Trip to Los Angeles. Need advice.

[knowitall99]

Well you say you are finicky about hotels but based on the attractions you plan on visiting and your 200 a night budget, I get the feeling you may not be so finicky. Try a Best Western of some sort.

If you want to see LA a little nicer, I would suggest maybe at least springing for a room at the W, renting a car (public transportation here is sketchy if not dangerous depending on time of day especially), visiting Malibu for lunch one day, the Griffith Observatory, a quick walking tour around Hollywood Blvd (it's yucky there), Universal Studios (try a weekday if possible), and maybe downtown Chinatown for dim sum. You should also visit Rodeo Dr. at least just to check it out.

I would honestly considering staying at the beach, like in Santa Monica..but not sure if it's what you can spend. You should consider driving up to Santa Barbara for a night too. Maybe you can take Amtrak there or something. It really is difficult to be in LA without a car though.

[ivy_michigan]

Originally Posted by DCNita

I visited LA last summer for 6 weeks. Forget the hotel I rented a house with off street parking. I will email you the place where I stayed right in Hollywood. It was convenient to everything and reasonably priced. I did months of research before I settled on this place. This was my first visit to LA so I understand the anxiety. Here is my original thread on this web site seeking advice. It has a lot of information.

//www.city-data.com/forum/los-a...things-do.html

Your list is awesome! Thank you for the link also!

[jaypee]

Los Angeles: Itinerary Ideas - TripAdvisor

[DCNita]

Originally Posted by ivy_michigan

Great! Thank you all so much! The information has been very helpful. I'm not opposed to public transportation - just figured we would need a car to get to the beach. However, I am coming from Michigan where parking is typically on site and not an additional cost. Would you recommend forgoing the car rental?

I highly recommend a car.

[Spikett]

It's a lot easier with a car because things are so spread out and public transport leaves a lot to be desired. But almost all motels charge for parking - generally, the nicer the hotel, the higher the charge for parking. I would add that parking enforcement here is brutal. So if you drive and park on the street, be very clear on the regulations and don't be a minute late moving your car. I cannot stress this enough. I'm not trying to scare you - just kind of forewarning you so you know what to expect. Parking lots in some areas, such as the beach, are pricey. So consider that when you budget. $200 a night is not a lot for a hotel in LA - remember there is tax on the room rate - and since you are self-described as "picky" I'm not sure what to suggest except that you do read the review on Trip Advisor - some of which have photos taken by guests. Start with the Hollywood area - it'll give you a good idea on prices.