Just one short night in LA

Hubby and I have never been to California and we are traveling all the way from the Midwest. Our plan was to fly in early in the morning the day before the cruise, and spend the day in LA sightseeing, spend the night at Crowne Plaza and then go to the ship.

Well when I booked our EZ air tickets somehow I got a 4:30 arrival time which really doesn't give us time to do much. I tried rebooking to an earlier time or even coming a day earlier, but the departure flights are now only red eyes and they don't work with our schedule. The airlines prices are much higher. So I think we are stuck with these tickets.

I was hoping to go to Hollywood Blvd, but it sounds like we might get in too late? Any suggestions for what we could see in one evening?

Our flight after the cruise is at 2:05 pm at LAX.

What city are you spending the night in? There are many Crowne plaza in Southern California

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What city are you spending the night in? There are many Crowne plaza in Southern California

 

 

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I am guessing that the OP is speaking of San Pedro.

Yes San Pedro.

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Arriving in Rush hour does not give too many options due to the time it takes to travel in LA. I think you are better off going to Long Beach Pike area for a nice marsh and walk along the beach/village area. Also near by is Belmont Shores and Naples where you can book a Gondola ride through the canals that run by the expensive homes by the beach

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Do not go to Hollywood Blvd unless you are trying to score drugs or escorts.

You really don't have time to do much, and San Pedro is near... nothing.

Long Beach is a possibility, best case scenario, you would get there around 7:30 - 8:00 pm if your plane lands on time, and hotel check in goes well. I'm assuming you are not renting a car, and are relying on hotel shuttles.

If your plane is landing at LAX, and if you have your own transportation or are willing to pay for Uber or something else, I would recommend 3rd Street in Santa Monica coupled with the Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica is relatively close to the airport, 3rd Street has decent food and a few shops, or at least it did. The pier is

quintessential Southern California.

http://www.santamonica.com/santa-monica-neighborhoods/downtown-santa-monica-third-street-promenade/

When you are done with Santa Monica, figure out a way to get to your hotel. Oh wait, you have luggage....So I guess Long Beach is the better option, there is a tourist area near Shorline Village.

And since you have the time, stop at In n Out. Either the one just outside LAX or in San Pedro, 1090 N Western Ave, San Pedro, CA 90732

Hubby and I have never been to California and we are traveling all the way from the Midwest. Our plan was to fly in early in the morning the day before the cruise, and spend the day in LA sightseeing, spend the night at Crowne Plaza and then go to the ship.

 

Well when I booked our EZ air tickets somehow I got a 4:30 arrival time which really doesn't give us time to do much. I tried rebooking to an earlier time or even coming a day earlier, but the departure flights are now only red eyes and they don't work with our schedule. The airlines prices are much higher. So I think we are stuck with these tickets.

 

I was hoping to go to Hollywood Blvd, but it sounds like we might get in too late? Any suggestions for what we could see in one evening?

 

Our flight after the cruise is at 2:05 pm at LAX.

I wanted to see the stars on Hollywood blvd.

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Hubby and I have never been to California and we are traveling all the way from the Midwest. Our plan was to fly in early in the morning the day before the cruise, and spend the day in LA sightseeing, spend the night at Crowne Plaza and then go to the ship.

 

Well when I booked our EZ air tickets somehow I got a 4:30 arrival time which really doesn't give us time to do much. I tried rebooking to an earlier time or even coming a day earlier, but the departure flights are now only red eyes and they don't work with our schedule. The airlines prices are much higher. So I think we are stuck with these tickets.

 

I was hoping to go to Hollywood Blvd, but it sounds like we might get in too late? Any suggestions for what we could see in one evening?

 

Our flight after the cruise is at 2:05 pm at LAX.

Here are the unfortunate logistics:

A 4:30 arrival time the day before the cruise at LAX means you are probably not going to clear LAX before about 6:00 pm...Remember, you've got to count on time to actually get off the plane, make the walk to baggage claim, wait for your luggage and then pick up whatever transportation you are using...

I don't know the dates of your cruise...but, if it's a Saturday cruise, for example, this will be Friday evening--putting you into the worst rush hour of the week...If it's a Sunday cruise, Saturday is a little better, but, in LA, you will find some traffic at 6:00 pm every day...

If you wanted to go to Hollywood, it's typically about an hour's drive...but, with rush hour traffic could be as much as two hours. It's not a straight shot from LAX. Either you zig-zag up the 405 to the 10 East, then through Downtown on the 110 to the 101...or you take a lot of surface streets--La Cienega or La Brea clear up...about 20 miles Northeast of LAX...

So, theoretically, you could be in Hollywood by around 7:00-8:00 pm...not really a prime time to arrive in Hollywood, but possible...You could then spend the night at the Loews Hollywood:

https://www.loewshotels.com/hollywood-hotel

It's a bit pricey, but it would be my pick as the best...and best located...hotel in Hollywood. Parts of Hollywood can be a bit sleazy, but this hotel puts you in a fairly safe place...with lots of restaurant choices for that first night...It is in a complex (Hollywood and Highland) with the Dolby Theater and the Chinese Theater. The "Walk of Fame" goes right out front of the complex and the Chinese Theater has all those old movie stars' footprints in cement. There is a view of the Hollywood Sign from there. On a Friday or Saturday night, the restaurants would be open late, so you could actually wander around a bit before or after dinner (I wouldn't really leave the complex area though...things get a bit interesting within just a few blocks).

It's all a bit crowded for time and a bit pricey...and there are a lot of logistics for the little bit of sightseeing time you'll get, but, yes, it is possible...

Barring that, and saving a bit of money, the convenient and easy thing to do is to just stay in San Pedro...Considering your flight arrival time, you'll have a 20 mile ride down to San Pedro which should take 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. After checking in to the Crowne Plaza, you can eat in one of the local restaurants within a couple of blocks of the hotel: San Pedro Brewing Company, Green Onion, Acapulco or others...You can get a good night's sleep and leave the hotel at a leisurely pace in the morning for the ship...But you really would not have done much sightseeing...

If you wanted to squeeze in something, there are a few sights in San Pedro--like tours of the USS Iowa only a couple of blocks from the CP--actually right next to the cruise pier...or the Maritime Museum...but these are not exactly the standard tourist sights of Los Angeles...

If you wanted to catch a taxi or Uber over to Long Beach, you could go quickly see the Queen Mary or the Aquarium of the Pacific...either the night you get in or the morning before your cruise...but, remember, the Aquarium is only open from 9-6. The Queen Mary does offer some evening tours...but, by the time you'd get over there if at night, your time is limited and it might be a bit late...

Good luck...

Or, if it's a bit late, you could also check out the local sights in the morning before checking out and heading to your cruise. The trip from Hollywood and Highland to the pier in San Pedro is about 32 miles and should take about an hour to an hour and a quarter on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

For the trips, LAX to Hollywood and Hollywood to the pier, you could use Super Shuttle--but, with your limited time, I wouldn't mess with a shared shuttle...Take either Execucar or Uber...