Los Angeles - 2 weeks in L.A with 2 kids

So I'm coming to america. Never been always wanted to go and thanks to US airways im on my way. I arrive at lax at 10pm so probably stay in a hotel at the airport . Some input to which one would help. I have a Marriott cert 1-4 catergory I have a hyatt diamond suite upgrade and I'm a HH diamond member. So I'm looking to get the most out of my stays , lounge access , upgrades ,breakfasts etc.

So far I have booked 2 nights at the beverly Hilton , 3 nights at the JW Marriott l.a and have 2 nights at las Vegas with the HilTon grand vacations. They offered me 2 nights for $99 and get back $200 so that's good I hope.

What do I plan on doing there , well Definately want to take the kids to Disneyland they are 4 and 2 . Where to stay I don't know what's the best cheapest option for me . One day enough or need two days? For me I want to watch a lakers game . Maybe rodeo drive what else is there. What's my best option for a rental . I checked out fox rentals at lax and I can get a decent car for $500 for the two weeks but then parking is approx $40 so I need a cheaper option.when renting the car I need two car seats as well which bring the price up.

So ATM I'm arriving late night at lax need a decent place to sleep the night maybe two doubles then I have 3 nights before I'm in the JW .

So what to do ??

There is a very nice Marriott just outside the airport on Century Blvd. Easy trip by cab.

Are you renting a car for your stay? Are you sure that you want to take 2 kids, 4-2 to Disneyland? Legoland in Carlesbad (San Diego, CA area) might be better for them and probably not as expensive. It also includes a waterpark. The world famous zoo and SeaWorld are both in the area. Just some thoughts.

Does the Hilton deal require a timeshare tour? Just asking. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with that. Hilton has some very nice properties.

Check www.hotwire.com for possible car rentals. It's a third pary site but I've gotten deals from them as low as $13.99/day plus tax and airport fees (totaled about $18.00/day but that's still half of what you are looking at from Fox). You won't know the vendor until you book it but twice the vendor was Enterprise and another time it was Hertz. Both better, IMO, than Fox. One of the rentals was a four door sedan that easily seated 4 and only had 11 miles on it when it was delivered to me (even though I was traveling by myself).

In Southern California most hotels do charge for parking because if they don't 'freeloaders' will take up valuable real estate. It's just the market. Sometimes, depending on where you are, there is reasonable street parking but, when I'm traveling, I like to know where my car is each night, even if it belongs to someone else.

If you go to Disneyland for a couple of days you might skip the initial car rental and take a shuttle to Anaheim (although it probably won't save you a lot of money from LAX). If you decide to spend a couple of days there, grab a hotel that's 'walkable' to the park or take the ART Shuttle (Anaheim Rapid Transit) back and forth.

If you are willing to use some of your Marriott 'Chit' there is a newer Residence Inn near Disneyland. It does't have a lounge but they serve a free breakfast everyday, and a 'Manager's hosted dinner' several times a week. Also has a full kitchen so if you want to store some snacks/beverages (kids want to eat when they want to eat) that's handy. There are plenty of places around there to pick up 'groceries'.

You didn't say what dates you will be visiting and that would be helpful to know in terms of recommendations since weather, conventions and other events may be going on.

http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors
http://california.legoland.com/

First of all, welcome to LA.

If you are landing at 10pm and you are jet lagged from Australia, why not just go to the Beverly Hilton or another hotel away from the airport. That way you do not have to unpack for one night and the $$ difference is not that substantial.

I would definitely rent a car. Public transportation in LA is terrible. If you are nervous about driving on the right side of the road, I understand. But I have driven on the left side of the road many times and while not easy, you just need to maintain focus.

There are many other threads and blogs about LA with kids, but aside from Disneyland, I would recommend the rides on the Santa Monica pier as well as a drive to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. The only suggestion is to get there early, especially on the weekends. The same holds true for Disneyland. Do NOT go there on a weekend.

If you want to go to a Lakers game, check their schedule on http://www.nba.com/lakers/schedule/index.html You can go to ticketmaster.com and get tickets and sometimes if you look a few days before the game, some better seats open up. If not, check ebay or stubhub.com for seats. If you can afford it, avoid the 300's and get seats in the 100's, 200's or premier seats.

First night - go straight to Beverly Hilton. No need to stay near the airport.

Rental car - Normally, I would suggest you skip rental car for the first 2 nights that you are staying at Beverly Hilton. However, since your kids are small, you may have to carry a lot of stuff with you during the day, a rental car may not be a bad idea. Beverly Hilton is walking distance to Rodeo Drive (one of the place you want to visit), and is located next to a major transit hub (intersection of Wilshire Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd). You might end up paying for parking for 2 or 3 days (at $40 a day) and not even use your rental car very much. The 720 (Wilshire) and 704 (Santa Monica) buses are 2 of the most popular and frequent bus lines in LA and there is usually a bus every 3 or 4 minutes. The 720 especially will be very useful for you if you want to take the kids to visit the beach/pier in Santa Monica, or other kid-friendly attractions like La Brea tar pits, Petersen Automotive Museum or the Children's Museum.

JW Marriott - You can visit Hollywood area from JW Marriott by subway so your rental car may end up spending a lot of time in the garage. You should buy tickets for Lakers game ahead of time. If you find Lakers prices a bit expensive, you may want to consider catching a Clippers game (LA's other basketball team, which many here think is having a better year than the Lakers), or Kings game (LA's ice hockey team). All three teams play at the Staples Center, right next to your hotel. However, you'll need a car to visit Disneyland (see next).

Disneyland - You can stay in Beverly Hills or Downtown LA (JW Marriott) and just take a day trip to Disneyland. This is best done with a rental car. Leave your hotel around 9 AM after the worst commute traffic is over and drive down to Anaheim. You should get there in about 1 hour. Disneyland is not as big as people tend to think so you can cover the entire park in one day with plenty of time to spare. Your admission ticket also gives you entry to California Adventure. It is up to you if you want to hit up both parks but I think your kids will be tired after a few hours at Disneyland given their age. You can stay until after dark for the fireworks and then drive back to your hotel in LA, again after the worst of the commute traffic is over. DO NOT attempt the Disneyland trip on weekends... it will be a miserable time for all.

Las Vegas - Keep your rental car for the Las Vegas trip (I assume you are driving). The Hilton Grand is located a bit far from the rest of prime section of the Las Vegas Strip so you will end up driving to the big casinos at the southern end of the strip. Hilton Grand is family friendly hotel and a good choice for young kids.

Edit: Just wanted to add that since your AUS$ is at parity with US$, everything will be literally on sale here. Feel free to "shop til you drop" and help out our economy :D There are lots of shopping options both here in LA and on your way to Las Vegas.

Disneyland - You can stay in Beverly Hills or Downtown LA (JW Marriott) and just take a day trip to Disneyland. This is best done with a rental car. Leave your hotel around 9 AM after the worst commute traffic is over and drive down to Anaheim. You should get there in about 1 hour. Disneyland is not as big as people tend to think so you can cover the entire park in one day with plenty of time to spare. Your admission ticket also gives you entry to California Adventure. It is up to you if you want to hit up both parks but I think your kids will be tired after a few hours at Disneyland given their age. You can stay until after dark for the fireworks and then drive back to your hotel in LA, again after the worst of the commute traffic is over. DO NOT attempt the Disneyland trip on weekends... it will be a miserable time for all.

You gave some great advice on the other topics, but I have to disagree here. One cannot "cover the entire park in one day with plenty of time to spare", especially not with two little ones. Even beginning to enjoy all that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have to offer takes a full three days, which is why I think spending a few nights right there (either at one of the Disney hotels or at the Anaheim Marriott or Hilton, both of which are within easy walking distance) is a much better idea.

Remember that experiencing Disneyland is more than zipping around to a few big attractions. To actually take the time to soak in the atmosphere, enjoy the shows and parades, let kids meet some characters, etc. makes for a much more memorable experience. That can simply not be done in a single rushed day.

2 weeks in LA?

I would spend 2-3 nights at least in Las Vegas and 2-3 nights in San Diego, which is great for kids.

I assume that with 2 small children you won't be much for nightlife.

1 day to recover from traveling, lunch in Venice
1 day total for Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Mulholland Drive
1/2 day Downtown, including basketball game (Clippers tickets are less expensive than Lakers, and they have a more entertaining lineup)
1 day Malibu, Santa Monica, Getty Center (for the trip up and views)
your kids are probably too young for a studio tour or even Universal theme park.
1 day to explore - Griffith Observatory (If you miss the Getty), museums - recommend LACMA and Petersen automotive museum (across the street from each other). Or something else entirely.
Each of these is not even a full, packed day. You won't be able to do a full day with small kids.
Can't think of much else in LA proper except just exploring neighborhoods, shopping, eating - not easy with small kids

I would recommend 2 days at Disney - definitely not on a weekend or holiday. This will be the highlight for both kids. I would stay in Anaheim.

2-3 days in San Diego (drive) - the San Diego Zoo is spectacular. Could also consider the Wild Animal Safari or Legoland. Sea World would be my 4th choice. (Zoo membership is cheaper than 2 days admission, includes both zoo and safari). San Diego is also simply a much nicer environment for the ocean, although if you are from Sydney, I'm not sure this is much of a draw.

2-3 nights in Las Vegas - kids will detract from that experience, although still worth it. Don't drive there on a Friday afternoon/evening or drive back on a Sunday afternoon/evening.

I believe we are still only up to 12 days or so.

One cannot "cover the entire park in one day with plenty of time to spare", especially not with two little ones.

I actually disagree with the above. The OP's children are 4 and 2, so that eliminates most of the popular rides and leaves just a few attractions such as Dumbo, Peter Pan, Small World. I do agree that if more time is available, 2 days would be better, but if visiting during the week at this time of year, and with the help of a good guidebook, Disneyland can be pulled off in a day. Now if the OP wants to trade off with the spouse for some of the adult rides, I agree that more days would be needed.

Wow , thanks for everyone's input I will read over the comments a few times . I'm not a fan of rides maybe my wife's go on a few . I guess I would like to spend two days in Disneyland after day 1 telling my kids we goin to Disneyland again can't wait to see the look on their faces .

I'm arriving late at 10pm on the 4th June I didn't want to pay for a full night accommodation at Beverly Hilton was lookin for something within walking distance of the airport and use my Marriott 1-4 certificate or Hyatt (using a suite upgrade cert).
I will definately be driving to las Vegas and yes it does include a tour of some sort .

I'm departin on 17th June so I don't think the lakers will make the playoffs but hopefully the clippers will . I don't know when the playoffs start or finish .

The zoo sounds like a plus , and yes not really much concern for the ocean run from Sydney .

I'm arriving late at 10pm on the 4th June I didn't want to pay for a full night accommodation at Beverly Hilton was lookin for something within walking distance of the airport and use my Marriott 1-4 certificate or Hyatt (using a suite upgrade cert).


The hotels near the airport are walking distance, unless you have a bunch of luggage and 2 tired kids. There are free shuttles, but again, stay anywhere except the airport hotels. At 10pm you can get to anywhere on the Westside of LA in 20 minutes. This includes Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Century City, Westwood. At least if you go to a real location, you can walk from your hotel to something interesting in the am.


I'm departin on 17th June so I don't think the lakers will make the playoffs but hopefully the clippers will . I don't know when the playoffs start or finish

The NBA playoffs are delayed this year due to a strike earlier in the year. That said, June 17th will likely be during the NBA finals. While it is possible for the Lakers or Clippers to be there, don't count on it this year. If the finals are here and if it is game 1, 2 or 3, 4, expect to pay $300 per ticket just to get in and much more to get a decent seat.

Why not consider a baseball game? You may not understand what is going on but the Angels should be good this year, having signed one of the best players, Albert Pujols to play. They play in Anaheim, about a mile from Disneyland. They are home from June 17-24 and tickets are not that difficult to get. Go to angels.com for more info. The Los Angeles Dodgers play just north of downtown, and while historically a great franchise, they are undergoing an ownership change and are not expected to be that great until the team is sold. They are home from June 28 to July 4, and tickets would be easy to get on dodgers.com.

Wow , thanks for everyone's input I will read over the comments a few times . I'm not a fan of rides maybe my wife's go on a few . I guess I would like to spend two days in Disneyland after day 1 telling my kids we goin to Disneyland again can't wait to see the look on their faces.Be prepared for the possibility that your kids may hate Disneyland and be absolutely miserable there. Some of the best advice I received as a parent was not to take my son there until he was at least 5, because Disneyland can be a terrifying, exhausting place for very little ones, and when we did take my 5 yr old there, and on several trips to DisneyWorld since then, I have to say I've never seen so many miserable toddlers. They have to be kept under tight control all day, or you'll lose them in the crowds, it's noisy, characters in costume are larger than life and kind of scary, and there's no quiet place for a nap. There are also hundreds of things they can't touch and or do at the ages of your kids.

I'm not saying don't go at all, but it would be better to scale back your expectations and be happily surprised rather than deeply disappointed at your kids' reaction to the park.


p.s. consider the La Brea tar pits and the museum there - my son loved those age 4

The Renaissance is a cat 4 and is the best Marriott property near the airrport. Do not try to walk it at ten pm with two small children. Take the free shuttle.

I think shopping with a 2 and 4 year old sounds like a nightmare- especially in Beverley Hills. Maybe one parent can take the kids to a park and the other can shop.

The train museum at Griffith Park is GREAT for kids that age and if you go on Sunday they can also ride the live steamers little train- which has a signifigant Disney connection.

2 days at Disney/CA is just about perfect with that age. I would splurge a little here and stay on property.

Las Vegas with kids that age- personally I wouldn't do it.

Definitely try to get to the Natural History Museum and California Science Center (next door to each other), La Brea Tar Pits is great as well and you don't even have to go inside.

Kidseum in Pasadena is awesome for little kids.

I reccomend a couple of days in San Diego- especially f you skip Vegas. Do Legoland on the way down and the zoo the next day.

Oh- and if your older kid is a girl- tea at the American Girl Place is a blast. I think mine was 4 the first time she went. But expect to walk out with your pckets signifigantly lighter.

2 days at Disney/CA is just about perfect with that age. I would splurge a little here and stay on property.

I agree.

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for my now college student second birthday celebration. During the day, were able to take the monorail back to the hotel for rest breaks and, at least back then, hotel guests were admitted into the park a couple of hours before it opened to the general public. That was a real bonus on the second day - no lines at that hour.

I think we stay at disneyland hilton for two nights.

So far i have booked and paid for
8-11th june jw marriott
15-17th june bevelery hills hilton
12-14th Hilton grand vacations Los Vegas.

I think i will stay at the marriott near the airport on the 4th checkout the 5th .Its only $99US per night is it worth using my catergory 4 certificate?
From the 5th i want to stay in Disneyland hilton check out the 7th. Then try for another night at JW marriott downtown and we come out of there on the 11th . Not sure where to stay yet for that night maybe the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, most probably i will buy a premier certificate and then use 6k points to upgrade to suite if thats possible.
It seems the kids space museum is on the way driving to las vegas so probably stop in there. Im guessing the kids will like vegas they like the lights and probably crush out early then my wife can go for a play and then the next night i will hit the slots.

So rounding up im going 2 nights disneyland . 4 nights JW marriott ( la lakers / clippers game , then not sure what else to do in the area. ) then 2 nights los vegas coming back into beverly hills hilton 2 nights ( shopping , hollywood ).

Does the beverly hill hilton offer free shuttle bus to the airport , and is there a hertz , fox or any car rental places i can drop the car off nearby. It seems im going to get stung with parking and paying $40+ per day which is more than the costs of the car !

4 nights JW marriott ( la lakers / clippers game , then not sure what else to do in the area. )

Here is a link to the L. A. Live (http://lalive.com/) website.

And from the New York Times:
36 Hours in Downtown Los Angeles (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/travel/20hours-los-angeles.html)
THE sprawl, the scale, all that freeway time — for many, Los Angeles is an acquired taste. But not downtown. New York-like in its density and mishmash, the long-blighted center has become an accessible, pedestrian-friendly destination in recent years; Angelenos walk around en masse, using their actual legs. The immense L.A. Live entertainment complex is largely responsible for this comeback, but the studiously vintage bars and imaginative restaurants that seem to open every other day are also part of the revival.

N. Y. Times map of recommendations (http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/02/20/travel/20hoursmap_sub.html)

Another source for Downtown Los Angeles activities is Downtown LA Walks (http://www.downtownlawalks.com/index.php). With two young kids you may find the Toy District (http://www.downtownlawalks.com/?f=Toy_District) of interest.

Does the beverly hill hilton offer free shuttle bus to the airport , and is there a hertz , fox or any car rental places i can drop the car off nearby. It seems im going to get stung with parking and paying $40+ per day which is more than the costs of the car !

The Beverly Hilton does not provide an airport shuttle. You can take a taxi, a limo or Super Shuttle.

I believe that the nearest Hertz location is less than a mile away at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City (map (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=merv+griffin+way+and+santa+monica+blvd+ beverly+hills&daddr=2025+Avenue+of+the+Stars,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90 067&hl=en&sll=34.061495,-118.415837&sspn=0.01431,0.01929&geocode=FeTKBwIdOSjx-Ck73Ueg9bvCgDFc9VhiKZMpGg%3BFYauBwId_h_x-A&gl=us&mra=ltm&t=h&z=16)). The car rental closest to the hotel is Budget Rent-a-Car on the opposite corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards from the hotel (map (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=budget+rent-a+car+beverly+hills+ca&hl=en&ll=34.066593,-118.411068&spn=0.005059,0.004823&sll=34.017878,-118.408056&sspn=0.229076,0.308647&hq=budget+rent-a+car&hnear=Beverly+Hills,+Los+Angeles,+California&t=h&fll=34.066774,-118.410355&fspn=0.005059,0.004823&z=18)). The hotel's Services & Amenities (http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/LAXBHHH-The-Beverly-Hilton-California/services.do;jsessionid=B580A9902EA5B701EE40DA4AC8C B79EE.etc72) webpage lists a Car Rental Desk, but does not mention which agencies are represented.

By the way, it is Las Vegas, not Los Vegas.

To really add value to your trip, you owe it to yourself and your family to see more of California than LA. Don't get me wrong, LA offers visitors A LOT.

But there is more to Cali than LA.

Statewide info:
www.visitcalifornia.com

Or hire a car, or ride the train, etc. and go a bit north to the hearst and soul of the state: the Central Coast

www.tourthecentralcoast.com

Channel Island National Park
Santa Barbara
SLO
Hearst Castle
Big Sur
the Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Bay Aquarium
National (John) Steinbeck Center

All of these are great experiences for the family.

Welcome to California!

California also has a tourism promotional office in Australia you can ring them at +61 2 9356 294

So you are planning-

4-5 Airport- Ren is better than Marriott IMO
5-7 Disney- ok but don't underestimate your kids' jet lag those days. It can be brutal. Check schedule as park may close early for grad nights.
7-11th jw marriott
11-12 somewhere else in LA
12-14th Hilton grand vacations Las Vegas.
missing a day here?
15-17th june bevelery hills hilton

IMO WAY too much time in LA. There's not enoguh to do there with kids your age and you are missing out on so much more that SoCal has on offer.

I'd spend those last 3 days in San Diego or Newport Beach or Palm Springs or somewhere outside of the city. What exactly do you plan to do in BH besides shop? If shopping is a priority Newport Beach is close to Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza.

Vicki, you are providing great advice and I've really liked your tips to the OP so far. But I do have to point out that L.A. itself is much more of a draw than we locals tend to think it is.

As an example, my au pair is from Norway. Her sister and sister's boyfriend just finished up a two-week stay here. They did Disney, Knott's, Universal, and Six Flags. They visited the Getty, MOCA, Museum of Science, La Brea Tar Pits, Hollywood walk of fame, and the Hollywood sign. They went to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Newport Beach. They spent some time downtown, and shopped in Beverly Hills, Irvine, Orange, and Newport Beach.

I should also point out that they came and visited for three weeks last year. They know the area and still chose to spend that amount of time here, and loved every minute of it.

If you add in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, or San Diego then, well... then you could live here for a lifetime and not experience everything. A tourist coming from another continent can absolutely spend a couple of weeks here, be perfectly entertained, and not be "missing" a full experience...

Personally, especially with kids I'd skip Las Vegas.

Your au pair's sister's trip sounds perfect for acouple of 20 somethings. But for two small children it sounds like a lot of stroller time looking at things they don't give a hoot about.

I vote for more park time (tons to do in the Griffith Park/zoo are), more beach time, more running around time. Even if one parent goes out and shops, gambles, etc. while the other entertains the kids I'm not sure the areas the OP is talking about have parks, etc. within walking distance.

I understand what vicki is saying .I haven't been to any other country but Australia. I live 5 mins from cronulla beach i dont want to travel all that way to see the ocean. I want to do things you can only do in los angeles.
I have already pre-paid las vegas and i cant go there any other time. The San Diego zoo sounds good. The tar pits doesn't interest me sounds like black dirty thick pools .
I will probably do day trips to santa monica and venice beach . My main goal is to go to disneyland for 2 days go to las vegas two days and watch lakers i mean clippers game at the staples centre. There is nothing i want to do in BH other than walk down rodeo drive have a nice lunch in a cafe .
Hows my hotels choice looking for location and offerings ? Should i spend more time at JW , BH hilton or century city hyatt.
I really want to stay a few nights at the RC downtown but cant find it under $399USD trying to price beat it is impossible.

Hows my hotels choice looking for location and offerings ? Should i spend more time at JW , BH hilton or century city hyatt.

I would spend less or no time at a downtown hotel. Have you considered staying in Hollywood? It is much closer to most tourist attractions than L.A. Live and you can easily take the Red Line to Staples Center.

If I were you, I would consider staying in Santa Monica as opposed to Beverly Hills or Century City; again, easier access to places of interest to visitors.

You have the wrong impression of La Brea Tar Pits (http://www.tarpits.org/).

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fV7OSEfq884/TWVrtQJEi-I/AAAAAAAAA04/jGPkis0TNDE/s1600/La_Brea_Tar_Pits-Los_Angeles.jpg

The Page Museum has the largest collection of Ice Age skeletons in the world. Kids are fascinated by watching scientists do their work, but yours are probably too young for that.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/organizations/l/los_angeles_county_museum_of_art/index.html) is located in the same park.

So you are planning-

4-5 Airport- Ren is better than Marriott IMO
5-7 Disney- ok but don't underestimate your kids' jet lag those days. It can be brutal. Check schedule as park may close early for grad nights.
7-11th jw marriott
11-12 somewhere else in LA
12-14th Hilton grand vacations Las Vegas.
missing a day here?
15-17th june bevelery hills hilton

IMO WAY too much time in LA. There's not enoguh to do there with kids your age and you are missing out on so much more that SoCal has on offer.I'd spend those last 3 days in San Diego or Newport Beach or Palm Springs or somewhere outside of the city. What exactly do you plan to do in BH besides
shop? If shopping is a priority Newport Beach is close to Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza.

Thanks for all your advice Vicki . With hotels I want to stick to the ones I have elite status with . Hliton diamond member , radisson concierge , Marriott platinum .I'm hoping all this will lower costs as breakfast will be provided and lounge access (I.e drinks , snacks all day) .

When I land at 10pm I don't want to be searching for a taxi not knowing where I'm going I prefer To stay at the Marriott with the stay certificate catergory 1-4.
From there I'm still searching where to go. I don't need to buy any shopping ,I'm hoping to see some movie stars around BH . I will travel down to the sand diego zoo .
Is the ritz Carlton in LA live worth the extra money over the JW Marriott. HAs anyone stayed at the ritz Carlton as a Marriott platinum member and recieved any benefits in terms of up grades and lounge access.

,I'm hoping to see some movie stars around BH .

You won't see many movie stars in and around BH. For good star sighting potential, I would suggest Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, particularly around the boutiques and coffee shops near 7th St. East to 14th St. area. Near Fred Segal in Santa Monica may also be a good idea. You may also try the Melrose area around La Brea as there are another bunch of boutique clothing stores. It's a bit of a drive, but North on Pacific Coast Hwy, (PCH), there is the Malibu Country Mart, another good potential sighting area.

The celebrities aren't just out and about, however, like zoo animals.

The airport Ren. is a Marriott category 4, has a free shuttle, a better breakfast than the Marriott and their lounge is key accessible 24/7 for drinks.

I've lieved here 41 years and seen celebrities out and about only a handful of times. But then I don't go out looking for them either.

You won't see many movie stars in and around BH. For good star sighting potential, I would suggest Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, particularly around the boutiques and coffee shops near 7th St. East to 14th St. area. Near Fred Segal in Santa Monica may also be a good idea. You may also try the Melrose area around La Brea as there are another bunch of boutique clothing stores. It's a bit of a drive, but North on Pacific Coast Hwy, (PCH), there is the Malibu Country Mart, another good potential sighting area.

The celebrities aren't just out and about, however, like zoo animals.

High end sushi bars and expensive restaurants are regular celebrity haunts.

For me, the most reliable occasion to mingle with celebrities was at back to school day when my college student was still in high school.

My kids' schools and activities seem to attract atheletic celebrities more than Hollywood celebrities. For example a Girl Scout event where Kobe's wife was a fellow chaperone (and completely inappropriately attired for the event in question).

You won't see many movie stars in and around BH. For good star sighting potential, I would suggest Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, particularly around the boutiques and coffee shops near 7th St. East to 14th St. area. Near Fred Segal in Santa Monica may also be a good idea. You may also try the Melrose area around La Brea as there are another bunch of boutique clothing stores. It's a bit of a drive, but North on Pacific Coast Hwy, (PCH), there is the Malibu Country Mart, another good potential sighting area.

The celebrities aren't just out and about, however, like zoo animals.

My kids' schools and activities seem to attract atheletic celebrities more than Hollywood celebrities. For example a Girl Scout event where Kobe's wife was a fellow chaperone (and completely inappropriately attired for the event in question).

Agree with the above. Other places to find celebrities are at Medical Office Buildings in Beverly Hills, high end supermarkets such as the Bristol Farms on Doheny in Beverly Hills, or the Whole Foods in Brentwood. You can also see them at the Starbucks in Brentwood Village at 5 am before heading to a shoot, but that is hit or miss. The high end hair salons also attract celebs, but again that could be hit or miss, but your wife can get a great haircut and some of the hairdressers are celebs in their own right.

While the private schools on the Westside are great places to see celebrities at football games, etc., they are private property and I doubt a family of Aussie tourists would get by the security guard at the entrance.:) They are also not in session in late June.

When at Disneyland, it's worth the money for the kids to have the Character Breakfast. It will also get you in to the park before it opens and skip the lines. Visit MouseSavers.com for a lot of insider tips.

I second (third? fourth?) skipping Las Vegas. It's hot, crowded, and the kids won't be able to tag along to a lot of the places you want to go.

You might catch a few movie stars on Rodeo, but don't count on it. I've seen more on Balboa Island than anywhere else. That can be a nice, relatively quiet beach day -- the Back Bay at Newport, and take the 5 minute ferry ride over to Balboa.

San Diego is a great place for kids. A lot of touristy stuff to do, the weather is always great, and the beaches are clean. LegoLand is the very best theme park (as voted on by all of my kids, and we've been to more than 30). SeaWorld is nice, but probably too old for yours.

L.A. is the armpit of southern California.

L.A. is the armpit of southern California.

You clearly have not been out to Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, or Rialto. :D

Armpit ? Doesn't smell nice. I will look into the mousesavers.com for the kids to have breakfast with the characters . Who is available my 4yr old love s tinker bell . My youngest is still scared of the characters so il have to hold her.

I have just booked the Marriott at lax using a cat 1-4 certificate I'm arriving late so just sort of check in about 9-10pm sleep wake up breakfast and leave.
I forgot Vicki said the ren is better than the Marriott it's the same category so should I change? They both have free shuttle services to the property and 24 hour room service which we will need checking in so late. Does the shuttle service run until a certain time?

I'm also looking at spending a few days at the hyatt century plaza using a preimer stay certificate for $185 per night , is that good value? How does it compare to the andaz west Hollywood anyone recommend this property over the century plaza.

I also have a platinum extra certifcate which gives me a one time only access to the RC in these properties. If I use the preimer stay certificates at the plaza and then produce the platinum extra certificate upon check in will they accept it there , or are they really by the book as I believe the stay certifcates aren't eligible rates.

Also reading about parking and a lot of peers getting stung with $30-$45 per night . Here's what I'm thinking of doing. I'm seeing hertz free day certificates for sale approx $30 per day. However these cerTifcates are one day rentals only so I pick up a car at a location in the morning arrive home later that day 7-8pm return the car save on parking and then do it all over again the next morning.:td:^?

I forgot Vicki said the ren is better than the Marriott it's the same category so should I change? They both have free shuttle services to the property and 24 hour room service which we will need checking in so late. Does the shuttle service run until a certain time?

Up to you but I will go with Ren as well. The shuttle is supposed to run 24 hours but in reality, they stop running after the last Qantas departure around 1 AM. However, if you call the hotel, they will send the shuttle to pick you up.

I'm also looking at spending a few days at the hyatt century plaza using a preimer stay certificate for $185 per night , is that good value? How does it compare to the andaz west Hollywood anyone recommend this property over the century plaza.

Century Plaza is a famous hotel and has notable architecture pedigree. It's the sort of hotel you can say "yep, I've stayed there before". It is very close to a nice shopping center (Westfield Century City) and walkable distance to Beverly Hills (it's about 1.5 kilometer from Beverly Hilton). Andaz WeHo is located closer to Sunset Strip and walking distance to clubs and lots of high end restaurants. Since you are traveling with young kids, I think Century Plaza will be more to your liking. But I wouldn't pay a lot more to stay there over Beverly Hilton.


Also reading about parking and a lot of peers getting stung with $30-$45 per night . Here's what I'm thinking of doing. I'm seeing hertz free day certificates for sale approx $30 per day. However these cerTifcates are one day rentals only so I pick up a car at a location in the morning arrive home later that day 7-8pm return the car save on parking and then do it all over again the next morning.:td:^?

If you stay at Century Plaza, this is certainly doable because Hertz is located right in the lobby of the hotel. You just return the car to them every night.

Ok, maybe that was a bit strong, as I know everyone is well intentioned. Sorry.

But more to the point, we take our young children to vegas every year and they love it.

But that is in large part because we have experience and we know what we are doing. A trip to Vegas with kids is necessarily going to be different from a trip to vegas without them. In particular, you can't gamble with the kids. You can be in a casino but you need to be moving, such as walking toward a restaurant. You also won't be able to go to nightclubs. Unless you hire a babysitter. We have a good one that we have used several times. If you want to get in touch with her, send me a private message. or see #7 below

Generally speaking, try to visit places off the strip and not downtown. In the more suburban casinos, your kids will be welcomed (not to gamble, though). Most off-strip casinos have good family restaurants (what we in the US call diners or coffee shops) with reasonable prices and kids menus, and lots of locals bring their kids to eat. They also have other activities such as bowling and movie theaters. I particularly like the Orleans and the South Point.

More specifically, here is what you CAN do with your kids in vegas:

1. Avoid Circus Circus at all costs. Not fit for any human adult, let alone child.

2. Go to the Bellagio and look at the fountain show and the flower conservatory. Then you can go to the buffet, which is fabulous and a particularly good deal for lunch on weekdays. Kids under 3 eat free, and the times we have said our 4 year old was 3 we were not challenged. (4 and over are full price and no 4 year old could possibly eat $18 worth of food.)

3. Go to the Springs Preserve nature preserve to see desert plants

4. Go to the pool at your hotel, or try to sneak into the pool at the Luxor or the Tropicana, or this public pool is great for kids and better than most hotel pools: http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/parks/Pages/aquatics-desert-breeze.aspx (there are others around town if this one is not open when you are there)

5. Lots of parks have splash pads

6. Bowling at many of the off-strip casinos such as South Point, Orleans, etc

7. The Palms and some Station casinos have a kids' club that you can leave your kids at while you gamble away their inheritance or just see a movie. There is also one at the Orleans, which we have used and our kids loved, but I think they are only for 3yo + and potty trained.

8. Miniature golf: www.theputtpark.com

9. Lied Children's museum, a good morning or afternoon activity. there is also a natural history museum across the street.

10. I recommend the following non-casino kid-friendly restaurants:

Harrie's Bagelmania restaurant on Twain. Nothing fancy but excellent food, if you like bagels, brunch, etc

Chang's for dim sum, on Decatur St.

And since you are staying in a timeshare (good idea) you can always buy food to eat in your suite or have a picnic or barbecue by the pool.

That should keep you entertained for at least 2 days. Actually, you probably already know not to plan more than 1 or 2 things to do in a day, so this is really good for up to a week.
If you have some unscheduled time, you might also make a side trip to some ghost towns such as Rhyolite or Death Valley.

One other bit of advice: whether in Disneyland of Las Vegas, be vigilant about washing your hands and your kids' hands. There are lots of surfaces to touch - door handles, escalators, cash, chips, cards - and I often pick up a flu bug when I am not thinking about it.

...Kids under 3 eat free, and the times we have said our 4 year old was 3 we were not challenged...

...or try to sneak into the pool at the Luxor or the Tropicana...

Lie about kids' ages and sneak into hotel pools?

:td:

Kidseum in Pasadena is awesome for little kids.


Vicki, do you mean Kidspace?

If so, you are absolutely right, and I generally agree with everything else you have to say (except we will agree to disagree on taking the kids to vegas).

Also, even though you are planning to go to some very nice hotels, it sounds like you will spend a LOT of time packing, unpacking, and waiting in line, which speaking personally, gets old after about 1 time. I certainly wouldn't want to go to a rental desk every day to get a different car. That whole process can take 30 minutes each time and the rates will be much higher than if you just rent one car for 2 weeks. You might consider renting one car for the whole time, and staying some place more suburban and centrally located with free parking. Most hotels in less business-oriented areas will have free parking, and if you can stay in a residence inn or or a timeshare or someplace like that with a kitchen, you won't have to eat out every single meal, which gets tiresome. Anaheim has lots of such places, but you can also find them around town in the suburbs of LA such as Pasadena, etc. Somewhere near Torrance or Long Beach might be central to the places you want to visit. Most of these are 3* places, not high end, but should provide a good night's sleep, and you can stay on the first floor and wheel in your stroller, which seems to be what makes life easier when traveling with the kids.

I also suggest renting a mini-van, or at least a standard sized car with 4 (or 5) doors.

In any case, you really can't get around traffic. Try to avoid staying along the 405. Also, embrace the jet lag and try not to do too much driving during rush hours if you can avoid it.

Lie about kids' ages and sneak into hotel pools?

:td:

If you are not comfortable with saying your 4 year old is a 3 year old to avoid paying $18 for lunch when she wasn't going to eat more than 50 cents worth of noodles anyway, or walking into a pool where nobody asks whether you are a guest at the hotel, there are several other things suggested that won't compromise your integrity.

Actually the Hilton GV may have access to the flamingo pool so that may be a non-issue.

Personally, I've done it and haven't lost sleep over it.

Agree with the above. Other places to find celebrities are at Medical Office Buildings in Beverly Hills, high end supermarkets such as the Bristol Farms on Doheny in Beverly Hills, or the Whole Foods in Brentwood. You can also see them at the Starbucks in Brentwood Village at 5 am before heading to a shoot, but that is hit or miss. The high end hair salons also attract celebs, but again that could be hit or miss, but your wife can get a great haircut and some of the hairdressers are celebs in their own right.

While the private schools on the Westside are great places to see celebrities at football games, etc., they are private property and I doubt a family of Aussie tourists would get by the security guard at the entrance.:) They are also not in session in late June.

I know this probably does not help you because your kids are probably to young but the easiest (but very expensive) way to see celebrities in L.A. is to get good tickets for a Lakers game. If you want to mingle with them then also get passes to the Lexus Club or the Chairman's room (VIP clubs at Staples Center). They are usually in the clubs both before the the game and often at half time. In addition they are usually very friendly when there and as long as you are respectful they sign autographs and take pictures. And early June will be late Round 1 of the NBA playoffs or early Round 2 and the later they go in the playoffs it will increase your celebrity factor by 10X.

is also a likely time and place to see celebrities. By likely I mean greater than a 1 percent probability, which is considered relatively high because there are 9,818,605 people in Los Angeles County and only about 1000 celebrities. I've seen Angela Bassett there with her entourage and my wife claims to have seen Leonardo diCaprio ordering from the deli counter there. (I disputed this but whatever.) In any case it is a fun, iconic and very LA restaurant to visit, and you can bring your kids there without a problem. Check it out in the first couple of days when you have jet lag and are all up then anyway.

Also, once you are comfortable with driving on the right, and if you are feeling adventurous and in search of something you probably can't get in Australia, head over to east LA and find a taco stand. Yelp has some good suggestions. I don't remember the place I like the best but it is near Avenue 26 and Pasadena Ave in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. I suggest doing this during the day or early evening as it is not a part of town that some people would feel comfortable walking around when it is dark. You could stop here and then head over to an evening dodger game, for example, which would be a fun night in LA.

Yelp link: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=tacos&find_loc=Los+Angeles%2C+CA&ns=1#find_loc=90033&l=g:-118.22018623352052,34.06922706661638,-118.20731163024902,34.07996230865873

...because there are 20 million people in Los Angeles County...

9,818,605 according to the 2010 census (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06), I doubt it more than doubled in a year.

9,818,605 according to the 2010 census (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06), I doubt it more than doubled in a year.

Indeed! Corrected. Thanks.

I should add that the number of celebrities was a guess.

Sorry, it is Kidspace in Pasadena that is great for those ages! My kids are nearing teenhood and it's been awhile.

Renting cars does get cheaper the longer you have them yes, but the parking for $35+ a day takes away the discount . I think hiring and returning daily is the cheapest and best option.
In las Vegas one night my wife will go out and then the next I will go. I don't feel comfortable leaving my kids in a play area to lose afewhundred dollars on the slots.

The kidspace museum does seems poplar so i will pay it a visit.

I have another question regarding a few nights I still have to fill in terms of hotel either the century plaza or the andaz in west Hollywood. I'm either going to use a stay certificate or points . I'm hoping I will be a diamond by the time I check in. So does that give breakfasts and drinks though the day . I think if I can save on food will be a big plus. Free breakfast snacks coffees canapés will save me $50 per day. So which would be the better property.

I'm going to change to the ren instead of the marriott at lax , thank you.

I like the idea of getting access to the VIP room or chairman club at the la lakers game , I'm guesssing it might be a clippers game I don't think the lakers will go far unless they get Howard from olando. Is that expensive to get into what am I looking at paying I will probably go to the game alone unfortunately

I like the idea of getting access to the VIP room or chairman club at the la lakers game , I'm guesssing it might be a clippers game I don't think the lakers will go far unless they get Howard from olando. Is that expensive to get into what am I looking at paying I will probably go to the game alone unfortunately

If you're willing to drop your rental car off every night rather than pay $35 for parking, I'm going to say that the price of a ticket or access to the VIP room at the Staples Center is not a wise budget decision.

If you haven't left yet, I have a list of suggestions about traveling to vegas with children on my blog. I'll be adding to this in the upcoming week.

http://zzdouggo.blogspot.com/2012/04/taking-kids-to-vegas-really.html

Personally, I've done it and haven't lost sleep over it.

Which tells us a lot about you I think.

If you are still looking at options, carhire3000 is a great website for Ozzians and Brits to rent cars because it gives good rates and doesn't have drop-off fees if you pick up the car at one location and drop at another.

No I haven't left yet I arrive early June.

Thanks for the car hire place I will have a look into it. I have now booked

AMERICA
June la airport marriott one night
June Hilton doubletree anihiem two nights
2 nights las Vegas Hilton GV
SLS HOTEL Starwood one night
jw Marriott la live.3 nights
jw Marriott live 4 nights
Beverly hills Hilton one night

Then drive back to LAX. How's that look ? People are telling me there isn't that much to do when staying at jw Marriott it's a flexible rate I did a BRG for $150US per night plus tax , should I mix it up a bit more?
What's the public transport like around that area I don't think il have a car because the parking is too expensive.

No way would I consider talking to a hotel near LAX, especially late at night (and with bags and kids? no way). If you can use Priceline or Hotwire you can get good deals. One thing to consider about Disneyland is that it can be tiring, especially for young kids (or older adults like me). Check the park's Web site for passes, including park-hopping passes IF you think you kids are old enough to appreciate California Adventure (Web site lists the rides in each). Knott's Berry Farm, in nearby Buena Park, has several big roller coaster rides, but also areas (e.g., Snoopy area) oriented towards younger kids.

I assume Beverly Hills is for your wife, not your kids.

L.A. to Las Vegas can be a long drive, especially if you hit rush hour and/or go on a Friday or come back on a Sunday. Not much in the way of scenery (and super hot in the summer; but Vegas is, too). You know how well your kids will tolerate it. And check with the hotel as to where your kids can be while you and your wife are in the casino. The kids cannot enter the main casino areas. On the way to Vegas, near Barstow, is the Calico Ghost Town (run by the same folks who run Knott's Berry Farm). I haven't been there for many years.

I would choose San Francisco over Las Vegas in a heartbeat, especially with kids, but it's your trip.

near Barstow, is the Calico Ghost Town (run by the same folks who run Knott's Berry Farm). I haven't been there for many years.


The Knott family developed Calico, but it was deeded to San Bernardino Parks Department in the mid to late 1960's. The Knott family continue to be benefactors for many years afterward, but did not "run" it.

That said, I've been there probably ten times, and have alwasy found it well maintained and pleasant. Just make sure it's no warmer than about 95F degrees when you visit. Admission is $5-6, depending on age. Figure on 90 minutes maximum to see the town.

Ghost town sOunds scary for the kids only 2 and 4. The drive to las Vegas I thought is 2 hours and I'm sure the rental should have a/c. I'm not sure what the weather is like in early June there I'm hoping around 25 degrees.

I'm also not sure what you mean by " no way I would consider talking to a hotel near LAX with two bags and two kids" ?

Calico is not a scary ghost town. It's really more of an exhibit of mining in the 19th century. Very well maintained, not dusty, educational, and entertaining for small kids through adult.

It will be warm in the desert during June. Average daily high in the first half of June in either Calico or Las Vegas will be 35-37C. It wouldn't be extraordinary for it to go as high as 42C. 25C is the temperature at 8am. Note though, that the humidity is almost non-existent (10-20%).

The drive to las Vegas I thought is 2 hours and I'm sure the rental should have a/c.

From where are you driving to Las Vegas? It is 265 miles from downtown Los Angeles (260 miles from Anaheim). Depending on traffic and rest stops, it's a four to five hours drive.

I haven't seen a non air conditioned car in eons.

What's the public transport like around that area I don't think il have a car because the parking is too expensive.

Your kids are 4 and 2, I would not schlep them around on public transportation in LA.

No I haven't left yet I arrive early June.

Thanks for the car hire place I will have a look into it. I have now booked

AMERICA
June la airport marriott one night
June Hilton doubletree anihiem two nights
2 nights las Vegas Hilton GV
SLS HOTEL Starwood one night
jw Marriott la live.3 nights
jw Marriott live 4 nights
Beverly hills Hilton one night

Then drive back to LAX. How's that look ? People are telling me there isn't that much to do when staying at jw Marriott it's a flexible rate I did a BRG for $150US per night plus tax , should I mix it up a bit more?
What's the public transport like around that area I don't think il have a car because the parking is too expensive.

The Hilton Doubletree "Anaheim" is an absolute lie. It is in Orange, not Anaheim and isn't close to Disneyland, well not THAT close anyway, you have to take a probably 15 minute shuttle ride to get there. It is close to an outlet mall, but I'd rather be at a hotel closer to Disneyland, as in walkable. A two year old will tire quickly and if you want to leave for a few hours to nap or pool, it will be a pain in keyster. I'd look at the Fairfield by Marriott, directly across from the main gate of Disneyland.

As to what to do in Downtown LA, see my other post (Hyatt vs JW) about the malls and neighborhoods in Downtown.

I Done a AP for the Hilton so I see If I can cancell based on the reason it's not close to Disneyland . If I can change into the fair mount Marriott opposite the park would be ideal.

I checked the other thread many thanks for your advice .

I'm 5 hours away from l.a at the maple leaf lounge waiting for my flight. We arriving about 11pm and heading straight to the lax Marriott.then waking up driving to the Hilton in anahiem for Disneyland for the kids for two days then down to the st Regis monarch beach for a night.
Then picking up hire car from lax it's half the price then the other locations local to Dana point for some reason then driving to las Vegas staying two nights in HGV and then the comsopoltion hotel part of the Marriott chain.
After 3 days back into la for 4 nights at the JW marriott live downtown and one night in the century Hyatt and two nights in the Beverly hills Hilton and back to Sydney.

How's that look.

How are you getting around the first three days without a car? Also, not sure I'd be buying admission tickets to DL for the day after arriving at 11 pm from another continent then relocating hotels. I think the kids are going to be too tired to appreciate.

I'm renting a car from lax tomorrow morning driving it to the Hilton Anaheim and dropping it off at the Marriott. Not having a car after that until I check out of the Hilton . Getting the pick up service and driving it down to Dana point dropping it off there before I check in to save $40 on parking. To most it's only $40 but over 14 days nearly $400 is a lot. And now the AUD has dropped 5% :(

I'm 5 hours away from l.a at the maple leaf lounge waiting for my flight. We arriving about 11pm and heading straight to the lax Marriott.then waking up driving to the Hilton in anahiem for Disneyland for the kids for two days then down to the st Regis monarch beach for a night.
Then picking up hire car from lax it's half the price then the other locations local to Dana point for some reason then driving to las Vegas staying two nights in HGV and then the comsopoltion hotel part of the Marriott chain.
After 3 days back into la for 4 nights at the JW marriott live downtown and one night in the century Hyatt and two nights in the Beverly hills Hilton and back to Sydney.

How's that look.

I'm renting a car from lax tomorrow morning driving it to the Hilton Anaheim and dropping it off at the Marriott. Not having a car after that until I check out of the Hilton . Getting the pick up service and driving it down to Dana point dropping it off there before I check in to save $40 on parking. To most it's only $40 but over 14 days nearly $400 is a lot. And now the AUD has dropped 5% :(

Am I understanding this right, you're having a pick up service take you from Dana Point to LAX to pick up a rental car? Are they taking you, the kids, and all of the luggage?