West Coast Road Trip

[DasDimi]

Thanks Lifey,

The first two local firms i checked where way more expensive, but nowi think i found an OK one :). Will find out in a few months :)

I might have asked this before, but about our 4 night stay in LA:

I am getting serious doubts about the hotel i booked (Hollywood City Inn). It has been getting some awfull reviews the last weeks, and luckily we have a free annulation.
I have been checking for another one, but i find it difficult to deceide what might be the best "area" to get a hotel. Of course we will have a car to get around, but we'd like to enjoy our evenings on foot close to the hotel. Alot of hotels have comments beeing "unsafe" at night.

Any suggestions about a good base location to find a hotel?

ty!!

Dimi

[DonnaR57]

Dimi, if you are already getting the willies about the comments, I would search for somewhere else to stay. There are other places around. There's a Days Inn nearby to Universal Studios, around $120/night, just as one thought.


Donna

[Lifemagician]

For a lot less than $120 per night you could both stay at the USA hostel. Right below the Hollywood sign. I highly recommend it.

They have co-ed dorms and private rooms as well. They are right in the middle of all the Hollywood attractions. They organise tours and have a fantastic knowledge base of the local area. Their security is second to none. For all of these reasons you need to book ahead. They seem to be always booked out.

Every night there are outings to somewhere, be it local bars or limosine tours or whatever.

The one thing they do not have is parking. However, there is a parking lot across the street. In 2009 it was $10 for overnight parking. Probably a little more now, but they have a good relationship with the hostel.

It is on Schrader, between Hollywood and Sunset Blvds. Some folk have told me that this is not a safe area, but I have been out walking the streets often, after dark, and not felt intimidated at all. One time another guest and I went to get something to eat around 2.30 am, and felt quite comfortable walking the local streets.

Why not check it out.

Lifey

[DasDimi]

3 more weeks! Counting down like there is no tomorrow :)

Two small questions:

1) Any chance we could see a NBA game? I didnt know the season doesn't start before end of October... Do they play pre-season friendlies or something similar that we could attend?

2) What would u suggest for some outlet-shopping in LA?

thanks!

Dimi

[AZBuck]

If you're still planning to fly back to Brussels on 4 October, you'll just miss the start of the NBA pre-season which is scheduled to begin on.... 5 October! In Istanbul! And the college schedule starts significantly later than that.

You'll have better luck finding outlet shopping in the Los Angeles area. Some of the better locations include: Camarillo Premium Outlets in Camarillo; Citadel Outlets in Commerce; Ontario Mills in Ontario; Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon; Nordstrom Rack at the Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles.

AZBuck

[Midwest Michael]

You're going to be just a little too early to see any NBA games. In fact, it looks like you're going to miss the chance by one day! The Lakers first preseason game is Oct. 5, and other teams in the area all start a couple days after that.

If you are interested in other sports, you'd have your choice of pretty much any of the other big American sports. The NFL and College Football will be in full swing. The Baseball season will be in its final couple of weeks. Hockey will be in Preseason. And if you'd like to see how Americans play what the rest of the world calls football, even the MLS season will be going on.

[DonnaR57]

You'll have better luck finding outlet shopping in the Los Angeles area. Some of the better locations include: Camarillo Premium Outlets in Camarillo; Citadel Outlets in Commerce; Ontario Mills in Ontario; Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon; Nordstrom Rack at the Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles.

The Citadel Outlet center is HUGE. It is very popular as a result!

[DasDimi]

Thanks guys. The gf will be happy with the Citadel suggestion :). We remember from our previous trip it is smart to take very little lugage, as the shopping is rather cheap!

This might be a bit of a stupid question, but is it likely will have any issues due to the huge forest-fire in Yosemite? I assume i shouldn't worry to much as it is still 3 more weeks before we actually arrive in Yosemite, but it made me wondering. I have a hard time to locate the current "problem" area, is it anywhere close to the Tioga pass or the main tourist region of the parc? Somehow i think the parc is that big i might not even notice there was a fire, even tho it was heartbreaking to read the impact it did...

13 more days :D

[glc]

Right now, Tioga Pass is open, but you can't get between there and the rest of the park because the Tioga Road is closed from Yosemite Creek to Crane Flat. The NPS site has up to date info and maps of the affected area.

[DasDimi]

Thanks, i will keep a close eye on that.

Is Silicon Valley worth some our precious time when we drive from Monterey to SF? Or is our limited time better spent in SF?