Discussion
GE90 said:
The property we are looking at is in Monrovia, which seems a little out of town. This doesn’t seem an issue as we will be hiring a car from the airport and have for the entire time.
Any thoughts on the area of the villa please?
Don't really know the area, as its, as you say, quite a bit away from the normal touristy spots.Any thoughts on the area of the villa please?
So, you will be doing a lot of driving, and you'll need to be prepared for early starts as you'll be spending a lot of time in rush hour traffic to get anywhere for a reasonable start time.....and/or getting back late.
aeropilot said:
Don't really know the area, as its, as you say, quite a bit away from the normal touristy spots.
So, you will be doing a lot of driving, and you'll need to be prepared for early starts as you'll be spending a lot of time in rush hour traffic to get anywhere for a reasonable start time.....and/or getting back late.
This is quite a way out but reduces time to Vegas side if you want to. So, you will be doing a lot of driving, and you'll need to be prepared for early starts as you'll be spending a lot of time in rush hour traffic to get anywhere for a reasonable start time.....and/or getting back late.
Agree on traffic issues, avoid peak times, weekends.
fourstardan said:
aeropilot said:
Don't really know the area, as its, as you say, quite a bit away from the normal touristy spots.
So, you will be doing a lot of driving, and you'll need to be prepared for early starts as you'll be spending a lot of time in rush hour traffic to get anywhere for a reasonable start time.....and/or getting back late.
This is quite a way out but reduces time to Vegas side if you want to. So, you will be doing a lot of driving, and you'll need to be prepared for early starts as you'll be spending a lot of time in rush hour traffic to get anywhere for a reasonable start time.....and/or getting back late.
Brilliant location for visiting Planes of Fame museum at Chino though or if you were going in January for GNRS at Pomona
GE90 said:
Hi All
We have decided on LA in July, and will do the typical family stuff mentioned in this very helpful thread.
The property we are looking at is in Monrovia, which seems a little out of town. This doesn’t seem an issue as we will be hiring a car from the airport and have for the entire time.
Any thoughts on the area of the villa please?
Any reassurance much appreciated.
Many thanks.
If its of any interest to you Monrovia is pretty much in the middle (on the south side) of the canyon roads that a lot of youtubers use.We have decided on LA in July, and will do the typical family stuff mentioned in this very helpful thread.
The property we are looking at is in Monrovia, which seems a little out of town. This doesn’t seem an issue as we will be hiring a car from the airport and have for the entire time.
Any thoughts on the area of the villa please?
Any reassurance much appreciated.
Many thanks.
For the first one go east on the 210 and get off at Azusa and head north.
You will then get onto San Gabriel canyon. Follow it for about 45 min. Its a dead end.
Turn round and come back the way you came. Allow 2 hours for the round trip.
The other one is Angeles Forest Highway but its currently closed due to storm damage but do the run up to Mt Wilson instead.
Go west on the 210 and then north on the 210. Take the exit for Angels Crest and hwy 2.
Turn right and follow hwy 2 north. After a good 20 min you will see red box rest area.
Turn right there and go all the way up to Mount Wilson.
Its a long drive. But the roads are stunning and the view from the top is incredible.
You will be able to see all of LA and all the way to SaMo on a clear day.
Its not free to park fyi. There is a cafe.
Allow 3 hours for the round trip.
Watch out for the CHP!
Read this through and don't think that anyone has mentioned the Warner Bros Studios tour. Really enjoyed it when we visited in 2016 and might be a decent idea with teenage kids in tow.
Didn't think a lot of Hollywood Blvd. Really enjoyed pottering around the Griffith Observatory, though parking to go into it was a pain.
Liked Santa Monica but LOVED Santa Barbara when we stayed there. Also stayed in Huntington Beach which was a lovely way to unwind after a busy few days in LA. Can't recommend the place we stayed in LA as it was an AirB&B not suitable for families. But Shorebreak Kimpton at HB was great!
Didn't think a lot of Hollywood Blvd. Really enjoyed pottering around the Griffith Observatory, though parking to go into it was a pain.
Liked Santa Monica but LOVED Santa Barbara when we stayed there. Also stayed in Huntington Beach which was a lovely way to unwind after a busy few days in LA. Can't recommend the place we stayed in LA as it was an AirB&B not suitable for families. But Shorebreak Kimpton at HB was great!
All booked!
Thanks for all of the suggestions.
Hire car next! Any thoughts on the following would be appreciated:
I seem to recall seeing discount codes, but none now I’m about to book! Any codes around and/or suggestions of hire company?
We will be collecting from the airport, so need something large enough for 4 plus 4 x luggage! Seems to be a minefield in terms of a suitably sized vehicle - any ideas?
Thanks very much.
Thanks for all of the suggestions.
Hire car next! Any thoughts on the following would be appreciated:
I seem to recall seeing discount codes, but none now I’m about to book! Any codes around and/or suggestions of hire company?
We will be collecting from the airport, so need something large enough for 4 plus 4 x luggage! Seems to be a minefield in terms of a suitably sized vehicle - any ideas?
Thanks very much.
We used Hertz.
There is no onsite car hire at the airport, everything is a shuttle.
The main Hertz was about 30% more expensive than the one in the Marriott airport hotel. The hotel has its own shuttle bus so its as broad as long.
Prices might have changed now though it was 2 years ago. We paid about $1600 for 4 weeks for an SUV. Which broke down in Vegas so they gave us a mini van. Which got broken into in San Fran... so we ended up back in an SUV.
Fun times.. fun times...
There is no onsite car hire at the airport, everything is a shuttle.
The main Hertz was about 30% more expensive than the one in the Marriott airport hotel. The hotel has its own shuttle bus so its as broad as long.
Prices might have changed now though it was 2 years ago. We paid about $1600 for 4 weeks for an SUV. Which broke down in Vegas so they gave us a mini van. Which got broken into in San Fran... so we ended up back in an SUV.
Fun times.. fun times...
As mentioned before, worth joining Hertz gold club (free) to get a discounted rate, you used to get a discount if you booked and paid with Amex and you can get a better rate if you book through the Amex website travel section.
I booked a Nissan Mid size suv and got upgraded for free (on gold club) to a Nissan Armada V8 Gigantasarous.
I booked a Nissan Mid size suv and got upgraded for free (on gold club) to a Nissan Armada V8 Gigantasarous.
aeropilot said:
Yep, its a full days drive from somewhere like Santa Monica or Long Beach areas of LA (and that was 20 years ago when I last did it) so you need to have rooms pre-booked for Grand Canyon Village, as the ideal trip is to leave LA early morning so as to arrive at the south rim in time for sunset over the canyon.
But, after a 7-8 hr drive from LA (unless you have multiple drivers sharing) its a further 5 hr+ drive from the South Rim down and back across to Vegas ontop of the couple of hrs spent at the south rim.
Change of plan.....will now fly to Flagstaff, rent a car and have 2 nights on the South Rim, before driving to Vegas. But, after a 7-8 hr drive from LA (unless you have multiple drivers sharing) its a further 5 hr+ drive from the South Rim down and back across to Vegas ontop of the couple of hrs spent at the south rim.
Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 11th April 15:49
The G Kid said:
aeropilot said:
Yep, its a full days drive from somewhere like Santa Monica or Long Beach areas of LA (and that was 20 years ago when I last did it) so you need to have rooms pre-booked for Grand Canyon Village, as the ideal trip is to leave LA early morning so as to arrive at the south rim in time for sunset over the canyon.
But, after a 7-8 hr drive from LA (unless you have multiple drivers sharing) its a further 5 hr+ drive from the South Rim down and back across to Vegas ontop of the couple of hrs spent at the south rim.
Change of plan.....will now fly to Flagstaff, rent a car and have 2 nights on the South Rim, before driving to Vegas. But, after a 7-8 hr drive from LA (unless you have multiple drivers sharing) its a further 5 hr+ drive from the South Rim down and back across to Vegas ontop of the couple of hrs spent at the south rim.
Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 11th April 15:49
Restaurant with a view recommendation: Gladstones on the PCH in Malibu
gladstones.com
gladstones.com
fourstardan said:
Drive I found from LA to Vegas was a bit mundane, Death Valley is a long trip.
Look out for decent gigs on in LA, you just never know who will be playing.
Has anyone gone down to the corner where the USS IOWA is and Portuguese Bend Reserve? Looks like somewhere I'd be going next time to explore.
Couldn't agree more! There's often a big name playing in a small venue in / around LA. Saw Bowie play a gig to <200 people in 1990.Look out for decent gigs on in LA, you just never know who will be playing.
Has anyone gone down to the corner where the USS IOWA is and Portuguese Bend Reserve? Looks like somewhere I'd be going next time to explore.
aeropilot said:
Take appropriate clothing as you are going in October. South rim area is almost 7000ft above sea level, so evenings in October can be a tad chilly.
Very good advice! We arrived early on a cloudy September day and it was pretty chilly. By lunch time the sun was beating down on us. October has a reasonable chancd of dipping below freezing at night/early morningGassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff