With all the different experiences Los Angeles has to offer, there is a good chance you will find something to do there that you will have to find the perfect way to do it so you do not end up losing your time while doing it. When some people get to L.A., they decide to travel around the city using their own private vehicles. While that seems to have the potential to be a good approach to the problem, it does not. With all the traffic, needing to find a way to park, and worrying about getting lost on freeways, you will end up frustrated. If your goal is to have a good time, driving your own vehicle probably won't be the best decision. To make the best of Los Angeles, you should avoid losing time and enjoy the places as they come by.
In greater detail, a GO123 pass for 3 days would usually range around $75. Compared to the usual costs of renting a car, insurance, gas, parking and the having to deal with the stress of traveling on the multi-line freeways, GO123 eliminates all of that while providing the opportunity to skip the stress of being in a vehicle. While a rental car may seem attractive for giving choice, in reality, the driving itself becomes the main attraction for all the wrong reasons.
The network was reported to have five services crossing several well-known visitor destinations in the city. Service one catered to Universal Studios, Sheraton and Hilton hotels in Universal, the Chinese Theatre, Beverly Hills, the Farmers Market, and Staples Center. Several downtown hotels, including Crowne Plaza Hotel Commerce, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Sheraton LA Hotel, Westin Bonaventure Hotel, and Kawada Hotel, had drop-off services. The report indicated that a bus service was provided to Universal Studios after the last morning pickup.
The ideal time needed at Universal Studios is a full day. Its major attractions include the Transformers ride and The Simpsons experience and are massive, immersive production type experiences that require time. The extension of the Harry Potter area also increased the need for unhurried visits. Hotel guests already staying next to Universal who had already done the park could continue on to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Farmers Market, and downtown.
For anyone interested in the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is a great stop. The stars have symbols that represent the field of recognition: a record for music, a microphone for broadcasting, comedy and tragedy masks for theatre, a film camera for movies and a television set for television. These are small details, but they make a walk more than just a stroll.
Original Farmers Market was founded in 1934 making it one of the oldest markets in LA. Farmers would come and sell their produce, and over the years it has developed into a massive market. it has everything from souvenir shops to food counters and has become a major tourist trap.
Route two takes you to Santa Monica, the beach. Expect a long transfer over Beverly Hills and enjoy the views. Once you reach Santa Monica, take the time to grab some coffee, a little walk on the beach, and enjoy the sea air as an afternoon can be long enough. This spot has amazing sunsets and sits at the end of Route 66. The pier is home to all the fun stuff like a pirate ship, a carousel, and an assortment of other rides including a massive rollercoaster. As the sun goes down the lights on the Ferris wheel turn on to create a bright carnival atmosphere.
Route three focused on central Los Angeles and included connections to the Music Center, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, Grand Central Market, as well as Staples Center. It can be paired with route one for a quick, broad first look at the city, with more stops at Beverly Hills and the Farmers Market. That option is ideal for travelers with only two days: one day at Universal Studios, the other for a city overview. Those wanting to spend more time should refrain from trying to make all the neighborhoods a quick photo op. Even though their main attractions can be compact, these areas are best enjoyed at a more leisurely pace.
Additional pickup points on this route included the Best Western South Bay Hotel, Sheraton Gateway Hotel, and Concourse Hotel by the airport. Service was noted to utilize comfortable high-roof Ford vans, and in some cases, instead of standard city buses, seven-seat business class vehicles.
Routes four and five concentrated on Disneyland, Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village, and Citadel Outlets. They could be combined with other routes, but the most logical option was to allocate a day to each major destination. Disneyland alone is capable of consuming all available time. Reports state that service arrived early enough to provide a full park day, as well as later return options for those staying through the evening fireworks.
Disneyland has two theme parks on their resort property. The Disneyland Park is meant for younger guests and families that like to experience a Disney cartoon come to life. The other park is Disney California Adventure where guests can experience a little more excitement with thrill rides and water attractions. Trying to do both parks in one day is very difficult and really just turns into an exhausting day. Enjoying both parks to the fullest takes time and patience.
For the Long Beach trip, passengers were given approximately eight hours of travel time allotted to them. While on the route, guests are able to enjoy the waterfront. The Aquarium of the Pacific, located in Long Beach, is a family friendly facility with interactive exhibits where guests can touch some of the marine life like small sharks and reptiles. The aquarium has 12,500 animals and 550 species from which to view. The facility also has underwater viewing and large display tanks allowing guests to see different sea animals.
Some guests on the Long Beach trip, skipped the opportunity to go whale watching. During certain times of the year, Southern California's coastline is home to a grey and humpback whale migration. It is possible to see blue whales during the summer months as well. Most whale watching excursions will also include sighting of dolphins, sea lions, and various sea birds. The aquarium and whale watching combined takes about 4 to 5 hours. Guests can take the Aqua Bus to Shoreline Village and connect with the GO123 shuttle for the trip back.
Naples Island has a calmer diversion for visiting the waterfront. Visitors can take gondola rides that travel through canals that make the island look like a little slice of Venice. They get to see expensive homes and private docks. People also come to this area to see the stunning Christmas light displays.
Citadel Outlets is where travelers who are determined to shop will stop, and the route is convenient. It arrived along with a group of people in time for the morning while they stayed for about 5 hours. The outlet center has 130 brand-name stores along with food and drinks, currency exchange, cash machines, and luggage storage. The center was built for convenience, not for a great atmosphere, but that’s exactly the point. It allows shoppers to get their shopping done without using an entire day of time to transport.
LA is a city that has multiple sides to it. Instead of one grand monument or perfect itinerary, it has studio gates then paths to the beaches, fancy streets then packed roads, old neighborhoods and a ton of freeways. While a flexible bus pass won’t make the city smaller, it will make it a lot less tiresome. For travelers who don’t want to drive or be hurried, a flexible bus pass is the best option to quickly get to the city’s many disconnected points.
