LA--where to stay for cheap?

[gimmedog]

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Where have people stayed (hotel/motel) near UCLA or Olive View hospital in Sylmar, and how much did you pay?

Not familiar at all with the area, and have no idea how long the drives are between places. Hotwire is offering $50-75 for places near LAX, and no cheaper than $80 for anywhere else closeby it seems.

Appreciate the help!

**I will actually have a car.

 

[finnpipette]

If you're staying in LA, you're probably gonna need to rent a car, unless somebody is picking you up. Therefore, you should have a little mobility. I'd look for the nearest motel 6 and pay the $36.

 

[Jalby]

Check out bidding for travel (www.biddingfortravel.com) you can get a place at LAX for like 30$, which is 8 miles from UCLA. Or you can stay in walking distance for 100$ +. I would also recommend looking in Culver City. But you will have to pay for transportation. Might want to look into renting a car.

 

[flighterdoc]

UCLA may be 8 miles (as the crow flies) from LAX, but the traffic has to be considered - travel time during the rush hour (consider between 0500 and 2100 mon-sunday to be rush hour) can EASILY be 45 minutes and an hour or more isn't out of the question. And, it's straight up I405 from LAX to Wilshire-West. From the freeway it can take 20 minutes or more to get into the UCLA Med Center, easily less than 2 miles distance.

Travel time from UCLA to Olive View can be 1.5 hours or more - I405 N to 210E, etc. Travelling through Sepulveda pass is a killer any time of the day, any direction.

If you're going to be at UCLA look for a motel in perhaps Santa Monica or West LA. For Olive View (not a good neighborhood at all) try the nicer parts of Burbank or perhaps Encino/Sherman Oaks.

At any rate, a car is a necessity.

Good luck!

 

[DrJ2B]

Hey gimme!

I interviewed at UCLA last week and I got a first year student to host me. The list of names of hosts was in the interview packet I got. Did you get that in your packet?

 

[Brickhouse]

Originally posted by DrJ2B
Hey gimme!

I interviewed at UCLA last week and I got a first year student to host me. The list of names of hosts was in the interview packet I got. Did you get that in your packet?

Look for a student host - or stay in Santa Monica, Westwood or W. L.A. as someone suggested. DO NOT stay in the valley - it's a nightmare getting over the hill - trust me, I've done that commute eleventy billion times and it sucks.

You can PM me, I live in the area and work at UCLA, I can offer additional advice if you'd like - just ask DrJ2B!

 

[camstah]

there's a motel on sepulveda near venice blvd that's not too bad, and the drive to ucla would be super easy.......i think it's called the sunrise motel or something....and it's right near a freeway entrance.....in fact, it's across the street from it....so finding your way around wouldn't be a problem......

 

[camstah]

i think there's also a best western or something on sepulveda near national blvd...also an easy drive for you.....

 

[gimmedog]

I knew I could count on you guys. Thanks for the advice. I would have never known commute time starts at 5am!!!!

For those of you living in LA, how do you manage that kind of traffic everyday? Do people burn out and move? I've lived with "bad" traffic in my day, but nothing like what was just described.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by gimmedog
I knew I could count on you guys. Thanks for the advice. I would have never known commute time starts at 5am!!!!

For those of you living in LA, how do you manage that kind of traffic everyday? Do people burn out and move? I've lived with "bad" traffic in my day, but nothing like what was just described.

yeah for my 8am interview...i had to leave my place in OC which is 42 miles away from at 530 in the morning. and i still hit traffic as i approached la.

la bums just deal with it. its normal cause you do it every single day. there is no rush hour here. the 405 and the rest are seemingly always busy except between the hours of maybe 1am to about 4am. damn.