We are planning our first trip to California (Happy Days) and would appreciate advice and information.
We are flying into LAX going to Santa Monica for 2 days, planning to go to Getty Museum.
from there driving to Westin Desert Willow (anyone been there?) Palm Desert for a week,
then to an AirBNB in LA - going "Hollywood", maybe a studio, stuff like that - back to LAX
My questions are:
1. What is recommended transport from LAX to Santa Monica? Perhaps return from Hollywood to LAX?
2. We have advice that we should not attempt drive from or to airport ourselves, but to rent a car from the hotel. So I thought we would rent a car the Sunday we drive to Palm Desert, use same to AirBNB. Do not know if we should turn in car and get a shuttle or drive to LAX ourselves. It is a ridiculous time, like 5 a.m.
3. So, any help with above. Thanks.
Not sure about the advice re airport - unless you are coming from overseas and suffering from jetlag (in which case it might be best not to drive depending on how you feel about it). Otherwise there really is no reason. I am NOT a good/experienced driver but I used to live in LA and used to drive by the airport all the time without problems. There are some sketchy areas nearby but if you stay on the freeways/use a GPS/make sure what you are doing ahead of time it should be fine.
However, depending on what you plan to do in Santa Monica, you may not need a car and parking at the hotel can be quite expensive. There is (or at least you would have to check) a bus running from LAX to downtown Santa Monica (Big Blue Bus). You catch it from one of the parking areas. It is inexpensive and easy enough but if you are suffering from jetlag (or coming in late at night etc.) I would get a taxi.
As for Santa Monica, there are several things to do here that won't need a car (even though many will claim you need one anywhere in LA). First of all Santa Monica itself: beach, pier, 3rd Street Promenade, shopping etc. Also the train now connects Santa Monica with downtown so it would be easy to visit the Museum of Natural History, California Science Center, Downtown, Olvera Street without a car and you would save quite a bit compared to car rental, parking at hotel, parking downtown.
Not sure whether you are thinking of Getty Villa in Malibu or the Getty Center for your visit. Getting to the Getty Villa from Santa Monica should be easy enough on the bus though there is some weird procedure involved (you have to get a ticket ahead of time and I believe the bus driver needs to stamp it or something - I have never done this though). I would not recommend the Getty Center from Santa Monica without a car. It is doable (I have done it) but quite cumbersome. You take a bus to UCLA and change to another bus - it takes quite a while (at least when we did it). I am very used to public transportation but would pass on this - either rent a car or do it during the second part of your trip.
Picking up a car at or near your hotel in Santa Monica should be easy. It sounds like you will have a car during your time at the AirBNB so you won't have to consider public transportation then.
I see no reason not to take your car back to LAX, especially early in the morning. Buses etc. might not run and without traffic it should not take long at all to get there.
Enjoy your trip!
