The consolidated "What to do on a layover at LAX" thread
Jul 14, 2015, 10:08 pm
#691
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Aberdeenshire
Programs: BA
Posts: 1,007
I'll pass through LAX with a 7 hour layover next month and although I can use the new QF lounge in TBIT or the AA lounge at T4, 4-5 hours is too long for me...I visited Santa Monica and Venice Beach about 15 years ago so more than happy to go back, or Manhattan Beach(?). What are the buses/taxis/traffic like on a Sunday?
I arrive at 0625AM, and allowing an hour or two to get off the plane (I'm in Y), pass through immigration, baggage reclaim, customs and re-drop my bag, that still gives me about 4 hours to kill before having to be through security ahead of a connecting flight to IAH at 1325. Breakfast in Santa Monica or somewhere similar sounds more appealing.
Any advice or alternative suggestions welcomed!
I arrive at 0625AM, and allowing an hour or two to get off the plane (I'm in Y), pass through immigration, baggage reclaim, customs and re-drop my bag, that still gives me about 4 hours to kill before having to be through security ahead of a connecting flight to IAH at 1325. Breakfast in Santa Monica or somewhere similar sounds more appealing.
Any advice or alternative suggestions welcomed!
Jul 15, 2015, 11:52 am
#692
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,404
Traffic is relatively light on Sunday morning. I would take a taxi to Santa Monica (~20 minutes). However, be advised that many places don't open until 10AM or so on Sunday for brunch.
On the way back, traffic will be thick, although not gridlocked. Give yourself at least 30 minutes. There is a taxi stand at Broadway and 2nd street at the Santa Monica Place mall.
On the way back, traffic will be thick, although not gridlocked. Give yourself at least 30 minutes. There is a taxi stand at Broadway and 2nd street at the Santa Monica Place mall.
Jul 15, 2015, 2:24 pm
#693
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,594
I'll pass through LAX with a 7 hour layover next month and although I can use the new QF lounge in TBIT or the AA lounge at T4, 4-5 hours is too long for me...I visited Santa Monica and Venice Beach about 15 years ago so more than happy to go back, or Manhattan Beach(?). What are the buses/taxis/traffic like on a Sunday?
Jul 15, 2015, 3:41 pm
#694
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Aberdeenshire
Programs: BA
Posts: 1,007
For a change of pace, good restaurants, smaller crowds and fewer tourists, you ought to give a try to Manhattan Beach. It's only about five miles from the airport.
Aug 1, 2015, 11:52 am
#695
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beautiful Switzerland
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 509
Hello fellow Fts
Two quick questions for LAX, hope this thread is appropriate:
1) <please see this question in the 2014-15 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread>
2) We will have 2 nights in LA. One full day and second day flight is leaving at 7pm. On the full day we want to take a tourist tour (bus ride with star visits, LA downtown etc), second day shopping and then airport. What location / area would you recommend for a hotel? Airport hotel with shuttle? Or something more downtowny? We don't intend to rent a car and don't want to go to the beach.
Thank you for your insights and suggestions.
W
Two quick questions for LAX, hope this thread is appropriate:
1) <please see this question in the 2014-15 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread>
2) We will have 2 nights in LA. One full day and second day flight is leaving at 7pm. On the full day we want to take a tourist tour (bus ride with star visits, LA downtown etc), second day shopping and then airport. What location / area would you recommend for a hotel? Airport hotel with shuttle? Or something more downtowny? We don't intend to rent a car and don't want to go to the beach.
Thank you for your insights and suggestions.
W
Last edited by TWA884; Aug 1, 2015 at 1:36 pm Reason: Split questions between appropriate threads
Aug 1, 2015, 2:55 pm
#696
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,594
For a change of pace, good restaurants, smaller crowds and fewer tourists, you ought to give a try to Manhattan Beach. It's only about five miles from the airport.
10 great places to wine and dine in Manhattan Beach
Before chef David LeFevre opened Manhattan Beach Post in 2011, non-Manhattan Beach residents might have ventured to the area to surf, play beach volleyball or buy a home after signing a multimillion-dollar sports contract. You just didn't drive to that part of town for a single meal. But a steady influx of new restaurants over the last four years has turned the breezy beach town into a dining destination. Just call Manhattan Avenue the new restaurant row. Here are 10 places in the neighborhood for food and drink lovers to explore.
<snip>
<snip>
Dec 4, 2015, 8:08 am
#697
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ATL
Posts: 126
Have a layover coming up on Thursday as part of a mileage run. Flight lands at 9:30 AM and leaves at 11:30 PM same day. Never been to LA before so just looking for suggestions on what to do with ~12 hrs to kill 
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
Dec 4, 2015, 11:52 am
#698
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,404
Have a layover coming up on Thursday as part of a mileage run. Flight lands at 9:30 AM and leaves at 11:30 PM same day. Never been to LA before so just looking for suggestions on what to do with ~12 hrs to kill
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
This thread has plenty of good ideas.
Dec 5, 2015, 4:02 pm
#699
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
Have a layover coming up on Thursday as part of a mileage run. Flight lands at 9:30 AM and leaves at 11:30 PM same day. Never been to LA before so just looking for suggestions on what to do with ~12 hrs to kill
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
Would it be worth it to rent a car for the day and try and catch some touristy things? Or should I just spend the whole day on Manhattan Beach?
Any advice is appreciated!
Jan 11, 2016, 3:01 pm
#701
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 582
Hey all,
I've been thinking it would be fun to head down to L.A for the day or so. Looking at Alaska's cheap flights out of YVR, I'd arrive at LAX at 9am, and would likely catch the return flight departing at 8:25pm. This would leave me with just under 12 hours to spend the day in L.A. Anything in particular you'd recommend I go to? I likely would not bother to rent a car.
Thanks!
I've been thinking it would be fun to head down to L.A for the day or so. Looking at Alaska's cheap flights out of YVR, I'd arrive at LAX at 9am, and would likely catch the return flight departing at 8:25pm. This would leave me with just under 12 hours to spend the day in L.A. Anything in particular you'd recommend I go to? I likely would not bother to rent a car.
Thanks!
Jan 11, 2016, 3:25 pm
#702
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,404
Hey all,
I've been thinking it would be fun to head down to L.A for the day or so. Looking at Alaska's cheap flights out of YVR, I'd arrive at LAX at 9am, and would likely catch the return flight departing at 8:25pm. This would leave me with just under 12 hours to spend the day in L.A. Anything in particular you'd recommend I go to? I likely would not bother to rent a car.
Thanks!
I've been thinking it would be fun to head down to L.A for the day or so. Looking at Alaska's cheap flights out of YVR, I'd arrive at LAX at 9am, and would likely catch the return flight departing at 8:25pm. This would leave me with just under 12 hours to spend the day in L.A. Anything in particular you'd recommend I go to? I likely would not bother to rent a car.
Thanks!
Something like this:
1. Take LAX Shuttle C, get off at the first stop outside airport (it's officially the stop for "cell phone waiting lot")
2. Walk across Vicksburge Ave to the "City Bus Center"
3. Take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #R3 (or the slower #3) toward Santa Monica - $1.25 about 45 minutes
4. Get off the bus at 4th street/Colorado (in front of the Santa Monica Place Mall)
5. Do whatever you want in Santa Monica... walk to the pier, visit the beach, rent a bikeshare and ride it to Venice Beach etc. Read the rest of this thread for some ideas.
6. When you are ready, go to Wilshire/4th street and catch the Metro Rapid 720 bus (they are red/silver). You can take this bus to Beverly Hills (get off at Wilshire/Rodeo 30~40 minutes), or Petersen/LACMA/Tar Pits (get off at Wilshire/Fairfax 40~50 minutes).
7. Do the reverse to get back to LAX (or Uber)
If you are here after April, you can also easily each Downtown LA from Santa Monica via Metro rail. It will make visiting the California Science Center (to see the Space Shuttle) really easy and painless.
Jan 11, 2016, 11:20 pm
#703
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
If you don't want to rent a car, I would recommend staying near Wilshire Blvd due to frequent and reliable bus service. Check this thread for things to do in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Petersen Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pit/LACMA - all along the 720 bus route.
Something like this:
1. Take LAX Shuttle C, get off at the first stop outside airport (it's officially the stop for "cell phone waiting lot")
2. Walk across Vicksburge Ave to the "City Bus Center"
3. Take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #R3 (or the slower #3) toward Santa Monica - $1.25 about 45 minutes
4. Get off the bus at 4th street/Colorado (in front of the Santa Monica Place Mall)
5. Do whatever you want in Santa Monica... walk to the pier, visit the beach, rent a bikeshare and ride it to Venice Beach etc. Read the rest of this thread for some ideas.
6. When you are ready, go to Wilshire/4th street and catch the Metro Rapid 720 bus (they are red/silver). You can take this bus to Beverly Hills (get off at Wilshire/Rodeo 30~40 minutes), or Petersen/LACMA/Tar Pits (get off at Wilshire/Fairfax 40~50 minutes).
7. Do the reverse to get back to LAX (or Uber)
If you are here after April, you can also easily each Downtown LA from Santa Monica via Metro rail. It will make visiting the California Science Center (to see the Space Shuttle) really easy and painless.
Something like this:
1. Take LAX Shuttle C, get off at the first stop outside airport (it's officially the stop for "cell phone waiting lot")
2. Walk across Vicksburge Ave to the "City Bus Center"
3. Take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #R3 (or the slower #3) toward Santa Monica - $1.25 about 45 minutes
4. Get off the bus at 4th street/Colorado (in front of the Santa Monica Place Mall)
5. Do whatever you want in Santa Monica... walk to the pier, visit the beach, rent a bikeshare and ride it to Venice Beach etc. Read the rest of this thread for some ideas.
6. When you are ready, go to Wilshire/4th street and catch the Metro Rapid 720 bus (they are red/silver). You can take this bus to Beverly Hills (get off at Wilshire/Rodeo 30~40 minutes), or Petersen/LACMA/Tar Pits (get off at Wilshire/Fairfax 40~50 minutes).
7. Do the reverse to get back to LAX (or Uber)
If you are here after April, you can also easily each Downtown LA from Santa Monica via Metro rail. It will make visiting the California Science Center (to see the Space Shuttle) really easy and painless.
Jan 11, 2016, 11:52 pm
#704
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,594
Fare Change Coming January 10, 2016
And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
In October, Santa Monica City Council approved a new fare structure for Big Blue Bus.
The new fares will take effect on January 10, 2016.
A summary of changes is below:
1. No change - Senior/Disabled/Medicare cash fares and passes.
2. Reduction - Regular and Youth 30-Day Pass prices.
3. New - Regular 7-Day Pass.
4. Increase - REGULAR fare cash price from $1.00 to $1.25, 30-Day Rapid 10 Express passes, 13-Rides passes and tokens.
<snip>
The new fares will take effect on January 10, 2016.
A summary of changes is below:
1. No change - Senior/Disabled/Medicare cash fares and passes.
2. Reduction - Regular and Youth 30-Day Pass prices.
3. New - Regular 7-Day Pass.
4. Increase - REGULAR fare cash price from $1.00 to $1.25, 30-Day Rapid 10 Express passes, 13-Rides passes and tokens.
<snip>
TWA884
Moderator
Jan 12, 2016, 1:44 pm
#705
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 582
If you don't want to rent a car, I would recommend staying near Wilshire Blvd due to frequent and reliable bus service. Check this thread for things to do in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Petersen Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pit/LACMA - all along the 720 bus route.
Something like this:
1. Take LAX Shuttle C, get off at the first stop outside airport (it's officially the stop for "cell phone waiting lot")
2. Walk across Vicksburge Ave to the "City Bus Center"
3. Take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #R3 (or the slower #3) toward Santa Monica - $1.25 about 45 minutes
4. Get off the bus at 4th street/Colorado (in front of the Santa Monica Place Mall)
5. Do whatever you want in Santa Monica... walk to the pier, visit the beach, rent a bikeshare and ride it to Venice Beach etc. Read the rest of this thread for some ideas.
6. When you are ready, go to Wilshire/4th street and catch the Metro Rapid 720 bus (they are red/silver). You can take this bus to Beverly Hills (get off at Wilshire/Rodeo 30~40 minutes), or Petersen/LACMA/Tar Pits (get off at Wilshire/Fairfax 40~50 minutes).
7. Do the reverse to get back to LAX (or Uber)
If you are here after April, you can also easily each Downtown LA from Santa Monica via Metro rail. It will make visiting the California Science Center (to see the Space Shuttle) really easy and painless.
Something like this:
1. Take LAX Shuttle C, get off at the first stop outside airport (it's officially the stop for "cell phone waiting lot")
2. Walk across Vicksburge Ave to the "City Bus Center"
3. Take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #R3 (or the slower #3) toward Santa Monica - $1.25 about 45 minutes
4. Get off the bus at 4th street/Colorado (in front of the Santa Monica Place Mall)
5. Do whatever you want in Santa Monica... walk to the pier, visit the beach, rent a bikeshare and ride it to Venice Beach etc. Read the rest of this thread for some ideas.
6. When you are ready, go to Wilshire/4th street and catch the Metro Rapid 720 bus (they are red/silver). You can take this bus to Beverly Hills (get off at Wilshire/Rodeo 30~40 minutes), or Petersen/LACMA/Tar Pits (get off at Wilshire/Fairfax 40~50 minutes).
7. Do the reverse to get back to LAX (or Uber)
If you are here after April, you can also easily each Downtown LA from Santa Monica via Metro rail. It will make visiting the California Science Center (to see the Space Shuttle) really easy and painless.
