Transport options between downtown Los Angeles and Anaheim

[kpc]

Been doing a google search,,,, but thought I'll ask the experts on AFF!

Scenario: Getting 5x pax (+ 2-3 suitcases) from downtown Los Angeles (Hollywood area; ZIP 90068) to Anaheim:

Options looked at:
1) Luxury bus ($145 but need to get to pick up area):https://booking.luxbusamerica.com/luxbus/LuxBus.dll/EXEC/4/0ijxg521cbc3c51dp4cit0rj2lj1
2) Super shuttle ($186 door to door service): SuperShuttle Online Reservations - LAX SFO LAS DIA PHX BWI DFW TPA JFK JAX CDG IAD SAN DCA SMF MCI IAH LGA MSP EWR AUS SNA HOU BUR DAL OAK ONT LGB SJC ISP PTP PIE ORY MIA MCO Airport
3) Hire car (1 way rental; will still need to get to hire car pick up location) and drive myself would be another and probably cheaper option...

Any other cheaper, hassle free suggestions apart from option 3) above?

Thanks

 

[UP4014]

How long you in Anaheim, just hire a car for the entire period. I find car hire a must when in the US and it's not expensive. (relative to here)

 

[kpc]

How long you in Anaheim, just hire a car for the entire period. I find car hire a must when in the US and it's not expensive. (relative to here)

3 nights...but won't need the car for 2 days...if I hire a car, I could drive back to Lax to save the $75 taxi fare (Anaheim to Lax) as well, I guess.

 

[UP4014]

Just keep the car and pay for it and don't use it until you return. Convenience.

 

[kpc]

3 nights...but won't need the car for 2 days...if I hire a car, I could drive back to Lax to save the $75 taxi fare (Anaheim to Lax) as well, I guess.

Just keep the car and pay for it and don't use it until you return. Convenience.

Just did a quick check...a 24 hour Avis car rental (did not look for any discounts atm) is $74 for a full size car. The Avis pick up location is 3.9 miles from our La hotel, and the Avis drop off is 0.9 miles from our Anaheim hotel...I'm not particularly keen to drive back to Lax to catch our plane to avoid the hassles of trafffic, getting lost, accidents etc (prefer to catch a taxi for $75) so a 24 hour car rental looks the best bet for now for getting between downtown Lax and Anaheim...

 

[RB]

When we were transferring from San Diego to LA in 2010 we used Lux Bus. We are used to using public transport & found the to be very reliable & the comfort level was fine and luggage was no hassles
This is how I wrote things in my trip report
"San Diego to Los Angeles
Not having experienced this area previously we opted to travel by bus with Lux Bus. They offered door to door service & a chance to see the countryside without the airport waiting & transfer times-so probably similar times overall. It ended up being 3hrs 5min overall. Start was a bit of a milk run around downtown & then Mission Valley area before heading north on the freeway. Bus was a 32 seater (not particularly Lux but very comfortable). Only a few travel comments by our driver but he was a good driver. Plenty of variety in the countryside with one section of country & vegetation reminding me of the drive towards Taormina Sicily from Catania Airport. Interesting to see a massive tomato plantation right next to the ocean at one point, a nuclear development nearby & also a huge navy hovercraft playing games just off the coast. We were interested to see San Clemente as we had contemplated spending some time there. Bus group was split at Anaheim to expedite people’s arrival to various areas of LA. Only 1 other family on our split bus & we were first drop before the airport."

 

[Atleastonce]

We travel to Anaheim quite regularly and for the 5 of us we always hire a car. Quicker than doing the hotel tour to drop everyone else off, more comfortable and convenient. Very easy driving around, and much cheaper rental than Australia.

 

[Shelf]

I took a Luxbus in 2009 to and from Vegas.

The bus was comfortable with softies, snacks and a DVD onboard. I'd recommend their service.

 

[Melburnian1]

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains are an excellent way to travel between Union Station, Los Angeles and Anaheim:

Pacific Surfliner Train - from Los Angeles to San Diego & More | Amtrak

 

[petercr]

We did the pretty much the same thing (2 adults 1 teen & 2 kids) in Feb having just gotten off QF15. Admittedly the AUD was better than parity back then but we got a private van (from Execucar) from LAX direct to our hotel in Anaheim and it was $150 plus tip - having just come off the plane after 14hrs it seemed to be money well spent seeing as the bus would have been close to $100 for us.

After 3 days in Disneyland, we caught the Pacific Surfliner back to LA Union Station en route to Hollywood. Getting the train cost approx $50 for all of us and the Surfliner runs about every hour. Trip only takes about 40mins most times of the day whereas drving could take up to 2hrs in peak hour... Anaheim station is about 2-3km from the Disneyland portion of Anaheim so factor that into any journey.

 

[BensAdventures]

I know there are always posts stating how awful LA traffic is, and yes, it can be bad sometimes, but I've driven around a lot, including to Anaheim, and I find it remarkably easy to drive. In saying that, I guess the more I do, the easier it is. So if it is your first time there, I can certainly understand some uncertainty about the idea of driving.

Either way, I'm sure it will be a great trip!

 

[kpc]

I know there are always posts stating how awful LA traffic is, and yes, it can be bad sometimes, but I've driven around a lot, including to Anaheim, and I find it remarkably easy to drive. In saying that, I guess the more I do, the easier it is. So if it is your first time there, I can certainly understand some uncertainty about the idea of driving.

Either way, I'm sure it will be a great trip!

Thanks. Whilst i have not driven in La before, I have driven in San Francisco, Vancouver and Seattle (with a GPS!)....also been to Anaheim once before in 1996 (did not drive). I have decided to drive as Hertz have a rental place to pick up the car 400m from where we are staying in La, and there is a drop off just over a 1 km from we are staying at Anaheim. Also, +1 mentioned she would like to visit a factory outlet (?Ontario Mills) which is a slight detour on the way to Anaheim:mrgreen:.

 

[cove]

The traffic is generally ok out of peak hour. We hired a Honda Odyssey and a Chrysler Voyager to move the group. Go the Honda if you get a choice.
My kids enjoyed Embassy Suites or Hilton Orange as first and second choices.

 

[amaroo]

We did the pretty much the same thing (2 adults 1 teen & 2 kids) in Feb having just gotten off QF15. Admittedly the AUD was better than parity back then but we got a private van (from Execucar) from LAX direct to our hotel in Anaheim and it was $150 plus tip - having just come off the plane after 14hrs it seemed to be money well spent seeing as the bus would have been close to $100 for us.

Thanks. We'll be there in Dec and I'm thinking a private van (4 of us) will be best to take the pain away.....we've got to be back at LAX pretty early to catch QF107 over to JFK.

 

[lovestotravel]

A private hire SUV/Van would be the best option!

Earlier this year we had too much luggage for our sports car rental from Hertz, so we hired a SUV to carry out luggage from LAX to our hotel in Beverly Hills

Was about $150 + tip for a new Lincoln Navigator with free bottled water

 

[petercr]

Exactly what we did Amaroo - except we went from Hollyweird to LAX... at the appropriate time in the morning it took about 30mins to get to LAX. From Anaheim you're maybe looking at 45-50mins...

 

[amaroo]

Exactly what we did Amaroo - except we went from Hollyweird to LAX... at the appropriate time in the morning it took about 30mins to get to LAX. From Anaheim you're maybe looking at 45-50mins...

I take it you were happy with Execucar ? I've got to book quite few transfer for our 4 week stay and would normally arrange through the hotel however, I'm thinking I might save some pennies and book direct.

 

[funnymummy]

Transfers & Ground Transport Los Angeles

this is useful and you get QF points - I used the site in usa and it is the same on aa

 

[petercr]

I take it you were happy with Execucar ? I've got to book quite few transfer for our 4 week stay and would normally arrange through the hotel however, I'm thinking I might save some pennies and book direct.

Yep, not a problem... drivers were there on time, courtieous and got us from A to B at a reasonable price...