Can I have a happy vacation in LA without a car?|158424

Me and my best friend are staying in Los Angeles for 3 days in March 08 but we don_t have a car and we_re planning to use the public transportation. Is it good enough or do you think we_re going to have a big problem to move around the touristic area? What about night time?

We_re staying in Santa Monica and we_re planning to go to walk of fame, wicked musical, hollywood sign and stuff around. We_re not planning to go do Disney.

Thank you!

If you_re only staying three days, I think you should have your source of transportation. L.A. is very spread out, and if you want to have lots of time for fun and your freedom at the same time....rent a car =)

You could have a happier vacation in LA with a car!

a car would be good. You can take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus to one of the subways stations in Hollywood and take the subways from there.

Well, if you simply stay on the west side of town around Santa Monica, you may not need a car to enjoy yourself. However, LA is such a huge place, with so many cool things to see in different parts of the city, that to hole yourself up in Santa Monica and parts of Hollywood would not really give you a real feel for the city.

Like everyone else has said, save up your money and rent a car.

NO Way. LA is way to big and spread out. It would not be worth going there without the car

Yeh, I suppose it could be done. You need to be able to connect the Wilshire bus route with the MTA red line. The nearest station connection is at Wilshire and Western. If you do that you can get to Hollywood and Highland and Universal Studios in N. Hollywood. You can see but not get to the Hollywood sign anyway...It_s closed off....Preferred way is by car and you could split it 2 ways....If you had a car you could go to Malibu and more of the studio tours. Mobilemark may have some suggestions....

you will need a car. LA_s public transport SUCKS!!!!

disneyland is in aneheim, like 2.5 hours away, btw.

yes you can have a great vacation with out a car
as both Metro and the Santa Monica buses lines both offer
day passes
(Metro day pass is $5.00 (good on all metro operated service
thats the bus company that goes to Hollywood)
and the Santa Monica buses day pass is $2.50 (3.50 if you wanted go into downtown on their express)(Santa Monica
basically operates on the westside)
a lot of tourists do use public transit and do quite well

Hollywood Blvd has improved a lot, but I_d still be careful taking the subway around that area.They_re trying to bring people to that part of the city and it still has a way to go.

I can get around by bike in the daytime because from Hollywood to Santa Monica is not that far of a distance, but you do have to watch out for drivers who are doing everything else but driving. It was great to take pictures from a bike because if you_re in a car you either have to walk really far to get the photos taken or snap pics while you_re driving. Really easy to go into the high end neighborhoods because if you have a car you can_t stop. The old mansions down south are by far nicer. I wouldn_t recommend going up the back roads because they_re extremely hilly and wind a lot. but you do see bikers on there. A few celebs jogging and walking the dog too.

I don_t recommend Pacific Coast Highway as a bike route unless you_ve taken a drive up the road to see where work is going on.

No, the real question is... can you have a happy vacation in LA WITH a car? The traffic is horrible. As in, you may be on a six-lane freeway with traffic stopped in all six lanes. Also consider how brave a driver you are. This would be the worst possible place in America to drive, and if you don_t know where you are going you can be in a super nice neighborhood and then turn a corner and be in a really, REALLY dangerous area. Parking is another issue- it_s extremely difficult to find parking on the street side, and if you have to opt for a parking garage it is very expensive.

But, having said all that, I will agree that LA is so big that it really is almost impossible to see it without your own vehicle. I have taken the bus, but it was difficult to find the right one and they are not always running on time. A taxi would be a better option, in my opinion- expensive but less stressful.

NNOOOOO WAY!!!!! Rent a little cheap car. LA is very sprawled out!!! Lived there for 30yrs.

*******EDIT************ Public transort is VERY bad!!!! Scary!! Yucky!!!!!!

Yes you can! Take the Metro Red Line from downtown to Hollywood (with a stop at Universal Studios). Or take the Metro Gold Line from downtown to Pasadena to see Old Town. You can also take the Metro Blue Line from downtown to Long Beach (hint: stay in downtown, very convenient access to metro rail!). And, if you want to go to Santa Monica, take the Metro Rapid 720. The Rapid only stops once every mile; and you begin your journey in.......downtown.

NOPE! no debating NOPE!

Rent a car. LA is just too big and spread out. It will give you the most safety and freedom to roam about. Just because of its sheer size, you_ll find that public transit in LA is not very effective. The only ones who use it are people who have no other means of transporation.

No, you have to have a car. There so much to see here in LA!!

No way jose!

no because if u want to go somewhere u can_t drive to that place.Then u goin to have to catch a bus or something.

its doable but it might take longer to get around (why do you think everyone here has a car)because LA is pretty spread out.




P.S the people you meet on the buses can be pretty entertaining