-60...  You might even take the free Passport shuttle to the pier in the morning, though in Uber froim there will cost mere pennies...So, basically, you can spend, say, around $266...or a mere $51 more than you'd spend staying in that cheap motel you've found...

 

Is it not worth an extra $51 to be in a SAFE, PLEASANT, well-located hotel in a nice area with plenty surrounding it in the way of restaurants, shopping, etc...thatyou can actually walk in at NIGHT without fear?  Or do you really need to save that $51 so much that you would rather stay some place few of us could even imagine staying--even for one night?

 

And I didn't even search through most of the Long Beach deals.  Try calling the Maya Doubletree and ask if they have a "Carnival Deal" (those usually go unadvertised).  That would put you walking distance from the terminal.  Or, try the Best Wester Convention Center  (they have a rewards member book early and save non-refundable rate for $218)...

 

Or, try Priceline...

Edited September 14, 2021 by Bruin Steve

[Bruin Steve]

22 hours ago, karkeeg16 said:

I am seeing $200 and up. I can't afford that and pay for my transportation to the hotel and to the Port. I have made a reservation at the Rodeway Inn and Suite Pacific Coast Highway, with total being $112.00.

 

Opoli is $58.00 from LAX to Hotel; Cab from hotel to port is $35.00, not including tips for these. If you have any other information just let me know.

I tried to present an alternative.  Some bot within the Cruise Critic software won't let me...But, basically, the Rodeway is TERRIBLE...And you can stay in one of the best hotels in Long Beach for only about $51 added to your budget.

 

 

Edited September 14, 2021 by Bruin Steve

[MeNtheSea]

Could you give me any information on The Cove Hotel, Tripadvisor has good ratings on this,  but what about the neighborhood?

[KeepCalmBearOn]

1 hour ago, MeNtheSea said:

Could you give me any information on The Cove Hotel, Tripadvisor has good ratings on this,  but what about the neighborhood?

 

The Cove is not in a great area. Try the Golden Sails Hotel.

[MeNtheSea]

Thank you. Glad I checked. Got a good nightly rate back in May. I'll continue looking.

[karkeeg16]

What about Travelodge by Wyndham? It's about 1 mile from the terminal. If I had to I could walk to the terminal.

[Bruin Steve]

23 minutes ago, karkeeg16 said:

What about Travelodge by Wyndham? It's about 1 mile from the terminal. If I had to I could walk to the terminal.

I've never stayed there, so this is second hand...

The reviews on Google are 21% one-star, 50% three-star or less...That's not good...

On TripAdvisor, 75 of 211 reviews are "terrible" and 33 more are "poor"...That's even worse.

Read the reviews:

TRAVELODGE BY WYNDHAM LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER $104 ($̶1̶3̶8̶) - Updated 2021 Prices & Motel Reviews - CA - Tripadvisor

 

And, it's NOT a mile away from the terminal...it's about two and a half miles walk and over a bridge...I would not try to walk that with luggage...

 

Again, if a hotel looks like a bargain, there's a reason...

[karkeeg16]

16 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

I've never stayed there, so this is second hand...

The reviews on Google are 21% one-star, 50% three-star or less...That's not good...

On TripAdvisor, 75 of 211 reviews are "terrible" and 33 more are "poor"...That's even worse.

Read the reviews:

TRAVELODGE BY WYNDHAM LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER $104 ($̶1̶3̶8̶) - Updated 2021 Prices & Motel Reviews - CA - Tripadvisor

 

And, it's NOT a mile away from the terminal...it's about two and a half miles walk and over a bridge...I would not try to walk that with luggage...

 

Again, if a hotel looks like a bargain, there's a reason...

I just read the reviews. Thanks.

 

[Sea-Bos]

Has anyone booked a car service from LAX and area to the port? Will probably look into that.