Getting from Universal City to LAX
 

Hi all!

Me and a friend are going to the US this summer, and our last stop will be LA (Staying at the Hilton Universal City).
Our flight leaves at 7:45 in the morning (CO to EWR, and further on to OSL), and I was simply wondering, what's the fastest and simplest option to get to LAX from Universal City. Would it be a cab, or are there other options?

Also, how early would you recommend leaving the hotel?
How long does it take to get to LAX, and how much time will we need at LAX before departure (will probably an early morning..)?


Thanks!

Hi martinfoss, welcome to FlyerTalk. First off, your best bet to get from Universal to LAX would be on one of the shuttles. Taxi fare would be huge. Secondly, it's a real crapshoot on the time. If you're leaving on the weekend, you're in better shape- probably about 75-minutes. But if you're leaving on a weekday, you'll be right smack in the middle of rush hour traffic on the busiest interchange in the U.S. And anything can happen. Are either of these an option?

1. Fly out of Burbank Airport? It's only several miles from Universal and will save you time and sleep.

2. Would your travel permit you to do your thing at Universal, then check into a hotel near LAX the night before your departure?

If neither of those alternatives work then, if it was me, I'd leave the hotel about 4am to get into the LAX area and then stop and have a relaxing breakfast at the Embassy Suites. Then catch their shuttle to the airport 5 mins away. Personally, the last thing I need before I travel is the stress wondering if there's going to be a problem with traffic, etc. I'd much rather leave way too early than a little too late. JMHO

Hi, and thank you.

Burbank is definately not an option, as the flight has already been booked and paid for, and is non-changeable.

However, I might actually consider changing to a different hotel for the last night! Searched Hilton.com, and found some ok rates at one called Embassy Suites Los Angeles Airport North. I think that's where we're staying. Thanks!!

However, how much time at the airport do you think we will need on a Wednesday morning?

Continental is Terminal 6. You'll hit some business rush hour travel, but you'll probably be fine if you arrive between 6:15-6:30AM. A little earlier if you have bags to check or you don't check-in online. Again, I always err on the side of too early.

One advantage, though, is that if you leave a hotel @ Universal at 5am or 5:30am for LAX, the traffic won't be as bad.

Why mess with Wednesday morning traffic? You will be taking the 405 South to LAX and a lot of commuters take that as well including many business travelers heading to the airport. Get a late check out, if you can, at your Universal City hotel and go to your LAX hotel whenever you want to Tuesday night. LAX hotels have some of the best values in the city. Make sure it is one nearby (some are miles away but call themselves LAX), with shuttle and a free breakfast is nice. Good thing with Embassy Suites is they offer some complimentary hot items to everyone for breakfast. A cab will probably be more than $50 and take at least 45 minutes, maybe more, to go 20 miles. The Hilton's hotel towncar is $85. Super Shuttle is $18 per person and they will make a number of other stops before LAX.

Thanks
 

Thank you for all help.

Will book a room at the Embassy suites, and change the Universal reservation from 3 to 2 nights. Will definately make that morning a lot easier.

Good decision. Now, for your trip down on Tuesday. If you can, you'll probably want to leave sometime between 9am and 2pm. Before or after those times, you'll hit some pretty heavy traffic. If you get down there on the earlier side, you'll have a good amount of time to check out the beach cities- Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

of course, since the OP has to catch a 07:45 flight, he/she may have to check out and depart the hotel before the breakfast service begins. :(

Actually, I would do the Universal City-to-LAX transfer in the early afternoon, in order to arrive in plenty of time for the free cocktail reception :D

http://www.laxembassy.com/index.html


Also, I recommend check with the hotel for the exact shuttle schedule and frequency to avoid last-minute problem.

The other option for the OP of course would be the Union Station-LAX flyaway bus that has been discussed quite a bit in this forum. It would be an easy thing for the OP since all he would need to do is walk across the street to the Red Line Station from the Universal Hilton.

Another option (which I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you, that no one mentioned) is a car rental.

Supershuttle will force the OP to leave an hour or more earlier than he should and won't be much use if he wants to go the the Embassy suites. And a cab is very expensive from the Valley to the LAX area.

That's because I didn't see the thread yet. :)

Asleep at the wheel again?

How many times do people here beg and beg travelers to get a car rental and they just laught it off and say: No I don't want to deal with LA traffic or I am not use to driving, etc. Besides the fact the the rental is probably cheaper than one long distance taxi ride.

Breakfast starts at 6 am so basically you would want to check out then eat right a 6 am and run. LAX is less than 1 mile so shuttle timing is most important. Try to find out how bad CO security/check-in is on weekday mornings.
I must admit that the unlimited (well type) drinks in the evening is something not even most of the elite hotel lounges can get you. It can be quite a scene. I was in an Embassy Suites for one month several years ago and partook in every evening for a month - I can never do that again for that long :D

We should just make it a requirement, like an exit tax. You can't walk out the door of LAX without a car rental contract or a local driver's license.

And yes, you can generally Priceline a car rental at LAX for sub-$20 from what I have seen.