I just want to see the ocean!

[harleyquinn]

Hello! Please help me with logistics.
We are coming into LAX on a Wednesday in a couple of weeks. We will be Ubering to our hotel by Universal Hollywood. The flight lands around 9am and I don't have anything planned beside getting to the hotel.

I would really love to see the "other" ocean (seen the Altantic a bunch ;P). Obviously the thing that makes the most sense is going before we go to the hotel, but we obviously don't want to be lugging suitcases at the beach.

Going to Burbank and then ubering back to Santa Monica or something seems kinda crazy (and expensive).

Anyone have any ideas/things I'm not thinking of or should I just be satisfied seeing it from the plane? ;P Should we just take a short uber to see the Tar Pits instead as I originally thought about?

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hello! Please help me with logistics.
We are coming into LAX on a Wednesday in a couple of weeks. We will be Ubering to our hotel by Universal Hollywood. The flight lands around 9am and I don't have anything planned beside getting to the hotel.

I would really love to see the "other" ocean (seen the Altantic a bunch ;P). Obviously the thing that makes the most sense is going before we go to the hotel, but we obviously don't want to be lugging suitcases at the beach.

Going to Burbank and then ubering back to Santa Monica or something seems kinda crazy (and expensive).

Anyone have any ideas/things I'm not thinking of or should I just be satisfied seeing it from the plane? ;P Should we just take a short uber to see the Tar Pits instead as I originally thought about?

From the time you get into the UBER its going to take about an hour, more likely 90 minutes to get from LAX to your hotel by Universal in Burbank. Realistically, by the time you get to the hotel, check in and are then ready to go back out its going to lunch time.

Burbank is far inland from the ocean, so whether you UBER or go by public transport, you are looking at another 90 minute journey each way. Thats the reality of LA, its very spread out and it takes over an hour for a point A to point B journey, longer depending on traffic and time of day.

 

[LKing]

I haven't done it personally, but I've heard of hotels storing luggage even if people aren't staying at the hotel. You might consider visiting Manhattan Beach rather than Santa Monica.

 

[harleyquinn]

I appreciate the thoughts. I think we'll just stick with the La Brea tar pits or the LA Zoo or something else near the hotel in Burbank. I don't like the beach anyway!

 

[o&smom]

You could do a one day car rental. Get the car at LAX and return it to the Burbank airport. That way you have complete control over what you decide to do.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I appreciate the thoughts. I think we'll just stick with the La Brea tar pits or the LA Zoo or something else near the hotel in Burbank. I don't like the beach anyway!

La Brea Tar Pits are not near Universal Studios.

Universal is in Burbank, the tar pits are at Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard. Thats about an hours drive in LA traffic.

 

[sjmac42]

This is exactly why you don’t stay in Burbank when visiting LA, it’s only close to Universal and a long way from anything else.
Just get a day use room at LAX and Uber to Manhattan Beach.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

This is exactly why you don’t stay in Burbank when visiting LA, it’s only close to Universal and a long way from anything else.
Just get a day use room at LAX and Uber to Manhattan Beach.

First timers really have no idea of the scale and distances between point A and point B in LA. Most years when the plane is landing in LA my seat mate is a first timer and is shocked by the approach to LAX from the San Bernadino area. I took this photo this year, as I had a window seat.

 

[sjmac42]

First timers really have no idea of the scale and distances between point A and point B in LA. Most years when the plane is landing in LA my seat mate is a first timer and is shocked by the approach to LAX from the San Bernadino area. I took this photo this year, as I had a window seat.

So true, I have a similar photo from my first trip in the 90’s. My first hotel in California (Anaheim, not LA) was $18 bucks a night . But it was fun watching the India Australia test match cricket with the Indian owner

 

[harleyquinn]

La Brea Tar Pits are not near Universal Studios.

Universal is in Burbank, the tar pits are at Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard. Thats about an hours drive in LA traffic.

It's 7 miles away. Everytime I have looked up the directions it's been under 30 minutes? We have other plans in case it's just too hard to get there, but thanks for the warning.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

It's 7 miles away. Everytime I have looked up the directions it's been under 30 minutes? We have other plans in case it's just too hard to get there, but thanks for the warning.

Distance means nothing in LA. Traffic builds out of nowhere with no notice. Aways allow 60 minutes from point A to Point B. An UBER quote can double by the time you get to your destination.

 

[bcla]

If you're adventurous, the Metro E line (light rail) goes all the way to Santa Monica. It's a really nice ride all the way, with their newest equipment. A one way ride (I think up to 2 hours including transfers) is $1.75, but a full day is capped at $5. You would need a TAP Card (their interagency fare card) that costs $2 just for the card, although there's an app version now that should be free when loaded on a mobile phone. I don't know about getting there from Burbank though, which would require buses.

I went a whole week in the LA and OC area on a Metro weekly pass. Cost $12.50 at the time. I used it for all sorts of travel including from LA Union Station to Santa Monica (at least most of the trip) and from Santa Monica to downtown LA to watch hockey.

The subway and bus can be a little but iffy, but the E line is pretty nice. I saw a lot of families and students using it on day trips.

 

[harleyquinn]

Distance means nothing in LA. Traffic builds out of nowhere with no notice. Aways allow 60 minutes from point A to Point B. An UBER quote can double by the time you get to your destination.

You're making me feel even better about moving to the late flight vs early on our last day! I appreciate the advice!

 

[sjmac42]

If you're adventurous, the Metro E line (light rail) goes all the way to Santa Monica.

Didn’t think it went from Burbank to SM, but from Downtown.

Anyway, I totally agree with Tink. Google Maps is wholly irrelevant when crossing LA. it could take you 30 mins just to cross through Hollywood from Burbank. Plus you need to remember the time getting through LAX, likely well over an hour that time on a weekday. Then 60 to 90 mins Uber to the hotel.
I still say a day use room at LAX and a quick Uber to Manhattan Beach is your best bet. Wait out the traffic before Ubering to Burbank.
Or change your hotel to a more convenient location. Or fly into Burbank, not LAX. Or rent a car. Anything but your original plan.

 

[bcla]

Didn’t think it went from Burbank to SM, but from Downtown.

Anyway, I totally agree with Tink. Google Maps is wholly irrelevant when crossing LA. it could take you 30 mins just to cross through Hollywood from Burbank. Plus you need to remember the time getting through LAX, likely well over an hour that time on a weekday. Then 60 to 90 mins Uber to the hotel.
I still say a day use room at LAX and a quick Uber to Manhattan Beach is your best bet. Wait out the traffic before Ubering to Burbank.
Or change your hotel to a more convenient location. Or fly into Burbank, not LAX. Or rent a car. Anything but your original plan.

Well - yeah. I did concede that connecting to it from Burbank might be tough. I looked it up, and the connection point in Burbank would be the 155 bus, and that has maybe hourly service 7 days a week. But it depends on where in Burbank. Honestly I'm not sure if Burbank is the best place to stay unless one has a car or is willing to pay for a lot of expensive rides. Last time I stayed overnight in the area I was in Santa Monica and Hollywood. As much grief as LA gets for bad public transportation, staying near the Red Line or the Metro E line makes it easy to get around.

 

[sjmac42]

Honestly I'm not sure if Burbank is the best place to stay unless one has a car or is willing to pay for a lot of expensive rides.

Well yeah, that’s exactly what we have been saying all along.

If the OP wants to use PT from Burbank to La Brea Tarpits, the 222 bus to Argyle and 217 bus from Hollywood and Vine would make much more sense than going an hour out of the way to connect to the E.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks everyone! We're staying at the Hilton right next to Universal, so maybe we'll just go to City Walk and hang out at the pool. The hotel needed to be convenient for an early morning at Universal the next day more than sight seeing on arrival day.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Thanks everyone! We're staying at the Hilton right next to Universal, so maybe we'll just go to City Walk and hang out at the pool. The hotel needed to be convenient for an early morning at Universal the next day more than sight seeing on arrival day.

Ive stayed at that hotel and didnt have a car and used public transport. The hotel is halfway up the hill. The park and Citiwalk is at the top of the hill. You can walk to the park entrance, up the hill and across the bridge or there is a free shuttle bus to Ctiwalk.

Universal City Metro stop is at the bottom of the hill. You can walk down or there is a free shuttle bus from Citiwalk.

It is possible to get from Universal City Metro stop to Santa Monia using the underground train network, but it will take about 2 hours each way. If you want I can do a step by step, as I have done that journey many times.

 

[bcla]

Thanks everyone! We're staying at the Hilton right next to Universal, so maybe we'll just go to City Walk and hang out at the pool. The hotel needed to be convenient for an early morning at Universal the next day more than sight seeing on arrival day.

Oh. I got confused at the mention of Burbank and missed the part about staying at the Hilton at Universal Studios. There is a tram shuttle from across the street from the Universal/Studio City Metro station, although I'm not sure if it goes directly to the Hilton. It was very convenient when I was just going to CityWalk.

There's Metrol service ever 15-20 minutes (more during commute hours I believe) and obviously a subway gets around issues with traffic. There are stations all along Holllywood Blvd if you're thinking of going there. There can be interesting characters though, but mostly harmless. Not sure when the new Red/Purple Line cars will be in service. The old cars definitely need to be replaced, but they still run on time and are reliable, but just need to be replaced.

But here's the route. I don't recall if the tram shuttle stops at the Hilton, but it's a pretty short walk in any case.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/hil...2m2!1d-118.4987585!2d34.0082821!3e3?entry=ttu

Here's a vid of someone going from Hollywood to Universal Studios.

 

[bcla]

Ive stayed at that hotel and didnt have a car and used public transport. The hotel is halfway up the hill. The park and Citiwalk is at the top of the hill. You can walk to the park entrance, up the hill and across the bridge or there is a free shuttle bus to Ctiwalk.

Universal City Metro stop is at the bottom of the hill. You can walk down or there is a free shuttle bus from Citiwalk.

It is possible to get from Universal City Metro stop to Santa Monia using the underground train network, but it will take about 2 hours each way. If you want I can do a step by step, as I have done that journey many times.

Most of that trip would be above ground though, but if the origin point is Universal Studios then there's no bus involved. It's not bad, but it would be going in the wrong direction since it requires going to downtown LA before getting on the light rail. If one is planning on visiting stops in Hollywood, it actually makes a lot of sense.