Los Angeles International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Los Angeles has no real centre near the airport: Downtown is about 29 km away and Hollywood or Santa Monica need at least half an hour by car, with traffic on the 405 able to double the times. Those arriving late or leaving early do well to stay in the strip of hotels on Century Boulevard, a few minutes from the terminals. For a proper holiday the choice splits between the sea at Santa Monica, the Hollywood area, linked by the metro, and Downtown. Without a car it is best to pick a neighbourhood near a Metro line, because getting around the city remains a long haul.

Airport area (Century Boulevard)

Airport area · Free hotel shuttles stop on the upper level of the terminals, within a few minutes; at peak times or during roadworks the wait can exceed 45 minutes.

Best for: Those with a dawn flight, a one-night connection or a late-evening arrival.

Pros

Free shuttles at all hours at the chain hotels
Half a mile from the terminal: even a taxi is cheap and quick
Less traffic to face on the morning of the flight

Cons

Around you only wide roads and other hotels: nothing to do on foot in the evening
Santa Monica, Hollywood and Downtown remain half an hour or more away

Recommended hotels in this area

Hyatt Place LAX/Century Blvd: About half a mile from the airport, with a free shuttle 24 hours a day departing every half hour.

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Santa Monica

Neighbourhood · By rideshare about 30 minutes, but with 405 traffic it depends on the hour; by Metro take the K Line and then the E Line.

Best for: Those who want the beach, the pier and seafront walks after a long flight, accepting a longer transfer.

Pros

Beach and pier on foot, with venues and shops nearby
Pier, beach and venues can be explored without a car
Metro E Line to Downtown without having to drive

Cons

The drive from LAX is long at peak hours
Hotels pricier than the Los Angeles average

Recommended hotels in this area

Hotel Casa del Mar: Right on Santa Monica beach: the pier is about 5 minutes on foot.

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Hollywood

Neighbourhood · A chauffeured car takes about 40 minutes; by Metro the trip involves changes (K Line, then B Line) and takes 60-90 minutes in all.

Best for: Those looking for the tourist's Los Angeles, with the Walk of Fame, theatres and the metro towards Universal and Downtown.

Pros

The Metro B Line station is beneath Hollywood & Highland
Walk of Fame, theatres and Hollywood Boulevard on foot
Universal Studios reachable by metro

Cons

Hollywood Boulevard is crowded with tourists and noisy in the evening
From the airport the Metro journey is long: with luggage a car is better

Recommended hotels in this area

Loews Hollywood Hotel: Built directly above the Hollywood & Highland Metro station, about an hour from the airport by train.

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Downtown (South Park)

City centre · The FlyAway bus reaches Union Station in about 45 minutes (every 15 minutes, 5-23), from where a taxi or Metro is needed for South Park; by car 30-45 minutes.

Best for: Those who want museums, theatres and restaurants and prefer a historic hotel to a chain one.

Pros