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Post by scrappintoee on Jun 26, 2014 22:38:50 GMT
Hi....**THIS** is one of the reasons I am SO thankful to have this board! Last night, I was thinking "if ONLY I could go on 2peas and ask this question.....now I'll just use google, travel advisor, etc....but it's NOT. THE. SAME" (I like to hear peoples' stories, tips, thoughts, etc!) Onto my question.....For a possible trip to LA, I want to stay at a hotel that's pretty close to the airport and has views of the ocean......is that area nice? Unfortunately, we HAVE to stay near the airport because I am TOO AFRAID to drive in strange cities, and I'll have my elderly (but healthy!) Dad with me, and he no longer drives. IF there aren't nice beaches near-ish to LAX, what beaches are somewhat close that are nice? Besides being able to SEE it from the hotel, I also LOVE to swim in the ocean!!! Also, is Venice Beach near LAX? Are there some quaint motels / hotels with ocean views? I have a feeling it might be less expensive there---am I totally wrong? LOL! I've only seen Venice Beach in movies and TV shows and I cannot WAIT to people-watch!!!!!!  Thanks in advance  |
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Post by ahiller on Jun 26, 2014 23:02:41 GMT
LAX to Santa Monica was about a 15-20 minute drive. We were just there in early May. Honestly, if you have a GPS or rent a car with one, that makes driving in a strange city so much easier.
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 26, 2014 23:20:19 GMT
Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach are all super close to LAX.
It's pricey, but Shutters on the Beach (Santa Monica) is a splurge hotel right on the beach.
The Beach Hotel (Hermosa) is more moderately priced but still higher-end.
Those are the two I know and would recommend. I generally stay in the area but not on the beach so more of the hotels that I use are in El Segundo.
Yes, Venice Beach is also close to LAX.
If you are just planning to hang at the beach, dont rent a car. Just take a taxi to your hotel and enjoy the beach and people-watching. For beachfront hotels, you are also going to pay a premium for parking anyway.
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939 
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Jun 26, 2014 23:46:00 GMT
I live in Los Angeles. When we moved back from New Zealand we stayed at the Renaissance Hotel right across the street from LAX. It was a nice hotel and the beds were comfortable.
Insofar as beaches, directly behind LAX is Dockweiler beach. It has fire pits so you can have a bonfire after dark. I took my kids a few years ago and it was fun. The young USC guys at the next pit needed a lot of help starting their fire. In the daytime, the jets fly right overhead and it is kind of exciting. The bigger the plane the later it takes off the runway...you can imagine.
North of the airport is Marina del Rey, Venice and Santa Monica. Venice is usually crowded and is very touristy. Santa Monica has the pier and a super wide beach, Marina del Rey is much smaller and mellower.
South of the airport the beaches are, as mentioned above, Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo. All of them are nice.
The airport is right by the ocean so driving north or south is very easy and convenient, unlike driving anywhere else in town where you will hit traffic.
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Post by *christine* on Jun 26, 2014 23:46:14 GMT
We went to LA last December but we stayed in Anaheim. We did rent a car and drove to Santa Monica, Laguna, Huntington Beach and Venice.
Venice Beach was not at all what we expected and nothing like you see on tv and in the movies...it was gross. Huntington Beach was our favorite. Laguna Beach was also nice but soo soo crowded.
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Post by scrappintoee on Jun 26, 2014 23:54:02 GMT
THANK YOU ALL SOOOO much for all this info !!!!!!! We are going to visit my nephews, and during the day while they're at work, I wanna hang at the beach (and SEE the beach from the room, if it's not toooo pricey!!! But a quick walk to the ocean is fine, too! Now I'lll google to check if all these mentioned beaches rent umbrellas and chairs-----those are a MUST! My Dad is happy as a clam being in the cold, crisp hotel room with a good book and going to the pool till we see his adorable grandsons in the evenings......OOOHhhh, and I LOVE fires on the beach at night!!!! That's good to hear, because my other FAVE beach (in Delaware) does NOT allow fires anymore....... |
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,709
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jun 30, 2014 16:15:07 GMT
I like Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo, but my favourites are Huntington and Laguna.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 30, 2014 16:33:03 GMT
It's been 20 years since we lived there, but in my experience, Huntington's beach was a quick decline into waist deep water. It was great for boogie boarding, but if your kids are young and not used to the heavy surf, I would avoid it.
We only went to Venice Beach once. It was definitely a tourist spot, but I remember the beach being much tamer. I'm sure there are others who can advise you on the surf.
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Post by papersilly on Jun 30, 2014 17:15:39 GMT
I live in this area and if you want ocean views, you will have to stay in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, or Redondo Beach. They are close to LAX and run along Sepulveda Blvd which takes you straight to the airport. You can also stay down at Marina Del Rey just northwest of LAX. You can get Marina views there.
If you stay in a hotel right at the airport, you may have ocean views if you stay in the highest floors.
If you want easy going beach areas, stay in the South Bay beach area (Manhattan, Hermosa, and south of that). Less traffic than Santa Monica.
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,421
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Post by luvnlifelady on Jun 30, 2014 17:45:16 GMT
If you want a fire pit, you may have to sit by one early in the afternoon. I've seen where some people just put their stuff by it, but no guarantee someone won't move it. You will probably pay a premium for ocean view rooms now that it's summer. Hope you have a nice trip.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jun 30, 2014 17:49:01 GMT
Random PSA/FYI but if you go to Manhattan Beach make sure you have a travel sized bottle of baby oil in your hotel room. There is tar on the beaches and it will stick to your skin and not budge.
I used to spend my summers as a kid out there, I spent weeks on the beach and we always came home with tar all over our feet.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on Jun 30, 2014 18:04:07 GMT
We went to Huntington Beach two years ago, and had the best time. We didn't swim, but we ate on the pier and watched the surfers. There was a street fair going on as well, which was a lot of fun. The beach was very clean, which it hadn't been the last time I was there, 20+ years ago.
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Post by annabella on Jun 30, 2014 18:37:37 GMT
I went to LA earlier this month and took the public bus everywhere, it was $1.50 a ride. You can also uberX or use lyft to get around.
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Post by scrappintoee on Jun 30, 2014 21:37:59 GMT
wow!!!! SOOO much great info....THANK YOU, everyone!!!!!!!! |
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