No way at all to make it with public transit and cabs are pretty expensive.

I was thinking of Mitsuwa as well. It's pretty accessible to the airport and you can get a great bowl of ramen at Santouka.

Getting to Thai Town would be tempting the fates...

One *might* be able to do it with a hefty cab fare...or one might just miss your flight if traffic and security lines conspire to slow you down.

Why not hit one of the better Thai places within a few miles of LAX?

Ayara Thai
6245 W. 87th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 410-8848

Wild Thai Restaurant
6081 Center Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 215-0209

Thai Dishes
11934 Aviation Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90304
(310) 643-6199

...and since they all do delivery, you might even see if you could get one of them to meet you in the pick/up or drop-off zone for a promised tip, and never even have to leave the airport! :cool:

thanks!
 

Thanks everyone for the hints, suggestions, and cautionary advice! Disappointed I can't make it in that window, but just gives me a reason to do a run back :)

On a better note, I am now certainly going to try one of those places recommended that are near LA - might as well have a good lunch while I'm there!

What about taking the LAX/Union Station Flyaway to Union Station and then the Red Line to Hollywood/Western station? The Flyaway bus is $7 each way card or cash and will cut down transit time by 65%.

But if you do decide on eating at a Thai restaurant in the LAX area, then I suggest going to Thai Dishes on Aviation Blvd. since it can be reached easily by the free "G" line bus to the Aviation Station stop and then south on foot to the restaurant.

If he had a *5* hour window, it might be worth chancing it...
...but no way he could make that run + lunch in 3 hours.

Shuttle or Bus from John Wayne Airport to LAX
 

Looking for a relatively inexpensive means of going from John Wayne/Orange County Airport to LAX. Actually need to go from Newport Beach Marriott to LAX but cost is $50 for a shuttle and I need to pick up a rental car at LAX.

Thanks for any advice!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

Can you pick up your rental car in or near Newport Beach, instead of at LAX?

Let's see of the readers of our Travel->LA forum can help. I'll move this there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Many LA area car rental agencies will let you rent from one airport and return at a different one. I have taken advantage of this benefit many times over the last 30 yrs.

You could also take the Gray Line bus from SNA to Disneyland, then change there to the bus to LAX. At one time they offered a "through" fare (in other words, one ticket / one price for the SNA-LAX trip), but I don't know if they still do:

http://graylineanaheim.com/airport_info.shtml

Another option is take a taxi from SNA to the Irvine Amtrak station. It's about 8-10 miles and about 15 minutes if there's no traffic. Then take a Flyaway bus from the Amtrak station to LAX. Fare is $25 one way and the schedules are posted on their website.

What time do you need to pick your car up? If you're looking for cost over convenience (you did mention wanting an inexpensive options), perhaps the following options might help:

If you time things right, you can get from SNA to LAX in about two hours for $16.75 using the following connections:

Irvine Shuttle Route A: SNA to Tustin Metrolink ($1)
Metrolink Orange County Line: Tustin to Los Angeles Union Station ($8.75)
LAWA FlyAway: Union Station to LAX ($7)

You can do it even cheaper in as little as three hours, 20 minutes, by substituting the FlyAway with MTA bus 42A, which would be free with your Metrolink ticket. That reduces your cost to $9.75.

And if cost is REALLY important, you can do it for $6.10:
OCTA bus 76: SNA to Newport Transit Center ($1.50)
OCTA bus 1: Newport Transit Center to Long Beach VA Hospital ($1.50)
Metro Express Line 577: Long Beach VA Hospital to Norwalk Station ($1.85)
Metro Green Line: Norwalk Station to Aviation Station ($1.25)
LAX Shuttle G: Aviation Station to LAX terminal (free)

That actually only takes 3 hours, less than the Metrolink/Route 42A option, though Metrolink will be a bit more comfortable than the multiple bus transfers.

And actually...

If you're starting at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa (and not the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview), you're right on OCTA route 1, which can save you another $1.50 and some extra time, since you won't need to ride OCTA bus 76. With perfect timing, you can get from your hotel to LAX in as little as one hour, 36 minutes for $4.60. That sounds like a winner!

Of course, the above minimum transit times use some pretty tight connections, and if one bus or train is even a few minutes late to a connecting stop, you might find yourself having to wait a half hour or even longer for the next connection. But even assuming one 30-minute misconnect, if you're at the Hotel & Spa, I don't think you can beat that last option--a $30-40 (depending on which hotel you're at), 20-30-minute cab ride plus a $25, 1-hour-45-minute FlyAway bus ride just seems excessive in comparison to the alternative! (Heck, SuperShuttle looks good compared to that last option!)

jackal's suggestion is great but you can catch the new Flyaway bus from Orange County to LAX directly... no need to take Metrolink to Union Station.

http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=292

Yeah, but if you read my post closely, you'll see I *did* address that. It's convenient, but it's expensive! By doing Metrolink to LAUS, you save $9.25 ($8.75+$7=$15.75 versus $25), and it's not really all that much less convenient and can, in fact, take less time (assuming you time the train schedule right), since you have to go several miles in the wrong direction to get to where the bus leaves from (the Irvine Metrolink station).

what date do you need to do this?

Getting between NBC Burbank to Downtown LA - questions
 

Miss Kok and I will be having a rare visit to LA, arriving on 17 March and attending Chicago Blackhawks games in Anaheim on March 17 and at Staples Center on March 18. Staying downtown at the Biltmore. We do not have a rental car.

On March 17, it looks like we can take the Metrolink from LA Union Station to Anaheim, then walk 10 minutes to the Honda Center. Return, there is an Amtrak train leaving Anaheim 30 minutes after the game ends. So I think we are OK.

On March 18, we were fortunate enough to get tickets for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno taping at 4:00pm, then I have to be at the Staples Center for puck drop at 7:00pm. Looking at the mass transit map, it looks like the best way to get from downtown to NBC Studios in Burbank is to take the Red Line to Universal City then either jump on a bus or grab a taxi to NBC. Correct?

And when the Tonight show is done taping, will I be able to grab a taxi from NBC to Universal City Metra stop to get back downtown for the game?

Finally, we have about 4-6 extra tickets for the Tonight Show taping on March 18; if any FTers want to join us, let me know!. Of course, they are free.

You are going to have a serious time problem...
While the doors to the sound stage open at 4 p.m., taping usually doesn't begin until 5...which means there is no way you are out of there before 6:15. No chance of catching a taxi to the Red Line, taking the Red Line to the Blue Line, changing to the Blue Line down to Staples, walking the few blocks to Staples, and getting to your seat in 45 minutes. You *might* make it in one dash all the way to Staples by taxi, if the traffic cooperates... ...or you might miss the start of the game.

Incidentally, as a general note, since they always distribute more tickets than there are seats for Tonight Show tapings (400), so you need to get there early... How early is the question. If there are no major musical guests or A-list stars, 30 minutes to an hour is enough. But if some teen idol or major movie star is taping, 2-3 hours may not be too far in advance to make sure you get a seat. And since the seats are first-come, first serve (with a few held back for VIPs) if you want to be down near the desk...you need to get in line early, especially during tourist season. (Summer, student holidays, etc.)

The Anaheim game will be pretty easy. There will be plenty of people walking from Honda Center to Metrolink station after the game. I've done it a couple of times myself.

The Jay Leno show will also be pretty easy to access. Take Red line to Universal station and transfer to southbound Metro #96 bus (Head sign for Downtown LA) when you exit the subway station (there is a surface bus station on top of the subway station). #96 Southbound bus will take you to the front gate of NBC Studios (the stop is Alameda & Olive): http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bu...images/096.pdf

Use the Google map transit option will give you pretty accurate direction for Metro bus in LA

Do the reverse trip on #96 (or #155) northbound after the Tonight Show taping from Alameda/Olive back to Universal station and catch the Red line back to 7th St Metrocenter. You do not need to transfer to Blue line as mlshanks mentioned.... Staples Center is only a couple of blocks south from 7th St Metrocenter. It will take less than 10 minutes to walk to Kings game from the subway. If you decide you rather take the Blue line at Metrocenter to Pico Station (closet to Staples), it will cost you another $1.25... (LA metro does not have free transfers) - unless of course you decide to buy a daypass (highly recommended as you will be taking several bus and rail trip that day).

Thanks to bzcat and mlshanks for the notes on my question. I'm a bit worried about making the start of the game at Staples Center after the Tonight Show, but seeing the Tonight Show is something I really want to do, so we'll make the best of it.

If I leave NBC Studios and am in a rush, is it much faster to take a taxi all the way to the Staples Center? Or is it faster to take a taxi to Universal City then jump on the train to downtown? And any idea on the cost of a taxi from NBC to the Staples Center?

No! It will not be faster to take a cab NBC to Staples Center. The Redline is much quicker from Universal to 7th Street exit. (and yes I agree with the other poster to walk from there it's only a couple blocks from Staples Center)
[I live in a loft just a couple blocks from Staples Center]

Yeah... no way a car will beat subway from Universal to Staples on Thursday evening rush hour. Also there is no cab stand near NBC Studios so you'd have to call for a cab and wait for it to show up (if at all), which means you probably would have made it back to Universal station if you took the bus. The cab fare will be in excess of $50... it's not worth it. You are better off renting a car.

With respect to the other posters, I don't think there is a prayer in hell that BT can make the start of his game if he relies on public transit to get from the NBC studios to Staples. Keep in mind, the #96 bus that others have recommended only runs every 45-60 minutes....and schedule keeping of LA buses vary from only fair to abysmal. And frankly, consulting metro.net, they note that it is actually shorter in time to ride the #96 bus *all they way to downtown* near Staples (exiting at 11th and Grand), rather than back West to the Red Line and back downtown. The 96 timetable however suggest that the ride will take about 60 minutes.... subject to the vagaries of LA traffic.

If he wanted to take a cab, yes, he'd need to schedule a pickup before the taping....and yes, the price would be apt to cost in the neighborhood of $47 + a tip...likely about $55 all in. (according to the fare finder at http://la.taxiwiz.com/) But it's the only way I could see the possibility of getting between those two locations without a rental car.

Looking for inexpensive car service from Malibu to LAX
 

Anybody on here have any experience with a good car service that serves the Westside and Malibu with service to LAX? I'm looking for someone to pick some people up from the airport in June over the course of a few days and need an inexpensive solution. Cars don't have to be top of the line....just clean.

Thanks in advance

Thanks for the replies. This is a sticky one, as I want to see the Tonight Show but I also want to make it for the game. One option I found is to rent an Avis car at Figueroa and 9th (using code A972200) for $35 incl. all tax. I can drive to NBC, park there, then haul a** after the Tonight Show back downtown, drop the keys in the night drop box and hopefully be at the Staples Center near the start of the game. Judging from everything I have read above, this might be my best bet of making the game, rather than missing a bus from NBC to Universal City. Google maps shows the trip from NBC back downtown is 13 mi and "45 min in traffic".

Cheapest / fastest way to get from LAX to USC / downtown area?
 

Hi All,

I'm going to be at USC Medical Center this afternoon and I have someone flying in to meet me. I was planning on picking her up, but I may not be able to at this point. Is there a bus / metro line / something-else-than-a-cab she can take to get to downtown? Just getting closer would be great - i'd be able to pick her up. Thanks. the advice is much appreciated.

Just want to make sure you know that LA County USC Medical Center is not part of USC's campus which is just southwest of Downtown LA. County USC is southeast, near East Los Angeles, a few miles away.

The LAX Flyaway bus from LAX to Union Station is a pretty good option. Union Station to County USC would be about a 15 minute drive, even with the possible rush hour traffic (and driving from East LA to LAX on a Friday afternoon is more often then not a miserable experience).

Yep - this I know... Hey if she can get out there, even better! I can leave the med center for a little bit so as long as she can get close, that's a big help to me. I just don't have time to go round trip all the way to LAX. So if anyone has advice on the cheapest / fastest way to just get her CLOSE, that would be great! Thanks!

I'd start with giving them directions to catch the FlyAway Bus to Union Station...then let them step inside the station and ask the folks manning the MTA desk on the floor of the E. rotunda just off off Patsouris Bus PLaza what the easiest bus to catch to get to USC Medical Center...(give them the nearest street address, it's a good sized complex)

I know there are a half-dozen MTA routes plus at least one DASH route that goes between the station and the medical center, but I'm not familiar enough w/ the locations of all the bus stops around the station to know which would be the easiest connection.

Best route from LAX to Pasadena?
 

Hello everyone!

I have a question about the L.A region. I'm going to Pasadena California at the end of August for the Power Morphicon convention. I have decided to fly into LAX via Southwest or AA.

I have been told Pasadena is about 30 minutes away or so. What is the best way to get from LAX to Pasadena?

Should I rent a car? For some odd reason I'm a little nervous about driving in another state I have never been to :cool:

Also, I would like to spend a little time in L.A tourist spots. So maybe I could stay in L.A and make my way over to Pasadena for the convention and back??

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Welcome to Flyertalk, RatedChitown. There is a forum dedicated to Los Angeles, therefore I'll move your thread to the Los Angeles forum for discussion.
Enjoy your time in Southern California.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

I live in Pasadena and drive to/from LAX quite often.

First, it's possible to get from LAX to Pasadena without your own car, but there's no perfect (IMO) solution.

The most convenient would be a taxi, which would cost close to $80-100, including tip.

Next would be a shared van such as SupperShuttle or Prime Time, which would be cheaper, but could involve some waiting, cramped seating, and lots of stops before your hotel.

One can take the LAX Flyaway Bus from LAX to Union Station and then take the Gold Line (light rail) but that would involve some schlepping of bags, especially from the Gold Line to your hotel.

If you rent a car, the are a few routes that I take, depending on the time of day and weather. Sometimes, the most direct way (105 to the 110 for you locals) isn't the best when you factor in rush hour traffic or rain.

In general, one will need a car and a good freeway map to travel in LA, especially if you plan on going to more than one location.

Let us know which of these sounds the most likely you will choose and we can take it from there.

Huh, I always assumed that you were in HI...

I have also had good experiences with ATLS car service (google them). The cost is about the same as a taxi (sometimes less), it's a fixed fee and their cars are nicer than taxis.

This can be a nightmare because they will drive around the entire airport picking people up and then drive all over creation dropping people off.


I think that the 105 to the 110 is really the best route for a visitor. There are other clever ways (see the open scenes of LA Story), but they can get pretty confusing. However, you really, really, really don't want arrive right at rush hour.

Agreed. And don't worry about driving around here. It's no worse than most major cities and better than some (SF and NYC spring to mind).

Option 1. )

Car Rental/ Freeway driving:

Take the Nr. 105 to Nr. 110 North. This Freeway cuts through the City ( Downtown ) of Los Angeles, and continues on becoming the Pasadena Fwy. Considering the time to rent your vehicle and start driving, this would take roughly one-hour in the best of traffic.

A clean car with AC, of course is the best way to see the sights you have on your list, and listen to a CD, rather than someone blabbing on an old microphone in front of a tired tour bus.

Option 2. )

Metropolitan Transit Authority-Los Angeles:

The connections (4) including DTLA mimic the 105-110 Fwy drive. The train shuttles are colour coded, and you arrive in Pasadena on the graffittied Gold Line. Sometime.

Not reccommended, but for those blessed with time, patience, and perhaps a lobotomy, attached is a link:
http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php

Option 3. )

Shuttle Vans:

Depending upon where you are staying, there are van shuttles ( share vans ) directly from LAX that will take you to Pasadena. The cost is the same as a Taxi: However the wait might be very lengthy.

Rent a car unless you are absolutely sure you are doing NOTHING but the convention. Pasadena is actually a very nice town for restaurants and cute stores. If you are not in the mood to drive around, just take the taxi, hire car, or flyaway bus/gold line to and from the airport as others have mentioned. You will find plenty of places to eat and spend your money in Pasadena all in a centralized district.

But if you want to see anything in LA, or venture out of Pasadena after the convention, you will need car. No question about it. Even with a car, I might make Pasadena my home base and go touring from there. There is really no reason to stay in downtown LA or Hollywood, you will have to fight the traffic to the convention, and then you'll still not be where you want to be. Believe me, there is no "center" of LA that's convenient to everything.

The streets and freeways are very well marked, and traffic is not any worse than any major city. A GPS is a great investment for a nervous driver.

since you mentioned that you might fly SW, consider flying into burbank, which is much closer. from there you can rent a car, take a cab, or ride the metrolink downtown and catch the gold line at union station.

if you're staying anywhere close to the pasadena convention center, you might never need a car as most of the interesting sights are within walking distance or reachable by the gold line or the pasadena ARTS bus.

When I went to the Rose Bowl this year, I had a car but drove to Union Station and took the MTA Gold train to Pasadena. The traffic was terrible all over LA during the holidays but may not be so bad now especially in Pasadena.

I thought about that. The only thing holding that up is the fact that SW doesn't have a non stop into Burbank and I really don't like connections. However I may do just that and bypass LAX altogether.


Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll starting booking my flight around mid June. Right now I think I will make home base in Pasadena so now I need to find a hotel there. The official hotel for the convention is the Sheraton. But I want to find something just a little cheaper than $109 a night.

You'll have to decide which is worse -- making a flight connection, or the extra driving in LA. Driving in LA is not particularly hard compared to driving in other major metros such as NYC, DC, Chicago, Boston, etc.

Also, consider that BUR airport is very small. Some consider that a plus as it's easier to navigate than LAX. For example, you can walk between the terminal and most car rental lots. But others think it's maddeningly cramped and has too few restaurants/shops for when you're waiting for your outbound flight.

I don't think you'll find a lower price unless you book a cheapo motel or use a bidding site such as P/L. When I visit Pasadena I usually stay at the Courtyard, and I usually pay around 139-159.

One problem with going in and out of Burbank is that if there is a problem there are very few options. LAX is a hassle, but in a jam, you'll have lots of options.

That's an excellent rate. To get the conf hotel means convenience, and that's worth something. If that's a conference rate I'd book it now. You can almost always cancel even at the last minute if you find something better.

Agreed with the other posters -- this is a pretty good deal. Unless you get a great deal through something like Priceline, you're likely to wind up relatively far from the convention. But there's no harm in looking!

And, unlike FlyinHawaiian, I think the FlyAway/Gold line option is very convenient. (:p) You can get off at either the Del Mar station or the Memorial Park station, provided you're willing to walk 3 blocks or so with your bags. But if you want to explore beyond Pasadena, California, you're likely to want a car.