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Alternatives for
Amtrak & Greyhound Passengers
To Downtown Los Angeles

Reaching a better and safer base for your Southern California vacation

Although Amtrak's Union Station and Greyhound's main terminal are located in downtown Los Angeles, you can easily connect to other towns in the area. This let's you have a more pleasant—and safer—vacation.

Staying in downtown Los Angeles is best only if you are —

• attending a convention or have other business in the center city, or
• staying just one night between trains or buses.
  

Otherwise, you're better off staying elsewhere. This page tells you how.

Reasons to avoid downtown

Three major reasons to stay elsewhere are:

• The area around the downtown Greyhound station is the most horrifically depressing area of Los Angeles. You will not want to walk there night or day.
  
  Although the historic neighborhood adjacent to Amtrak Union Station is fun to visit during the day, you will not want to want around there at night.
  
  
• Unlike in many cities, the attractions visitors most want to see are not located in or near downtown Los Angeles.
  
  This includes the beaches, amusement parks like Disney and Universal, Sunset Strip, celebrity homes, stars on Hollywood Boulevard, and others.
  
  
• Inexpensive or moderate cost downtown hotels tend to be located in less safe neighborhoods or ones impacted by the homeless.
  
  You're safer in more expensive 3- and 4-star hotels, but may not wish to pay for them.
  

Alternatives to downtown

If you have younger children, seriously consider staying near Disneyland, in Anaheim or Fullerton. You will not need a car in Anaheim.

You can easily set up your Amtrak or Greyhound ticket to do this—usually at no extra cost. See below.

Families with older children may be happier near the beaches, near Universal Studios or Beverly Hills—basically near anyplace on the west side of Los Angeles—or in Santa Monica (one of our favorites) or along the coast of Orange County.

Check out alternative spots in the surrounding area in "How to get a cheap Los Angeles hotel: Picking the best neighborhood," as well as the information below.

Maps of LA and Orange County neighborhoods

Clicking on Priceline.com Hotels, filling in the Los Angeles button (or Anaheim, CA for Disneyland), a future date, and then clicking "Next" gives you access to regional and neighborhood maps.

These are ones used for Priceline hotel bidding and similar to the ones used on another hotel site Hotwire.com, which also gives deep discounts.

Reaching alternatives to downtown

Here are alternatives for you:

• Instead of staying downtown, Amtrak passengers may wish to conveniently transfer at Amtrak Union Station to another Amtrak train to Anaheim or Fullerton Stations.
  
  Just have your reservation set up this way before you buy your ticket, and there shouldn't be any extra cost.
  
  Anaheim is most convenient for Disneyland, but Fullerton, which is also close, often offers less expensive accommodation.
  
  
• Greyhound passengers can also connect to Anaheim usually at no extra cost.
  
  
• In addition, Amtrak passengers can easily reach a very pleasant beach area adjacent to Los Angeles called San Monica from downtown.
  
  Travelers arriving at Los Angeles Union Station during the day or early evening can take a #10 express Santa Monica Transit "Big Blue Bus" (Patsaouras Transit Plaza bus bay one) to Santa Monica.
  
  Be sure to check Big Blue's website for hours of operation. Number 10 service currently operates daily.
  
  You'll find more information about Santa Monica in the picking an LA location page.
  
  
• Greyhound passengers may take a short taxi ride from the downtown Los Angeles Greyhound station to the Amtrak station and then hop on Big Blue. For your safety, please use a taxi.
  
  Union Station is also a hub of MTA transit lines serving all of the Los Angeles area.
  
  
• Amtrak and Greyhound travelers may also use the "Red Line" subway from Union Station to the Hollywood & Highland station and then transfer by taxi or MTA bus to West Hollywood, Westwood, or Beverly Hills.
  
  This area offers surprisingly moderate cost hotels if you use Hotwire.com or Priceline.com Hotels.
  
  Because parts of Hollywood are quite deteriorated and crime ridden, you are better off staying near Hollywood & Highland or to the west toward West Hollywood (the Sunset Strip), Beverly Hills, or Westwood Village.
  
  The Academy Awards are held in the Hollywood & Highland complex, and Marilyn Monroe once lived across the street. This is a fun area, but still be careful.
  
  From Union Station, be sure to get on a Red Line train that stops at Hollywood & Highland. Not all do.
  
  
• Greyhound passengers may transfer by Greyhound to Greyhound's Hollywood station and then use taxis or MTA buses from there. Just have your ticket set up in advance to do this, and do not walk far from the Hollywood bus station at night.
  

A word about priceline.com

You CAN stay in the best neighborhoods in quality hotels. There is an easy way to reduce the cost of good accommodation and that is Priceline.com Hotels.

Currently, your savings average more than 40 percent off what you would pay using expedia.com or hotels.com.

At priceline Hotel, you bid on a star-quality range in a neighborhood. This feature works well since most people want particular amenities, price, and neighborhood, rather than a specific hotel.

Click here if you would like to learn more about placing a bid.

Or, go directly to Priceline.com Hotels.

Have a great time in Los Angeles and southern California!

Save up to 75% on 4-star Los Angeles hotels!