Hi! I'm going to New Zealand in May but have a 24 hour stopover in Los Angeles. Can any one suggest things that are feasible to do in 24 hours. I'm thinking of staying in a hotel near the airport to make it easier for the next leg of our trip to NZ. All suggestions welcome!
Thanks
Eithne

Assuming your flight originates in the UK or Europe, you'll be tired and jetlagged after such a long flight. If you feel up to it at the time, I suggest you do an organised bus tour of the standard sights, which will probably do a pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.

I agree that guided tours are good fun but if you wanted to be really adventurous then I'd suggest hiring a car for 24hrs.

LA is a real car city and trying to do it by public transport, or heaven forbid, on foot would be very difficult within your time frame.

If you did hire a car then I'd suggest driving around LA in a clockwise direction.

First, head North West towards the beach communities of Venice and Santa Monica. The weather should be getting warmer in May so perfect oppourtunity to park up for a couple of hours and walk along Venice's beach front. Check out the world famous outdoor gym and basketball courts. The outdoor stalls have a real festival vibe to them and a great place to pick up tacky LA souvenirs.

Next, continue walking, or driving, North to Santa Monica. Highlights include the pier (with some great fun fair rides) and Third Street Promenade, a pedestrain area lined with cool shops, fancy restaurants and cinemas.

Next, drive North East along Santa Monica Blvd towards West Hollywood. The main highlight here is Sunset Strip (rock clubs, cool hotels, VIP bars). It's one of loudest, coolest places in LA at night but really dead during the day. Night highlights include catching a band at either The Viper Room, Roxy or Whisky A Go-Go. Alternatively, if you like comedy there's a great Comedy Store. Also worth checking out Tower Records (open 'til late) and Carniege's Deli (Hotdogs and Mexican-style snacks in a train carriage - bizarre, but very LA).

At the East end of Sunset Strip is Chateux Marmont - a classic Hollywood hotel with a cool bar attached.

Next travelling North East is Hollywood Blvd. Terribly tacky but worth a stop to see the world-famous handprints outside Gaugman's Chinese Theatre. Expect lots of tourists and a vast array of souviner shops. Recommended restaurant is Musso & Franks.

North of Hollywood, in the Hollywood Hills, is Griffith Observatory. Currently closed due to refurbishments but a great spot for looking back down over LA. Also good view of the Hollywood sign but don't expect to get close to it, it's surrounded with fencing and security cameras.

After Hollywood I'd suggest either driving South East to check out the LA Dodgers baseball ground or South into Downtown LA. Check out the Disney Concert Hall.

Finally, time permitting, Watts Towers are worth a look, as is the nearby Randys Donuts (a giant donut shop you drive your car through!).

Alternatively, if you wanted to stay round the airport there's a great restaurant in one of the airports arches.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

Matt

With just 24 hours between two long flights I would take it easy and relax. Ffrom LAX I would take a bus or taxi to the nearby nice beachfront community of Santa Monica. It has a long pier, a pedestrian shopping street, a beachfront promenade to the advacent colorful town of Venice. Santa Monica is also a transportation hub for the "Blue Bus", convenient if you want to wander elsewhere in the area. In Santa Monica we stayed at the beachfront "Best Western" hotel where we paid slightly over US$100 for a pleasant room. Getting back to LAX we had about a twenty minute bus ride costing less that one dollar.

caldnj

Yes agree with the last poster, get a taxi into Santa Monica and have a nice day pottering about the town, the pier and down to Venice beach. The Holiday in Express is pretty near to the pier. The airport hotels are not in a very nice area.

Matt's suggestions are great, but I don't know if all that can be done in 24 hours, unless you move at breakneck speed.