California - OT: Premium Car Rental LAX

Hello all....a week to go now before my first trip as Prem!! I will let you know how it goes!!


However in the meantime i was hoping someone with experience can answer a couple of questions for me.

1. can anyone suggest a good place to rent nice cars (ie SLs, Bentleys etc.)
2. Has anyone driven LAX - LAS?
3. Is there anywhere to stop on route that's interesting?
4. How long does it take at lunchtime on a tuesday? specific enough!?:D
5. Should i stick with those MD-80s?

Thanks,

Abstract

Hi Abstact1,

I do not know about premium car rental but;

(2) Yes, with my parents

(3) Baker with the world tallest:) thermometer ( 135 ft to represent 135degrees F once recorded IIRC) Apart form that , well, you had better enjoy the desert scenery!!


(4) From LAX I would say 4-5 hours depending on whether you stop or not.

(5) MD80's are fun!! ( eps in F as it is very quiet on take off)( No Admirals club in LAS but with a Priority pass the Continental club is available)


PS Mapquest says 4 hours 25mins and 281 miles from LAX-LAS ( I do not konww about the state of roadworks on I15 which may add time)

I think I15 passes clse to Victorville ( large aircraft desert stroage facility but I do not know if you can visit it) and goes through Primm( casinos ) on the CA/NV border

Regards

TBS

The world's tallest thermometer is in Baker, not Barstow. Not worth stopping for, you can see it quite readily as you drive by on the interstate. Something that is somewhat worthwhile stopping to see is Calico Ghost Town. Also, a short deviation to the south east just this side of LV will take you to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. That's definitely worthwhile seeing.

The world's tallest thermometer is in Baker, not Barstow. Not worth stopping for, you can see it quite readily as you drive by on the interstate. Something that is somewhat worthwhile stopping to see is Calico Ghost Town. Also, a short deviation to the south east just this side of LV will take you to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. That's definitely worthwhile seeing.

Hi,

Ah, Thanks for that mwalsh!:), Got my Bs confused!:o

Now corrected.

Regards

TBS

Hello all....a week to go now before my first trip as Prem!! I will let you know how it goes!!


However in the meantime i was hoping someone with experience can answer a couple of questions for me.

1. can anyone suggest a good place to rent nice cars (ie SLs, Bentleys etc.)
2. Has anyone driven LAX - LAS?
3. Is there anywhere to stop on route that's interesting?
4. How long does it take at lunchtime on a tuesday? specific enough!?:D
5. Should i stick with those MD-80s?

Thanks,

Abstract

To answer number 1. http://www.budgetbeverlyhills.com/
You can have a Bentley Continental GT for $800 per day for a three-day minimum. Maserati Quaddroporte runs $895 per day (3-day min). Locations in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu. You can pick up the car at certain airport locations for a fee.

Barstow is, apparantly, very good if you're a trainspotter. I got dragged out there by a friend when we were in LA. Shortly followed by Tehachapi. I was enthralled, I can tell you.

The world's tallest thermometer is in Baker, not Barstow. Not worth stopping for, you can see it quite readily as you drive by on the interstate. Something that is somewhat worthwhile stopping to see is Calico Ghost Town. Also, a short deviation to the south east just this side of LV will take you to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. That's definitely worthwhile seeing.

I'll cast a second vote for the Hoover Dam, and the drive through the mountains is stunning.

2. Has anyone driven LAX - LAS?
Yes.
3. Is there anywhere to stop on route that's interesting?
To be honest, not really. There are diversions as suggested by others here to lake mead and the hover dam but its really just getting out of LA and then a 3-4 hour drive through the desert.
4. How long does it take at lunchtime on a tuesday? specific enough!?
I agree with 4-5 hours if traffic isn't too bad in LA and once you get onto the 15 its a pretty much straight ride to LAS.
5. Should i stick with those MD-80s?
I'd say it depends on what you're going to do in Vegas. If you're going to party, in my experience, a 5 hour drive through the desert isn't much fun with a banging hangover. If so a short MD-80 hop might be preferable. If you're going for something more sober then its a pleasant enough drive and in a nice car might make a nice change from dealing with US domestic service.

To answer number 1. http://www.budgetbeverlyhills.com/

1. I'll second budget beverly hills. Used them for quite some time now - they supply our rentals when we're at our 2nd home in LA. They deliver to local hotels and addresses if you want to use a chauffeur from airport to the hotel and just have the car delivered at the hotel (less airport hassle).

An alternative is Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car (www.bhrentacar.com) - broader selection, tad more expensive usually and I've seen more varying service (thus I'm using Budget).

No affiliation with either.

2. Several times.

3. Not really.

4. 4-5 hrs as someone said is about it. I wouldn't recommend just jumping off the plane and drive straight off - its a long drive, after an already long flight.

5. Depends. If you just want to get from A->B then take the MD-80's. Its frankly not a very inspiring drive.

My take is: If you're just using LA as a stop and going straight on, forget driving. However if you're staying a few days in LA first and then going to LAS, then by all means - driving is fine - you'll have to deal with all the usual LAX nonsense anyway, so not that huge a difference in the time it takes.

The drive is pretty nice I have done it several times however it can take anywhere from 3.5 hour to 4.5 hours if there is no traffic, it is certainly faster to drive if you are leaving on Tuesday afternoon, it depends when you are returning to LA that could be a problem because it once took me 8 hours to get back to LA on a sunday afternoon, if you are going at any other time it is certainly faster and easier to drive as LAS airport is one of the most miserable places ever, and LAX is not much better.

Budget rental car is good however I like Beverly Hills Rent a Car better I have rented from both before bhrentacar.com the reason I say this is that they also have a location in Vegas so you can drop off the car there if you decide you dont want to drive back to LA, you cant do this with Budget of beverly hills since they do not have a Vegas location.

If you are staying in Beverly Hills it is very convenient the two places are across the street from each other at little Santa Monica and Wilshire

This is a Great 2 Hour Break of journey about half way on the I-15

http://www.calicotown.com/

Hello all....a week to go now before my first trip as Prem!! I will let you know how it goes!!


However in the meantime i was hoping someone with experience can answer a couple of questions for me.

2. Has anyone driven LAX - LAS?

Thanks,

Abstract

Don't know your time schedules but i would reccomend the scenic route- quite a detour- going north from LA through Palmdale and Lancaster, at one of those places you descend ahill and all those parked jets are suddenly there before your eyes. Continue through Ridgecrest and go to Death Valley, stark and spectacaular especailly at this time of year though the nights can be cold as in LAS. You will then drive south to LAS skirting a 'secret' or 'restricted' area. You can return to LAX via the I15 or go via the Hoover Dam and south to Lake Havasu and the I40, the 10, which becomes the Santa Monica Freeway in LA is further south. Contrary to British imagination, long stretches of the interstates can be as dulll as the M6. If any of these routes tempt you ensure you fill your tank and possibly some spare and ask about the next station, they can be sparse. This is the best time for much of that part of the world and as the East has been freezing much of the West has been enjoying higher tempertaures so the spring flowers will probbaly be underway depending on the rains.

Personally I love the drive - do it every year and never tire of the desert scenery. True, the I10 or I215 get a bit dull going through the LA suburbs, but as soon as you reach the climb up towards the Cajon pass, the scenery is fascinating, especially compared to the UK.

Where to stop? - In n Out, where else???!? There is one in Victorville and one in Barstow. The Barstow outlet used to be worth a stop, but I am sure the outlets around Vegas are a better bet these days.

Hello all....a week to go now before my first trip as Prem!! I will let you know how it goes!!


However in the meantime i was hoping someone with experience can answer a couple of questions for me.

1. can anyone suggest a good place to rent nice cars (ie SLs, Bentleys etc.)


Try:
http://www.bhrentacar.com/
http://www.midwaycarrental.com/Pages/default.aspx

Thanks very much for all the replies guys...I will look into this in more detail. I really have to consider whether i will be bothered to drive for 5 hours after an 11 hour flight!

The world's tallest thermometer is in Baker, not Barstow. Not worth stopping for, you can see it quite readily as you drive by on the interstate. Something that is somewhat worthwhile stopping to see is Calico Ghost Town. Also, a short deviation to the south east just this side of LV will take you to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. That's definitely worthwhile seeing.

I've done the Calico Ghost Town on one of my first trips to California almost 20yrs ago. The one thing I remember from it (bearing mind I was about 7yrs old!) was the absolutely crucifying heat...

One thing to note about Beverly Hills Rent A Car, they had a 50 mile limit per day with $0.50 per mile on top of that. Worth bearing in mind if you're thinking of driving to Las Vegas!

It might not take you 5 hours...best time I ever made was 3.5 hours. That was pretty much an average 80mph the whole way, only slightly above the posted speed limit.

Of course, the flip side of that was a miserable 7 hour odyssey, in wall-to-wall traffic the ENTIRE way, one Christmas eve.

Time to move this one off to its natural home.