Long LAX stopover--but enough time to see the city?
 

I hope the mods will forgive this slight OT thread.

I pass through LAX quite a bit, but have never ventured outside the terminal. But next month I have a lengthy stopover, due to arrive at 6.25am (OGG-LAX on Delta). Then 6.40pm I have a BA1509 to catch (AA metal). Obviously separate PNRs.

I am thinking of taking a cab and going somewhere nice and I have a few questions:

1. What are my options for luggage? Obviously I don't want to have to take it with me...
2. What would be your recommendation as to things to see? I don't really mind the touristy places, as I've never done LA. Hollywood? Venice Beach? Rodeo Drive? Bearing in mind I'll need a quick getaway to the airport.
3. How much time should I leave to get back to the airport, is traffic bad and unpredictable?

Big thank you for suggestions!

A bit OT: Long LAX stopover--but enough time to see the city?
 

Re 2, you can probably cram in more but I'd do Santa Monica and Venice beach. Close together and not that far from the airport.

Traffic can get bad but there are routes avoiding the 405 from the above so you should be ok. I'd still budget an hour though you should do it in 30 mins.

If you venture further, e.g. Hollywood, traffic back yo LAX will be significantly worse and take longer as it's further away and no easy clear route back.

I'd agree with Chris - have a stroll down the boardwalk and see Venica Beach and Santa Monica. Stop off at the pier for an ice-cream!

From the pier you could jump on the hop-on bus and do a lap of the yellow route, which will take you around Rodeo Drive, past Beverley hills and a couple of other sights.

I'd agree somewhat with the above; LAX to Venice Beach is achievable in half hour most times. However, the hop-on bus can take a very long time to get nowhere, I'd be nervous on this one. The "rush hour" seems to last hours both ends of the day and makes traffic awful...

Another vote for the Venice Beach / Santa Monica idea. I often do this with stopovers in LAX with enough time.

If you are interested, then The Getty Center may also be an option as it's just a bit further up from the Santa Monica area and may avoid some of the worst of the LA traffic a bit futher inland.

Santa Monica.... did exactly this with a stop over in Jan after a trip to Kona waiting for the 380 to come home.

Venice Beach and Santa Monica - both great ideas. Avoid Hollywood...as a general rule

Yup, it's often bad. Some times are predictably so but you never know when things will seize up. Google Maps will be much more useful than the radio traffic reports, which naturally assume you're familiar with the geography.

1. You can walk over from T5 (Delta) to T4 (AA) and see if AA will let you check in early and take the bags. Otherwise, not much options. There is no store luggage facility at T4.

2. Venice Beach and Santa Monica are good for first time visitors. Hollywood is ok but frankly, not too much to see. Rodeo Drive is doable if you really want to see it.

3. This is how I would do it...

6:30 AM - Arrival at T5, wait for your bags to come out, walk to T4.
7:00 AM - Check in with AA and leave your bags there.
7:15 AM - You can take a taxi to Downtown Santa Monica (4th st & Broadway)... or you can take the bus. Bus is cheaper ($1). Neither will be very fast because you will be in rush hour traffic (assuming weekday arrival).

To take the taxi, go to the taxi queuing area outside T4 arrival level. Tell the handler you are going to Santa Monica Pier area. The flat rate is $35 http://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD...and-Operators/ Note - some taxi driver will probably start the meter assuming you don't know the $35 maximum - with traffic, you will easily surpass $35 in meter rate so make sure you confirm the flat rate before you set off. The taxi handler at the queue should know this also and may in fact remind the driver.

If you want to take the bus, let me know and I will give you detailed directions. You take a shuttle to the City Bus Center and 1 direct bus ride will get you to Downtown Santa Monica.

8:15 AM - (Yes, taxi will take almost 1 hour to get there) Once you get to the Downtown Santa Monica, walk around and find a place to eat breakfast or have some coffee.

9:00 AM - You can rent a bike for "half day" from the Bike Center at 2nd st & Colorado. You can ask them for a map too and it will show you where to ride to get to Venice Beach. http://smbikecenter.com/

This is my preferred way to visit Venice Beach. Alternatively, you can take a local bus for $1.

1:00 PM - Return your bike to the Bike Center. You have plenty of time to look around other parts of Santa Monica if you want. If you would rather go take a tourist photo at Rodeo Drive, you can take a taxi (which will be lined up in front of the mall near 2nd st & broadway) or take a bus.

The bus will cost $1.75 and again, it will be a single bus ride and very simple. I can give you more detail if you want to do this.

3:30 PM - Return to LAX. If you are in Rodeo Drive, you should take a taxi (flat rate $38 http://www.beverlyhills.org/living/t...inimal&PSSET=Y ). Taxi can be found near Rodeo Drive taxi stand or in front of all the hotels.

If you are in Santa Monica, you have the option of taxi ($35 flat rate), city bus ($1), or express bus ($8 http://www.lawa.org/FlyAway/content.aspx?id=10451 ) Taxi can be found in front of the mall or at all major hotels.

5:00 PM - Back at LAX with plenty of time to spare.

6 Hour Layover at LAX ... Worth it to explore?
 

I have a six hour layover after a BusinessFirst TPAC at LAX Thursday followed by a red-eye east. I land in LA at 5PM, depart at 11PM.

Is it worth it to leave the airport and explore or just wait it out? Any suggestions on what to do? If I stay at the airport, any lounge option better than another?

FWIW, I have never been to Los Angeles, so the city would be new to me! Thanks in advance for your advice!

Happytobeme :)

Kind of hard to answer a question that doesn't provide any details of what your interests are etc?
Suggest you try doing a search "LAX layover" or similar generates myriad threads with myriad suggestions depending on the length of the layover
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/los-a...d-threads.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/los-a...ne-thread.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ional-lax.html

Thank you for the lead on the thread. I will check it out.

You can grab a cab and be in Manhattan Beach in 15 minutes. Have dinner and a walkabout by the water and get back to LAX 90 minutes before your onward flight. No problem.

I second this.

Thurs eve makes it tough for quite a few daytime attractions but there are many great restaurants from In-n-Out burger right next to LAX to 5 star dining (or shopping) in Santa Monica, BH/West Hollywood or (the farthest) downtown. Hollywood is an interesting walk every night and you should have time to cab or uber back and forth, especially if you have GE for customs. Venice Beach is also interesting but perhaps not the place to be for a tourist at night, while the Manhattan/Redondo suggestion above is far more 'normal'. Most museums will be closed but you may find many art galleries in different parts of town will be open...