Traveling around Los Angeles to surrounding communities?

Question

I'm thinking of visiting Los Angeles around June this year but I'm struggling to decide where to go. Hollywood, Beverley Hills... I want to visit these places while I'm there.

What sort of public transport is in place in Los Angeles? (It may sound stupid but I've never been to the US) If I got a hotel near downtown LA what sort of options of travel are there to places like Hollywood, Beverley Hills, Bel-Air etc?

Additional Details

Thanks razorbite,

"All Los Angeles area communities are served by regular bus service, In addition, downtown Los Angeles is the hub of 4 metro rail lines that radiate to outlying areas: The Purple Line goes to the Koreatown area (which is just east of Beverly Hills); the Red Line goes to Hollywood and Universal City, the Blue Line goes to Long Beach and the Gold Line goes to Pasadena."

Taken from TripAdvisor.com as recommended by yourself, answered my question.

Awesome answer Darren T, thanks for the info.

I asked about public transport because I don't have a driving license so I wouldn't be able to rent a car unfortunately, else that'd be my first choice too.

Thanks for the advice, and I'd never take the bus at night, I've heard some crazy stuff about America's nightlife lol.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Since someone already answered the question about the transportation, I'll add some other comments about visiting here.


I'm not sure what you hope to see in Hollywood but it isn't anything like you would imagine. You aren't going to run into any movie stars in Hollywood. It is pretty run down and not the safest place anymore.

What is your goal? Shopping? Seeing Celebrities? Seeing mansions? If you can let us know what you want to see it would help.

If you are hoping to see some celebrities, stop by The Ivy restaurant at 113 N. Robertson Blvd in Los Angeles and you will trip over the stars.

http://local.yahoo.com/info-20435557-the…

If you want to see where the stars shop, go to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills http://rodeodrive-bh.com/index2.html

Are you interested in beautiful beaches, tourist attractions such as Disneyland, restaurants, big shopping malls or just scenery?

Answer 2

If you can't rent a car you are not going to see a ot of stuff, specially if you try to return by dark.

Do you have a traveling companion whi can drive a rental car?

Answer 3

another great place is santa monica! i luved it! and you can c venice beach and it´s rly close 2 anyway. have fun

Answer 4

Go to the Ghetty

Answer 5

Check out the LA section of the forums on Tripadvisor.com. You will find all you need to know there. Have fun

Answer 6

Hi

I have just gotten back from LA a few weeks. I went with a few friends and we also planned on taking the public transport. However If i was going back to LA I would 100% rent a car.

The public transport is not great.

The subway system is fantastic however Is not that large so you basically can travel to downtown on a few lines, but the system is not as extensive as the one in NYC or London, so this may limit your travel options.

The bus is not great Im afraid. Mabey for short journeys but nothing over 30 minutes!

For example We were staying at universal city and wanted to get to six flags, In order to do so we had to get 3 buses and it took along 2 hours. We got a bus from Universal to glendale, a bus from glendale to McBean transfer station and then a bus from McBean to Six Flags. Although we got there in the end, It was quite a trek!

Another day we wanted to go to Disney, so we went to downtown and then a 1h30min bus to disney, standing all the way

But I should point out that public transport is SOOOOO cheap, that I would use it again!

It only aproc $1.25 for a ticket and then 25cent for transfer between buses, FANTASTIC!!! in ireland you would pay 2.50euro which is around $5 for one bus journey.

The guide books do point out, do not take bus during the night!! Although we did and found we had no problems, it did get a little rough on the bus to downtown as fights broke out! So just bare that in mind!