BootsnAll Travel Community

A friend and I will be in Los Angeles for 2 nights and one full day (arrive Sunday evening, depart Tuesday morning). Any suggestions on what we should do in that one full day? We are thinking about staying somewhere in/near Hollywood close to some of the attractions so we don't need to rent a car. Any advice on moderately cheap lodging and must see attractions would be appreciated!

My suggestion is to stay in or around Santa Monica. Several reasons:
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Hollywood is a cesspit and the most disappointing sight in Southern California.

Santa Monica is on the beach.

It's cheaper and easier to get to Santa Monica from the airport (take Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #3 for 75 cents from the bus terminal adjacent to the Lot C shuttle stop).

The public transportation network from Santa Monica is the best in the city.

While I totally agree with everything you said Corvinus, I do know that travelers and tourists that come into the city do indeed want to see the Hollywood side of things, despite that it is a shithole. I live here, I should know.

It really depends on what interests you, but if you want to spend the time at the beach, I agree that Santa Monica is a good start point. The bus system IS great and you can rent bikes and bike all the way north to Malibu or south to as far as Hermosa Beach all along the beach, check out Venice, the canals, etc. That being said, if you want to see the touristy stuff, then Hollywood is the way to go. There are plenty of hostels and cheaper hotels here in the heart of the city and even though I drove here for seven years, I now bus and bike everywhere and find even the city transportation is perfectly accessible here. For the more touristy destinations, there is the Mann's Chinese theater, the walk of fame, the sunset strip, beverly hills, venice beach, etc.

Usually when I have a friend in town for a day we do the following route:

1) Drive or hike to the Hollywood sign
2) Bus/Metro/Taxi to Hollywood/Highland to the Mann's Chinese theater, walk from there down Hollywood blvd to see some of the stars, etc.
3) Bus to Beverly Hills via the Sunset strip just to see the famous places you see on tv...walk around Rodeo drive
4) Bus to Venice Beach, walk along the boardwalk
5) Bus back via Melrose, shop if so inclined
6) Dinner somewhere hip/drinks

This is a VERY TOURISTY and very packed itinerary but if you really do want that type of experience its totally doable. But again, if you'd rather relax, a nice little beach hotel (or the venice beach hostel, only $15 a night!) are great places to just be on the beach.

feel free to PM if you want more info

erin

You might find this thread interesting:
http://boards.bootsnall.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/94009875...00990216#75000990216