12hrs at LAX before flight onto Miami

I will be flying into LAX 9.45am from SYD - i am going to Carribean. My next flight leaves at 9.30pm.

I have never been to the states before and would like to have a brief look around.

12hrs at LAX before flight onto Miami

What are you going to do with your luggage? Most airlines won%26#39;t accept luggage more than 4 hours before departure,

You have 3 options:

1. Hire a car for the day, put your luggage in the boot and explore the key areas:

Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc

2. Take a coach tour of the city (5-1./2 hours) which will cover most of the important areas and allow you to get off the coach a couple of times to eat, shop or take photos. Go to starlinetours.com and look for the GRAND TOUR (5-1/2 hours). You%26#39;ll need to arrange to have the tour company pick you up at a hotel near LAX (which you will be able to transfer to via the hotel%26#39;s free airport shuttle service). The hotel closest to LAX is the Radisson at 6225 W Century Bl.

Now, as far as your luggage is concermed, perhaps you can have the bellman (porter) hold your bags while you%26#39;re on the coach. Otherwise, there are ';off-airport'; firms that will store your luggage for you. Here%26#39;s one: http://www.laxluggagestorage.com/

3. Visit the local beach (Manhattan Beach). Take a taxi or transfer to the Beach Cities Transit Bus #109 (which runs outside of the airport). To transfer to the bus, you have 2 options:

a. Take the Free Airport Shuttle Bus to Parking Lot C that will pull up in front of your terminal under the RED SIGN. Get off at the first stop within Parking Lot C. Walk back out of the parking lot to the sidewalk. Turn left and walk to the bus depot which is adjacent. Pick up the #109 bus there heading west. The sign in the front of the bus (above the windscreen) will say: '; Redondo Beach/ Riviera Village';. Get off the bus at the corner of Manhattan Ave %26amp; 10th Street. Walk 2 blocks west to the beach.

b. Take the Free G Shuttle Bus to the Metro Green Line Aviation Station that will pull up in front of your terminal under the BLUE SIGN. Pick up the #109 bus as instructed above,

Of course, you can do more than one of these options. Just keep in mind that you will need to be back at the airport at the latest by 7:00pm

Good luck!

12hrs at LAX before flight onto Miami

Wow! Are you sure you won%26#39;t be wiped out after that LONG plane trip? My brother and kids live in Australia, and whenever they fly in they are exhausted, and have to take a nap. BTW, they also complained that the food on the plane was lousy--you might want to bring some of your own!

As for your luggage -- I%26#39;d probably take the first major hotel chain shuttle that came by, then check my bags with the bellman (just tell them your room is not ready for check in), and give a good tip. I%26#39;ve done this many times, in many cities, and not had any problem. As long as you tip well, I think the bellmen don%26#39;t really care. When you return there will probably be new bellmen there who don%26#39;t even remember you!

If you%26#39;re going to be spending time in the sun in the Caribbean it might be good to start getting a little tan before you go there. If it were me, I%26#39;d probably go to the nearest beach -- Dockweiler -- just West of the airport (you can probably access it from the beach bus the previous poster told you about). It does have a little plane noise, but it is a very wide, white, uncrowded beach. (I used to drive there, out of my way, when I lived in LA.) I%26#39;d take a nap for a couple hours, and then head north to the Fisherman%26#39;s Village, and then on to Marina del Rey, and then on to Venice Beach. Marina del Rey and Fisherman%26#39;s Village have ritzy, classy, nice restaurants, and chains, also. You%26#39;ll probably be ready for a really good meal at this point....(don%26#39;t eat before going to the beach, or the beach might get too cold -- I presume you%26#39;re leaving for the US soon). Fog and clouds can come in as early as 2 PM...(Bring a jacket!). At Fisherman%26#39;s village you can find rental boats, sail or power, to expore the marina. You can also take a marina water tour on the Hornblower yachts out of Fisherman%26#39;s Village. This would be a really nice respite from your long plane trips! Restaurants in FV are Shanghai Red%26#39;s (my favorite-ask for a window or outside table to view the passing sail and motor boats that are coming from and going out to sea. The beauty of the restaurant is only enhanced by the view), El Torito Mexican Restaurant (chain Mexican), and Anglers Choice Seafood. Top notch restaurants in MdR, with views, are the Cafe del Rey, and the Jer-ne Restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton. Check hours of restaurants--some are not open in mid afternoon. For more info try virtualtourist-MdR travel guide, and also FV info at 310-823-5411. Marina del Rey Visitor Center: 310-305-9545.

Venice has lots of characters, and eclectic charm (and Volleyball, and body builders, etc.). The Venice Boardwalk is famous, and you might want to rent rollerblades or a bicycle there, and get a little exercise (you could even bicycle to Santa Monica). C%26amp;O Trattoria and Mercedes restaurants at the end of Washington are quite popular (near the Venice Pier).

If it were me, I%26#39;d probably rent a car (hotwire), and just put the luggage in the trunk. But if you do this make sure everything will fit in the trunk, so no valuables are visible in the car--beach areas can be problematic for break-ins. With a rental car you%26#39;ll save time, and not have to worry about infrequent bus schedules, etc. You%26#39;ll also have much better accessibility to Marina del Rey restaurants. In Venice you might have to valet park (it%26#39;s also safer than street parking).

If you are able to sleep well on the plane, and don%26#39;t suffer a lot from jet lag, then you might be up for that 5 1/2 hour bus tour, BUT IF NOT, YOU%26#39;LL BE STUCK, AND IT MIGHT BE TORTURE!!

I%26#39;d leave seeing LA for another time, and just make it relatively simple with this beach excursion. And if you have more time, after you%26#39;ve done the above, you could take a walk along the Santa Monica coast at Palisades Park (this is just north of Venice ). Many movies have been filmed there--you%26#39;ll probably recognize the palm trees, grass, benches, and great ocean view...The Santa Monica Municipal Pier has shops and restaurants, etc.

PS: If you want to try just a good American burger, try In-n-Out for a double double with sauteed onions-the one on 13425 Washington Blvd., Culver City would be out of your way, but maybe there is a closer one-maybe even near the airport, just before you leave....Or you could just head East down Washington from the beach in Venice at the end of your day, then pop on the I-5 freeway South to the airport exit-that would work quite well....

Good Luck!

Woops--that%26#39;s pop on the I-405 south, not the I-5, to get back to the airport.

Access Dockweiler Beach from the Imperial Highway, which runs E-W, along the southern edge of the airport.

thank you both, i sure do have a few options to consider.

I have to agree with the Marina Del Rey option. It is close to the airport, very beautiful, and a nice way to strech your legs and unwind from the torture of flying so long.

Another option depending on your budget would be to rent a limo for the day and have them drive you around. I have used Palos Verdes Limo on several occasions and they have been wonderful. They have a website you may want to check out, phone # 1 310 544 2777. Yyour bags shouldn%26#39;t be a problem, they know the area, pick you up at baggage and get you through the airport nightmare no problems.

Jennifer