LA

[mumsie_wumsie]

Hi, my daughter is going to LA on her own for five nights on 17th June.Her flights have been paid for by her work, but she has to find and pay for her own accommodation.She has been to US before but not to LA, and is wondering what would be the best kind of place to stay in, and where.Also finances come into the equation. It doesn't have to be hotel, she just wants somewhere safe and clean to base herself at, and where she is able to get to places to visit without having to hire a car. Seems a lot to ask, but I'm sure there are some ABers who can point her in the right direction. Thanks in advance....

[237SJ]

The trouble with LA is that it`s all very spread out and quite hard to get around without a car. I`m going there with work tomorrow and one of the places we stay is Long Beach. It has a good bus service there but I wouldn`t recommend it for your daughter. Our other stop is Redondo Beach which I quite like. I don`t think the bus service is as good but there`s Hermosa beach there which has become quite fashionable lately. I wouldn`t stay at Venice Beach, it`s fun to observe but there are a lot of freaky people about.

[mumsie_wumsie]

Thanks for that 237SJ. She is wondering whether to stay in central LA or on the coast. She doesn't want to have to hire a car, she has been told that driving out there is pretty scarey. Redondo Beach sounds good, that would probably suit her needs. Do you know of any suitable places to stay while there? My daughter is very confident, so has no problem being on her own, as long as the accommodation is OK. Hope you have a great time while you are there.

[237SJ]

Not really as I don`t pay for it - it`s work. I`m at Long Beach tomorrow which is a shame as if I was at Redondo I could ask around. There might be other areas though. I would want to be near the beach if it was me. You could try tripadvisor and see what comes up. Tell her, if she goes to Redondo there is one of those fantastic Whole Food markets there and she could eat out of there for days! It`s organic too.
I`ll have a word with the concierge in the hotel and ask them which areas are OK (always best to hear it from a local)

[mumsie_wumsie]

Thanks again 237J. Her trip there is work too, although she has to find and pay for her own accommodation. The work part is the travelling. She travels Upper Class on Virgin.But any feed back on your return would be grateful. How long are you away for??

[237SJ]

Just two nights. I`m back Wednesday. I discovered a fantastic cycle path along the beach the last time I was there so it`s a toss up between being good and cycling, or hitting the shopping mall.

[mumsie_wumsie]

237SJ are you a Mystery Shopper by any chance?

[bednobs]

surely if it's a work trip and she dosen't want a car, the place she stays will be dictated by where she has to go and work?

[mumsie_wumsie]

Bednobs, as I've explained, the work part is the travelling. (The flights there and back home.) While she is in LA she can stay and do what she wants. She just wants somewhere reasonable and safe, as she will be on her own, but very confident.

[237SJ]

No, I`m not a mystery shopper I`ve got a friend who`s a mystery diner though and I`ve had a few free meals with her :-)

[mumsie_wumsie]

Lots of perks with these jobs 237SJ.....

[whiskeryron]

http://www.luxbusamer...uttle-bus-service.php
http://www.expedia.co...l-Guide-Filter-Hotels

[mumsie_wumsie]

Thanks for those links Whiskeryron.We will have a look at those.

[whiskeryron]

My pleasure.Ron.

[bednobs]

well then she'll need somewhere near the airport i presume.
i'm sorry, i didn't get that you meant she is not working out there

[237SJ]

Greetings from LA! I asked a local about Redondo Beach and Santa Monica. He said they`d be good places to stay. LA is so vast that each section is called a city so that`s how big it is. He menioned an hotel in Santa Monica called the Viceroy but I looked it up and it`s expensive. I know the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and that`s OK. If it was me I`d head to Santa Monica. Driving isn`t that bad here although when you drive in another country it`s nice to have someone with you for moral support. It is quite hard to get around without a car though. Your daughter might be able to get organised tours to see the sights. If she gets a reasonably large hotel she should check out if they do a curtesy coach from the airport. I`m off to bed now. I`ve been up 24 hours (good job I didn`t go for a drink as well....)

[LDC134]

Just as an alternative, if she wants to be more in the 'Hollywood' part, I would highly recommend Orchid Suites http://www.hotelsone....vKIoakCFYIc6wodwTjXuA

They are directly behind the Kodak theatre on Hollywood Boulevard so walking distance from the walk of fame, chinese theatre and all of the tours which operate from the Boulevard. I also walked to the Hollywood Bowl and Melrose Avenue (for funky shopping) from here. We had our own kitchen with this room, which is nice for a single traveller, because she can make her own breakfast or have a coffee etc.

[mumsie_wumsie]

237SJ, thanks for the info.I will pass it on to my daughter, she needs to get booked in somewhere soon as she goes next Friday,17th..She did mention about getting a tour bus to see the sights, so now I will leave it up to her. LDC134, that sounds good, will get my daughter to have look into that too. Thanks for all your info.

[jno]

probably too late to matter now, but LA has a pretty good metro system and there are even buses. But it is a huge place.

http://www.metro.net/around/maps/

[mumsie_wumsie]

Well, my daughter has been to LA and is back home now.Got back on Thursday evening. For the first three nights she stayed in a hostel in central LA, which she had recommended to her, and for the next two nights she went to Santa Monica and stayed in a 3* hotel, which again was very good, clean, safe etc. She went on a tour and saw all the sights in LA, then relaxed on the beach in Santa Monica. She also went to see Tim Minchin in concert whilst there. Had a really good time.

[237SJ]

That`s good. I`m glad she had a good time. I`m glad she got to the beach too. That`s what California`s all about!