Bradford, as I reread your post, am I correct in understanding that you'll be there from 11:30am Monday to 12:55 Tues. just after midnight? Or 11:30pm Mon. to 12:55 Tues. noontime?

If you do the hotel route, you can probably get the Crowne Plaza for $31/night on Priceline... they have flexible check-in times, as early as 7am.

If you rent a car, and you get it from one of the lesser known companies, double check the hours of operation: Advantage, for one, closes their office at 9pm. That means the shuttle driver is in his own car at 8:59..... so don't expect a ride to the terminal after 8:30. That will cut into your plans a bit.

You may want to post on FT Community.... and a good natured local may even escort you for part of the day. Public transportation is OK if you're going to somewhere on the train lines: into downtown or to Hollywood. There's also Rapid Bus service along Wilshire Blvd. from downtown through Beverly Hills (past Rodeo Drive) to Santa Monica. Or Route 4 travels from downtown along Santa Monica Blvd (near Hollywood) through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to Santa Monica. From Santa Monica there is Big Blue Bus service to the LAX transit center. Blue Bus Route 3 travels from Santa Monica to LAX every 30 min, and the last one leaves Santa Monica around 11:15pm, arrives 11:54pm, and you catch your flight.

Schedule for the Santa Monica to LAX route: http://www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/...eek=weekdays#b

LA Metro subway map: http://www.mta.net/metro_transit/met...system_map.htm

Metro Rapid Bus route map: http://www.mta.net/metro_transit/rap.../rapid_map.pdf

Route 4 bus schedule: http://www.mta.net/metro_transit/tim...es/004-304.pdf

Good luck!!

[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 05-01-2003).]