An Alternative To Los Angeles

There are many cruise lines who depart from Los Angeles. You could be going to Mexico, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Alaska or the Pacific coastline. This port really does offer you a great choice of destinations.  However, you can not fly in and cruise out on the same day so many people decide to take advantage of this and have a few days in Los Angeles before the cruise.  Great idea, however my recommendation is do not stay in Los Angeles!

I am not saying that Los Angeles is not a destination to visit but for me you can stay somewhere so close and it feels like miles away.  If you are planning to do this then stay in Santa Monica.  In distance it is only 14 miles away yet you feel you are in a completely different area. For a start Santa Monica is right on the most fantastic beach.  The beach area is home to the original Muscle Beach, and you can still see these dedicated people “doing” their stuff.  Santa Monica is also home to a great pier. The pier is 108 years old which in the USA is pretty old. It has the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel and the century-old Looff Hippodrome.  Apart from the lovely beach the town itself has a great “open” feel and is nice and clean. Great shopping areas, great places to eat and some really nice hotels.

You never feel that you are cut off from LA because all you do is get a bus or taxi up to Hollywood , Beverly Hills or wherever you want to go.  Staying In LA is so different.  Okay, I am commenting on my own personal feelings here but in fairness I have been to this part of the world quite a few times and never would stay in LA again.  If I really had to then it would be the Beverly Hills area, however this is an area full of BIG money, great to have a mooch around at all these shops where you really could not afford to buy much.  The restaurants cater for people on a very high budget. Hollywood is a big disappointment. Yes, there are some nice hotels there but I find the area just a bit unkempt.  For example the street where you have the stars names in the pavement is just one normal street with rubbish shops and buzzing with people who want to be discovered by some movie mogul!  Where the Oscars are held is right by some shopping plaza, so hard to get into your head that the Oscars are here!

Please do not be put off by the area though, just do not stay there!  When in Santa Monica you can still get to Universal Studios which is smashing. You can still get on the Hollywood trips and see the area. I particularly enjoyed the “homes of the famous” tour.  The main film studios in this area are Universal City, Culver City and Century City – again approx 15 miles from the centre of LA.

Santa Monica is only about 30 Miles from the cruise port and roughly 12 miles to the airport, you are not cut off at all and on a clear day you can sit on the beach and look towards Malibu, home of more of the rich and famous!  You never know you may just see a famous movie star in Santa Monica then you would in Hollywood!

Maybe next time I might just get to see Mr Dicaprio –  well I can dream!

Till next time x