Getting There By Air:Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Tel: (310) 646 5252.
Website:
www.lawa.org On Santa Monica Bay, just 24km (15 miles) from the city center, LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world and is particularly important as the US gateway to the Pacific.
Airport facilities: Facilities include foreign exchange and banking services, ATMs, medical and first aid, language assistance and a variety of shops and restaurants. Directions and information
can be found at 11
Travelers Aid information centers on the lower level. Car hire is available from all the major operators, including
Alamo,
Avis,
Budget,
Enterprise,
Hertz,
National and
Thrifty, as well as many local operators. Business services are available at the
ICE Currency Exchange Booth. Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport and kiosks provide Internet access. Public telephones throughout the airport offer Internet data port access.
Transport to the city: Taxis can be found at the lower level - although due to LA's car culture, they're not as common as at other major airports. Nine official taxi companies operate in the city; look for the Taxicab Seal. A fixed fee of US$46.50 applies for trips between LAX and downtown. Several private shuttle services will drop airport passengers at the door of their hotel or other destinations. These include
Super Shuttle (tel: 1 800 258 3826; website:
www.supershuttle.com),
Xpress Shuttle (tel: (310) 323 7222
or 1 800 427 7483; website:
www.xpressshuttle.com) and
Prime Time Shuttle (tel: (310) 536 7922
or 1 800 733 8267; website:
www.primetimeshuttle.com). Charges are reasonable and vary depending on the destination, although shuttles invariably take a lot longer than a taxi.
A free shuttle bus runs between terminals and from the airport to Parking Lot C, where passengers can connect with
MTA (tel: 1 800 266 6883; website:
www.mta.net) buses, which run to most places in the city. There is also a free shuttle to Aviation Station on the MTA Metro Green Line. Pick-up is on the lower arrival level under the LAX Shuttle sign.
Ontario International Airport (ONT) Tel: (909) 937 2700.
Website:
www.lawa.org 56km (35 miles) east of Downtown Los Angeles, Ontario International is the city's newest airport. It handles international and domestic flights and is the closest airport for the heavily settled Orange County.
Airport facilities: Facilities include information kiosks, ATMs, foreign exchange and a variety of shops and restaurants. Car hire is available from
Alamo,
Avis,
Budget,
Dollar,
Enterprise,
Hertz,
National and
Thrifty. Wi-Fi is available in all passenger areas of Terminals 2 and 4. There is no business center at the airport.
Transport to the city: Taxis and several shuttle bus services (see above under LAX) provide transportation throughout the region.
Bob Hope Airport (Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport) (BUR) Tel: (818) 840 8840.
Website:
www.burbankairport.com Bob Hope Airport is served by seven domestic airlines. It is the closest airport to Downtown LA (20km, or 13 miles, away), Hollywood and the Valley.
Airport facilities: Facilities include shops and restaurants, ATMs and tourist information. Car hire is provided by
Alamo,
Avis,
Hertz and
National. There are no business facilities at the airport.
Transport to the city: Metrolink (Monday to Friday only),
MTA Bus lines and
Amtrak (see
Rail) have nearby stations at Burbank and there are free connecting shuttles to/from the airport. The airport is also connected by many MTA bus lines. Taxis are available.
John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana, Orange County)
Tel: (949) 252 5200.
Website:
www.ocair.com67km (42 miles) south of downtown Los Angeles, John Wayne Airport is served by 10 domestic airlines.
Airport facilities: Facilities include shops and restaurants, ATMs and tourist information. On-site car hire is provided by
Alamo,
Avis,
Budget,
Enterprise,
Hertz,
National and
Thrifty. There are no business facilities at the airport.
Transport to the city: Taxis, limousines and shuttles (see above under LAX) provide service to the city.
Approximate flight times to Los Angeles: From London is around 10 hours 15 minutes; from New York is 5 hours 30 minutes; from Toronto is 5 hours 30 minutes and from Sydney is 14 hours 30 minutes on non-stop flights.
Getting There By Water:Located in San Pedro Bay, some 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles, 425 South Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro (tel: (310) 732 7678; website:
www.portoflosangeles.org), is one of the world's biggest and busiest seaports. The area includes recreational facilities such as a Maritime Museum, marina, aquarium and the Wilmington Information Center.
Ferry services: The majority of cruise ships head south towards Mexico, although Los Angeles is a stop on sailings to Alaska and other international destinations. There is also the
Catalina Express (tel: 1 800 481 3470; website:
www.catalinaexpress.com), which operates a service to Santa Catalina Island (see
Excursions).
Getting There By Road:Road travel in California is excellent, with good roads connecting Los Angeles to San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco.
Driving in the United States is on the right. For UK nationals, a full UK driving license is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit but it must be accompanied by a full driving license from their home country. The minimum driving age in the USA is 16 years.
Speed limits are 40-56kph (25-35mph) in towns, 88kph (55mph) on highways and 105kph (65mph) on freeways, unless otherwise posted. Drivers may turn right at a red light, after stopping, unless there is a sign that prohibits it. A left turn is permitted on red if turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street. Pedestrians have right of way. The wearing of seat belts in a private vehicle is mandatory. Children under six years must be protected in car seats. California has strict laws against drink-driving and driving while intoxicated is cause for arrest and a criminal charge. Drink-driving laws are strictly enforced. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.08%. Open containers of alcoholic beverages are not permitted in vehicles.
The
American Automobile Association (AAA) (tel: 1 800 222 1333; website:
www.aaa-calif.com) can provide information on driving routes and online maps, and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.
Emergency breakdown service: AAA (tel: 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP).
Between 0630 and 1900,
Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) will assist freeway drivers with minor problems. For emergencies dial 911. Call 1 800 427 7623 for current highway conditions.
Routes to the city: Interstate 5 (I-5) connects Los Angeles with Seattle in the north and San Diego in the south. The Pacific Coast Highway (State Highway 1) is a scenic route north along the California coast to Santa Barbara and San Francisco. Los Angeles is linked to Phoenix by I-10, to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City by I-15, and to Oklahoma City and Memphis by I-40.
Approximate Driving times to Los Angeles: From San Diego is 2 hours 45 minutes; Las Vegas is 4 hours 30 minutes; San Francisco is 9 hours.
Coach services: The main
Greyhound (tel: (214) 849 8966
or 1 800 231 2222; website:
www.greyhound.com) coach station is at 1716 East Seventh Street. Greyhound provides coach services to cities nationwide. Facilities include baggage assistance and snack bar.
Getting There By Rail:National and regional rail services are provided by
Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245; website:
www.amtrak.com).
METROLINK (tel: 1 800 371 5465; website:
www.metrolinktrains.com) is the regional rail system for southern California and connects with most cities in the region. The Los Angeles terminal for both is Union Station, at 800 North Alameda Street on the edge of Downtown business. This vast, art deco, Spanish-style building, built in 1939, is an attraction itself. Rail services have shrunk in recent years and tend to be slower than other forms of transport, but facilities include checked baggage, passenger information, waiting rooms and a snack bar. The LAX Flyaway bus service (website:
www.lawa.org/flyaway) provides fast, economical travel between the station and the airport.
Rail services: The Los Angeles terminal is at the western end of major routes across the southern Rockies and is also the southern terminus of the West Coast line to Seattle (Washington). Frequent services go to stations as far south as San Diego. Five main
Amtrak trains serve Los Angeles: the
Coast Starlight which begins in Seattle; the Pacific
Surfliner - San Luis Obispo - Los Angeles - San Diego;
Southwest Chief from Chicago;
Sunset Limited from Orlando via New Orleans to Los Angeles and the
Texas Eagle from Chicago via San Antonio.
Getting Around:Public TransportDespite LA being one of the most car-oriented cities in the world, public transport can be a good way to get around. The
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (
MTA) (tel: (213) 922 6000
or 1 800 266 6883/COMMUTE; website:
www.mta.net) operates one of the largest fleets in the nation - 200 Metro Bus lines
(
buses) as well as four Metro Rail lines (
subway). Due to the size of the city, bus journeys can be time-consuming and may involve changing, but if the subway stops where required, it is a very good option. For example, visitors could be whisked from Downtown to Hollywood in just 12 minutes (add another 10 minutes or so if the train is not at the station).
The Metro Rail system of interconnected subway and light rail tracks covers 62 stations over four lines. The Blue Line connects Downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Green Line runs along the median of Century Freeway and links Norwalk and El Segundo. The Red Line connects Union Station, Downtown LA, Hollywood, Universal City and North Hollywood. The Gold Line runs from Union Station to Pasadena.
A monthly, weekly or Metro Day Pass offers unlimited rides on Metro Bus or Metro Rail, or passengers can buy 10 Metro tokens, which can be used for one-way fares on either bus or rail. Many hotels, local convenience and grocery stores and Metro Customer Centers sell Metro passes and tokens.
Downtown Los Angeles also has its own bus system called
DASH. Maps and schedules are available on the bus or from a hotel concierge and signs are posted throughout the Downtown area.
DASH is operated by
LADOT (tel: 1 800 252 9040; website:
www.ladottransit.com).
TaxisAlthough taxis are readily available and there are ranks at major hotels, they cannot be hailed on the street. Also, the size of Los Angeles makes them expensive and impractical for cross-town journeys. They are more useful for night journeys within one area. There are nine taxi operators in the city (website:
www.taxicabsla.org). Visitors should look for the official Los Angeles Taxicab Seal before getting in, as those without it have no legal authorization to operate.
If traveling from Beverly Hills,
Beverly Hills Cab Company (tel: 1 800 273 6611; website:
www.beverlyhillscabco.com) and
Independent Taxi Company (tel: 1 800 521 8294/TAXI; website:
www.taxi4u.com) are the only companies allowed to travel from there to Los Angeles. Taxis can be booked from:
Bell Cab (tel: 1 888 235 5222/BELLCAB; website:
www.bellcab.com);
Checker Cab (tel: (213) 481 2345) and
LA Yellow Cab (tel: 1 877 733 3305; website:
www.layellowcab.com). All official taxis charge the same rates.
Driving in the CityThe distances between LA's various points can seem intimidating at first, but it is relatively easy to get around by car. However, it is hard to get a sense of compass points so visitors should try to plan their journey in advance and get to know a map of the major highways. Freeways running east-west have even numbers, while those running north-south have odd numbers. Most have a name as well as a number; and it is wise to ask for both when getting directions. The Downtown Visitor Information Center (tel: (213) 689 8822; website:
www.lacvb.com) can help.
The freeways are well marked, although very congested, especially during rush hours (0700-0900 and 1600-1900). Using helicopters, local radio stations broadcast frequent traffic reports at 0600-1000 and 1500-1900. Many southern Californian freeways have designated fast lanes for HOV's or High Occupancy Vehicles only (also known as ‘car pool') - usually cars carrying more than one person. Visitors should not merge into an HOV lane unless their car has the specified number of passengers, as fines are levied. There are call boxes with free telephones every half-mile along the freeways for emergencies.
There are numerous parking lots and garages throughout the city; prices vary widely. Check garages for early bird specials (before 0900). For on-street parking, however, visitors should read all signs carefully as there is often a complicated system of days or hours when parking is not allowed for street cleaning etc. Illegally parked vehicles are quickly ticketed and may be towed away. A red kerb means no parking; a green kerb allows parking for a limited time; a white kerb is for loading and unloading passengers only. Some streets have metered parking; meters generally take quarters. Meters are generally free after 1800 and on Sundays, but visitors should always check the signs. Many restaurants offer valet parking either free or for a nominal fee; valets should always be tipped US$3-5.
Car HireAll major car hire companies have offices in the LA area. These include
Alamo (tel: 1 800 327 9633; website:
www.alamo.com),
Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1212; website:
www.avis.com),
Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; website:
www.budget.com),
Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 4000; website:
www.dollar.com),
Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3131; website:
www.hertz.com),
National (tel: 1 800 227 7368; website:
www.nationalcar.com) and
Thrifty (tel: 1 800 367 2277; website:
www.thrifty.com). Drivers must be at least 25 years of age, depending on company policy. Optional CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) insurance is always recommended if not already covered by the driver's own policy.
Los Angeles Rent-A-Car (tel: (310) 670 9946
or 1 800 441 7368/RENT; website:
www.la-rentacar.com) hires to drivers age 21 to 25. Los Angeles loves classic cars; to hire these or any slightly more exotic vehicle, try
Beverly Hills Rent A Car (tel: (310) 337 1400
or 1 800 479 5996; website:
www.bhrentacar.com).
Bicycle HireAway from the freeways, the city is cycling friendly, with designated cycle lanes criss-crossing the city and running along the beachfront.
Hollywood Pro Bicycles (tel: (323) 466 5890
or 1 888 775 2453/BIKE; website:
www.hollywoodprobicycles.com) is one of a few stores that hires both road and mountain bikes.
Perry's Beach Cafe, 2400 and 2600 Oceanfront Walk, Santa Monica (tel: (310) 939 0000; website:
www.perryscafe.com), has bike, tricycle and skates for hire and easy access to the bike paths either side of Santa Monica Pier.
Bikestation, 105 The Promenade North, Long Beach (tel: (562) 733 0106; website:
www.bikestation.org), which links to public transportation and 53km (33 miles) of scenic bike paths, also hires bikes.
EagleRider Motorcycle Rental is located close to LAX Airport at 11860 South La Cienega Boulevard (tel: (310) 536 6777
or 1 800 501 8687; website:
www.eaglerider.com) and has motorcycles for hire, including Harley Davidsons, as well as motorcycle guided tours.
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