Is Santa Ana a good place for a vacation? (Los Angeles: rent, amusement park)

[CrazycatladyUk]

We booked to stay at the Best Western in a special offer but are now worried because someone told us Santa Ana is a "ghetto" and not safe for tourists. Is this true??? Please help us confused Brits; thanks!

[JustJulia]

What made you want to stay in Santa Ana? It has it's nicer areas but isn't known for being a tourist destination. Were you just trying to find somewhere close to Disneyland and the beach?

[Coldjensens]

If it is just a place to stay so you can drive to the beach, B.W. should be ok. If you want to visit Santa Ana, then you will be going downtown to the Bower museum, discovery science center, St Joseph's Ballet or whatever. You may want to stay closes while you go to Santa Ana and then move someone quieter and nicer.

IF you are looking to go to the beach, there is a Best Western in Costa Mesa on Newport Blvd that is better suited for you. I cannot remember then name of it, but that is where we always had guests stay. It is reasonably priced, especially if you have soe sort of discount card.

There is a hotel this is either in Santa Ana or Irvine (right at the border) that was an embassy suites, then it was something else, then ebassy suites, then something else. I am not sure what it is now, but it is very nice. It is pricey, but you can cram the whole family into one suite if you want and that can be cheaper than two rooms elsewhere. Someone should be able to tell you the name of it.

Parts of Santa Ana are rough and not dsireable. Parts are reasonably nice.

If your interest is in downtown Santa Ana, look at the Green Parrot. It is a nice small family owned inn that is right downtown. It is small and practical, not real nice, it is nto a dump, just not fancy. (No pool, probably no room service).

[EscapeCalifornia]

Where in Santa Ana is this Best Western? There's some parts that aren't too bad. But like Julia said, Santa Ana itself isn't exactly a tourist destination. I hope you're renting a car.

[CrazycatladyUk]

Thanks so much for the replies! The hotel is at 2700 Hotel Ter, Santa Ana. We wanted a base in Orange County and read that it is in the middle. It was a half-price offer via a UK website and that is why we chose it. We have hired a car too. What do you think? Thanks again

[bhcompy]

You should be fine there, and the location is not bad as far as access to Orange County.

[Coldjensens]

That area is very commercial. It is as much like Irvine as it is like Santa Ana. It is somewhat centrally located. Depnding on your outlook you could say it is far away from everything, or you could say it is in the middle.

If this is the first trip to California some places that you may wany to visit include:

Orange County:

Catalina Island. go snorkling in fishermans cove. This is a quiet but very pleasant place to go. The Casino tour is surprisingly interesting. Boats leave from Newport Beach (Balboa) and from up near long beach. Sometimes you see flying fish by the hundreds on the trip to the island. I am nto sure what time of year that is.

Disneyland (if you feel that you have to)

Knots Berry Farm (Amusement park - not as big or fancy as disney but shorter lines).

Newport Beach (Balboa or Corona Del Mar)

Laguna Beach (a villiage full of srt galleries and shops) plus some ok beaches

The tide pool beach just north of Laguna


San Diego (about 2 hours south of OC):

San Diego Zoo (a full day at least)

Sea World (My favorite touristy place in San Diego)

Lego Land (if you have young children. Parents should drink heavily before going here, it is the only way to retain your sanity - We call it Lameo Land)

Coronado Island and Hotel Del Coronado. Lots of movies were flilmed at the Del. It is a great place for lunch. Rent a sailboat at Lowes resort and sail in the harbor.

La Jolla Another artsy town like laguna, with loads of sea lions laying on the beach. there are some sea caves that you can visit as well.


Los Angeles:

Venice Beach (Los Angeles lots of great people watching).

Santa Monica Prmoenade (4th street) Decent beaches here too.

Universal Studios tour (all day exercise - very touristy).

Edebevicks (probably spelled wrong - goofy fun resturuant)

Hollywood (I am not sure why tourists like to go here.)

Channel Islands (boat leaves from Ventura, way north of LA. Wilderness islands with loads of sea animals about. If you are adventurous, arrange in advance to go sea kayaking. You can even spend the night on a kayaking trip. This is really worthwhile).

Magic Mountain (roller coasters and a huge water park nearby).

Really long trips:

Joshua tree national monument (looks like mars - climb on the rocks and explore caves and crevaces or just go hiking).

Palm Springs - golfing and shopping and a neat tram thnigy that goes up a mountain.

Las Vegas (surely even a Brit knows what Las Vegas is). 4-10 hour drive, usually baout 6 hours, depends on traffic.

Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Forest - Huge ancient trees. Great hiking. A neat cave tour. about 4-5 hour drive I think.

that is all that i cna think of today. Enjoy your visit.

Look these places up on the internet and see what catches your fancy. Keep in mind that if you try to travel during rush hour (6:40 - 10 a.m. and 3:30 - 7 p.m.) you will probably end up having a miserable day. Avoid rush hour travel at all costs. When you rent a car, if you do nto have a GPS device, rent one. Either that or just buy one. If you are here for more than a week, it is probably more cost efffective to just buy one. If you want to go to LA just so you can say that you ahve seen it. Take the train and ride the subway around town. Driving and parking is a nighmare.

[CrazycatladyUk]

Wow thanks SO much for all your help - I am touched that someone would take the time out of their day to compile a great list of tips too, that is wonderfully useful. :-)

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by CrazycatladyUk

Wow thanks SO much for all your help - I am touched that someone would take the time out of their day to compile a great list of tips too, that is wonderfully useful. :-)

Heh - it is friday and I am bored. I can mess aournd on CD or read contracts. Which would you choose? Of course now I will have to read the contracts over the weekend. Ick.

[NeutralZone]

I would highly recomend that you cancel that reservation if you can and get a room in one of the beach cities instead (Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach) They will be more expensive, but well worth it. If you are going to travel thousands of miles to come here, don't waste your time in Santa Ana. It isn't all bad, but most of it is.

You definately made the right deciscion in renting a car. Stay by the beach, and you can drive to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, etc. I would also recomend a drive down Pacific Coast Highway to San Juan Capistrano and visit the Spanish mission.

I have lived in Orange County for most of my life, and know the area well. Just google some hotels and inns in the cities I mentioned above and I'm sure you can find something. Enjoy your trip.