Best Airport if First Staying in Hollywood

[Frozen2014]

Haven't booked anything as we're coming next summer and need to confirm exact dates, but have been watching prices and doing research. We'll most likely first spend a few days in LA/Hollywood area and then end the trip at Disneyland.

Although it's our only directly option, flying to/from LAX is $1000 more than flying to/from SNA. However, since we aren't just spending time at Disney, I'm thinking of flying to Burbank as it doesn't add too much to the cost if we just from to/from SNA.

If looking at staying at a hotel near Hollywood Blvd, does this make sense? I don't know LA at all and want to ensure we are picking an airport that makes sense.

Another question....anyone know the ideal time to book flights? At the moment, BUR/SNA is $1000 cheaper than LAX but not sure if these prices will rise...especially once the new year comes. If it makes a difference, we are flying from Ontario and last week in August.

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, you could fly Ontario to Ontario... Sorry... couldn't resist

You have 5 airports to look at

Long Beach (LGB)

John Wayne (Orange County/Santa Ana/SNA)

Bob Hope (Hollywood/Burbank/BUR)

LAX

Ontario (ONT) Located inland near the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds)

So long as you get a rental car, any of these choices would work, LGB and SNA are the closest to Disneyland.

So now the question is which airlines fly from your airport (I will presume Pearson/YYZ and not Ottawa).

So use something like Google Search and make sure you pick the alternative airports. (There is a plus sign next to "Los Angeles", where the airports mentioned can be added to the search.

Good luck on finding a good deal.

 

[Frozen2014]

That would be easy to remember if Ontario to Ontario...lol.

Yes, we are flying from Pearson.

I know most say to avoid LAX. For us, it's the only direct option so I prefer it (especially with kids), but it's much more expensive with current pricing (not sure if this gap will lessen as we get closer to our departure date).

Ok thanks...so basically any of those airports work if staying in Hollywood. Didn't want to fly into one and then find out we have a long drive to our hotel...especially after a long day of flying (plus a time change).

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, the farthest is Ontario, and wouldn't show up in most cases for your search, is under 50 miles away.

I love Long Beach, and that is about 30 miles, but once again, would require a transfer somewhere.

Looks like American Airlines to John Wayne (SNA) is coming up with some good low prices, but has one stop.

So you do have a 50 mile drive to get to Hollywood, but a short drive leaving Anaheim.

 

[ashley0139]

I can't tell from your post, but can you do into Burbank and out of SNA? That would make the most sense. Flying into the smaller airports is much less stressful than LAX (though I go to/from LAX all the time). But I always try to fly into Burbank if I can.

 

[Frozen2014]

I can't tell from your post, but can you do into Burbank and out of SNA? That would make the most sense. Flying into the smaller airports is much less stressful than LAX (though I go to/from LAX all the time). But I always try to fly into Burbank if I can.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. Unfortunately there is no direct flight from Toronto, but financially it works better than LAX...and if BUR is an ok airport for Hollywood area hotel, then this seems to make sense.

Thank you.

 

[tlovesdis]

Burbank is definitely going to be the closest to Hollywood for you. If you can swing it I would fly in there and fly out of SNA or Long Beach.

 

[bumbershoot]

I know most say to avoid LAX.

Meh. Not sure who those "most" are. Lax is really easy for the traveler. Horrid for someone picking up or dropping off, but for the actual person flying it's really decent.

Not that it would be $1000 different, but price out everything before making the financial decision. Rental cars might have very different rates between lax and Burbank. Shuttles have a big pricing differential between lax/SNA and the others.

Don't be afraid to look at flying into one and out of the other. But price that rental car out that way, too.

 

[SMD]

If you don't take a nonstop flight coming in, you're going to have to go through customs at your first layover. Are you going to rent a car? Check out the drop off fee difference between renting at Burbank or LAX and returning at SNA. There may be a fee difference that helps make up some of the flight cost difference.

 

[Darkbeer1]

At Pearson,and most other Canadian airports, the US Customs have set up facilities, and does the "entering the US" procedures before you board the plane. Since there are only a few Canadian airports, they can offer to fly to many US cities, including ones that don't have customs, like Bob Hope. This was agreed to decades ago, and works great.

 

[Epek]

I live in Burbank and often fly to Chicago. I would totally take a stopover if I could save $1000, fly out of Bob Hope and not have to go to LAX! It just never works out that way for our flights. The Burbank airport will give you your easiest drive to Hollywood by far. LAX is fine, just a really busy international airport. Plus, traffic in LA sucks, so that's why avoiding it is suggested.

 

[Mousequake]

Burbank is definitely going to be the closest to Hollywood for you. If you can swing it I would fly in there and fly out of SNA or Long Beach.

I second this. We flew into Burbank last month for a Universal visit, then drove down to Anaheim, and flew back from Long Beach. It worked out great.

 

[Frozen2014]

If you don't take a nonstop flight coming in, you're going to have to go through customs at your first layover. Are you going to rent a car? Check out the drop off fee difference between renting at Burbank or LAX and returning at SNA. There may be a fee difference that helps make up some of the flight cost difference.

At Pearson,and most other Canadian airports, the US Customs have set up facilities, and does the "entering the US" procedures before you board the plane. Since there are only a few Canadian airports, they can offer to fly to many US cities, including ones that don't have customs, like Bob Hope. This was agreed to decades ago, and works great.

Thanks for the mention. It's definitely something to verify. Darkbeer1...that's very good to hear about Pearson since I noticed that some of the connecting flights have only 50 minutes between flights (including one that I was looking at due to the preferable flight times).

As for a car, I would need to discuss further with DH but the plan at the moment would be to rent a car when we get there for our LA days. Then when we get to Anaheim, drop off the rental since we would stay at hotel in walking distance (probably Dessert Inn or Park Vue). So we would need shuttle/taxi/uber to get us to SNA just for our return.