LAUS Hotels/Motels

[Tumbleweed]

We are contemplating spending a couple nights in LAX......any recommendations on Hotels/Motels that are reasonably close (or a short cab ride) to LAUS? We would arrive at 9PM and depart at 10:24am the 2nd day.....We would like to "see the sights", so need advice on that also......this would probably be about the middle of September.

 

[zephyr17]

We are contemplating spending a couple nights in LAX......any recommendations on Hotels/Motels that are reasonably close (or a short cab ride) to LAUS? We would arrive at 9PM and depart at 10:24am the 2nd day.....We would like to "see the sights", so need advice on that also......this would probably be about the middle of September.

There is always the Metro Plaza, which is across the street and up one block from Union Station. It is clean and basic. It caters to a largely Asian clientele. I've stayed there a lot, and have never had a problem with it. It well within walking distance. However, if the train is late, it is not a walk you want to do in the wee hours of the morning, and it can be hard to get a cab to pretty much run you across the street.

The major downtown hotels (Biltmore, Westin Bonaventure, Marriott, etc), are on the other side of the freeway "slot" and they are all about a $10 cab ride. During the worst of the period when UP's dispatching routinely resulted in 8 hour Starlights and I was arriving at 2 or 3 am, I took to doing a Priceline into one of the major downtown hotels, basically because a cab can't/won't refuse to take you to one of them, and doing that short walk to the Metro Plaza once at 2am was enough.

There are relatively few "sights" to see in downtown LA (Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, the new Disney concert hall, the museum of modern art), it primarily a business oriented downtown and pretty much clears out after 5 (LA Live near Staples Center at Figueroa and Olympic is an exception to that). LA is very, very spread out. You'll have to figure out which sights you want to see. If it is Hollywood, or Universal Studios, you can take the Red Line from Union Station. Otherwise, you'll want a car. If I am actually staying in LA, rather than just taking another train the next day, the morning after I arrive I go to Union Station and rent a car (car rental counters there close at 6pm). Also, the Metro Plaza has very cheap parking (like $3/day or some such) for downtown LA. The major hotels, the parking is $30-40/day.

And don't call Union Station LAX in LA, or you will wind up at the "real" LAX, the airport.

 

[the_traveler]

A place that many AU members (and I believe Amtrak crews) stay at is the Metro Plaza Hotel. It's an easy 5 minute (2 block) walk from Union Station. While not the Ritz, it's far from a dump either. And it's reasonable also.

It is also 1 block from Philippe's!

 

[zephyr17]

:giggle:

A place that many AU members (and I believe Amtrak crews) stay at is the Metro Plaza Hotel. It's an easy 5 minute (2 block) walk from Union Station. While not the Ritz, it's far from a dump either. And it's reasonable also.

It is also 1 block from Philippe's!

Not even that far, Phillipe's is pretty much across the street from the Metro Plaza. :giggle:

 

[Tumbleweed]

Thanks for all the info! I was looking at the Miyako Hotel....it's about 1/2 mile from LAUS....would that be too close to expect a cab ride? Being the CS is scheduled to arrive at 9pm and could possibly be late, I don't think we would plan on walking anywhere.....As far as attractions, we would probably be interest in Hollywood (walk of fame, the sign, etc.) and any narrated tour buses.

 

[RailFanLNK]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I have stayed at the Metro Plaza Hotel and never felt threatened in that area at all. I know 2-3am etc is late, but its so close to LAUS that you could almost run to the hotel with luggage if you felt threatened. I just feel that its so close that it would be more of a safety hassle driving to another hotel in a cab than walking literally a couple of blocks.

 

[the_traveler]

I arrived on a late CS and walked to the Metro Plaza, and never felt unsafe.

 

[GG-1]

I arrived on a late CS and walked to the Metro Plaza, and never felt unsafe.

Aloha

Here is a picture of the Plaza Motel taken from the front of LAUS. This street is a major street and is well lit.

 

[sportbiker]

Since you're staying a couple of nights, I'd recommend you not stay at Metro Plaza. Aside from Chinatown, there's not much within walking distance. Instead, take the Red or Purple Lines to Pershing Square. The Biltmore is just across the square. You'll be in the heart of Downtown, and there's lots more to eat, drink and see within walking distance. You'll also be centrally located to take Metro to Hollywood, Universal City, Long Beach or Pasadena. Little Tokyo and Chinatown are within walking distance (depending on how far your "walking distance" is...), or you take Metro. There's plenty to keep you occupied without having to rent a car or hail a cab (cabs are scarce here).

These recommendations come from someone who lives Downtown.

 

[Steve4031]

There is a great Rennaisance hotel in Hollywood that us near the Hollywood and vine stop. The Hollywood tours leave from this area and the sidewalk around the subway station has the actors footprints, autograps, etc.

 

[zephyr17]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I have stayed at the Metro Plaza Hotel and never felt threatened in that area at all. I know 2-3am etc is late, but its so close to LAUS that you could almost run to the hotel with luggage if you felt threatened. I just feel that its so close that it would be more of a safety hassle driving to another hotel in a cab than walking literally a couple of blocks.

Umm, try it sometime at 2am, and have some people trying to offer to "help" you with your luggage, like I did. I know LA, I am originally from LA, and not particularly fearful in a big city. At 9pm when the Starlight is scheduled it isn't an issue, but 2am around there is a different deal.

While I did it a number of times (4 or 5) in the wee hours of the morning, and I only had a bad encounter once, once was enough.

How is grabbing a cab at a cabstand a safety issue again?

BTW, a cab to the Miyako would not be an problem.

 

[the_traveler]

Umm, try it sometime at 2am, and have some people trying to offer to "help" you with your luggage, like I did. I know LA, I am originally from LA, and not particularly fearful in a big city. At 9pm when the Starlight is scheduled it isn't an issue, but 2am around there is a different deal.

While I did it a number of times (4 or 5) in the wee hours of the morning, and I only had a bad encounter once, once was enough.

I have done so also. And I don't, and never have, lived in LA. I've never been fearful. I'm more fearful walking in my own house at 2 AM with all the cats and dog walking or lying around on the floor!

To get to the Metro Plaza from Union Station, you just have to walk 1/2 block, cross the street twice (to get to the other corner), walk 1 block, cross the street and then walk 1/2 block. You can walk farther than that on the train, especially on the EB from the 2730 or 2830 sleeper to the dining car!

 

[zephyr17]

Umm, try it sometime at 2am, and have some people trying to offer to "help" you with your luggage, like I did. I know LA, I am originally from LA, and not particularly fearful in a big city. At 9pm when the Starlight is scheduled it isn't an issue, but 2am around there is a different deal.

While I did it a number of times (4 or 5) in the wee hours of the morning, and I only had a bad encounter once, once was enough.

I have done so also. And I don't, and never have, lived in LA. I've never been fearful. I'm more fearful walking in my own house at 2 AM with all the cats and dog walking or lying around on the floor!

To get to the Metro Plaza from Union Station, you just have to walk 1/2 block, cross the street twice (to get to the other corner), walk 1 block, cross the street and then walk 1/2 block. You can walk farther than that on the train, especially on the EB from the 2730 or 2830 sleeper to the dining car!

It wasn't the length of the walk, it is only about 5 minutes, that is the issue for me, it was the "companionship" that one time. That was enough to get me to swear off walking around there with luggage in the middle of the night.

Now that the Starlight is generally ontime, I am considering going back to the Metro Plaza when arriving on the Starlight.