I will be staying at this Hotel on a stopover on my return from New Zealand in November. How much should I expect to pay for taxi/bus from LAX to my Hotel?. Can anyone recommend any good retaurants/bars/sights in the vicinity of my Hotel?
Thanks
Millenium Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore is a lovely and famous hotel in the downtown area of Los Angeles.
You can take Super Shuttle from the airport to the hotel in a shared van for 15 dollars one way.
The hotel is within walking distance to the Music Center and the new Frank Gehry Disney Concert Hall. You can,also, walk to the Modern Museum of Art and the new CAtholic Cathedral.
The Staples Center for basketball is located in the downtown area,also.
There are a number of excellent restaurants near your hotel, which the concierge can suggest and you can walk(The Pinot group for example,Waterfall,etc).
The downtown area is used mainly for business during the day and concerts,conventions or basketball at night. Most of the nightlife happens in Hollywood and Beverly Hills which would require transportation from the downtown. Either taxi,bus,or Red Line Metro to Hollywood. Beverly Hills is further away.
HOpe that this is helpful.
Cheers!
Millenium Biltmore Hotel
We stayed at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel and found it sort of unexciting. Although its pretty, the customer service was poor.
Although the rooms itself were nice, the bathrooms were tiny.
We were also disappointed that their restaurants did not even stay open till their stated closing time. We had 9:30 reservations at their Japanese restaurant that was supposed to stay open till 10:00 - since they did not want to stay open till 10:00; they yelled at us when we showed up and cancelled our reservations. The valet service is bad - if you like to wait in your car for 20 minutes waiting for a valet by all means stay here - but really, this place is not worth it. There is very little by it.....you can walk (but we were constantly stopped by street people).
That said - The Standard Hotel has a good restaurant open 24 hours and great food. We were surprised by how good it is. They also have a good bar.
Since our poor experience at the Biltmore, we now stay at the Omni Los Angeles and are very happy. It has a nice pool; nice bar open till 12:00 or 2:00 (depending on night of week); good restaurant (Noe); if you sign up for their hotel program, you get the morning paper and hot beverage delivered to your room complementary.
We get the deal where they include breakfast and parking and the breakfast is wonderful - lots of things to choose from including where the chef makes breakfast for you (i.e. omelett/pancake/egg cooking station.). The hotel is at an ideal location - it is 2 minutes to MOCA -Los Angeles art museum; there is a small mall there with places to eat during the day (not a lot of stores - but still pleasant);%26#39; it is a very easy walk to the Music Center and Walt Disney center (i.e. you could easily walk to a performance if you stay here.).
The other sights - a little further afield, but within 5 miles of the hotel are:
1) Sports Arena (Staples Center)
2) Circular View Bar at the Bonaventure
3) MOCA - as mentioned
4) Walt Disney Cener
5) Music Center
6) Little Tokyo (good Japanese dinner at Hotel Otani)
7) Olvera Street (Mexican goods and restaurants)
8) Chinatown
From any of the locations in downtown LA, you can also catch the Metro to other locations within LA. It is an easy walk to them.
The other restaurants is Engine Company #28.
http://www.engineco.com/
If you do stay with the Biltmore, they do have a tea there.
And its ok for the night - but just be aware, there are some downsides to the place!
The taxis offer a flat rate from L.A. to anywhere in downtown (which would incliude the Biltmore) for $38. If there are two of you, it definitely pays to take the taxi since for only $8 more than 2 $15 superhuttle fees, you can depart immediately from LAX (instead of waiting for the shuttle to appear) and it will, of course, take you directly to your hotel (instead of the shuttle%26#39;s habit of going around the airport whilst it picks up more passengers and then, it turn, dropping them off before it reaches your destination).
Even if you are travelling alone, you might want to spend the additional $23 for a quick, direct trip.
There will be a new service run by the MTA which will offer direct bus service from LAX to Union Station for $3. Buses will run every 30 minutes except in the early morning when they%26#39;ll run every hour. You could then take the Red Line three stops to Pershing Square. Take the 5th Street exit and you%26#39;ll see the Biltmore a block away. If you%26#39;re on a budget, this might be a good idea. If you%26#39;ve got a lot of luggage, definitely not a good idea. Incidentally, if riding the MTA, buy a day pass for $3.
Some additional sights to see:
1) If you like architecture, get in touch with the L.A. Conservancy. They offer excellent and inexpensive walking tours all over downtown. Well worth it. If you can do the City Hall tour, sign up.
2) Grand Central Market at Broadway %26amp; Third is wonderful. Plenty of good, cheap food. There%26#39;s a lovely little patio on Hill, which is particularly nice in the early day.
3) The Bradbury is also at Broadway %26amp; Third. It is considered one of L.A.%26#39;s architectural treasures. Be sure to see it from the lobby. Red Line tours has an office inside, too.
4) Broadway is a Latino shopping district. Definitely low-rent, but pulsing with life. Clifton%26#39;s Cafeteria is a throwback to the 1930s.
5) Angels Flight will, hopefully, finally be open. It is a very short funicular railroad which takes you from Hill Street up to California plaza. It has been closed for a few years and should be re-opened by the time you visit. This is an excellent way to get up to Grand Avenue (MOCA, Disney Hall, Music Center, Cathedral).
6) If you love books and architecture, you must visit the Central Library across the street from your hotel. I%26#39;m not kidding. It is one of my favorite places in the city.
7) You don%26#39;t say when in November you%26#39;re visiting. Around the middle of the month, an outdoor ice-rink opens in Pershing Square for the holidays. Very nice in the early evening.
8) If you like to shop, definitely visit the Fashion District and Santee Alley. It is probably too far to walk. But, you can take the DASH buses to get there. A good place to start is at the Starbucks at 9th %26amp; Santee. Walk south on Santee. Saturday is the best day. Sunday sees most stores close.
9) Get to know the DASH bus system. It only costs 25 cents and during the day can get you pretty much where you need to go. N.B. The schedule and routes are different on the weekend.
10) When you visit Disney Hall, make sure you see the garden on the roof. By all means, see a performance there.
11) There%26#39;s a great rose garden and concentration of museums at Exposition Park. You can take the DASH there and back.
12) Union Station is a very beautiful building and the last great train station built in the U.S. There%26#39;s a great restaurant called Traxx. I like the patio, although it may be too cool in November.
13) Philippe%26#39;s is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and is just a block up Alameda from Union Station on the edge of Chinatown. Great place for lunch. Nothing fancy.
Getting up to Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill can be intimidating. I don%26#39;t think you want to walk up. I%26#39;d recommend taking the escalator located at the stairs between Grand %26amp; Flower on 5th. Once you%26#39;re up at the top, just walk a block over to Grand.
HTH. Enjoy your trip.
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