Visiting LA (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim: car rental, rental, credit)

[missionhome]

-Sailo, I would like to see you have a pleasant vacation and want to help you. I wouldn't be surprised if you think Southern California is hell on earth after traveling by Greyhound, and it would be nice that you start your trip with a pleasant view of the region.

What day of the week are you traveling (or what date)?
Amtrak schedule shows trains departing Los Angeles Union Station at 11:10AM, 12:25PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4:10PM, and 5:10PM. It shows nothing at 10 PM at night. Each of these trains take around 2 hours and forty minutes to San Diego. Maybe double check the schedule?? Are you arriving on a holiday when there is reduced service?

Amtrak is different than Metrolink (which has heavy morning and evening service).

[katenik]

this is just crazy. you really need to rent a car. in late morning traffic, you can drive to san diego faster than any of the options you're considering will get you there, and without all the insane running around town-- with luggage!

[the one]

well i take greyhound quite often and the service is improved. i also catch the 60 bus right in front of the DTLA greyhound station. ive caught it at 4am, 9pm, 5 pm. i have never had a problem. but then again i dont look like a tourist. if you feel that you would stick out, then dont do that. but honestly the greyhound is not that bad.i rode it last to oakland in sept. and my brother used it in jan to SF. no problems.

but amtrak would be a nicer trip.

the fly away is also a good option. instead of doing the shuttle to green to blue line try the flyaway to union sta. there are lots of options.

good luck.

[sailo]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your lovely replies. Yes, I would love a pleasant and safe trip. I must admit I have high security concern in the states.

You guys are right that there are late afternoon trains. Thanks very much for correcting me. I choose San Diego Old Town as my final destination as my hotel is near there. That's why I didn't know there are other trains. That flyaway link is very helpful too. I am just wondering if there is a place to exchange notes to coins inside the airport hassle free as I heard public transport over there don't give any change.

With the Amtrak, are they always full? I am thinking of buying tickets when I get there in case I miss the train I booked for. This is because I heard LAX customs is very slow to go through.

I arrive in LA on a saturday 21/2, less than a fortnight from now. Can't wait!

If there is anything to recommend, either crime blackspots to avoid, saving shopping tips or touristy must see places, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks so much. Cheers

[BRinSM]

you will be able to exchange money at the airport. also, it's my understanding that you can buy your amtrak ticket at the train station. I don't think the trains usually fill up. as for security, you should be fine. it is easier to avoid bad neighborhoods than accidentally venture into them. good luck, hopefully you have a great trip!

[uptown_urbanist]

I've never had trouble with Amtrak being too full to ride. You can buy your ticket at the station. Train to San Diego is great - for part of it you ride along the coast, right by the water. It's a pretty trip.

Flyaway to metro to Hollywood is definitely the way to go. Flyaway, by the way, does give change; you pay at a little ticket booth at Union Station. The subway gives change, too; just don't stick in a $20 for a $1.25 ticket or you'll get a pocketfull of dollar coins. You'll need exact change for the non-Flyaway buses.

In LA consider taking the Gold Line to Pasadena; the Gold Line offers interesting scenery, and Old Town Pasadena has a different feel than many other areas in the LA area. You could take the 780 Express bus (up Colorado Blvd) from Pasadena back to Hollywood to make a loop of it. That goes through a lot of different neighborhoods, goes right past Griffith Park, goes through the nice neighborhood of Los Feliz, through East Hollywood/Thai Town/Little Armenia and then back up Hollywood Blvd.

Watch Swingers to get in the Hollywood mood.

[sailo]

I am just wondering if it is safe to wander around the neighbourhood near union station? I looked on google earth and it seems fairly close to downtown and chinatown. Maybe I'll check-in early and wander around first before boarding a later train.

I also noted that the greyhound downtown is a few blocks south of union station. Which street south of union station does the skid area starts? Would it be E 1st St?

[the one]

the area around union sta is fine. you can easily walk to olvera street. chinatwon etc.

as for the ghound sta. from union you would have to walk south on alameda for about 2.5 km. not exactly the closest and not exactly the nicest.

here are the parameters of skid row

3rd/main<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>central/3rd
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
< >
7th/main<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>7th/central

some say the boundaries extend all the way over to alameda. but about there not too many homeless folk walking about.

the pits would be 6th and san pedro. the surrounding areas.


avoid those and you will be fine.

Originally Posted by sailo

I am just wondering if it is safe to wander around the neighbourhood near union station? I looked on google earth and it seems fairly close to downtown and chinatown. Maybe I'll check-in early and wander around first before boarding a later train.

I also noted that the greyhound downtown is a few blocks south of union station. Which street south of union station does the skid area starts? Would it be E 1st St?

[Bunjee]

I would absolutely take Amtrak from Union Station rather than Greyhound. It would be a far more pleasant, less stressful waiting-to-embark experience for you. Now, Greyhound holds no real dread for me, but for a stranger in a strange land I would actively dissuade you from choosing it.

Once you get back to LA you'll be pretty close to Hollywood Forever Cemetery. You can pay a little tribute to Johnny Ramone, as well as other deceased celebs. And non-famous folks as well. It's really quite poignant, this little oasis. You'll be arriving at the start of LA Opera's staging of Wagner's Ring Cycle as well, if you're into that. Das Rheingold premieres on the 21st. Tickets are a bit pricey, though.

[sailo]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

Flyaway to metro to Hollywood is definitely the way to go.

Does that mean the free shuttle transit to aviation metro is less safe?