LA in the Summer?

[Gutterflower]

Hey all

I'm heading to Fiji from the UK in early July with a stop over at LAX on July 10th. I realised it costs me no more flight wise to spend a week visiting some parks in California than if i just spent a few hours making a flight change.

 

Anyhow i'm just wondering how easy it is for a lone traveller to make it out to Knotts, SFMM, Disney, Universal and a few of the other parks without a car? Is there decent enough Public transport in the area and are cheap hostel/hotels available?

 

I've had quite a bit of experience traveling in Asia and Europe but I have never tackeled the US alone as of yet.

 

I've not done any research yet but i thought i'd tap the theme park knowledge bank before i look at just general travel sites.

 

Cheers in advance

Dave

[MichaelD]

Hi Gutterflower,

 

I can tackle this one from a similar perspective to you as we did exactly this last year (albeit coming from Australia).

 

We chose not to drive on US roads due to us not being confident of handling driving on the "wrong" side of the road in some very busy conditions.

 

Public transport in LA as a tourist is, to say the least, problematic. Basically - you + luggage <> LA public transport.

 

Here's how we tackled a very similar situation;

 

LAX to Disneyland area - Magic Express bus which takes you direct to your hotel for about $35. Base yourself in Anaheim for Disneyland/California Adventure.

 

From Anaheim, you can take busses with (?) Mears - I forget the exact name of the bus company - to Knott's and Universal Studios. These pick up and drop off at or close to your hotel and give you about 8 hours in each park. Fares are reasonable.

 

Anaheim to Valencia is 2 hours and best tackled with a cab - expect around $150 or so.

 

Valencia back to the airport - use an airport shuttle for about $70.

 

All of these are best pre-booked/pre-paid.

[brilinjo]

We've been twice to Los Angles, first time we used specialised bus companies with prepaid vouchers purchased through our travel agent.

 

Last year we hired a car, and despite the overwhelming (coming from a city with only 1 million people) traffic system, the use of GPS makes driving in Los Angeles relatively painless, and the drivers were fairly forgiving. Driving on the "wrong" side of the road is no big deal, you'll quickly get the hang of it on the drive from the airport to the hotel. I only turned into oncoming traffic a few times

 

Having your own car gives you the flexibility of arriving/leaving at the theme parks when you want to, not when the bus company wants to.

[Gutterflower]

Hey guys

Thanks for the info.

 

The car option certainly is not available for me as I cant drive (Yes I'm 23 and can't drive).

So it will have to be public transport for me. :s

 

It seems as if the US or maybe just LA is alot less single traveller friendly than my experiences in Asia and Europe where I've done things on the fly.

but i guess thats to be expected I will have to look into some cheaper hotels in the disney area as a base to head out to SFMM and Knotts i think.

 

One other small question. having visited the Universal parks in Orlando (pre mummy coaster) is there a whole lot of difference at Universal Hollywood?

[Top Thrill Dragster]

You can take the Metrolink to Knotts, Six Flags, Disneyland, and the Red Line(subway) to Universal.

 

Where are you going to be staying?

 

http://www.metrolinktrains.com/

[Gutterflower]

Hey

The metro sounds pretty much perfect for me then.

If i have 6 days to visit parks then I think I'm aiming for

 

Disneyland

California Adventure

Knotts Berrytain Farm

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Universal Studios

 

Is belmont park worth a visit? and if so is it easy to get to? or would it be worth spending a 2nd day at one of the other parks?

 

I will be staying in a hostel somewhere in LA probably. In Anaheim most likely although i have a few recommendations for hostels elsewhere in town.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

My suggestion is to stay near LA Union Station, that will be your hub of transportation. And will probably be cheaper to stay there than near any of the parks.

 

Belmont park I have never been to, but since you are not renting a car you would have to take an Amtrak train to get there. And I would think its a bit too much money and a bit out of the way for what its worth.

 

 

You will need 2 days at Disney

 

One Day at Six Flags

 

Half day to a full day at Knotts.

 

Half Day at Universal Studios/ Hollywood Sight Seeing ( I would Skip this park and just go back to Disney or Six Flags)

 

 

 

You will need the following buses to get you to and From the train stations to the parks.

 

Knotts (Oceanside metro link line) (Buena Park Metro Link Station) #29 bus

 

Disney (Oceanside metro link line) (Anaheim Metro Link Station) #430 bus

 

Six Flags (Antelope Valley Metro link line) (Santa Clarita Metro Link Station) #501 bus (In the morning)

Taxi to the train station at the end of the day or take a bus to the transit center to get on another bus to Santa Clarita or Newhall Metro link train stations.

 

Universal Tram ( the subway drops you off right at the entrance to USH)

 

To Disneyland and Knotts

 

http://www.octa.net/schedules_maps.aspx

 

Six Flags

 

http://www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/admin/transit/routes&schedules.asp

 

 

Have fun, I hope I have been helpful.

[Gutterflower]

Hey

thanks so much. Although i wont be able to book until next month. its just good to know its all possible given the time frame.

 

The only downside is it's still 6 months away.

 

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers

Dave

[larrygator]

Don't waste your time going to Belmont.

[Gutterflower]

Having done some research today i've been looking at staying in the HI hostel in Santa Monica. I've had a couple of good recommendations from friends and its 40mins on the #10 Big Blue bus to Union Street which isn't too bad (although I imagine i'd have to avoid the rush hour).

 

The prices are'nt too bad at $190 for 7 nights and its right on the beach (near Pacific pier for another credit)

 

There dont seem to be too many Hostels in downtown itself anyway so I might as well stay near the beach for my day off

[SharkTums]

^You're staying in an LA Hostel and using Public Transportation??? You sir are very, very brave.

 

Good luck with all that!

[Gutterflower]

haha Well I've been trying to avoid the shoddy hostels. Which is why i am looking at the one i am. I dont want to go somewhere where I haven't had good references from friends. Besides even then it cant be as bad as some of the hostels in Rio and Bangkok.

But the Santa Monica HI hostel has got good reviews across the board.

 

However the public transport is a bit worrying. Is it really that bad in LA or is it worth just getting a Taxi to the station? I have a hard time believeing its just that awful... but i could be wrong lol

[SharkTums]

^I'm not too familiar with hostels so I'm sure that whatever your research says will be fine. Public Transportation however...well...there's a lot of things that are great in the US and stuff but Public Transportation is on the very bottom of the list! Especially LA. Most of the major US cities have pretty decent systems, but LA is just pathetic and useless for the most part.

 

If you search this forum and others for SFMM or Public Transportation you'll find more details, but I'm pretty sure it's been posted that to get to SFMM from anywhere in LA via Public Transport you're looking at around 3 hours and will NOT get there for opening.

 

If you have the money...at least for the SFMM day, you may want to consider a taxi.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

However the public transport is a bit worrying. Is it really that bad in LA or is it worth just getting a Taxi to the station? I have a hard time believeing its just that awful... but i could be wrong lol

 

A Bus ride to from Santa Monica LA Union will be a long and scary ride every day. Look for a different hotel. I would look for a hotel near one of the Metro link train stations. Thats if you want to get to the parks at opening. LA is not exactly a city you want to be out alone and on your own at night. And a Taxi to and from Santa Monica, LA Union will be astronomical in price. If you do that you might as well just rent a car.

 

The metrolink stations, trains, and the bus rides to and from the stations and parks are clean (especially the metrolink trains) and safe.

 

From LA Union on the Metrolink.

 

Knotts 25mins

Six Flags 45mins

Disney 35mins

[Gutterflower]

If you do that you might as well just rent a car.

Would do if i could drive

 

I may have a way round the SFMM problem anyway as i know a couple of guys quite well from New Element who live in the area so may be able to scab myself a lift up from them

 

I shall keep looking for hostels and hotels near Union Station.

 

Edit:

 

Just a quick question. Are The Metro Link and Metro seperate systems?

One of the other hostels recommended to me is about a minutes walk from Hollywood and Vines Red Line metro station which is (apparently) a 19min ride to Union Station.

 

Also thanks for everyones help. I really am very thankful.

Web sites dont hold a candle to people with first hand knowledge

[Top Thrill Dragster]

Yes, they are separate systems.

 

Metro is Bus, Light Rail (Blue and Gold lines), and Subway (Redline).

 

 

Metrolink is long distance Commuter trains.

 

Also keep in mind when you buy an Metrolink ticket it gives you unlimited access to the Bus, Light Rail, and Subway systems any were in the LA County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County for that day.

 

 

Staying near the Redline is a great choice!