If proximity to Beverly Hills and the beach is your preference, you'd be better off at the Beverly Hilton. If Hollywood, Olvera Street, downtown walking tours & Universal studios are your preference, stay at Checkers. Note: Most of the Star Tours (tours of the stars' homes) depart from Hollywood Boulevard, which is in walking distance from the Hollywood & Vine subway stop. But definitely take SkiAdcock's advice and work out as much as you can in advance with the help of the hotel concierges.

Definitely. Hope the varying perspecitves have helped you with your trip

Alinlondon - I will be in KeithinLondon in March with the family so I will have to get advice from you before I go. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif

[This message has been edited by kef0913 (edited Dec 18, 2003).]

Hi folks..cold and miserable here..Sharon I did call the Checkers the other night and spoke to the concierge, he confirmed that There was stuff to do near the hotel and public transport would get me to most places I would want to see.

Kef0913...London is great in March, please ask away If I can help I most certainly will.

Happy holiday to you all.

Al

It's not too far to Vegas. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

QL

There actually are a few things to do in Tijuana besides drink! There is a rooftop miniature Mexico somewhat like Maduradam in Holland. Also a Baja California Museum and, of course, the shopping street. All walkable from the Trolley. Definitely, even if you have a car, you should take the Trolley.

You have not said whether museums interest you. The LA Modern Art Museum is walking distance from Checkers. It is a great hotel and, even if you miss the walking tour from the Conservancy, you must go across the street and take in the Biltmore. All along the street en route to the Art Museum is public outdoor art and a water spray display. The Temporary Contemporary Art Museum, near Japantown will remind you a little of the Tate Modern.

You will want to go to Central Market for Mexican food and ambiance. The downtown library is nearby and is an example of LA's 1920's Art Deco/Spanish architecture. At least go for lunch at Cicada because the architecture is wonderful, the old Oviatt building (short subway ride - long walk). You could easily take a short cab ride to the museums and IMAX at Exposition Park. You will want to go to Olvera Street where you will see a typical Mexican shopping street and across from it the famous Union train station (if you take the train from SD, this is where you will land anyway) from which movie stars in the past took off on vacation. At Christmas, there will be music at Olvera Street. You will want to pick and choose depending on the weather. If you like hotels, see the Westin Bonaventure which is made up of three huge black glass cylinders, very cool in the 70's when it was built. They decorate inside with 30,000 white twinkling lights. We stayed there on Priceline for $50/night. Think Heavenly Beds.

LA has two really amazing museums: the Getty (not close to downtown) and the Huntington in San Marino (not terribly far). Your concierges at SD or LA can set you up with tours. In LA, ask about the Dash bus - takes you all over downtown on the cheap. There is also a short but very impressive subway. Do not be intimidated by your lack of car. You WILL be busy!

I used to live in LA and I think it is a highly underrated city. The new Disney Concert Hall (Frank Gehry) is near your hotel as is the Music Center with two live theaters and a concert hall. The Mark Taper Theater has new plays, pre-Broadway, and sometimes last minute tickets for $10! You might even want to see the new Catholic Cathedral. City Hall will look familiar to you from lots of old movies!

As you likely know, the earthquake centered at Hearst Castle. It is fine but the surrounding towns are a mess, to varying degrees. They might not be up to taking tours out yet. It is a long trip from LA - I would save it for another time. LA will keep you quite busy and I am stunned to hear that one of our own said nada was happening near Checkers. It is an up and coming area. We stay in downtown often and always find something new to do.

Have fun!

[This message has been edited by Karen2 (edited Dec 24, 2003).]

Well, put Karen 2! I second her comments wholeheartedly.

Edited to add that the only part I don't second is the part about nada near Checkers. I was speaking solely about a weekend stay, when downtown really does close up, especially at night.

[This message has been edited by Don in LA (edited Dec 24, 2003).]

I've been in San Diego only a couple of days and I can testify to the sun and the fun. The last couple of mornings have been sort of drizzily, but right now looking out my window I see "the sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway." (To quote the not-so-well-known beginning of Bing Crosby's song White Christmas). This place IS NOT cold and rainy compared to London. My friends took me out last night out to the Gaslamp quarter and there was much babes to be seen. ALINLONDON, don't be discouraged coming out here!!!!!

If you want some advise for a hotel that is right on the beach and is happening anytime of the year, the Rosarito Beach Hotel about 30 minutes south of the border is a great place. And cheap too. Spent New Year's there a couple of years ago and that place was rockin'. But good luck trying to find something last minute.

The Rosarito Beach Hotel is nice to wander around in, but attracts a much older crowd than Al, I think. Just a few hundred yards north is the Festival Plaza Hotel which attracts a mid-20s crowd and is definitely happening. For the best tacos in Baja, across the street from the Festival Plaza is a taco stand called El Paisano...simnply amazing and I've never had a bad experience. And at 50 cents a taco, it's a great deal.

There was a night club on the beach not far from the Rosarita Beach Hotel last time I was there. If I remember correctly it was called Papa's and Beer. Plenty of drinks, DJ music, dancing, rock climbing and volleyball all in one place. There was a lively young crowd there.

Jay

We've gotten 22" inches of snow up here at Sequoia Natl Park in Central Calif, so am imagining that SoCal is getting rain. Hopefully it won't last too long for Alin, and he'll enjoy his stay. And hopefully he'll post after it's all done so we know how it went! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

PS - When you're at 7,500ft in a national park, you don't mind the snow. It's beautiful outside; "God's in his heaven & all's right w/ the world" (or will be until I have to shovel the drive while my sister the park ranger is busy trying to keep the tourists from slip-sliding off the road & down the mountainside).

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Sharon

LA was hit with a torrential downpour yesterday (mudslides, etc). But today we're having one of those perfect Southern CA days: Clear skies, lots of sunshine, weather in the 60's, etc. Hopefully the weather will hold for the duration of Alinlondon's stay, and he will actually be able to see the Hollywood sign.

Yup. Miserable yesterday, beautiful today. Par for the course. AlinLondon - hope you are enjoying your trip. Be sure to post a trip report so we can all hear about it.

So, Al, how was it?? Do Tell us!

Hi folks... sorry for not posting sooner, I have been very busy since I have been back...briefly..San Diego is a nice town but a bit quite so after 2 days of eating and shopping I got the train up to LA. I stayed downtown for the 1st night and went on the art deco walking tour and to see the Disney concert hall (wow) and had lunch at the Westin bonaventure (how many times has this place been in films?) and had cocktails at the Biltmore hotel and a Domino's sitting in Pershing square.

I spent 2 nights in Beverly hills where I went shopping down Rodeo drive (well.. window shopping) went on a trip to Venice beach and Santa Monica...then back to San Diego for the last two days and took the trolly down to Tijuana for the afternoon (which was a bit of a culture shock). All things considered..a good trip.
Regards and thanks for all the help before the trip.
Al

Thanks for the report Al. Sounds like you had a pretty eventful trip and hit all the non-touristy highlights (well, ok Rodeo Dr. is touristy). Glad you had a good time.