monicainindy

Hi... I will be attending a conference in San Diego in July and find it more economical to fly into LAX. I was not planning on renting a car, is there a shuttle service between these two locations that won't cost me an arm and a leg?

rjw_lgb_ca

San Diego is over 120 miles from LAX. How much cheaper is it to fly into LAX instead of SAN? The best choice by far, if you are serious about not flying into SAN, is to rent a car.

Ida101

Or take the train from LA.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/rail/

Barbara

But getting to the train station from LAX is a pain. It's easier to rent a car. The easiest of all, of course, is flying directly to San Diego. As far as I know, there are no regular shuttles, but some shuttle companies will take you if you arrange in advance. It's not cheap, though. You could try this company:

www.cloud9shuttle.com

lvk

The new Flyaway bus from LAX to Union Station makes it a bit easier to get downtown. It is only $3 each way.

http://www.lawa.org/flyAway/

However, it will still be very time consuming to take the bus from LAX to Union Station, Amtrak to SD, and shuttle from SD station to hotel.

Lori

The difference in price flying into San Diego vs. LAX is not worth the hazzle/inconvenience to trying to get from LAX to S.D. in my opinion. These two cities are not close, and there is horrendous traffic much of the time between the two. By the time you went by bus/train/rental car you could have flown directly into S.D. and have gotten to your hotel with no hassle.

monicainindy

Thanks everyone! I am thinking about still flying to LAX (considerably less) and rent a car anyway. It appears I am going to need a car in San Diego if I want to go places in the evening (at least this is the info I have gotten from co-workers), will you concur that a car is needed in San Diego?

rjw_lgb_ca

Yes. San Diego is the US' seventh-largest city, after all. You CAN rely on mass transit to get places in SD-- if you have lots of spare time. Otherwise, rent a car.

I still say-- don't bother with flying into and out of LAX. The hassle of the drive between the two cities is considerable. Your time and mental health do have a cost value.

Barbara

I agree with rjw (of course!). The drive from LAX to San Diego will take you at least two hours and possibly close to three. Driving alone, you can't use the carpool lanes and if you have the really bad luck to arrive at a time that will put you in the rush hour, there's a very good chance of miles and miles of stop-and-go traffic. Of course, you can get that even at non-peak times.

monicainindy

Thanks everyone, I think I will just fly to SD and avoid the drive from LAX...

TahitiTams

HI..
Living in SD but leaving sometimes out of LAX,my husband and I rent a car and take the carpool lane and it takes about and hour and a half..breezing through but if you are alone, I would fly into San Diego..
Someone should really think about the SD Airport to LAX route direct..
LAX is usually always chepaer flying direct and then figuring out from there..
I have rented cars for less than $15 for a standard..Alamo is a good deal.
Where are you staying in SD? If downtown, your parking charge can be more than the flight to SD.
If you are here briefly, then no big deal but this is a car town..
Best to you..