8 hrs in LAX

We will be flying into LAX at noon and will have about 8 hrs before leaving on a flight for Thailand. Have never been to LA and was wondering if there is anything we could do to fill in the time before we fly out at 11 pm? Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks...

I would probably take a taxi to the Santa Monica Pier. You could see the ocean, and walk the pier area. Then you could also go the the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place. You could grab some dinner, watch the sunset, people watch.

You might be able to make it up to Hollywood - walk around The Chinese Theater and look at the Walk of Fame. People watching here can be very interesting. There are restaurants for dinner.

Taxis can be expensive ($50 each way) and I would not recommend buses.

I'd stick close to the airport. Santa Monica, Westwood, Beverly Hills and/or Venice Beach -- no further. Possibly the miracle mile mid-Wilshire if you like museums. Otherwise, you risk the possibility that traffic could make you miss your flight. During peak periods, with bad traffic, it could take you as much as two hours to/from Hollywood or downtown LA. Add in the 2-hour time recommended for international flights (which might actually be required, due to the very long security lines at LAX), and you could only spend about 2 hours in Hollywood.

Make sure and check out the TUG Guide for suggestions on what to do or where to go/eat in LA.

How about renting a car?

Thanks for your advice regarding the traffic. $100 is a little steap for taxi's. If we rented a car for the day - would it be very difficult to drive to a location that would be of interest for the afternoon? Thanks for the advice on the TUG site re LA - I will have a look at that.

Definitely rent a car- it's easy and inexpensive. I would drive north on Lincoln Boulevard rather than taking the freeway. That way you'll get straight to Venice and Santa Monica. I am going to LA for 8 hours next week- not on vacation or en route to anywhere- but it is enough time to get out and around a bit.

Rent a car, visit rodeo drive, venice beach, etc.

Beware of the traffic and do not miss your flight.

I think I'd take a good book (or books) and spend some time power walking through the terminal. I know you have 8 hours, but I'd be nervous about the traffic if I left the airport. To me, it's not worth the risk! I've spent so many hours in airports, what's 8 more?

Another option is to take a free shuttle to a nearby airport hotel, have a long leisurely meal and relax in the lobby before going back to the airport.

This place isnt too far from the airport and it is really good if you like seafood. There is also a highly recommended Chinese restaurant right across the street. PF Changs

I would stay close and not risk missing my flight.


McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

2101 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, California 90245
(310) 416-1123
1-888-344-6861 toll free
Email: Restaurant
Banquets

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

LAX

Assuming your coming in Air Canada (Terminal 2) You'll need to clear US Customs, I will be very suprized if you can check your bags through to Thailand from Saskatoon. Typically you will then schlep your luggage to the curb and get on the A Bus, taking it 1/8th to 1/4 of mile to Bradley to wait in line to get your baggage tags then stand on line to give them to TSA to check in. [I recenetlywalked an Aussie through getting your boarding pass from the red cap, even when you had no luggage to check to avoid the TSA lines - she was connecting off an internation to domestic, you are doing Int'l to International - Used to clear US Customs pre-flight in Vancouver but no offense it's Saskatoon - where are you leaving Canada ?]

Then you get in a shuttle bus to pick up your rental car, I would estimate up to 2 hours (maybee less) I do not know what they are recomending for International check in but let's say 2 hours, adding an additional 30 minutes to turn in the car and take the shuttle to Bradley, your eight hour layover now has 3.5 hours for sightseeing . With the exeption of the shopping center in El Segundo ("The second" for our friends from the great white north) all of the destinations reccomended are 30 - 45 minutes away levaing a true window of opportunity of 2 hours + the drive time to the destination

If your driving opt for GPS since you cannot afford the risk of a wrong turn

I told my wife of my response and she said she would go to
Ocean Avenue Seafood in Santa Monica.

For 8 hours I would not rent a car I would use cabs, although they can be expensive.

Car Rental

Barbeque said:

I told my wife of my response and she said she would go to
Ocean Avenue Seafood in Santa Monica.

For 8 hours I would not rent a car I would use cabs, although they can be expensive.

Click to expand...

I would add at least an hour for the Pick Up and Return of a rental car at LAX (30 minutes each way)

Rented one there 2-3 weekends per month from 1/2002 to 6/2003

Sorry I've been away from my computer for a few days. I appreciate all the cautionary comments because if you aren't aware of the factors involved we certainly could end up in trouble - time wise. We are taking an excursion with Friendly Planet so will need to meet up with them. Given all the new info I think we might just chicken out and stay close to the airport. Will check out the restaurants mention - have been to PF Chang and enjoyed it. Thanks for all the helpful comments I really appreciated it.

If you want to enjoy one of the nicest beach towns in LA County, or all of Southern California for that matter, you can take a taxi to Hermosa Beach pier-it isn't that far from the airport (less than 15 minutes by side streets). It is a much cleaner, prettier beach town than Santa Monica and Venice and there are several good restaurants in the pier area. Venice Beach is a tourist trap-interesting wierd people watching but not pleasant to look at. Santa Monica is a good place to visit but much more traffic that way and not as pretty as Hermosa Beach, IMHO. The 90210 beach house (if you remember that show) is the corner house between Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach and the strand (cement sidewalk/boardwalk) that runs along the beach runs the length of the beach. You can see Redondo Beach to your left and the mountains in Malibu to your right. If you want to see what the Beach Boys sang about, this would be the place to see California beach living at its finest. Otherwise I second PF Changs if you want to stay real close to the airport. I used to live in Hermosa Beach and it always took me less than 15 minutes to get to LAX by side streets. Enjoy

Thanks Mepiccolo for your suggestion. I think that's what we'll do as we really enjoy just poking around areas that we're not familiar with and it sounds like it's not too far from the airport. Thanks again to everything for their input.

Don't leave the airport area. You think on the outside you have 8 hours layover, Murphy's law says you have 4 hours. Time at LAX for arrivals and luggage is hit and miss Traffic around LAX is a big mess. There are nice hotel resturants with free shuttles all around the airport, and thats as far as I would go.

Having grown up in LA, I second everyone who says take a hotel shuttle and sit by a pool there, eat in their restaurant, shuttle back to airport.