Areas to Stay (or avoid) in LA Area

[bikemonster]

Greetings, Imaginary Friends

I am planning a trip to visit suppliers in the LA area. I need to visit the following places:
Canoga Park
Camarillo
Santa Ana
North Hollywood
Pasadena
Huntington Beach
Culver City

Any suggestions on where I should seek accommodation, or areas I should avoid?

I need to find accommodation for three nights, and I could feasibly stay north/west of LA proper for one night, and south/east of LA for two nights.

Suggestions and advice welcomed.

James

[GreigM]

Given you're all over the place I'd be tempted to stay fairly central and just put up with the drive each day (it is what LA is all about after all)....if you want to do the tourist thing as well obviousy staying somewhere like West Hollywood would be a good choice. When in the area I tend to stay in this place http://www.leparcsuites.com/ - its on a quietish back street halfway between sunset and the beverly center (both < 20 min walk), nice rooms and decent parking.

[so called]

I normally stay in Burbank or Santa Monica.

[PaulFontaine]

Well unless you have a need to be with a lot of British people (Santa Monica has the most British expats in the US) I would say your easiest, safest, cleanest option would be by far and away in Pasadena where you could book a clean comfortable room for $400 or less. Also you would even be able to prepare basic food there. The westside is certainly more fun being on the ocean however you'd easily pay double Los Angeles in not a affordable town to visit. Since you must drive to all these locations I highly suggest simply making sure you're simply prudent in where you go out at night if you drink so as you don't become a touristy target. It is far safer than say NYC, Miami, or Chicago. If you should so desire I can give you some pointers should you let me know what you want to do, lifestyle etc.

[bikemonster]

Thanks for the responses.

It looks like some of you guys roll rather higher than I do. $400 a night

This is going to be a real whistle stop visit, and I've booked into business traveller type hotels, which I don't expect will change my life, but should be bearable. Two nights in a Best Western Plus in Thousand Oaks, followed by a Hilton Garden Inn in San Diego and then back for a Crowne Plaza in San Pedro.

I will possibly check out the Barret-Jackson auction and hoop-la on the Saturday.

Then it's off to Portland (1 night), San Francisco (1 night), Scotts Valley (1 night) and Reno (1 night).

[PaulFontaine]

bikemonster said:

Thanks for the responses.

It looks like some of you guys roll rather higher than I do. $400 a night

This is going to be a real whistle stop visit, and I've booked into business traveller type hotels, which I don't expect will change my life, but should be bearable. Two nights in a Best Western Plus in Thousand Oaks, followed by a Hilton Garden Inn in San Diego and then back for a Crowne Plaza in San Pedro.

I will possibly check out the Barret-Jackson auction and hoop-la on the Saturday.

Then it's off to Portland (1 night), San Francisco (1 night), Scotts Valley (1 night) and Reno (1 night).

Sorry no it's $400 for the WEEK! I would suggest that you add a little more time between your stops the USA is a massive and since 9/11 a very cumbersome place to travel around in. Also to come all this way and not really get a flavor for the place. It'd really only cost you the price of four extra days of hotel. Just my thoughts. I assure you you will want to check out LA and San Francisco

Edited by PaulFontaine on Sunday 19th June 20:37

[SirBlade]

Stay somewhere in Burbank, its got a nice vibe at night, and is safe.
It's also central to the places you need to visit.

[GreigM]

bikemonster said:

Then it's off to Portland (1 night), San Francisco (1 night), Scotts Valley (1 night) and Reno (1 night).

Do you have to go to Reno? Its a hole.
San Diego and San Francisco are two of my favourite places on earth - spend as much time in both as you can. In SD you need a car - its quite spread out, but in SF park it at fishemans wharf and walk!

[so called]

GreigM said:

bikemonster said:

Then it's off to Portland (1 night), San Francisco (1 night), Scotts Valley (1 night) and Reno (1 night).

Do you have to go to Reno? Its a hole.
San Diego and San Francisco are two of my favourite places on earth - spend as much time in both as you can. In SD you need a car - its quite spread out, but in SF park it at fishemans wharf and walk!

If your going to Reno for the gambling, you could consider Lake Tahoe. Its not quite so far but very beautiful.
The California / Navada State line splits the town so one half is Casino's

[bikemonster]

Reno may be a hole, but I've got two suppliers to visit there, so needs must.

It's a real shame that this trip going to leave me with very little time for explores. My last US trip gave me two days to explore San Francisco, and as a keen cyclist I hired a bike and rode all over the city, across the bridge to Marin County and did the obligatory descent of Lombard. This time will be all about work, but on the plus side I will be visiting some very petrol heady businesses.

So, from Wed afternoon this week, if you see somebody driving on the left yelling at people to drive on the proper side of the road, that'll be me!

[GavinPearson]

so called said:

If your going to Reno for the gambling, you could consider Lake Tahoe. Its not quite so far but very beautiful.
The California / Navada State line splits the town so one half is Casino's

I think you are thinking of "Heavenly" which is a really great ski resort. In Reno you get to stay at a Casino Hotel, visit Squaw Valley by day and enjoy what the Casino has to offer by night.

[PaulFontaine]

On the plus side make those extra days happen because the pound to dollar relationship right now will make everything very cheap for you. A situation that is bound to change over the next couple of years and as the economy rebounds so too will travel in the summer and the cost of everything will go up. You'll see..

[bikemonster]

PaulFontaine said:

On the plus side make those extra days happen because the pound to dollar relationship right now will make everything very cheap for you. A situation that is bound to change over the next couple of years and as the economy rebounds so too will travel in the summer and the cost of everything will go up. You'll see..

Pound?

I'm travelling from 'Stralia, mate!

The AUD is indeed looking frisky against the USD, but my constraints for this trip have more to do with time than money...although that said, if time wasn't the biting constraint, money would be.

[PaulFontaine]

my bad same thing though

[bikemonster]

PaulFontaine said:

my bad same thing though

No worries!

I've only ever had short trips to the US, and really enjoyed both visits. I've only very barely scratched the surface, and would dearly love to spend more time there. Oh well, maybe I'll have both the funds and the time to make a real trip of the next visit.

[so called]

GavinPearson said:

so called said:

If your going to Reno for the gambling, you could consider Lake Tahoe. Its not quite so far but very beautiful.
The California / Navada State line splits the town so one half is Casino's

I think you are thinking of "Heavenly" which is a really great ski resort. In Reno you get to stay at a Casino Hotel, visit Squaw Valley by day and enjoy what the Casino has to offer by night.

Well no, not realy, thats a photo looking back down to Tahoe (town) from the cable car going up to Heavenly.

[bikemonster]

Greetings Imaginary Friends!

I thoroughly enjoyed the US. Yes, even Reno. I don't understand the hate for Reno. It's in a beautiful bowl of semi-desert, and even in late June there was still snow dusting the surrounding mountains. Gambling is not my thing, so I found that part of it a bit jokey.

LA on the other hand completely failed to float my boat.

My big discovery: Portland! Loved Portland, not least for its bicycle friendliness. Cruised around the town (city?) on a big-ass cruiser style bike lent by the hotel which was a great way to get around.

Hotels: I stayed in very unexciting but quite adequate Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn/Best Western type things...seven of them. Oh, except for Reno, where I stayed at one of the casino places and slept in what appeared to be a porn movie set the size of a small farm. And was my cheapest night's accommodation.

[PaulFontaine]

well the main thing was that you enjoyed your stay! LA can be a very hectic city it is very fast paced and is certainly not for everyone in fact it is the polar opposite of Portland. You can't rally compare the lifestyle, food, women , nightlife etc. I am sure LA was a true assault on your senses that being said it is a great city and not comparable to sleepy Portland.