What to do in LA.........?????

[Jimmanknows]

Let me finish that sentence "What to do in LA on a Friday from the time we dock until the plane leaves. There are 8 of us, and our flight isn't until 5:00PM. So we'll have from about 11:00AM till 3:00PM, don't forget we will be sporting aprox. 8 large pcs of luggage, I'm guessing another 8 carry-on's, and probably 2-3 garment bags

Yes, you guessed it, I'm the only guy with 7 girls. (reason for all those bags). HA HA!!

And yes I was too cheap to spring the extra $50.00 each for an earlier flight.

I know the last time we took this trip the airlines would not check bags early. We are cruising with Royal Caribbean MOS.

We have 2 options as I see it:

 

1) Just do RCI bus shuttle and sit at LAX for 5-6 hours.

 

2) Sign up for the LA tour with RCI and get to LAX and sit for 3-5 hours.

 

The luggage is the biggest drawback, this should be easy..."Lets go to the Beach!" 2-3 taxi cabs to the beach, then to the airport, sounds like I could have saved $ by spending more to get the earlier flight. Plus we still have all the luggage to lug around.

 

Please somebody help us out with some ideas.

 

PS: Keep in mind that this cruise consists of my wife & I,

my 18yr old graduating high school daughter and 5 of her fellow graduating classmates(all 18-19 yr olds), And I'm sure their budgets for this cruise will be exhausted by the time we dock, so I'll probably have to foot the bill.

[tchoney]

My family was facing the same problem... We are a family of 7! What we decided was, when the cruise line transports us to the airport, we would go ahead and check our baggage with the airline. Then your options are....

 

1. Take the tram around to see the city...http://www.metro.net/

It is a safe, affordable way to see the city. Everything you would need to know is on the above website.

 

2. Rent a limo for a private tour. We have a lot long time span, so we rented a limo for 6 hours and for everything was approx. $600.00. The limo is at our disposal for 6 hours. The price is solid, All inclusive, mileage, fees, taxes, parking, tolls, gratuity, drinks, stops, EVERYTHING. For 7 people, and for us to have total control over the places that we visit, that was the most affordable, private option for us.

 

Hope this information helps!

[Jimmanknows]

Sounds good, but last year the airlines would not check our bags before 2 hours before boarding.

[where next?]

We spent the day AFTER we flew in driving from LAX to Hollywood, looked at the "stars" on the sidewalks, drove up into the Hollywood Hills, then over to Beverly Hills, parked our rental Ford Taurus on Rodeo Drive and pretended we hadn't just gotten out of "that car" to do some window shopping and then back to our hotel. The next morning we had breakfast on the Queen Mary, did our own "tour" and then went to the pier to board our ship.

 

With just my stylish daughter Rodeo could have been expensive. Sounds like with the crew you have, it would be cheaper to buy them some good magazines, have lunch at the Chili's in LAX and pray for an earlier flight!!!

 

I love the fact that you are taking all of your daughters friends on the cruise. That is something my husband would do!!!

 

HAVE FUN!

 

Bobbie

[jaynak]

We took the highlights of LA tour with RCCL. Although it was interesting and like you, we had a lot of time to kill, it wasn't especially earth shattering! I will admit that I fell asleep for the last 1/2 hour at least... I really don't think that a bunch of 18 year olds would be interested. The bus stops by some of the more famous 'stars' in the pavement and Gromans (sp??) theatre for 1/2 hr(just enough time to find a washroom) and then it stops again at the farmer's market for just long enough to have lunch. So... it is mostly sitting on the bus. It does, however, take care of a couple hours and does get you to the airport.

 

Btw- you sound awfully generous!! None of my friends had a parent like you when I was 18!! I hope you are appreciated!! :)

[Jimmanknows]

Thanks, but I can't take credit for being so generous. I must say, that all the girls including my daughter are paying their own way. The only generous thing I'm doing is agreeing to be the chaperone, and since my daughter wants all her friends to spend Sunday night at our house, so we can go to the airport together, I've agreed to pay for a 16 passenger stretch hummer limo for the round trip home to airport. (to take care of 8 people + luggage) Which I'm giving as her graduation gift.

So you see I'm not that generous. I guess I'll just have to ask the girls if they'd be interested or not. It wasn't completely my fault for the late flight home. I was under pressure to make this trip as affordable as possible for the girls.

I'm very proud that the girls came up with their cruise deposit way back in September 2004, Airfare in January 2005, and their ending balance in March 2005.

I'm still waiting on 4 parental permission slips. I've also been assured that everyone has a stamped birth certificate.

Getting close now, I told my wife when we get to under 10 days left, I will start training to eat every 2 hours, just to be in shape.

[Just_Cruising]

How about checking your bags with the bell man at a downtown Long Beach hotel and checking out either the Queen Mary or the Aquarium of the Pacific?

[where next?]

Just Cruising...that's an interesting idea. We stayed at the Coast Hotel & Resort which is right on the water in Long Beach. We were able to walk down to the Queen Mary for breakfast and walk around the ship. Isn't the Aquarium right there also? It looked to me there were a lot of shops as well.

 

Maybe you could rent a day room so you have a place for the luggage, place to relax and then take taxi's to LAX from there. It is south of the pier though, I believe.

 

We paid $125.00 plus tax AAA rate. Here is the info I have -

 

Coast long Beach Hotel:

700 Queensway Dr., Long Beach, CA 90802

1-800-716-6199

 

Booked a non-smoking room, 2 Queen beds, bay view, prvt balcony

AAA rate - $125.00 plus tax

24 hour cancellation policy

[jaynak]

Bobbie - off topic slightly here - but how was the Coast Hotel??

[where next?]

Hi jaynak,

 

We liked the Coast Hotel because it was quiet and right on the water. We could sit on our balcony and see the BUSY side of the city. We literally could walk down to the Queen Mary. We saw her all lit up at night while we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. They have an outdoor pool, gym (I think) and a restaurant so we were all set. We had a frig in our room also.

 

It was a good hotel for the night before our cruise. It was tricky getting there and we ended up getting a police escort because when we asked for directions he said, "You must be going to the Coast Hotel"!! He didn't think we'd find it. EVERYONE is nice in the LA area!

 

The hotel is a series of separate building...you'll see that on their website.

 

Hope that helps,

Bobbie

[Just_Cruising]

I believe the Aquarium is a little south of the Queen Mary but still close by. It is a nice place for a 2-3 hour visit but isn't cheap. Make sure and go to the back where you can see the sharks and touch the Sting Rays. Also close by is an area on the water called Shoreline Village that has shops and restaurants you might enjoy. Just an FYI all this area is where they run the Long Beach Grand Prix.

[rsjj]

just fyi...there are kids going on field trips to the aquarium...can get pretty crowded. i know, cuz we go there. there are schools in session still, cuz some schools here are on a year round schedule. not sure when you would be traveling...

 

your girls might enjoy gameworks. last time i went to the aquarium, i saw that closeby. and there's that bubba gump restaurant. (from forrest gump).

 

good luck! :)

[m steve]

My question seems to be the reverse. We arrive in LA from east coast about 8 pm. The connecting flight to OZ doesn't depart until the next eve at 10:30. Should we stay near airport like Santa Monica or head into town? What about a rental car? Any reasonable hotel suggestions. It's really a pain trying to coordinate Freqflyer miles for a trip and the trip itself.:confused: