San Diego to LA for the 1st time

Hi,

I am picking up a car and leaving San Diego heading for LA on Tues 8th and have until the Sunday before we head to Vegas. Firstly, do you think it is worth stopping anywhere on the way to LA, anything we should stop and see? Secondly, as we will have a car, where would be the best area to stay (and where to avoid) in LA.

My wife and i are both mid twenties and are looking at spending approx 拢60 ($110-120) per night on the hotel and then seeing as many sights as possible. I thought i had found a couple of hotels but having read the reviews of the area it didn%26#39;t seem the nicest or safest area to be in.

So basically, any advice on hotels and areas???

Thanks

San Diego to LA for the 1st time

Read our FAQs section (the link is at the top of the TOPIC LIST) for an overview of NEIGHBORHOODS in L.A.

For $120 per night, you%26#39;re not going to be in the nicest neighborhood since $120 is a modest amount to pay for accommodations in L.A.. When you say ';Tuesday 8th';, are you referring to July 2008?

If so, that is %26#39;high season'; and you%26#39;re booking 10 days before your arrival! That%26#39;s going to be challenging. Hotwire.com offers deals on hotels without disclosing the name and exact location of the property until you provide your credit card info and agree to pay. They have a room at a 3.5-star hotel in what they call ';Beverly Hills - westwood - century city'; for $129 for your dates. It%26#39;s often possible to figure out which hotel it is and based upon the description provided, I think it%26#39;s the Angeleno, off Sunset Bl (and the 405 freeway (motorway) in the fashionable Brentwood section of L.A. -- on the westside.

Got to Hotwire.com, select %26#39;hotels%26#39;, enter your dates and look for:

3.5-star hotel in Beverly Hills - Westwood - Century City

in the list that appears. Here are the reviews for the Angeleno. (Link and scroll down for the reviews):

tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32655-d8452鈥?/a>

(There are no guarantees that you will get the Angeleno but I would say that it is extremely likely, largely because the hotel is a ';boutique'; hotel that%26#39;s 3.5 stars. There just aren%26#39;t that many hotels like that in that area.

If you get it, you owe me a drink at the rooftop bar!

Good luck!

San Diego to LA for the 1st time

Thanks for that, I did mean July, thought that i might get some better deals by leaving it late. Have been considering waiting til a day or so before and trying to get something, would you not recommend that??

Have never really heard of Hotwire until reading a couple of posts on here, it seems quite popular with posters here. Do they make any guarantees with the quality of the hotel? I assume once you find out the hotel name there is no going back if you don%26#39;t like it?

Will do some research as the hotel you mentioned would certainly fit the bill quality wise (at those prices), are there any others you think it could potentially be in that area??

Thanks again for the advice.

You don%26#39;t find better deals leaving it to the last minute, you find that you can%26#39;t get a hotel room. LA is the number one destination for foreigners this summer, with the dollar so cheap. We%26#39;re sold out everywhere.

On the way from SD to LA take a quick detour and exit the $5 fwy at San Clamente, follow the signs to the pier and have lunch there at the fisherman restaurant. Great views, surfers, good food, it is so southern california

From there you can drive along the beach 11 miles(nice drive)to Laguna Beach and enjoy the area before heading back onto the 5 fwy. Definatly woth the detour

As for hotels in your pricerange, look into the MOtel 6 on Whitley Ave in Hollywood. Great neighbourhood and in your pricerange. It is centrally located and walking distance to a lot of touristy sights

Thanks everyone, been a big help so far. With regards to Motel 6, it says there is no free parking and we are gonna have a car. Any ideas the sort of fees they charge, can%26#39;t find anything on their website. (i%26#39;m assuming they do have parking)

Decisions decisions!!

It used to be free, i think they charge $10 now, which honestly is a bargain for the area

Me again!!

Are there lots of restaurants within walking distance of this Motel? Is the Hollywood area fairly nice? Not rough/dangerous?

Thanks

The area is safe and there are many bars and restaurants nearby. Many.

Plenty of restaurants, bars , nightclubs to walk to. Some of them are the best in the city

Think that is probably the best place for us to stay then. I am fairly keen on getting as close to Santa Monica as possible while my wife (who will be driving) is keener on Hollywood so we are close to restaurants for the evening.

Therefore, if in Hollywood area, we can drive to the beach (on non touristy days) and then walk to restaurants in evening.

Any other hotels other than the Motel 6 you guys would recommend, could possibly increase our budget if it is worthwile.

You lot have been life savers by the way!

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