Taxi will be fastest. Up the 405, east on Santa Monica Blvd, veer right onto Wilshire and you're there. Fare perhaps $40-$50. Shuttle takes forever (also, not sure you want to arrive @ such a nice property in a bright blue shared-ride van) and transfers laid on by hotel will be unnecessarily expensive.

I agree with the above, right down to the route. :)

SuperShuttle from We Ho to...BUR or LGB
 

Anybody have any idea how much the shuttle is from WeHo to either one of these airports? i'm doing the jetblue deal and ned to know the better value.

I'd suspect it would be about $25 to BUR; more to LGB as BUR is closer to West Hollywood.

Agree with the taxi as the most cost-effective to transport three passengers from LAX to the Bev. Wilshire.

When returning to the airport, if going during commute hours, here is an alternative surface-street routing to give to the cab driver (this will avoid the freeway):

From the BW, south on Beverly to Pico, west on Pico to Overland, south on Overland to Venice (or National), west on Venice to Sepulveda, south on Sepulveda to the airport.

what is the CHEAPEST WAY to get from LAX airport to San Fernando Valley?
 

I am going to be giving a surprise visit to some friends.

what is the CHEAPEST WAY to get from LAX airport to San Fernando Valley? I plan to arrive at LAX on a friday afternoon (2-6pm ish, haven't booked the flight yet)


I am willing to take cab, bus, or anything that can do the job for $20 or less

Cab won't get you there for $20. It's a lot further than you probably think. You'd be looking at $70-120, depending on where you're going and L.A.'s infamous traffic.

The Valley is a pretty big place. If you tell us where in the Valley you're headed (Chatsworth? Burbank? Sylmar? Woodland Hills? North Hollywood? Van Nuys?), we can probably help you better.

Are you looking for the absolute cheapest even if it's terribly inconvenient (multiple rail/bus transfers?), or would you mind paying a couple dollars more for a little extra convenience?

Cheapest would be utilizing only MTA public transit (either all buses or a mix of Metro and buses), which will cost you $1.25 for each bus or rail line you ride (a $5 day pass isn't a bad idea to keep things simple)--but you're looking at anywhere from 2-3 hours, depending on your final destination.

Depending on where you're going, you may be able to shave off some time by taking the LAX-Union Station FlyAway bus, which runs every half hour (except in the early AM hours, when it's hourly) for $7. You can then take MTA buses/subways for another $1.25 per transfer to get you to your final destination, or, depending on where you're going, Metrolink commuter trains or Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner might speed you to your destination faster ($5-8 for Metrolink or $5.50-12 for Amtrak).

If you're headed to the western parts of the valley, you may be able to take the LAX-Van Nuys FlyAway (also $7) and then catch connecting bus transit from there.

Spendier and more convenient (but horribly uncomfortable) would be one of the airport shared van services. I think a family member once paid $35 (plus tip) from the northwestern part of the valley.

Try pulling up directions on either Google Transit or the MTA's trip planner. Both trip planners may also factor in the FlyAway bus and/or Metrolink commuter train.

You can also reference ToAndFromTheAirport.com's comprehensive collection of information.

Have you considered flying into BUR? Fares into BUR are sometimes the same as to LAX (and occasionally cheaper), and it's right in the Valley, significantly shortening your transit time. It's an option to look into, anyway.

You didn't say where in San Fernando valley but
go to: http://www.metro.net/index.asp
and enter LAX as your origin and the actual destination and you'll get some options. Cheapest would be Culver city 6 to Westwood connecting to MTA 761 or Santa Monica 3 connecting to MTA 761 each for $1.25 one way but taking 2 or 3 hours. For $7 one way you can take the Van Nuys FlyAway bus to the valley and then the MTA bus of your choice to your final destination. Fly Away only takes credit cards now and picks up right outside the terminals. The Culver city and Santa Monica bus to MTA connections require you to take the Parking shuttle to Lot C and get off at the lot entrance where the bus terminal is adjacent.

destination is granada hills, and i check the taxi site and rates are all around 100, which is out of my ball park, also i don't want to be in a bus for more than 1.5 hrs, i am willing to pay $35 max for a 1 hr trip, otherwise, i could rather pay the extra $20 to fly to Burbank airport [from sfo or oak] (if the cab from burbank to granada hills is under $25)

I'd recommend taking the LAX FlyAway bus to Van Nuys ($7), then grabbing a cab from there (there are usually 2-4 taxis hanging out in front). FlyAway stops at every terminal and then drives directly to Van Nuys, so it's apt to be in the 30 to an hour range (outside of rush hour) depending on if you board at terminal 7...or terminal 1. The taxi ride is 4-7 miles depending on where in Northridge you are going. (to Chatsworth & Balboa would be roughly $20)

...and no way that a cab from BUR to Granada Hills is $25. It's closer to $45.

if i went to burbank, what to do you recommend? [chatsworth and balboa is perfect]

There are some various bus routes or combination Metrolink-bus routes (Metrolink's Burbank Airport train station is a very easy short walk from the BUR terminal) that all take a little over an hour (1:05 to 1:20). Alternatively, you could ride Metrolink from BUR to the Northridge station and then take a taxi from there to your destination (about $20--you'd need to call a cab company to meet you, since they don't tend to hang around Metrolink stations).

At that point, though, you're not really any better off than flying into LAX for $20 cheaper and taking the Van Nuys FlyAway. A cab ride from the FlyAway depot to Chatsworth and Balboa runs about $18 (according to http://la.taxiwiz.com), so it's actually cheaper (and faster) than trying to catch a Metrolink train from BUR (when outside of or opposite peak commute times, train schedules are irregular). Bus options from the FlyAway depot to Chatsworth and Balboa are available, too (they seem to take between 20 and 40 minutes from the depot to that intersection).

From Burbank Airport your options are:

1) Cab = $45+ & about 25-40 minutes
2) Shared Van (Prime Time Shuttle, Super Shuttle) about $20 & variable up to an hour
3) MTA Bus $2.50 (various routes, see www.metro.net) 50-90 minutes

I'd discard jackal's idea of taking a Metrolink train for part of the route.... The stops (Van Nuys & Northridge) don't interface well with the bus routes you'll need to get to Granada Hills and the schedules are all commuter oriented (and don't run weekends).

The combination Metrolink/bus options don't really save any time over the straight bus options, but they do exist (and come up on Google Transit searches) and take about the same amount of time (1 hour total), so they are an option should it be the only thing workable time-wise. All other things being equal, though, straight bus options from BUR (nothing direct, AFAIK--they all do require transfers) are the cheapest and most frequent.

The combination Metrolink/cab option may be the fastest and most convenient (if the times work), but like I said, at that point, you're better off just flying into LAX and taking a cab from the Van Nuys FlyAway depot.

How to get to Getty by public transport from LAX?
 

Been a few years since I visited the Getty Mueseum in Bel Air, and seeing we have an expected 24 hours in LAX due to a mess with UA from Buenos Aires to SYD, will do that tomorrow it seems.

Anyone around that wants to catch up with a drink/dinner please chime in - :D

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...y-oct-9-a.html

Last time I caught some kind of Bus from LAX region to Getty but that does not seem possible anymore?

http://www.getty.edu/visit/la_bus_map.pdf

Have no clue how your bus system works, but do they allow on-line transfers for a 1 way ticket?

Glen
.

I used the trip planner here:

http://www.metro.net/index.asp

Which returned the following:

Starting at FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON LAX

Ride Culver City 6 (UCLA/WESTWOOD) heading west
From: 96TH ST/AIRPORT BLVD(NW corner) Lv: 09:06AM
To: WESTWOOD BLVD/LINDBROOK DR(SE corner) Ar: 10:02AM
Pay $1.00 + $0.40 for Transfer., (EZ Pass accepted)

Ride Metro Rapid 761( PACOIMA) heading north
From: WESTWOOD BLVD/LINDBROOK DR(SE corner) Lv: 10:24AM
To: SEPULVEDA BLVD/GETTY CENTER DR(SE corner) Ar: 10:44AM
Use Transfer or Media , Monthly Pass: $62.00, (EZ Pass accepted)

Ending at GETTY CENTER
Total cash fare = $1.40
Trip time is about 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Trip distance is about 15.47 miles.

I don't think I'll be able to meet you for dinner, but I'll keep an eye out for you at the RCC.

Hey Glen!

Too bad I'm a bit too far north to meet up with you. ;)

The MTA bus system strangely doesn't allow free transfers. Depending on the bus lines you're connecting from and to, you can purchase a transfer (and I'm not completely clear on which buses you can do that with), but if not, then you have to buy a separate one-way ticket when you get on the next bus.

The rules are different for the different transit systems in the area, though, so on some, you may be allowed to transfer at no charge. I think going to the Getty Center, you'll be using the MTA system and not anything else (like the Santa Monica system, etc.).

The trip planner that FlyinHawaiian linked to will give you the total cost, including available transfers, for your trip. Google Transit will also give directions over most of the L.A.-area (and is usually easier to use), but fare information isn't displayed there.

For the most part, you can not use transfers (there are some minor exceptions involving minor regional bus systems and the larger MTA system... Each boarding requires a seperate fare....OR...purchasing a day pass, which for the MTA system is $5.

The $5 a day sounds like a deal to me. :)

Can we buy that as we get on Bus #1 using FlyinHawaiian great breakdown? (Assuming that is all MTA?)

Jackal .. Oh well, there is always Sydney again .... :D

Looks like you may need a TAP card to buy a day pass on a bus:

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/ri...ng_fare-01.htm

I'm having trouble getting the "Find a place to buy a TAP card" and "Find a place to buy a day pass" options to work for me (MTA's website is kinda broken). I'd hope there was some sort of customer center (or ticket vending machine) at the LAX Bus Center, but I'm not sure.

If someone can confirm there is, then that would be where you buy your bus pass. Otherwise, I don't know that you can. :(

Believe me, I'd love to figure out how to get back there soon! :D

Thanks Jackal .. seems like a tough one for us to get pre-paid for, out at airport area. :mad:

I guess if we tender correct change as per rates FlyinHawaiian qoted, we should be fine?

Glern

Here's a tip. Time was against us for Getty.

Instead we took bus 42 from the Bus Station at back of Sheraton Gateway, Renaissance and Four Points LAX to downtown.

$1.25 each in cash for an hour ride.

Great fun for us.

Got off on Broadway at 5th, and some incredibly cheap shopping - indeed we needed to buy an extra suitcase ($12.99!) to put it all in and check thru to SYD.

Only caucasians on the bus or the shopping area pretty much, but a great afternoon!

Thanks for the tips .. we'll do Getty next time using them.

Everyone
I am staying at the Radisson LAX next month and was wondering what is the best way to get to Universal Studios without a hire car?
Obviously nothing to expensive like taking a cab, but looking for recommendations as in shuttles etc..
Thanks

Quickest, simplest, and most comfortable would probably to take the Radisson's shuttle to Terminal 1 (well, any of the terminals, really--just go to the Green section out on the transportation island) and catch an LAX FlyAway motorcoach to Union Station and then take the Red Line from there to Universal City. Total cost would be $8.25 per person each way.

A cheaper alternative that's almost as fast would be to walk over to the LAX bus center (a ten-minute walk from the Radisson; if walking is an issue, you can take the Radisson's shuttle to an airport terminal and then LAX shuttle bus C to the bus center) and take Metro Express Line 439 to Union Station and connect to the Red Line to Universal City. Total cost would be $3.10 per person each way (consider the $5 day pass for savings on the round trip). You can also do Metro Local Line 42/42A and follow the same directions (and save 60 cents), but if you have a choice, the Express makes fewer stops, stays on the freeway longer, and avoids some of the slightly seedier parts of Southcentral. (Note you can get off 42 at a couple different places and walk to nearby Metro stations, such as getting off at Broadway and 5th, which is one block from the Pershing Square station, saving a few minutes of transit time. For that matter, you can get off 439 at 7th St/Metro Center and connect to the Red Line there, too.)

You can do it wholly by rail, too. Take the Radisson's shuttle over to T1 (or any terminal) and catch LAX shuttle bus G from the Blue area on the transportation island. Take that to Aviation Station and board a Green Line train. Take that to Rosa Parks station and connect to a Blue Line train headed towards downtown. Transfer to a Red Line train at 7th Street/Metro Center and take that to Universal City. From the time you board the LAX shuttle bus, it should take about two hours, which might actually be faster than any of the bus options (depending on the bus schedules). It also might be cheaper: you might be able to get through the entire rail system for a single $1.25 ticket, making it for $2.50 round trip--half the price of a day pass. (However, I'm not 100% clear whether you need a new ticket each time you transfer to a new rail line or just to transfer to a different bus line--if you do, then you'd need to buy three tickets each direction, in which case a day pass is cheaper.)

You can also take a slightly more direct route (avoiding going all the way northeast to Union Station) using connecting buses from LAX to the Red Line at Hollywood/Highland. However, there is no direct service from LAX to Hollywood/Highland, so you'd need to connect to another bus at some point, and waiting at a street corner bus stop isn't usually as pleasant (or safe) as it is at a major transit center. Besides, the time savings isn't significant (and can actually be nonexistent, depending on connecting bus schedules). However, if you want to see some of those options, I'd recommend trying these directions at Google Transit and playing around with your departure date and time.

Getting from Torrance to SNA? [was "LAX to SEA"]
 

I've been desperately looking for a one way LAX to SEA for Nov. 8th. Every non-stop is above $200. I've been watching Virgin and AA. It's a shame when SEA to LAX on AA is only $80! Any tips, hints, tricks? Thanks guys.

Seth

Torrence to SNA traffic?
 

Okay so I've found much cheaper options flying back to SEA from SNA. However I'll be staying in Torrence. My friend will be driving me. If my potential flight is 8:00AM, would traffic be an issue? Anyone with this commute experience? Thanks.

Seth

I'm assuming that this will be sometime during the week, not the weekend? Even though I rarely (if ever) travel this route, I can say that the answer is almost assuredly yes, as the most direct route to the airport from your friend's place is along I-405. That is a train wreck of a highway. The only mitigating factor might be the fact that you're kinda going against traffic, but I don't really know how much that'll help on this particular highway.

I'd been wondering all year when the gold line extension would finally open. The LA Times is reporting that that day is November 15th. :cool:

Have you checked Long Beach (LGB)? Much closer to Torrance and flights to SEA on AS and I believe B9.

SNA is very easy to get in and out of so if you got there by 7 am you should be fine for your flight. However, the 405 in on a weekday morning is a nightmare. I'd say leave by six at the latest as you'll beat most of the traffic. No traffic it's about 45 minutes to SNA from Torrance and traffic shouldn't get too bad on the 405 until about 7 so you'll be fine but your friend is going to sit in the wonderful traffic the whole way back.

Transportation from LAX to Beverly Hills/West Hollywood
 

What's the best way - without renting a car - to get from LAX to BH/WH?

How much would a taxi cost? Car service? Public trasportation?

This would probably be late (~midnight).

Thanks in advance!

There's no public transportation options that make any sense that time of night. A taxi would be about $50, I would think. A cheaper option would be a shared ride van like SupperShuttle which is around $15-$20, I think.

Best transportation option from LAX to Hollywood?
 

My wife is taking her first business trip into LAX next Wednesday afternoon, she has never traveled before, and she won't have a rental car. Outside of a taxi (she doesn't want to take any type of train), are there any other options to get to Hollywood?

If I she does have to cab it can anyone give me a guess of how much it will cost her and how long it will take?

Thanks!

Getting around LA without a car is a pain in the a**. (Then again, even with a car it isn't very fun.) If taxis and public transit are out of the question, that really only leaves the airport shuttle services like SuperShuttle. The fare to Hollywood should in the $20 to $25 range, compared with a cab fare upwards of $50. The trade-off is that she may have to circle the airport a few times while they pick up more pax, and she may have to take a very roundabout way to her destination to drop off the other pax.

If the company is paying, why not take a cab?

Cab costs around $60 I think.
^In my own experience the blue van is my choice
http://www.supershuttle.com/

They're reliable, and last time I was in LA it was $16 (from West Hollywood to LAX). I didn't even have to call them, I booked a ride from their website and without calling them, they were right on time. I was the first passenger, then a couple and a lady, it was a short and nice ride (you can be sure they won't do a tour as some cabs do).

Getting to Thai Town
 

Morning fellow FT'ers! I'm having such a wonderful time planning trips while stuck in this blizzard in the DC area, that now I'm having to find things to do to fill the time!

I'll be traveling to LAX in March and will be there for about 3 hrs..wondering if a quick trip up to Thai Town is at all possible? Google maps is showing about 25 mins driving (no traffic), but about 2hrs public transit - way to long. If there is traffic, the time is bumped to 70 mins - forget it!

Any hints/suggestions/ideas about getting from LAX to Thai Town and back in ~2hr window between 10am and 1pm on a Wednesday ?

Although I've lately been obsessed with Thai food and Thai town, that's going to be a very tight schedule for you and probably not worth the stress. It's going to take time for you to get the car and return the car in addition to the transit. Traffic should not be completely obscene between 10am and 1pm but there will be some. I would expect it to take you at least 45 minutes each way. If you were committed to it, you could probably call in an order, scarf it down, drive back (if you're going for food), but that seems rather harried. What are you looking for? There are other good places that are easier to make on a 3 hour roundtrip from LAX.

fatfrog thanks for the reply. I'm actually hoping to dip in and pick up some small pastries, food, and other sundries to bring back with me - think security will give me any issues? ;)

I've done a pickup like this before with other cities. I'm not filling my carry-on with food, just want to get a few things. I'm there - might as well. But if it sounds like its going to be a hassle, I'm probably going to forget it.

Not hoping to sit for a nice lunch or anything - really just pick up and go.

edit: Sorry, should have also mentioned, I'm debating between public transit and a taxi. I know that renting a car, even for such a short time, would waste too much time. I'm looking for opinions on taxi vs public transit in this time frame.

I don't think it is possible to do this in three hours. Assuming we are talking about arrival time to departure time as three hours.

I am pretty nervy about this sort of thing and even I wouldn't try it--unless you can afford to miss your departure flight.

Perhaps you can google for a Thai store in the LAX area?

A possible alternative outing is to visit Mitsuwa Market in the Palms/East Santa Monica area. While certainly not Thai, it has more than purely Japanese groceries, and is about a 15 minute drive (9 miles) from LAX in no traffic. It's just west of I-405, near Venice Blvd, and Sawtelle.

http://www.mitsuwa.com/tenpo/sant/eindex.html

As others have said, getting to/from Thai Town in your window is not workable. Also, be aware that taxi fares from LAX are not low. You would probably also need to have the cab wait for you, as it would be impossible to flag one in that area, when you are ready to leave. My guess is with a half hour of waiting time at the Mitsuwa store, you would run $60, before tip. :eek: