Time to kill in LA

[cannockfrodo]

We've just found out that we've about 4 hours to fill in LA after our Mex/Riv cruise before our flight to LV

Does anyone have any ideas as to what we might do and what it may cost ?

All suggestions welcome

[Bruin Steve]

We've just found out that we've about 4 hours to fill in LA after our Mex/Riv cruise before our flight to LV

Does anyone have any ideas as to what we might do and what it may cost ?

All suggestions welcome

 

When does your flight actually leave? You may find you don't have as much time to kill as you think...

 

Assuming you have already figured in time to disembark, the drive to LAX, check-in and security, etc., "four hours" would mean your flight is at maybe 4:00 pm or later, no?

 

Well, that is not a lot of time in LA...

Getting from LAX to most major tourist sights, you probably need to figure in about an hour each way--for getting a cab or picking up a rental car, for traffic, for finding parking wherever you are headed, etc....which does not leave a lot of time...

 

You could probably stick to the West Side...maybe Venice/Santa Monica...walk on the Boardwalk, visit the Santa Monica pier, etc.--for those figure in a half an hour or so each way...Your cabs will still be rather expensive --even for the 10 mile trip from LAX to Santa Monica...and you had better prearrange a pick-up as cabs don't just cruise the streets of LA...

 

Good luck...

[cannockfrodo]

Thanks for that, I was considering the Zoo but maybe not now.

We have to be off the boat by 10am 10.30 at the latest, the flight out is at 4.30pm.

So I guess the best thing to do would be just to wait and see exactly what the time is after dropping off our luggage.

 

Shame. would've been nice to see something of LA as we've never visited.

[kenish]

If you're ashore by 10am (it might be earlier but don't count on it), you have about 3-4 hours of slack before you need to be at the LAX check-in counter. The zoo isn't realistic in that short amount of time. Bruin's recommendations are good, also the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

 

Will you have a rental car? That is crucial to what you can and can't do with a limited amount of time. What type of things do you want to see and do?

[cannockfrodo]

No rental car so anything would have to be by cab or bus, we would sooner go somewhere after leaving luggage at LAX.

Guess this will limit our options further

[Cruisin' Chick]

No rental car so anything would have to be by cab or bus, we would sooner go somewhere after leaving luggage at LAX.

Guess this will limit our options further

 

You might want to check about leaving luggage at LAX. I don't think they still have lockers. And LAX isn't by any sites, so you probably won't want to go there until you're going there to check in for your flight.

 

You also won't want to be lugging luggage on city buses (if that's what you mean by "bus"). Our bus system is very different from other cities' ones. Mostly used by those who don't have access to a car.

 

Better to figure out one or two places (that are near to each other). The Long Beach Aquarium will hold on to your luggage at the front desk while you tour it (and it's an excellent aquarium).

 

Hopefully you'll be able to come back for another cruise and spend some time pre-cruise (a day or two in addition to travel time) to check out the sights.

[SadieN]

Here is the Aquarium website- There are coupons available online.

www.aquariumofpacific.org/

If you are arriving in Long Beach the Passport C bus leaves from the Queen Mary parking lot. It is free.

http://www.lbtransit.com/Schedules/Default.aspx?routegrp=34

 

Get the number of the taxi to call for pickup.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

The sticking point is what to do with your luggage. LAX does have a private company that does luggage storage, but your time frame might be too short. See their website below anyway.

 

http://laxluggagestorage.com/

 

If you can drop the luggage at LAX at your airline or get a hotel like the LAX Marriott to hold it, you can grab the Ocean Express Trolley and go to the Manhattan Beach Pier to walk around and grab a bite.

 

http://www.gatewaytola.org/index.cfm/programs/ocean-express/

 

The LAX Marriott is stop #4 on the OE Trolley. It hits other major hotels too so if you are a Hilton Honors, SPG, etc, they all have hotels with airport shuttles and the OE Trolley goes past them.

[PatriciaF]

The Aquarium of the Pacific has a luggage check at the ticket window for guests.

 

You would need to take a cab from San Pedro to Long Beach and then arrange for transportation to LAX from the Aquarium.

 

 

Sunseeker Tours offer pick up at the port with a tour of LA and drop off at LAX. google them.

[cannockfrodo]

Our flight out isn't until 17.50 but I don't know how long before that we can check-in.

We've got a prepaid shuttle pick up from San Pedro which we have to ring immediately on clearing customs, so it says on the paperwork anyway.

Don't even know how long the transfer will take.

Don't know what might happen if we were to not call them until a few hours we want to get to LAX.

We would like to see something of LA but I don't suppose that will be possible if we have to go direct to LAX.

 

Thanks for all the responses

[MoncriefJ]

Los Angeles is an incredibly sprawling and time-consuming place to get around. You'll see some of it from the freeways on your way to the airport.

[Cruisin' Chick]

If you stay on the west side, you should be able to spend an hour or two checking out a sight or two. Maybe Santa Monica or Venice. But you would still have to contend with what to do with your luggage. That's why many of us are recommending the Aquarium in Long Beach since you can while a way some time. If your flight was much later, you would have some more options.

[rknelson3]

Wow- great advice. We just experienced this scenario last Sunday. We got off the Disney Wonder in San Pedro about 9am, got a shuttle to the airport and sat there until our 4:30pm flight. I searched these boards before we left for ideas of how to fill our day but found nothing... I'm making notes for next time ( :

[Momma Rene]

We also will need to find something to do after we arrive in San Pedro. Our flight from Long Beach airport is at 5 p.m. Are there any tours that pick up at San Pedro and bring you to Long Beach? We will have a couple of suitcases after the two week cruise......

 

Thanks for replies in advance!

[Fattony]

I think that with most airlines you could easily check-in by noon or whenever you get to the airport. But since you'd have to be back in time to get through security and be at the gate beforel the actual flight time, I don't see you having all that much free time. Maybe 3- 3 1/2 hours? Zoo is far too far away. The Sony Studios (formerly MGM) tour in Culver City isn't terribly far from LAX, but you'd need to take a taxi. Aquarium a possibility IF you can store your bags (call the aquarium; you may not be the first ones with this problem). The cruise company has no tours you could take (with your bags going along)?

 

After you check in for your flight, you could take a bus to Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica, but you'd first have to take a free shuttle bus to the LAX transportation center (a big bus stop used by Los Angeles, Culver City and Santa Monica bus companies) and then take a bus and walk around.

 

If you want to see something you could contact taxi companies and ask about getting a car and driver for x hours (port to attraction and then to LAX), but that could be pricey. Maybe just relax disembarking, go to LAX, and then relax at the Encounter Restaurant in the middle of the airport, or the Proud Bird restaurant a short cab ride away? Both good for plane viewing.