To drive or DLE, that is the question...

[sandymandr]

What would you do? Arriving LAX 12pm 3/17, going to DL until 3/20, then to Santa Barbara until 3/23 departing LAX. I have to pick up a car to go to SB, but I can either take DLE RT and pick up the car on 3/20 OR just go ahead and pick up the car on 3/17 and keep it for the week. Car rental cost difference is about $100 (DLE about $60). I'm willing to pay a little more if it is truly more convenient, I'm just really not sure if driving from LAX would really save me any time getting to the park (staying at Carousel).....but it may allow me to stay a little later Thursday 'cause I could just drive straight to SB and bypass the airport................anyway, please give me your opinions, WWYD???? I just can't decide!! TIA!

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Why couldn't you just pick up the rental at DTD, there is an Alamo Rental car place right there, and then you wouldn't have to go all the way back to LAX (that could be a PITA)? But, if it has to be either or, I'm probably stubborn enough to just get the rental while at LAX the first time.

 

[Hound 109]

Why couldn't you just pick up the rental at DTD, there is an Alamo Rental car place right there, and then you wouldn't have to go all the way back to LAX (that could be a PITA)? But, if it has to be either or, I'm probably stubborn enough to just get the rental while at LAX the first time.

If you don't do the Alamo option that mindy recommends, i would go ahead & rent it when you get in. Since:

- Noon is before the "bad" rush hour.
- You can leave when you want to on your departing day (which would be an MM/EE day I'm guessing).

Be sure and hang a left on I 10 & take it to the beach. (It dead ends at the Santa Monica Pier & then becomes the PCH going north). Take the PCH (hwy. 1) thru Malibu until it meets back up with the 101 in Oxnard. Pretty drive.

 

[sandymandr]

Be sure and hang a left on I 10 & take it to the beach. (It dead ends at the Santa Monica Pier & then becomes the PCH going north). Take the PCH (hwy. 1) thru Malibu until it meets back up with the 101 in Oxnard. Pretty drive.

Sounds wonderful!! Glad to hear noon is not too busy! Thanks to you both! I think I am leaning toward just going ahead and getting the car. On check out day, we can just load our stuff before we go to parks and not have to worry about waiting for or making the DLE at a certain time..........OOOH, and I just now realized that I can just keep the stuff in the car until we're ready to check in.....quicker to the parks afterall!!

Mindy, do you know if you can pick-up at DTD and drop-off at LAX? Thanks again!!

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I would assume that would probably be okay, since there are probably so many locations in the LA area they could get cars from somewhere else. See it will allow you to make those types of ressies online, or give them a call and ask.

 

[Hound 109]

Sounds wonderful!! Glad to hear noon is not too busy! Thanks to you both! I think I am leaning toward just going ahead and getting the car. On check out day, we can just load our stuff before we go to parks and not have to worry about waiting for or making the DLE at a certain time..........OOOH, and I just now realized that I can just keep the stuff in the car until we're ready to check in.....quicker to the parks afterall!!

Mindy, do you know if you can pick-up at DTD and drop-off at LAX? Thanks again!!

Attached is a Malibu website with a map that shows where I 10 dead ends at the beach (in Santa Monica).

http://www.malibu.org/about/maps.asp

Best if you get to Santa Monica no later than 2 - 3pm, if you want to enjoy the beach drive with less traffic. (About 60-90 min. from DLR to Santa Monica depending on - of course - traffic.)

- Great City Beaches the first 5 miles up from the SM pier, if you want to stick you feet in the sand. Then another 5 miles to Malibu.

- Another Great Beach that will be easier to cross the road & won't be crowded during the week would be Zuma (several miles north of Pepperdine Univ. in Malibu).

- Just north of Pepperdine on the right side (at the bottom of the hill at Crystal Beach) is Malibu Seafood (great fish sandwiches...ask for them on sourdough or you'll get white brid. Cheap & you can eat outside & watch the surf.) I think they have a website...you can google it. (found it) http://www.malibuseafood.com/

- From Zuma is a pretty 20-25 miles with little development. The Santa Monica Mtns. on your right & the Pacific on your left.

Then you get to OXNARD. drive thru oxnard till you meet up with 101

Note - you can do this going up to SB or coming back (or both ways)...it beats going thru downtown LA & the SanFernando valley.

Have fun!

 

[candied]

Just make sure that you listen to some traffic reports and make sure that PCH through that area is relatively clear of construction or problems from rainy weather or wildfires. It can get tricky driving through there.

Good luck and have fun! You sound really excited to come. Have you been to California before?

Candace

 

[Hound 109]

Just make sure that you listen to some traffic reports and make sure that PCH through that area is relatively clear of construction or problems from rainy weather or wildfires. It can get tricky driving through there.

Good luck and have fun! You sound really excited to come. Have you been to California before?

Candace

Good point, Candace.

Have there been road closures (on PCH) between Santa Monica & Oxnard due to the rain & runoff (due to the fires)?

 

[candied]

I haven't heard anything today. But this area was so hard hit with the wildfires last October that you never know what could happen. We had some rain yesterday, not as bad as we have had in the past, but enough to worry residents living in those areas.

We are suppose to be camping in Malibu in April, so hopefully we will be okay. I don't think the time the OP is scheduled to travel should be bad, but never count on it. It really is a beautiful drive, so hopefully they can see it. For traffic reports, I listen to KNX 1070 - on the AM dial.

I love going to Santa Barbara - very nice and fun.

Candace

 

[KerTggr]

Have there been road closures (on PCH) between Santa Monica & Oxnard due to the rain & runoff (due to the fires)?

There was a closure of PCH right after malibu a little over a week ago for accident caused by drivers in the rain. You do always have the option of going up 101 earlier (101 earlier or cut up 405 (though 405 is usually the worst!) or even 27)...

Best to just check the reports before heading out & listen to the radio.

 

[sandymandr]

WOW! Thanks everyone for all the great info! I have been to Ca several times, used to live in Midpines, outside Yosemite in a past life. And we toured all around the state looking for frogs (I am totally serious!). And I have visited SB many times too. But this will be my step-DD15 first trip, she will LOVE the PCH!! I am so happy you recommended it, I wasn't even thinking about our route! And thanks very much for the radio station for traffic, that could be a lifesaver!! I am VERY excited about coming back to CA!! Great news.....I just had DLT change me from DLE to a weekly car rental and it was only $70 more than my original total cost (including the shorter 3-day car rental I was booking separately)! Plus, no ressie change fee since I did it all through them!! Wooooooooooooooooo hoooooo!! And I paid the final payment too!! I can't wait!! Thanks again for your help!! I love the DIS