Another LA thread

[Jer3]

Two questions Dukes.

1. Has your opinion on DTLA changed? I saw just a few years ago, you mentioned never to stay there. My homebase for an upcoming trip will be in the LA Live district since I got a killer deal.
2. Is it entirely possible to only use Uber/Lyft in LA to get around? I've priced out a car rental, gas and parking at the hotel and it starts to get ridiculous. Planning to be based in DTLA but will most likely only venture out to West Hollywood, Ktown, Beverly Hills, Burbank and ending off in Marina Del Rey/Santa Monica for the last day.

[bcrdukes]

1. For the most part, no, my opinion of DTLA has not really changed, but that's mostly because DTLA doesn't change much, if at all.

LA Live district is fine. It is, after all, an entertainment and convention hub so it's okay. Just take caution at night for outliers and the like and you'll be fine.

2. I think it is possible to get by with only Uber and Lyft, but the costs will add up given the distances you're going. And yes, parking will get ridiculous. Gas - I think you'll be okay. Car rentals can get expensive, I agree, so weigh your options.

Keep in mind, the street car now goes down to Santa Monica so you do have public transit options, albeit very slow haha. Do a quick Google search on where it starts/ends and fare options.

LA is great, and I love it there, but it is not entirely a tourist-friendly city.

[Gerbs]

Anyone use turo in LA? I was planning to rent like a ap1 or ap2 for like 41usd for a day.

[MelonBoy]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Anyone use turo in LA? I was planning to rent like a ap1 or ap2 for like 41usd for a day.

Might consider priceline bidding a compact or eco car for $18usd a day. Half the price



Also noticed AirBnB prices are super expensive in LA... After fees and shit. Might as well book a hotel.

Anyone who's curious about the prices. Just booked my hotel & flight for June.
Flight $250CAD
Hotel $103 USD - Airport/lax area, 3 1/2 star hotel
Car currently bidding but $18usd/day seems to be workable

[Hehe]

This might be slightly OT, but I think it's appropriate here.

A friend that I haven't seen in a long time is coming for a visit and we are planning on driving down to LA (Irvine/OC to be exact) to visit another of our common friend.

I know the part from here to PDX pretty well so showing him around won't be an issue until PDX. However, is there any particular route post-PDX that I should take or spots I should hit?

The main idea is sightseeing. I know Bay Area well as well as LAX... but not sure what's there to do along the way.

[bcrdukes]

For anyone flying to Los Angeles on Air Canada, some important news as an FYI. Air Canada was previously based in the newly renovated Terminal 2, however, it's good that they moved, because Terminal 2 was too small and over capacity.

Originally Posted by Air Canada

Effective May 17th, 2017 Air Canada flights out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will be relocating to Terminal 6 (from Terminal 2*).

The Air Canada check-in area will be conveniently located immediately upon entering Terminal 6 at the departures level.

We invite you to print your boarding pass at one of the 14 self-service check-in kiosks before proceeding to one of the baggage drop-off counters to deposit any checked bags. From there, head to the expanded security screening area, then onward to your gate.

At Terminal 6, regularly scheduled Air Canada flights will depart from gates 68A, 68B and 69B

Priority Services

Eligible customers will have access to three dedicated priority check-in counters, as well as TSA Pre-Check and Priority Security. More about our priority services.

Maple Leaf Lounge

A state-of-the-art Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge will also be opening its doors on the mezzanine level of Terminal 6 on May 17, 2017. There, as with all our Maple Leaf Lounges, eligible customers can relax and re-energize in luxury prior to boarding their flight.

* Should you arrive at the wrong terminal, airport ambassadors wearing lime green vests will be on hand to direct you to lime green shuttle buses which will escort customers to Terminal 6.

Source - https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...html#/20170420

[Rallydrv]

heading to LA for the first time, doing LA and San Diego. 7 days.

1-3 days LA, 4-5 Anaheim (Disneyland-not sure worth it) and 6-7 San Diego.

can anybody tell me if universal studios <six flags < Disneyland is right way to go. and whats to see in San Diego

k-town hotels are showing up around $200 for 2.5 stars? wtf.
any recommendations?

[Slifer]

Definitely check out Universal Studios and Six Flags if you've never been to one before. Its hard to compare the 2. Six Flags is more about crazy thrills rides. The one in LA is their flagship park so I would recommend going to both. Skip Disneyland and check out Knotts Berry Farm instead.

[Ch28]

Check AirBNB and VRBO if hotel prices are too much.

[syee]

Originally Posted by Rallydrv

heading to LA for the first time, doing LA and San Diego. 7 days.

1-3 days LA, 4-5 Anaheim (Disneyland-not sure worth it) and 6-7 San Diego.

can anybody tell me if universal studios <six flags < Disneyland is right way to go. and whats to see in San Diego

k-town hotels are showing up around $200 for 2.5 stars? wtf.
any recommendations?

LA hotels are expensive. I stayed at a crappy Super 8 close to Chinatown back in December and it was over $200/night. AirBnB's weren't a whole lot cheaper either.

San Diego things to do:
*Seaworld
*San Diego Zoo
*San Diego Wild Animal Park
*Balboa Park
*Coronado Island
*Any of the beaches
*Gaslamp District

If you're adventurous, you could even cross the border and venture down into Tijuana

[bcrdukes]

I personally cannot recommend Universal Studios.

The quality of the rides are an extreme disappointment. They are mostly video-based rides that last a few minutes and more than half the time, the ride quits / crashes and that's it. Even the staff and patrons there look sad and pathetic!

[G]

Heading to LA this weekend.

Best way to get Data? Do they have wifi eggs?

A couple of places are are checking out for eats:
- Eggslut
- In & Out or Shake shack
- Sugarfish
- Kang-ho-dong Baekjeong
- SomiSomi
- Avenue 26 Tacos
- California Donuts

Any other recommendations? I am arriving Friday night until Monday night

[MelonBoy]

Originally Posted by G

Heading to LA this weekend.

Best way to get Data? Do they have wifi eggs?

A couple of places are are checking out for eats:
- Eggslut
- In & Out or Shake shack
- Sugarfish
- Kang-ho-dong Baekjeong
- SomiSomi
- Avenue 26 Tacos
- California Donuts

Any other recommendations? I am arriving Friday night until Monday night

https://roammobility.com/
You can buy the sim locally but I think you need a unlocked phone

[syee]

Originally Posted by MelonBoy

https://roammobility.com/
You can buy the sim locally but I think you need a unlocked phone

You definitely need an unlocked phone. Most carriers also have roaming plans for the US. Fido/Rogers have their Roam like Home plan for $5/day - might be worthwhile to see if that works for you if your phone is locked.

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by syee

You definitely need an unlocked phone. Most carriers also have roaming plans for the US. Fido/Rogers have their Roam like Home plan for $5/day - might be worthwhile to see if that works for you if your phone is locked.

I believe that the "Roam Like Home" is only available for customers on certain plans (expensive ones they're gouging us with)

[syee]

Originally Posted by Ch28

I believe that the "Roam Like Home" is only available for customers on certain plans (expensive ones they're gouging us with)

For Rogers, It says almost every plan has Roam Like Home
http://www.rogers.com/web/support/wi...like-home/2160

For Fido, it should be the Pulse Plans
Fido Roam | Stay Connected While You Travel | Fido

I guess I was just pointing out to check with your carrier to see what's available. Plans like Roam like Home aren't that much more than what Roam Mobility offers and offer a bit more convenience. Unlocking phones (especially iPhones) aren't cheap, and for a 2-3 day on off trip, isn't very economical.

[6793026]

I'm going to universal studios.

ticket + speed pass, anyone have hookup or best pricing / discount codes?

[Rallydrv]

just got back from LA,


i was able to get Hotel Indigo (4*) for 120$+ tax (priceline) a night (requested 2 beds on check in) walking distance to livela etc.
Was able to get week car rental for $244 (thru work pricing @ hertz)

went to universal, (bought tix for $110 from discount place( google it) and paid $119 for fast pass,
personally i cant imagine how does Universal gets around asking for $200+ for shitty rides. (personally i dont like simulated rides). only thing i did like was the mummy ride. thats about it. if you must go, fast pass is a must. (should've done knot berry or 6 flags instead)

Also look into universal hotels. they give u fast pass so might be cheaper depending on rates

next time if i visit it will be in off season

SAN Diego, was more fun than LA, food /beaches / parking. everything seemed much better than LA

[originalhypa]

I just got back from Cali last night. It was a great trip, 10 days in 3 cities.
Our first 6 days was in Corona for a hockey tournament. We stayed at the Ayres suites east which was nice. Corona was hot as hell though, with 107* being the peak and 102* the average.

We then moved on to the Great Wolf lodge in Anaheim which was a blast! The resort atmosphere was great, and the waterpark was almost too much fun. It got a little busy, as Rallydrv said, but we hit it up first thing in the morning, and for the last 90 minutes in the evening and had no issues with lines.

We finished up at the Doubletree suites in Santa Monica. At $500/night I had high expectations and they met them very well. The suites were really nice, and the service was great. Santa Monica pier is a shithole, full of druggies and homeless. Kind of a let down in the end.

Our last day was spent in Malibu. I'm a pretty comfortable guy financially, but damn! The Malibu folks know how to live. By the time we were ready to head to LAX, we were tired of Rolls Royce and Bentleys. Hell, AMG benzes and Maseratis were like Hondas there, littering the PCH

LA isn't very nice, but the inland areas were awesome. We met tons of great people, and enjoyed our time there.

One note..... Budget rent a car was our only option this time as all other rental car options were sold out. They fucking raped my wallet!!! First off, it took 90 minutes to get our Explorer. Upon our return, they charged me an additional $600 for insurance which I didn't agree to because my CC already offered insurance. I bought the prepaid gas option which should have only been $2.75/gallon. But when I returned the car they said it wasn't on my contract and wanted to charge me $10/gallon. I argued for 10 minutes but the bitch was stoic behind the counter saying I should have pored over the 6 page, fine print contract before leaving. Even though we had hundreds of people behind us in line, and had to be in Corona in less than an hour. Dealing with Budget LAX was one of the worst experiences I've ever had travelling, and I will tell everyone I know to avoid them.

[CivicBlues]

^Call your CC company and dispute the $600 charge if it wasn't authorized.

If I was in your place I'd be fucking livid and would have made a huge scene. Next thing you'll hear on the news: "Canadian tasered at LAX"

[bcrdukes]

hypa, stopped spreading fake news, okay? (Just kidding.)

Sorry to hear about your experience. That's pretty shitty. Hope you can get that resolved.

Edit: Fuck Universal Studios. That place is one of the saddest places I've ever been to. Parents and their children looked like they wanted to end themselves.

[MSREE]

Made a LA/Disney thread, then I saw this one. Sorry - I'm fucking blind apparently.
Anyways - resurrecting this oldie but goodie.

Big Daddy has signed off for me to go on a trip with my girlfriend for her birthday in November

Nov 7-10. Heading to LA/Disneyland. Staying at a hotel in Anaheim - gf has a hook up for hotels so for accomodations we got it for $205USD total which we will be splitting.
We're planning to leave YVR early on Nov 7 and arrive LAX mid morning.
Ideally, we'd like to explore a bit of LA before heading to Anaheim (chartered bus to Disney resort). Same plan for Nov 10 as we're planning an evening flight, hopefully we can get some exploring done in the day time.

I was wondering if anyone knows if after landing, we can store our luggage at a valet at a notable hotel for the day as we explore? Don't mind paying a fee.
My uncle has done this for us a few times in Vegas... but I don't know if people do this regularly?? Anybody with experience of this??

If not, we're ok with travelling to Anaheim to check in/drop off and travel back..... probably using a chartered bus or Lyft!

Also, any tips/recommendations for LA/Disneyland would be great!
Cheap food recommendations are heavily welcomed! Disney is going to be a huge expense so we don't mind watching our wallet where we can.
We're not really fussy

I'm researching as much as I can online, so any other websites for tips would be appreciated too.
I'm frequenting TripAdvisor already.

[Slifer]

You will enjoy Six Flags (the X2 ride will fucking blow your mind) more than Disneyland but If you really want to go to Disney, make sure to use their free fast pass system. You basically just go to their fast pass kiosk for a ticket for whichever ride you choose. It will give you a ticket with a set time to come back so you don't have to line up. You can only hold onto 2-3 tickets at once though.

Check out the Griffiths Observatory at night. Its free and you get to see an amazing view of the city.

[JSALES]

What are some of the clubs in Los Angeles, Costa Mesa and Koreatown worth checking out? Hip hop/EDM music doesn't matter

[originalhypa]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

hypa, stopped spreading fake news, okay? (Just kidding.)

Sorry to hear about your experience. That's pretty shitty. Hope you can get that resolved.

There was nothing to resolve. They won, and my only recourse was a nasty Yelp review.



Really though, it was a lesson learned. Early July, the tourism was in full swing. Budget was our only option as we booked late. But the lesson was worth far more than the additional couple hundred bucks. I learned that sometimes, independance is far better than convenience. It made me a better traveller.

Edit: Fuck Universal Studios. That place is one of the saddest places I've ever been to. Parents and their children looked like they wanted to end themselves.

You gotta spring for the VIP passes.



That is the baller move that makes Universal a lot more fun.