Online travel booking

[Doug Jones]

Looking to do a two day trip to LA Calif. Wondering if the online travel sites are the better way to go. If so what is your personal favorite.

Is there a preferred hotel in LA that will allow one to see the better sites within walking distance or should I rent a car while there?

Is the "Guided Tours" a good thing or are they a rip off?

Never been to Calif., never been west of St. Louis so any help is appreciated.

[poolhound]

For flights I usually do the research on places like travelocity etc but then book direct with the airline. I do this all online. For business I fly at least once a month and this is the easiest way for me.

I generally book the hotel thats most convienentfor my location when on business (I dont have to pay). When on my own nickel I have had a lot of luck using priceline and using their bidding system to get the best deal. You need to get to grips with how that works but when you do it can yeild some really great deals.

It does of course depend on what your price threshold tends to be. I have managed to get some great rooms in the big cities e.g. SFO or NYC at mucho discounts although still quite expensive relative to provincial prices. Exampes might be 4star room in midtown Manhattan (walking distance from Times sq and C. Park) for $195. $195 isnt necessarily cheap but it is for this location. The rack rate for the same room was close to $400!!!

[radhak]

My first stop is always www.sidestep.com; it allows you to slice and dice your options in every possible way, and is way faster than any other similar site.

The trick is to keep an eye out to where it takes when you select an option. Sometimes you get to orbitz / travelocity / etc, which does not make much sense, you should try and get to the airline's website from sidestep.

It allows allows you to book hotels, and again, you should a bit of homework on what you'd like to see, and look in that area.

I have lived briefly in SFO, and only visited LA, so can't help you much there. Personally, I think NYC is much more organized, but then I am biased, lived east coast a long time.

[Bigbit]

Doug,

I am an east coast boy transplanted to the L A area. Although I've come to like the area (constant good weather is a terribly persuasive thing), it did not get its reputation as a "city of cars" for no reason. NOTHING is reasonably close without a car. I would encourage you to rent one, and then be prepared for a road system the likes of which you've never seen. As an example, I live within a half mile of one major east-west freeway (Hwy 210). I can travel 3 miles south and there is another major east-west freeway (Hwy 10). Travel another 5 miles south and there is another major east-west freeway (Hwy 60). 8 miles south of that is Hwy 91. Each of these are major freeways with 4 lanes, carpool lane and breakdown lane each direction and LOTS of traffic. As a newbie to the area, a GPS brought with you or rented from the rental car agency would be highly recommended.

The other thing to forewarn you of is your planned trip time. When you say two days, do you mean two days total, or two days in L.A.? Because you will find it easy coming out here as you will "gain" two or three time zones, so the trip works in your favor. Going home, as I am assiming a plane change to get you to Indiana, you will combine 5 to 8 hours of travel time with 2 to 3 hours of lost "time zone change" time, making the effective trip time 7 to 10 hours. Add transport time to and from the airports, and you lose a whole workday just travelling home. The option is to take a redeye, but then you will screw up your sleep cycle unless you can sleep on airplanes. I would suggest planning on one extra day just to cover the trip home.

As for where to go / what to do, that is a matter of personal taste, and there are many websites that can offer you suggestions. I live here because of my work, and haven't done that much "tourist stuff" here.

[jackellis]

I also book all of my travel over the web. It's easier and faster for me to look at all the flight options and decide for myself instead of having someone read them to me. Orbitz does a good job of laying out the options, but then I book on the airline site. Same usually for hotels. One of the downsides to booking hotels on Orbitz or Travelocity or Hotels.com is that they won't usually refund your money if your travel plans change, whereas the company sites usually will unless you simply fail to show up.

Of course, right now I would skip the airlines and fly myself if I had the time and money was no object (I own a four seat piston airplane).

[eccentrictinkerer]

I booked a room in Las Vegas last year through an on-line company.

Because of a family emergency I couldn't make the trip, so I called to cancel.

The hotel said to call the agency.

The on-line company told me to read the fine print on our agreement.

You know, the part that tells you no refund - no way! Bummer.

No more on-line agencies for me. I use Sidestep.com to do the research and then book direct with the hotel. They'll always meet the 'Net price, in my experience.

[JR]

You already have some good advice re: on-line booking. And Bigbit offers good advice re: getting a car - it's mandatory.

As far what to see: since it's your first time I'd stay in Santa Monica, near Ocean Ave. There's a great beach, with a bike path, volleyball, and the pier has amusements. Muscle beach, and the buskers at Venice Beach are only a couple of miles south. Lots of good restaurants in Santa Monica plus night life and shopping on the Third Street Promenade.

If you like art, the Getty Foundation has two fine museums nearby - one north of SM about 4 miles and one in adjacent Brentwood. LA Co. Mus. of Art is about 10 miles toward downtown LA.

Major concerts are now held at Staples Center (where the Lakers play) and the brand-new Nokia Theatre right next door. These are in dowtown LA, where you can also see the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall. There is also a Museum of Contemporary Art downtown. It's about 15 miles from SM to downtown LA.

If you're a rocker, Hollywood rocks. Do not go there if you are timid. 10 miles from SM.

Threee final suggestions. Dodger Stadium, near downtown but kind of tricky to get to, is an excellent ballpark (and the team is making noises of "goodness" this year). The Hollywood Bowl presents high-quality, if mainstream, entertainment under the stars 6-7 nights a week from May to September. Wear a sweater, the evenings are cool. The Greek Theatre, near Hollywood and also outdoors, features contemporary music.

JR

[scmhogg]

Doug,

Try the Southwest site. Depending on your dates, you may be able to get one of their $99 flights. Southwest is not included in Orbitz etc.

You might want to consider flying to Burbank. LAX is a mess.

Los Angeles County is a huge sprawling place. Over 4000 square miles and 70 miles of coastline. It could easily take you two hours to get from one end to the other in traffic. I would suggest that you choose where you are sure to go, friend, relative, must see place, etc. and head there. Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are in Orange County to the south.

If that was your destination, you might consider flying to John Wayne Airport and staying near the attractions.

As others have indicated, a car is a must. Public transportation sucks.

Before you book, let JR or another of us from SoCal where you plan to stay. I have seen people reserve rooms in LA or Hollywood based upon a web-site pic. That later dissapointed them, unless they wanted to rent by the hour!!

Steve