Request help on LA lodging during Rose Bowl

[northwoodsgal]

Our family is planning a trip to the LA/San Diego area this Christmas for the sole reason of watching the Rose Parade on January 1. Our daughter will be marching in it with her high school band. I have most of the trip planned out, but am struggling with where to stay the last three nights. Here's my situation:

Our flight leaves on the morning of December 24 and returns at 5:15 pm on Wednesday, January 3 out of LA International Airport. Since it's a later flight, we won't need to be close to the airport the night before. Also, our daughter is flying out with us instead of with the rest of the band. Permission was granted for this, as long as she is with the band during the land portion of the trip. Therefore, we will have to meet up with the band on the night of 12/27 and 1/1.

I have an RCI confirmed exchange at the Tamarack in Carlsbad beginning Sunday, 12/24. We will have to check out the morning of Sunday, 12/31.

I also have a DAE confirmed exchange at the San Clemente Cove beginning 12/31. I did take out their insurance, so if I cancel the exchange, I will lose $15. When I made this exchange, I thought we could stay there and just drive in early to Pasadena to see the parade. However, I had someone tell me that's quite a way out and they wouldn't recommend staying there. That's why I'm looking in to alternate plans.

I have looked in to hotels in the Pasadena area, but almost all of them charge $250/night and require a 3-5 night minimum stay. I did find one place (Springhill Suites in Arcadia) that would rent by the night ($241).

The band is staying at the Embassy Suites in Santa Ana. I looked online and the place looks very nice. Just in case, I made a reservation at that Embassy for 12/31 and 1/1. Those two nights would cost $342 together. Staying an an additional night would add about $200 (I would no longer get the group rate). It's doubtful if we would be able to ride along in the bus with the students, so we would still need to drive.

It looks like my options are:
1) Stay in San Clemente, and just get up extra early to travel.
2) Cancel San Clemente, stay three night in Arcadia ($750 total)
3) Cancel S.C., stay one night in Arcadia, pack up everything before we leave for the parade, and stay somewhere less expensive the following 2 nights. It's more of a hassle and all of our belongings would be left in the car during the day. However, saving a few hundred dollars in lodging would be very nice!
4) Cancel S.C., stay with the band at Embassy Suites, Santa Ana. It would make picking our daughter up a breeze. But Santa Ana is only 30 miles away for San Clemente and I'm not sure if it's enough of a distance to make a switch. Santa Ana, in general, seems to quite a distance away from Pasadena.

I've never been to LA and have no idea where or how bad traffic can be.

We will have to drive to Pasadena to see their Bandfest performance on December 30th. It seems a little senseless to be in Carlsbad, drive to Pasadena, return to Carlsbad, check out the next morning and go back to the LA area. But it also seems senseless to pay for lodging in the LA area when we already have a room in Carlsbad.

I have one week banked with RCI but I can't use it until April '07.

My DAE week expires 9/07. I may be able to find a week in France for next summer (this would be the ideal), but if I don't, I may end up losing the week.

I've looked in the ads for a timeshare in Anaheim, but haven't seen anything.

If we stayed non-timeshare, I was looking at the Glenmore/Pasadena/Arcadia areas down towards Santa Ana. I don't know anything about these suburbs - are there any areas to avoid? Also, would going east along I-210 in to Monrovia/Irwindale/Baldwin Park/Glendora/Covina be a good idea?

So, what would you do? Are there parts of it that you like or dislike?

Thanks!

 

[RichM]

You aren't going to get the same heavy traffic on the weekends that you'd get on the weekdays. Arcadia and Monrovia have lots of hotels and are a great place to stay to get to Pasadena. Glendora is a little further (10-15mins. by freeway vs. 5-10 from Arcadia/Monrovai). I've never heard of Glenmore - perhaps you meant Glendale? Glendale is about the same distance as Monrovia, but west instead of east. None of these are really "near" Santa Ana - they're all about 30-40 miles from there. Irwindale is mostly an industrial city - I'm not familiar with where the hotels are, and Baldwin Park is not the greatest of areas. Covina is ok in parts, as is West Covina. The Covinas are a little further than Glendora from Pasadena.

Getting to the Parade is difficult on that day - parking is nearly impossible without quite a walk if you don't camp out the night before. There are some parking structures in Old Pasadena that sell a pass and theoretically don't oversell vs. number of spaces. See here: http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/trans/parking/pkng_rose.asp - the Delacey, Paseo Colorado and Schoolhouse lots are just south of the route and the Mariott, Holly and Plaza Las Fuentes lots are just north of the route - all in the Old Pasadena area about 5 blocks from the start of the parade.

Staying anywhere east of Pasadena is good for getting to the parade as you'll have to get off the freeway east of the parade route and decide whether you are parking north of the route or south of it as you won't be able to cross the route after a certain point in the morning when people are allowed to set their seats in the northbound/southbound lanes along the eastbound route.

FYI, there are timeshares in Anaheim (Dolphin's Cove for example) as it is a destination for Disneyland.

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[northwoodsgal]

RichM,

Thanks for the input on the Pasadena. You were right about Glenmore, it really was Glendale.

We did decide to cancel our San Clemente reservation after all. I had purchased the cancellation insurance from DAE, so I only lost $16 on it.

Do you think Santa Ana is too far to travel for the parade? It's where the high school band and adult shadow tour are staying, but according to mapquest, it's 42 miles from Pasadena. The thought of staying at a 2 bed Embassy Suites (Santa Ana) is rather nice but if the band wasn't there, I would never have considered staying so far out. Do you think Santa Ana is comfortably doable?

Thanks again,

Jeanne

 

[ricoba]

Yes, I think the drive from Santa Ana to Pasadena is comfortably doable, especially since you are talking about going up really really early New Years Day.

But I am curious as to why the band is staying so far away? Weren't there any hotels closer for them?

Richs' suggestion about Arcadia & Monrovia was good advice. But he is right once you get to Pasadena and near to the parade route, traffic will be, shall we say "less than pleasant".

Are you able to travel on the bus with the band? Or another alternative would be stay in Arcadia or Monrovia and find a Metro bus into Pasadena for the parade.

I guess one reason we have always avoided the parade is the traffic/parking issue. But I do know folks who for years have had great fun camping out all the day and night before the parade on the sidewalk, it's quite common and many of them seem to love the whole ambience of it.

 

[HughesFam3]

If the Santa Ana hotel works well for the rest of the time you're here, then I'd suggest buying a parking space near the route in advance and then make a VERY early morning drive on Jan. 1 to Pasadena OR make a very early morning drive to one of the Metro "Gold Line" stations, park there and take the Gold Line to Pasadena. The drive from Santa Ana to where the Gold Line route to Pasadena starts (near downtown L.A. at Union Station Metro stop) shouldn't be too bad early on New Year's morning . . . just check out the parking there in advance so you're assured a space for your car. The Metro into Pasadena/the Parade will be busy BUT if you get on at the start of the route, you'll be o.k. If you want to be near the start of the Parade, exit the Gold Line in Pasadena at the Old Town/Holly/Union stop in West Pasadena; if you want to be near the end of the Parade -- and see the band after they've marched 5.5 miles and finally get to sit down in Victory Park, exit the Gold Line in East Pasadena (Sierra Madre Blvd. stop). Both Gold Line stops are within a block or two of the Parade route.

Later in the year (around Sept.) there will be web pages with details for Pasadena parking and shuttles and such . . . you might check the web page of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses (the Parade organizers), as they may have lots of links. Also, some Orange County hotel run buses on New Year's Day to shuttle groups to and from the Parade . . . you might check with the Santa Ana Embassy Suites and, if they don't have a shuttle, check the nearest hotels.

Have fun -- it's a GREAT event!

 

[northwoodsgal]

But I am curious as to why the band is staying so far away? Weren't there any hotels closer for them?

I had wondered the same thing until a hotel clerk mentioned the bands like to stay in places with plenty of room to practice outdoors. I would guess this would include marching too.

Are you able to travel on the bus with the band?

I don't think so, since we're not official chaperones with the band "tour" and didn't pay for the adult shadow tour. I made our reservations a good two months before the shadow tour agenda and price ($1,000/pp) was even available. Since our daughter will be a freshman this fall, I've just met the band director and don't have any working relationship with him. He does, however, seem to be a very decent guy. He didn't have a problem with our daughter not flying out with the band, just as long as we transferred her to the band when they first arrive (we're leaving 4 days earlier). The evening of the Rose Parade, the band is taking a dinner cruise and then they fly out the next morning. We thought if we were in the same building as the band, it would be easiest to transfer our daughter back to us after the cruise. He may be willing to barter a ride on the bus for access to our rental car. The shadow tour director is not nearly as friendly.

I do know folks who for years have had great fun camping out all the day and night before the parade on the sidewalk

We thought about it but we don't have the equipment and our 2 kids would likely wander off and get lost.

If the Santa Ana hotel works well for the rest of the time you're here

If anything, it may be a little less convenient, since we likely be visiting the typical tourist spots, which seem to be around Anaheim and Hollywood.

I'd suggest buying a parking space near the route in advance

We had planned on doing this, and buying reserved seats, just so we knew in advance where to drive. The last thing we want is to be wandering around Rose Parade morning looking for a spot to park.

make a very early morning drive to one of the Metro "Gold Line" stations, park there and take the Gold Line to Pasadena

Okay, I have to admit it, I didn't realize this existed. Now that I know about it, I can see the "M" markings on my AAA map. Do I have this right, that the Metro is an overhead rail system and not an underground subway? I see what you mean about picking up the Gold Line at Union Station - great idea! I also noticed that we could start in Norwalk, take the Green Line to to Imperial/Wilmington, change to the Blue Line north, then change to the Red Line east to Union Station. It's more transfers, but it looks liike the connections would work. Do you think this would be feasible, or would going directly to Union Station be better? I truly am naive about LA and which areas are crime stricken. Are there any parts of that line that I should worry about?

Right now I have a reservation at the Embassy Santa Ana for the 3 nights I need ($525 total). For $600, I can get a standard room just beyond the end of Colorado and for $900 get a standard room at the beginning of the parade route. Considering we would be spending our first week at a 2 bedroom ocean timeshare, downsizing in to a standard room may cause friction (I'm not sure if there's 4 or 5 of us travelling yet). I guess the real question is which would be worse, room congestion or traffic congestion.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[BSQ]

I'm also curious about the Santa Ana hotel location. Could they have meant near Santa Anita (making it really arcadia)?? As others have said, Glendora, Pasadena & Arcadia are all decent areas. Along the 210 I think there are some options in Monrovia as well. I would avoid Baldwin Park ... and even though I grew up in Covina, for the life of me I can't think of a decent hotel there.

 

[ricoba]

make a very early morning drive to one of the Metro "Gold Line" stations, park there and take the Gold Line to Pasadena

Okay, I have to admit it, I didn't realize this existed. Now that I know about it, I can see the "M" markings on my AAA map. Do I have this right, that the Metro is an overhead rail system and not an underground subway? I see what you mean about picking up the Gold Line at Union Station - great idea! I also noticed that we could start in Norwalk, take the Green Line to to Imperial/Wilmington, change to the Blue Line north, then change to the Red Line east to Union Station. It's more transfers, but it looks liike the connections would work. Do you think this would be feasible, or would going directly to Union Station be better? I truly am naive about LA and which areas are crime stricken. Are there any parts of that line that I should worry about?



Thanks again for your input.

Don't feel bad about not knowing that LA does have mass transit...most of us who live here don't know much about it either!!! I have lived here over 10 years and have taken metro one time...and that was for pleasure not for work.

Metro is a combination between above ground, street level with some underground parts to the line (I think only the Red Line is the only underground)

I would keep my head up at all the locations and on transit. But if you are careful and alert, then you should have no worries....

Rick

 

[RichM]

Actually, the Gold Line has many underground parts here on its north/south jaunt through Old Pasadena. I'm sitting in a building in Old Pasadena as I type this and the Gold Line goes underground past the east edge of our building and comes back up above ground after it turns and travels between the east/west lanes of the 210 Freeway. It crosses right under Colorado Blvd. where the parade runs, otherwise they'd have to stop the parade everytime a car came by.

Taking the Gold Line is an option, although the walk from the station to the viewing stands, assuming you purchase tickets down at the Orange Grove/Colorado corner, is about a mile and you'd be walking through the large crowds waiting for the parade to start.

If it were me, since I have a reserved viewing spot in my 2nd floor office overlooking Colorado Blvd, I'd buy the parking pass for one of the lots down here in Old Town on the south side of the route, drive in from the east, getting off at Rosemead and going south to Huntington Drive and take that west and then come up north on Fair Oaks, use some small side streets to get to the structure, park, and walk the rest of the way. The closest city-owned parking structure to the main grandstands at Orange Grove/Colorado would be the DeLacey Ave. structure which would shorten the walk to about a half mile to the grandstand area.

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[northwoodsgal]

I'm sure it's Santa Ana. There's a direct link to that hotel on the high school web site to it. Plus, the shadow tour is staying just down the road.

RichM, it sounds like you have the best "reserved" seat in the area! How nice for you, not only do you have a great view, but can enjoy it in air conditioning and easy access to the restroom! Now, if you could only bring your Lazyboy in for the morning!

If we were to purchase a parking spot, do you know in general what type of places the lots are at? Are the spaces in the city owned lots sold or is it first-come, first serve?

I haven't purchased our seats yet. I wanted to be sure of the location of our hotel first so I would know which side of the street to get tickets on.

Also, for Bandfest, do you know if finding a parking space is a problem? We don't know if our band is in the morning or afternoon show yet, but it will be on December 30th.

On a different note, I was watching a segment on the History Channel last night about snack foods. In their discussion about soda, they mention Galco's Old World Grocery in Highland Park. Apparently, they carry all kinds of "real" bottled sodas. Cherry soda made with real cherries, mint julep, etc. Have you ever stopped in at the store?

 

[RichM]

I posted the link to the city-owned lots up a ways, but here's the info again:

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/trans/parking/pkng_rose.asp

the Delacey, Paseo Colorado and Schoolhouse lots are just south of the route and the Mariott, Holly and Plaza Las Fuentes lots are just north of the route. All of them are multi-level lots, most with above-ground and underground levels.

All the sales of the passes are first come-first served. You usually have to go to the parking office on Marengo and Walnut to pay/pick it up - I don't know how they handle out-of-area purchases, like if they'd mail the pass to you if you bought it in November/December or whenever they start selling them. Best bet would be to call them - the number's at the link above.


I've only watched the parade 4 times from the office in the 11 years I've worked here - each time I actually spend the night in the office since the festivities the night before are fun, also, and I get a warm, dry, semi-private place to sleep instead of a public sidewalk.

Sorry, can't help you with bandfest and I haven't been to that soda store. There's a deli in Yorba Linda near my house called Frisco's that also sells a wide variety of sodas and BevMo has a pretty good selection as well. Highland Park is not the greatest area, either, so I'm usually don't find myself there... Plus it's not on my way to/from work - it's south of South Pasadena, just north of downtown L.A.

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[Bill4728]

Santa Ana is basically the Disneyland area. So it is a long way up to Pasadena.

IMHO, I would have stayed at San Clemente, but since you cancelled I've use Hotwire or Priceline to get a hotel in the disneyland area.

You're going to have a long drive but it will be very early on a holiday morning so no traffic. Once you're in the car, does it really matter if it a 15 minute or a 45 minute drive? Plus you'll be alot closer to Santa Ana were the band is.

Good Luck

 

[northwoodsgal]

I decided to release San Clemente because we only needed 3 nights lodging. For the same price, we could rent a hotel that was closer and still keep out timeshare week. We're hoping (fingers crossed) to go to Europe next summer and that DAE will come through with a week in France.

I've really thought about using Priceline but they only guarantee a room for 2 people. After reading through Bidding for Travel posts, I decided I shouldn't take a chance with it. Downsizing from a 2 bedroom ocean timeshare to a one bed hotel room could spell disaster!

I'm still very nervous about traffice Rose Parade morning, but it sounds like it will be okay, as long as we have our route and parking spot ready in advance. If we would stay in Arcadia (I still have a room on hold there), I would then be nervous about being able to pick our daughter up either very late Rose Parade night (they'll have been on a dinner cruise) or early the next morning. Especially if we run in to commuter traffic Wednesday morning, I would hate to be late picking her up.

I read the Tripadvisor reviews of the Embassy Santa Ana and not all of them are good. However, the hotel should finish a major overhaul this summer and I would assume the rooms would be nice again.

Thanks for your input.

 

[turkel]

How close to the freeway is the hotel in Santa Ana. I live in OC and parts of Santa Ana are not so nice. Same with some areas close to Disney other than the actual resort. I am sorry to say the San Clemente Cove would have only added 30mins at most to your drive and probably would have been worth the view even if a little cool. If you know what freeway exit you would take to the Embassy I would have a better idea of its location. My husbands parents live in the valley way past the Rose Bowl on a Sunday am ( less traffic)we can make it in 45mins to an hour from South OC to the Valley. Although not close the drive is doable and won't be unbearable

 

[turkel]

In bad traffic 3 hours

 

[northwoodsgal]

The address of the Embassy Santa Ana is 1325 East Dyer Road. It's off of highway 55, just a little south of the intersection of highway 55 and I-5. I would guess the exit is either Dyer or Barranca.

I have looked at hotels in the Anaheim/Buena Park/Garden Grove area, but it's so hard to know what those areas are really like. Plus, it probably doesn't make a lot of difference anyway.

 

[turkel]

Ok parts of Santa Ana could be bad, but close to the freeway is probably your best bet and I would think the embassy suites would not be in a horrible area. Your probably better off there than Buena Park or Garden Grove. Plus you'll be near your daughter. Disneyland is pretty much right off the freeway you can see some of the rides as you drive by on the I5 there are several hotels right off the freeway there like the Sheraton is there but I still think being at the hotel with the band will probably be cheaper and more convenient. This Sunday we will probably go see my husbands folks so as we drive the I5 I will try to pay more attention to that area as we go through especially where the 5 and 55 meet. Pam
Years ago my parents lived in Madison for 2 yrs and I took a road trip with my mom and sisters through Green bay to the Wisconson Dells I'll never forget my youthful impression of wisconson...black and white cows and old cemeteries brings a smile to me now

 

[northwoodsgal]

Pam, we just moved up from Madison a few years ago, so we know the area well. We loved living there. I've never thought about the old cemetaries scattered around the state but, you're right, there are a lot of them. Most seem to be in a corner of a field, not attached to any type of church.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[turkel]

The 5&55 close to the freeway looks o.k. Have a wonderful trip. Pam

 

[HughesFam3]

About picking up the Gold Line at Union Station vs. taking the other lines (blue or green) to Union Station and then transferring to the Gold Line. . . too many transfers and too time consuming. If you want to go by Metro, I'd only use the Gold Line.

The primary vendor of grandstand seats for the Rose Parade (Sharp) also offers paid parking with the ticket. That's probably the best way to go -- you have a reserved parking space AND seats nearby, and the lots have parking attendants so they manage it all well. Here's a link to Sharp's web page and I believe you can buy the seats and parking tickets online:
www.sharpseating.com/roseparade.

If I understood you to say the band kids are going on a dinner cruise or something like that after the Parade . . . I wish them luck! After the kids have marched 5.5 miles performing in the Parade, they usually are ready to eat and sleep! It's quite a sight to see hundreds and hundreds of young people and instruments, lying on the grass at Victory Park (where the Parade ends), shoes off and rubbing their feet . . . but they all seem to love the experience!