Los Angeles Vacation Pros and Cons - Car Rentals
If you want to fit in during your stay in Los Angeles, you'll want a car. Everyone in LA seems to have at least one set of wheels. How else could there be so much traffic? Regardless of the many freeways, boulevards and side streets available, avoiding traffic in the City of Angels is nearly impossible during morning and evening rush hours. Locals have come to expect and accept it -- a good mantra to adopt if you plan to rent a car for your Los Angeles travel vacation.Can you avoid the traffic in Los Angeles? Absolutely. Consider a few pros and cons for renting a car in LA and you'll be able to determine whether or not driving is the best choice.
Los Angeles Car Rentals -- Pros
There is nothing like having the freedom to go where you want at whatever time and renting a car in LA offers exactly that. The great thing about driving in Los Angeles is that you can get to any location by car. The freeway system is extensive and surface streets are easy to navigate, especially if you happen to own a GPS device. If not, remember those things called maps? You'll find an abundance of them available on the Internet.
Another pro to renting a car in Los Angeles is the money you'll save on transportation. If you want the full LA experience, taking a cab everywhere can outweigh the cost for a hotel. With a rental car, you'll be able to play in Hollywood, Burbank, Universal City, Studio City, Santa Monica, Malibu, hit the beaches, and then head north to Six Flags Magic Mountain, or south to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and the rest of the major Los Angeles attractions. You'll have to feed your wheels with fuel, but without a rental car, there's really no affordable way to enjoy everything LA has to offer.
Los Angeles Car Rentals -- Cons
Quite simply, driving in Los Angeles is not for the faint at heart. If neither you, nor anyone in your party has experience driving in a large city, Los Angeles may not be the place to test the waters –- they can be very unfriendly. There is a good and bad when it comes to the massive LA freeway system. Without some research and preparation, you're bound to struggle with the many hidden entrances and abruptly arriving exits.
Oftentimes, the Los Angeles freeways provide anywhere from eight to ten lanes of traffic. Sometimes these freeways resemble a parking lot, and other times it feels like Daytona International Speedway. If you hate sitting in traffic, avoid the freeway between 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Gridlock is simply one of LA's least endearing qualities.
Although there are a few warnings to heed, renting a car in Los Angeles is well worth it and can save you a bundle on local transportation. Your Los Angeles hotel concierge or front desk clerk will surely know his or her way around, and will also serve as an invaluable travel resource.
