Going south from the airport to long beach in the morning is not that bad of a route. Yes there is traffic ... and yes heavy, but it flows OK and it's not that far. You could also do a coastal route through Palos Verdes and drop in at Trump National for a Bloody on the way to San Pedro or Long Beach. Similarly -- it's not the worst of drives north at 6pm (again not good, but there are much worse).

For good beaches close to LAX (within 20 minutes)... Manhattan, Hermosa, Santa Monica, Venice, Redondo in that order for me.

If you are there on a day that the Getty Villa is open -- you could look for tickets (free) on the Getty website. They only make tix available a couple month out, so you will need to check. They are closed several days during the week. The grounds are great -- and if you like roman/greek artifacts vs. paintings... the villa is it vs. the Getty Center (paintings mostly).

I would go with the Getty and the beaches north of the airport.

L.A. isn't the best to place get around and it seems like there is always traffic on 405. I would recommend that you lump your itinerary to one area like Santa Monica/Venice/Getty.

I would drive north to Rose Cafe in Venice for people watching and nice breakfast. You can walk around for a couple of hours before heading off north to Santa Monica. Another great place for people watching. Yes, it probably feels very touristy but it's quite nice in the weekday afternoon. There is the beach, homeless people sleeping next to private trainers working out with clients along Ocean and Casa del Mar or Shutters. If you like Asian food and want great cheap noodle for lunch, try Asahi Ramen on Sawtelle Blvd. Then, hop back on 405 and drive yourself to the Getty Center. The art collection isn't the best, but you'll enjoy the Getty. Cool architecture and great view.

You can go back to Santa Monica or Venice for dinner and drive down on Lincoln Blvd to get to LAX. Try to avoid 405 in the afternoon since it gets busy around 2 PM. You can even do Venice-Getty-Santa Monica to avoid traffic on 405.

As someone who drives the 405 every day from LAX-land...

If you want to see Getty, do it immediately. The 405 is light northbound in the morning. It will be a bit heavy until I-10, but after that pretty smooth.

If you do see the Getty early (not sure when they open though), the best time to head back would be 12-2 pm.

I would do your airport-local activities (such as the beach) in the afternoon when you don't want to have long distances to travel.

Good luck!

I have a layover in LAX tomorrow from 11:30am till 12:15am, so just over 12 hours.

I plan to hop a cab to the Getty Museum as soon as I land.

Can someone then give a suggestion of where I should eat for dinner that is in the same area that a taxi driver would know about before I head back to the airport?

As a NW Worldclub memeber is there a lounge I can access later in the day, since the WC closes early?

I had an awesome time at the Getty^ ^

I got into LAX around 11:30am, spent some time in the Worldclub, and caught a cab around 12:30, the trip to the Getty was $52.00 before tip. The Getty is open till 6pm most days and I had no problem spending 4 hours there. For the trip back, I had the taxi take me to one of the hotels near the airport, so I could take the hotel shuttle back to the airport later in the evening - cab ride was $32.00

If I had to do it over again on my noon till midnight layover, I would have rented a car. It would have been much cheaper than a cab, and I could have made it to both the museum until closing time, and then to the beach to watch the sunset and find a little place to eat, or even just to cruise the coast before heading back to the airport.

The Getty is still free ($8 to park) and was awesome!

Glad you had a good time! I would second the getting the rental car to go, as it's less expensive than cabs to almost anywhere in the LA area. Cheers.

My plan..good or bad?
 

I arrive into LAX at 0640 from SYD on QF 107 on a Tuesday and depart on AA30 to JFK at 2345 en route to YHZ all in J. Thats 16 hrs layover. Not sure how long it will take to clear customs and get out of airport at LAX but I'm hoping I'll be done by 0930 so I can take the LA City tour for tansit pax. That will take about 6 hours..ill then hang around downtown have some dinner then get the LAX flyaway bus (I think thats what its called) and head back to LAX for my flight. For a first timer into LAX who doesnt want to drive(on the wrong side of the road:p) Its a good option and inexpensive. The city tour is 65USD and the trip back on the LAX flyaway is 3USD and depart every 30 mins from Union Station. So all up my day shouldnt cost more than about 100USD(130AUD)

Hope that sounds doable to u LAX bods....If anyone sees a flaw feel free to speak now:D

Cheers CJ

It all sounds like a good plan for your situation and goals... the only part I could "improve" upon is spending so much time in downtown LA, as it's mainly a financial center that doesn't have much else (but is experiencing a resurgence). But if that's where the tour ends, that's where it ends.

You have a good number of places to eat downtown. I'd recommend Philippes (home of the original french dip sandwich; community tables and sawdust), the Pantry (for greasy diner food... yum), or Engine Co. No. 28 (for a proper sit-down place that's reasonable). Of course there's Chinatown and Little Tokyo to explore as well, and you're a subway ride from Koreatown. For a bit of Hispanic culture there's Pueblo de LA. Perhaps you can catch the first part of whatever is going on at the Staples Center or Dodger Stadium.

I personally would try to find a way towards West LA. There's a Westwood FlyAway bus to LAX now (near ucla). Lots more interesting things out that direction.... Westwood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Wilshire area, Beverly Hills, etc.

I hope that gives you a good start.

One small correction: Flyaway just changed their fare to $4 each way:

http://www.lawa.org/lax/LAXflyAway.cfm

You might also take the Metro Line from 7th and Figueroa to Sunset and Vermont, walk north along Vermont to the Los Feliz neighborhood for a nice dinner. Metro day pass is $5 now.

HELP!! what to do at LAX???
 

Hi ok, i know I've written before but does anyone know of anything close or a reasonably priced hotel for 7 hrs near LAX??? I was supposed to meet a friend whose had to cancel due to illness, so with a 3.5 yr old I will be at LAX from 3-9!! any ideas?? I'll have my carry on luggage so can't go too far. HELP!! Lisa

I'll give a suggestion: it may be less expensive to buy a day pass to one of the many airline lounges at LAX. Into which terminal do you arrive? Terminal Four has an Admiral's Club with showers etc.; Delta has a pretty nice lounge in Terminal 5--I don't know if it has showers, etc.

I second this, also from my experience day-room rates at airport hotels are usually only good till 6PM, after that it's just the regular overnight rate.

12 hours in LAX any ideas
 

This is my first United flight and I was so upset with notifications the flight I picked went up $75 after I selected my flight (outbound had a tight connection) so now find I'm coming in from SYD to LAX on 8/22 at 10:14 am and leaving at 10:27 pm. I will have a carry on in addition to my checked bag and I know I have to clear customs and the lines to get through security at LAX seem formatible. I've been to LAX several times but it seems a big hassle to leave the airport. I'm kicking myself for not taking the SFO flight because I know my way around the BART very well and love the city. So anyone have any suggestions of how to entertain myself (I've been to the American terminal previously but didn't like it at all). I'm also adoptable if anyone will be there for a little while with lounge access. I have the red eye (which looks full) back to the east coast + a 4 hour drive home. No stress in my life ;)

In N' Out Burger... three times. :D ^