Good Home Base Near San Pedro Pier

[Editor]

Hi:

 

We'll be on the Diamond Princess for its April 1 cruise to the MR. We're flying in to LAX from NY three days before the cruise. We'll be renting a van (there will be 6 of us) to sightsee in the LA area. Can anyone recommend a good location for us to make as our home base. I've heard that Long Beach is not a good idea.

 

Thanks!

[Bruin Steve]

We'll be on the Diamond Princess for its April 1 cruise to the MR. We're flying in to LAX from NY three days before the cruise. We'll be renting a van (there will be 6 of us) to sightsee in the LA area. Can anyone recommend a good location for us to make as our home base. I've heard that Long Beach is not a good idea.

"Greater Los Angeles" is an awfully BIG place...Long Beach is about 25 miles SOUTHEAST of LAX...Universal City/Studios is 35 miles north...Disneyland is 25 miles East...With LA traffic, all of these places will be a long drive...

 

So, the first question is what do you want to do/see while in LA?

 

The nicest area and most convenient to more tourist spots is the "West Side" (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Century City et al) ...it is also the priciest...and it is not too convenient to the pier--but, with three days, you're only making that drive once...

 

I usually recommend considering Santa Monica--for the climate, the walking streets and restaurants and the proximity to Venice Beach, the Getty Center, the Getty Villa, Beverly Hills, etc.

 

But, if you have specific interests (ie Universal Studios, the TV studios in Burbank and the Fairfax District, Hollywood, etc., then Universal City would be a good alternative area in which to stay (I wouldn't stay in "Hollywood" proper)...

 

Do not, under any circumstances, get a hotel in Downtown LA (for business folks, not for tourists) or try to "centrally locate" one between the West Side, Disney and the port (that would end up with you being in a bad or industrial neighborhood somewhere)...

 

LAX is actually a reasonable choice if you've got that van...there are no restaurants or nice nightlife around there...for those, you'd rather be in Santa Monica, Universal or even Anaheim/Disney...

 

Let us know more of what you want to do and we can get more to specifics...

[Editor]

Hi Bruin Steve!

 

Thanks for the help!

 

I'm traveling with my husband, two daughters (15 and 11), and my parents. We definitely want to visit Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, etc. I don't think we want to waste time at Disney or Universal Studios, etc. I know my husband would LOVE to drive along the Pacific Coast. Is that something we can consider?

 

We're not looking for a fancy hotel, but would like to be by nice restaurants for breakfast, etc.

[Bruin Steve]

It definitely sounds like you should check out Santa Monica...(I'm a little partial to it as I grew up in the area...actually "next door" in Pacific Palisades)...

 

Most of the hotels here are a bit pricey...and often very upscale:

The Loews

http://www.santamonicaloewshotel.com/

 

Fairmont Miramar

http://www.fairmont.com/santamonica/

 

Shutters at the Beach

http://shuttersonthebeach.reachlocal.net/home.html

 

But there are also some well located more modest and less expensive hotels...

 

Check out this thread from a few weeks ago on the Cal Mar Hotel in Santa Monica:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=423818

 

The key is that you'd like to be in the area of Santa Monica near the beach, pier and Third Street Promenade...even with a car, it's the best located and nicest area for tourists...

 

Of course, with the car, you can really stay anywhere on the West Side...so, you might also want to check out areas like Westwood, Century City, etc.

 

This one is a recently sold and remodeled landmark of a Holiday Inn, right near the Getty Center and UCLA and right off the 405:

 

Hotel Angeleno

http://www.jdvhospitality.com/hotels/hotel/351?gst&gclid=CP-IvqHxmYgCFSjTYAodCWV2VQ

 

As far as driving up the coast goes, sure...If you've got those three days, you can even drive up the coast to, say, Santa Barbara and back...even the Santa Ynez Valley...

 

Leaving Santa Monica, you merely head North on Pacific Coast Highway (aka

"PCH" or Route 1)...At Sunset Boulevard, you'll pass the original Gladstone's Restaurant--sort of a local landmark--the highest grossing restaurant in SoCal...Two traffic lights past that, on your right, at Coastline Drive, is the entry to the Getty Villa (If you want to visit, you may need to arrange for reservations)...You can't see it from the highway, it's back in the canyon...it houses Getty's Antiquities collection...Another light up is Topanga Canyon and for the next 27 miles or so, you are driving through Malibu...after you pass Point Mugu at the far end of Malibu, you are heading into Ventura County...You go right through the City of Oxnard (pretty unattractive in my book)...and eventually, you hook up with the 101 North toward Santa Barbara...You can turn off to Channel Islands Harbor, but, if you want to visit the islands themselves, you'd have to leave very early in the morning...and maybe make some pre-arrangement...They are unpopulated wildlife preserves and National Park...Beyond Ventura is pretty rugged coastline until you get into Santa Barbara...Santa Barbara is a popular weekend or day trip destination for shopping, antiquing, etc. Another 30 or so miles beyond Santa Barbara is the Santa Ynez Valley, home to several wineries, a Chumash Indian Casino and the old Danish tourist town of Solvang (gift shops, bakeries, etc.)...This is the area that the movie "Sideways" took place in and was filmed in...

 

At this point, you are about three hours of straight driving time out of Santa Monica...so, if you want to tour any of this, figure on a full day, leave early and plan wisely...

[nfaith99]

Unfortunately, I did get a downtown venue through Priceline..Hilton Checkers for $100 for 1 night. We are arriving back in LA post cruise on 11/25 and leaving 11/26. We may rent a car ..if necessary. Bruin Steve: will this location be OK? I think we will spend Saturday doing some touristy things: Chinese Theatre, Beverly Hills etc. Looking for suggestions. Should we rent a car? Thanks so much and, to the OP, thanks for posing your question.

[Bruin Steve]

Unfortunately, I did get a downtown venue through Priceline..Hilton Checkers for $100 for 1 night. We are arriving back in LA post cruise on 11/25 and leaving 11/26. We may rent a car ..if necessary. Bruin Steve: will this location be OK? I think we will spend Saturday doing some touristy things: Chinese Theatre, Beverly Hills etc. Looking for suggestions. Should we rent a car? Thanks so much and, to the OP, thanks for posing your question.

Ooooohhhh...I take it you don't know much about LA...

You are at 5th and Grand, in the heart of Downtown in an old hotel that dates back to the 20s...You saved $49 by committing to it on Priceline...

 

It is supposed to be a nice hotel...for what it is...

 

BUT, Downtown LA is someplace you go only if you have business in Downtown...

Now there is some "gentrification" currently going on in the Downtown area...with some luxury apartments and condos going up...and the Staples Center bringing some events back to Downtown...

But, it is NOT an area that you would want to walk around in after dark...

And not an area where you are going to find nice shopping or desirable restaurants (actually, there are some nice restaurants in the area--but they cater more to the lunch business crowd...

 

Be prepared to see homeless people, panhandlers, etc.

 

Of course, with Priceline, you are sort of stuck with it...

 

YES, by all means you should get a rental car (and here goes some of your bargain...Parking at the Hilton Checkers is by valet only and will run $26 per night...

 

Getting in and out of Downtown is not that easy because there ALWAYS seems to be traffic...also beware streets that don't go through and one-way streets...

 

But, I guess you can try to make the most of it...

 

Assuming you can find a rental car company that will do a one-way rental from somewhere near the pier with a drop-off at LAX (otherwise, you may have to get a shuttle, taxi or transfer to LAX), you may want to put all your luggage in the trunk and do all your sightseeing BEFORE checking into the hotel...

...in which case, head north on the 405 toward the sights on the West Side (including Beverly Hills, the Getty if art is your thing, and more), then drive up Sunset to Hollywood to Grauman's Chinese, Walk of Fame, etc....You might want to head up to Universal to Citywalk, maybe get dinner up that way (My Universal City recommendation is Miceli's on Cahuenga), stroll at CityWalk after Dinner...and head to the hotel Downtown only when you are exhausted ant through for the night...There is nothing you will want to do near the hotel at night...The next morning, before heading to LAX, depending on when your flight leaves, you might want to pop over to Olvera Street (just North of Downtown)...this is the oldest street in LA (sort of touristy)...

 

For future reference, my recommendation for a one-night post-cruise is to just get a hotel at the airport...it's on your way from the pier toward the West Side...You can check in and drop off your stuff, then visit the West Side and, in the morning, you'll already be at LAX...Downtown is sort of out of your way for nothing...except the sleaze and the inconvenience...

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Quick check in here, then I have to go...

I definitely agree with my compadre BruinSteve...

Santa Monica (especially if you have at least a day in LA) is #1 choice in general.

If you're really interested in a lot of Hollywood stuff, then check my other threads for Hollywood hotel recommendations...

Farmer's Daughter to be near CBS, The Grove, Fairfax, Canter's, The Kibbitz Lounge, Melrose shopping....

Grafton on Sunset for a great boutique hotel on Sunset Blvd to be near Hollywood and Highland shopping, the walk of fame, The Comedy Store, Sunset Plaza restaurants and shops, etc.

Downtown sucks for vacationers, sorry! Only good for business people doing business downtown during the week.

CJW

[kaykay51]

Thanks Bruin Steve for the info

We are booked one night pre cruise at the LAX Marriott. I realize near the airport there isn't much, but was planning on renting a car for the afternoon to drive to Mann's Chinese Theater and do the Movie Star's home tour. How difficult will it be to get there? I did a Mapquest map and it states that it's only 12 miles, approx 30 minutes driving time. Is it a difficult drive?

Thanks again for the info.

Kay

[Bruin Steve]

Thanks Bruin Steve for the info

We are booked one night pre cruise at the LAX Marriott. I realize near the airport there isn't much, but was planning on renting a car for the afternoon to drive to Mann's Chinese Theater and do the Movie Star's home tour. How difficult will it be to get there? I did a Mapquest map and it states that it's only 12 miles, approx 30 minutes driving time. Is it a difficult drive?

Thanks again for the info.

Kay

Not a bad drive at all...but best done on surface streets...La Cienega, from the Airport to Venice Blvd., is almost freeway-like...from there, you are zigging and zagging over to Highland, so, there will be traffic lights and you'll need to watch for your turns...and some of the streets, like Highland, are narrower...Depending on time of day and traffic, it will likely take you a little more than that half an hour...

 

After you've visited the Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, et al, if you are in the mood for some lunch, I'd recommend swinging back over to the Fairfax District...If you want to take in an LA Landmark and some good Jewish Deli, go to Canter's:

 

http://www.cantersdeli.com/

 

Or, head to the old Farmer's Market next to CBS Studios at 3rd and Fairfax where they've built a simply incredible shopping center called the Grove:

 

http://www.thegrovela.com/

 

...and eat at Wood Ranch (great BBQ) or Maggiano's (family style Italian) (or others there as well...

 

Then you can head up to tour "movie star's homes"...I am curious as to how you plan on doing this...Buying one of those maps from one of those street vendors? Or do you have a guided tour in mind?

 

Anyway, have fun...

[kaykay51]

Thanks for the help. The Mapquest map is on surface streets, no freeways. It seems fairly direct.

I had planned on using Starline tours from Mann's chinese Theater. We don't have enough time there to try to do something on our own. Also, a tour guide can usually give you little inside info/history that you don't get on your own. Not always sure it's all true, but it makes for some interesting conversation!

We don't arrive in LA until 1:00pm. Any suggestions for dinner?

Thanks

Kay

[nfaith99]

Luckily it is only for 1 night . Wish I checked in here first!! I have printed out all the suggestions and will definitely rent a car and go to some of the sights suggested first!!!