Flying into Los Angeles for the First Time? What Should You Know?
If you're planning your first trip to the City of Angels, you may be a bit concerned at the thought of navigating the third busiest airport in the world after disembarking from your flight. Indeed, the size and sprawling nature of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can be overwhelming for even seasoned travelers. Fortunately, the volume of passengers traveling through this airport on a daily basis creates a great demand for transportation, food, and lodging, ensuring that you won't be left stranded . Read on to learn more about what you can expect when traveling to LAX, as well as some tips and tricks to make your trip easier.
How does LAX compare to other large airports?
Much like the city it services, LAX is large, sprawling, and constantly busy. This airport has a total of nine terminals, only some of which are connected via underground tunnels or above-ground walkways. Although a shuttle bus services each of these terminals, you don't want to find yourself racing to make your homebound flight, so you'll want to carefully examine an airport map along with your travel itinerary to ensure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.
Once you've disembarked from your incoming flight, you'll need to retrieve your checked baggage. The baggage claim carousel for your airline should be relatively easy to locate by following posted signs. You'll then need to choose one of the multiple available transportation options to help you get to your hotel.
What are the easiest ways to travel from LAX to your hotel?
Although the urban sprawl of Los Angeles has compromised efforts to create a seamless subway or other public transportation system that connects to the airport (as found in other hub cities like New York and Washington D.C.), there are still a number of simple and relatively inexpensive ways to travel from LAX to your hotel. The right car service options will largely depend on your schedule, willingness to tolerate traffic or long waits, and budget.
Hotel limo or towncar
Your first step should be to see if your hotel offers any transportation services as part of an all-inclusive room rate or for an additional fee. In many cases, hotels will send out private cars or even limousines to retrieve passengers and their belongings from the airport. If you are able to arrange this service ahead of time, your hotel will have a car and driver available when you disembark.
This option is ideal for business travelers who don't want to have to deal with multiple reimbursement claims, as any additional cost for the hotel limousine or private car can be bundled into the room rate, leaving just one bill. This can also be a good option if you have social anxiety that may leave you drained and not up to interacting with other vehicle passengers after a long flight.
Airport shuttle
There are a number of different shuttle bus companies offering door-to-door dropoff and pickup services at a low cost. Most of these shuttles run 24 hours per day, ensuring you'll have access to clean, safe transportation regardless of when your inbound flight is scheduled to arrive. In most cases, you'll be able to directly board the shuttle from just outside the baggage claim area, limiting the distance you'll need to carry a heavy bag.
One advantage of taking a shuttle or private car to the airport is the door-to-door service offered. These options also eliminate the stress of trying to navigate an unfamiliar route in your rental car on a day when you may already be a bit anxious or scattered.
