2x half days in LA..... What to do?

[malmacdowall]

I'm off to a conference with a mate in April and we have 2 half days in LA. Never stopped there and would greatly appreciate suggestions of what to do?

We arrive on a 10:30am flight so we have the afternoon free....
The following day we fly out at 1:30pm so we have some of the morning free....

So what should we do? Where should we go? And what area do you suggest staying in? Considering on both days we have to go to / from the airport.....

Thanks, Mal

 

[serfty]

Lot's of tips on the LA FT forum: Los Angeles - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[malmacdowall]

Thanks or the FT links.....
Can anyone recommend an airport hotel?
And being an LA first timer... Should we go downtown Hollywood ? Not sure ow far away it is.....

 

[oz74]

Hey Mal, My wife and I were there in Aug last year and loved it! If you got the time check out universal studios. Front of line pass a great idea! You will need a full day to get the value from it though. Hope thats a helpful suggestion.

 

[Mal]

Fol pass is very handy at universal. Allows you to shoot through the park. I did the entire place in a day. Without it would have been 2 days.

Hollywood is tacky but still good to see the famous sites.

Im really not a fan of la at all. Trashy , too much polution, cough public transport - although tourist sites are actually well covered by their metro train system.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Happy Trails]

Should be just enough time to fly to Perth and spend 5 hours there.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/what-do-per-5-hours-35791.html

 

[Maca44]

Hey Mal, My wife and I were there in Aug last year and loved it! If you got the time check out universal studios. Front of line pass a great idea! You will need a full day to get the value from it though. Hope thats a helpful suggestion.

Universal Studios is great, but as a few have mentioned it takes a full day to get the benefit. The OP's flight arrives at 10.30am so even if an international arrival, by the time they clear formalities and the airport, pick up a rental car they would not arrive at Universal Studios until after say 12.30pm which gives them little time to explore the park. From LAX they could book into a hotel in the vicinity of the airport, cab it to Venice Beach area and enjoy the zoo of people or to Santa Monica. Alternatively, you could take the Super Shuttle and get a hotel around Anaheim, go to Disneyland/Adventureland (if you are into that) as those them parks do not close till late. Reasonably early start the next morning to the airport though.

Given that your flight to following day departs 1.30pm, that doesn't leave too much time at all to see anything that morning.

 

[malmacdowall]

Thanks for the suggestions ... You're right I've only got 1/2 days ...
Love to try Disney but not sure if I'll get much done before closing time... Might just have to do the LA tourist thing... Not sure if it's close to do Hollywood sign , walk of fame , grumans theatre etc.... then hit the beaches ..

To hire a car or not?

So hire a car or

 

[Maca44]

Thanks for the suggestions ... You're right I've only got 1/2 days ...
Love to try Disney but not sure if I'll get much done before closing time... Might just have to do the LA tourist thing... Not sure if it's close to do Hollywood sign , walk of fame , grumans theatre etc.... then hit the beaches ..

To hire a car or not?

So hire a car or

It depends on where you want to stay if you want to rent a car but from memory, but in LA a car is virtually a necessity if you want to see anything. The Hollywood sign is in the same area as Universal Studios so a bit of a drive. Disneyland closes about 9pm so you will get to see a fair bit, and they are doing extensive renovations to California Adventure Park, but that might be finished by the time you get there. Also, kids don't appreciate Disneyland like adults.

 

[cove]

Definitely hire a car.
We always used Embassy Suites North with our AAA discount (part of Hilton) with it's free drinks and nibbles at night and free breakfast in the morning. Your RAC or NRMA card has the AAA number on the back...mine is 397 for Western Australia. There are stacks of hotels along West Century Boulevard so if you want a great price you can use Orbitz,Hotels,Priceline or Expedia or many others
I would drive a little way north to Santa Monica , Marina del Rey and a bit of Venice Beach. Yes to Hollywood and Beverley Hills for the sightseeing which is ok.