Feasibility of a Lancaster to LAX daily commute. (Los Angeles, San Diego: mortgage, hotel)

[Lovehound]

It's crazy to think of commuting from Lancaster to LAX. People who are willing to do that are the cause of much of our traffic problems. If you commute ten times farther away you are creating ten times worse traffic. All the people who are doing that are the cause of our traffic problems.

We wouldn't have nearly the traffic problem if people were a little bit more sensible in limiting their commutes. My personal limit is 30 minutes one way, but I prefer less. Anybody who is doing crazy commuting should either move closer to their job or get a job closer to home.

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

It's crazy to think of commuting from Lancaster to LAX. People who are willing to do that are the cause of much of our traffic problems. If you commute ten times farther away you are creating ten times worse traffic. All the people who are doing that are the cause of our traffic problems.

We wouldn't have nearly the traffic problem if people were a little bit more sensible in limiting their commutes. My personal limit is 30 minutes one way, but I prefer less. Anybody who is doing crazy commuting should either move closer to their job or get a job closer to home.

It usually takes longer then that to drive the 12 miles from Burbank to Downtown.

[Bunjee]

I take it you're looking for new construction, to take advantage of current programs. I like to advise on narrowing commutes rather than allowing long ones to be de facto, but I appreciate your motives and reasoning.

So between the two areas, Lancaster and Corona, I'd check out Corona first (or Riverside as close to Corona as possible just to be that much further down the 91 freeway). Fast Track is a toll road on the 91 that at least spares you the worst of the traffic in and out of the Inland Empire to Orange County. In Orange County traffic binds up again but the severity is unpredictable. You'd continue on the 91 to the 605, 710 or 110 to jog over to the 105, which will take you into LAX. Or find a street route once you're anywhere in the South Bay. I'd estimate your commute at 1.5 hours, going both ways in and out of IE--sometimes even less--if you have Fast Track.

There is new construction out there, but also nice homes at very, very, very low prices even without the incentives. Good luck. I know it's tough figuring this all out. (And I'd still encourage you to check out Gardena or Hawthorne.)

[UB50]

I think you'd be lookng at a 3+ hour commute everyday, in each direction. I knew someone who commuted from Hesperia to Burbank daily and his trip was around 3 hours each way though usually even longer on Friday afternoons.

I like the idea of buying in Phoenix too. Or you might try Las Vegas. It's only an hour flight from Vegas to LAX.

[BRinSM]

i've got this one beat. i know someone who works in my office who commutes to century from hemet 4 days a week. holy Moderator cut: language !!!!!!!!

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

i've got this one beat. i know someone who works in my office who commutes to century from hemet 4 days a week. holy Moderator cut: language !!!!!!!!

That is absolutely ridiculous...

[Lovehound]

No matter how ridiculous it is there's somebody who commutes farther. I knew a guy who commuted from Simi Valley to Orange County. I don't know if that's farther, but it's about three times as far as I'd even remotely consider.

People who think like this are a major source of our traffic. I'm sure the traffic would be much much less if people kept their commutes to 30 minutes. I can't even conceive of being in my car two hours to get to work, and then repeating it in the evening. That's nuts!

I used to commute from Northridge to Palm Springs... but I went there on Monday morning and returned Friday afternoon. That was two hours each way, four hours a week, the same amount of time as commuting five days a week for 24 minutes each way. By the time I arrived at work Monday morning my commuting for the week was already half done!

People who are going to consider working 2 hours away from home should stay in a hotel 4 nights a week. Then it isn't crazy.

[Charles]

Thousand Oaks to Huntington Beach, 72 miles one way. I left at 5AM got there at 6:05 AM (and I was jogging to the potty when I got there.....) The boss let me leave in the early afternoon to beat traffic and telecommute for two hours at home. Took 90 minutes leaving at 12 or 1.

My tolerance metric for driving is "one bladder" distance.

[lakerfan31220]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

No matter how ridiculous it is there's somebody who commutes farther. I knew a guy who commuted from Simi Valley to Orange County. I don't know if that's farther, but it's about three times as far as I'd even remotely consider.

People who think like this are a major source of our traffic. I'm sure the traffic would be much much less if people kept their commutes to 30 minutes. I can't even conceive of being in my car two hours to get to work, and then repeating it in the evening. That's nuts!

I used to commute from Northridge to Palm Springs... but I went there on Monday morning and returned Friday afternoon. That was two hours each way, four hours a week, the same amount of time as commuting five days a week for 24 minutes each way. By the time I arrived at work Monday morning my commuting for the week was already half done!

People who are going to consider working 2 hours away from home should stay in a hotel 4 nights a week. Then it isn't crazy.

Thanks to all who have replied. It's great to have others brainstorm on my behalf. The idea of a hotel is actually not very bad. If I calculate gas expenses and other factors into the equation I think a hotel is very thrifty. Perhaps a AAA membership is in my distant future so I can get discounts. Hmmmm.....

[Lovehound]

My commuting days from SFV to PS were powered by the best consulting salary I had ever gotten (at the time). It also helped that my employer/customer gave me a per diem to cover my hotel and meals. It largely paid for my hotel and meals, but recognizing that I paid a high personal price by having no life for 5 days a week. What's worse, I often worked Saturday and Sunday at home. I refer to my occupation as "electronic *****."

Please note that you can negotiate better rates than are commonly known if you offer the hotel/motel (1) repeat business week after week, and (2) only occupy the room from Monday night to Thursday night. Most hotels have high vacancy during the working week, then charge higher prices and have increased business Saturday and Sunday night.

You should talk to the hotel's manager and explain your situation, ask for a better deal. Remind him that you are asking other hotels too, and that you are more interested in a repeat deal rate than in any perq the hotel can offer. You're looking for just a bed and nothing else. Point out that they don't need to totally clean the room and change the sheets. Clean towels and tucking the bed are more than enough!

Don't try this at a hot sheet hotel!

I got a great rate from Days Inn on Palm Canyon in PS. Later my employer/customer negotiated a rate with the Hyatt in PS, and the employer even arranged to just pay Hyatt directly without my involvement. I had a pre-arranged reservation on the best floor (top) every week. Them's were good days!

I used to get my dinner "to go" from the top PS restaurants every day. I took my dinner back to my hotel and ate it there watching TV (vs. eating alone in a restaurant) and (not to cheap out) didn't even need to pay tips.

The secret to working out of town is to trim every expense to get the best possible deal.