Hi california people.

This weekend/next Monday (hopefully a lot longer...) I will be in Irvine, CA... Any recommendations of where to stay (like hotel or something)? I'm trying to get by as cheaply as possible... and with short notice, no deals are generally given by places.

Originally I was going to drive... (see "The Lounge" thread for details), but now I might have to fly...

No ideas? or just no one check the thread that knows :)

Sorry, I am in Northern Calif.

Cali people-

I will probably be in LA for a Sunday (before leaving for Tokyo on Monday) in March. Is anyone willing to meet me for lunch/dinner? I'm going to get a hotel near LAX, but I could take a cab somewhere, maybe.

I'm far away too, JL.

And ceryna.

:(

:-/ everyone seems to be so far away

Maybe epski will have an idea... he's normally really good.

And to tack on to my other question (if anyone knows)

Is it possible to get from LAX->Irvine, CA via bus/rail or is by car the only real good/safe way - considering that I'll have to have 1-2 suitcases!

Ceryna: I'm around this weekend! PM me and maybe we could meet in Westwood for lunch at Native Foods, which is nearly a straight shot up Sepulveda from LAX. :)

JL: I would suggest Wheel of Life (http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/california/soca/irvine/index.html). Not sure where to stay, though. Check Zagat.com, Expedia, or Travelocity.

Thanks epski.

Thanks epski, I'll send you a PM when my travel plans are confirmed! The flight leaves for Tokyo on Monday, March 29th, and I'm thinking of flying in on Sunday, March 28th. ^_^

JL- Yeah, you can take the train from LAX to Long Beach and then an OCTA bus to Irvine. Not a problem. :) Depending on the time of day (e.g., night), I'd opt for the cab, though. I second the Wheel of Life suggestion, even though I haven't been there myself yet. I've heard good things. :)

As far as places to stay, I live too close to Irvine to have ever had to stay there. I'll ask around and if I hear anything good, I'll get back to you.

Ceryna -- Ooh, Japan! I'm jealous! I'm hoping to get there in 2006. Looks like you're covered for lunch company, but if you want more, LA isn't far from me at all. :)

That's good to know... unfortunetely my plane will be landing at 10:32PM... probably too late. Because of people being annoying... the trips going to cost me aleast $500 more than I was going to be spending because I'll have to rent a car, if I can.

I have a friend that lives close to Irvine, but I can't ask to stay with her (not enough time to arrange things like that).

JL, I live right next to Irvine. Theres a hotel that advertises cheap hotel rates right off of the freeway. I'll be on the lookout for it tomorrow when I come home from work so I can get you the name of it.

Places in Irvine from Yahoo:

Hotel #1 (http://dps1.travelocity.com/hotsdetail.ctl?ht_rr_key=MMH|8099|Y|||8099|N|8099| |LQ||Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1|&ht_sabre_rr_key=&ht_misc_key=12|1|Y||SNA|LQ|8099|MMH&ht_pt_key=&ht_info_key=La%20Quinta%20Inn%20Irvine%20Spectrum| 14972%20SAND%20CANYON%20AVENUE%20|Irvine%20CA%2092 618|ht_lqlogo.gif|LQ||SNA|3.7%20mi%20%2f%205.9%20k m&ht_pl_key=MMH|Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1||8099||8099|USD||C 1KTN1|MMH||||||&search_name=Irvine,%20CA&geo_cd=-117.7595,33.676&last_pgd_page=yho_hotsrqst.pgd&item_number=12&SEQ=107353143709903301072004&LANG=EN&Service=YHOE&SID=T0025004388671107308005417703516041333&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd) I think this place is in the $70's per night.


Hotel #2 (http://dps1.travelocity.com/hotsdetail.ctl?ht_rr_key=MMH|32766|Y|||32766|N|327 66||RA||Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1|&ht_sabre_rr_key=&ht_misc_key=27|2|Y||SNA|RA|32766|MMH&ht_pt_key=&ht_info_key=Ramada%20Limited%20and%20Suites%20Cost a%20Mesa%20|1680%20SUPERIOR%20AVE%20|Costa%20Mesa% 20CA%2092627|ht_ralogo.gif|RA||SNA|6.3%20mi%20%2f% 2010.2%20km&ht_pl_key=MMH|Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1||32766||32766|USD| |QQ1SOR|MMH||||||&search_name=Irvine,%20CA&geo_cd=-117.9241,33.6354&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd&item_number=12&SEQ=107353170639236201072004&LANG=EN&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd) Also in the $70's per night.

Hotel #3 (http://dps1.travelocity.com/hotsdetail.ctl?ht_rr_key=MMH|8705|Y|||8705|N|8705| |LQ||Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1|&ht_sabre_rr_key=&ht_misc_key=29|2|Y||SNA|LQ|8705|MMH&ht_pt_key=&ht_info_key=La%20Quinta%20Inn%20John%20Wayne%20Ora nge%20County%20Airport|1515%20S%20COAST%20DR%20|Co sta%20Mesa%20CA%2092626|ht_lqlogo.gif|LQ||SNA|6.1% 20mi%20%2f%209.8%20km&ht_pl_key=MMH|Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1||8705||8705|USD||N 1KTN1|MMH||||||&search_name=Irvine,%20CA&geo_cd=-117.924,33.6913&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd&item_number=14&SEQ=107353180181955001072004&LANG=EN&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd) In the $60's per night. (an excellent deal for the area I might add)

Hotel #4 (http://dps1.travelocity.com/hotsdetail.ctl?ht_rr_key=MMH|7329|Y|||7329|N|7329| |TL||Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1|&ht_sabre_rr_key=&ht_misc_key=57|4|Y||SNA|TL|7329|MMH&ht_pt_key=&ht_info_key=Travelodge%20Costa%20Mesa%20Newport%20 Beach|1951%20NEWPORT%20BLVD%20|Costa%20Mesa%20CA%2 092627|ht_tllogo.gif|TL||SNA|5.6%20mi%20%2f%209.1% 20km&ht_pl_key=MMH|Jan|10|Jan|13|3|1||7329||7329|USD||Q Q1SOR|MMH||||||&search_name=Irvine,%20CA&geo_cd=-117.9155,33.6452&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd&item_number=12&SEQ=107353197620336401072004&LANG=EN&last_pgd_page=hotslist.pgd) Only $45 per night on Newport Blvd!


Theres many other places of course but they are beucoup expensive!

From the phone book: Best Value in is advertising $48.95/night double occupancy. Phone number is 949 855 1000.

Of course there is always motel 6: 714 957 3063 or Super 8: 714 545 9471.

And of course I'll look for the name of that hotel that advertises the cheap prices on the way home from work tomorrow.

Thank you :) As of right now it's going to cost me around $150-200/day to be there... So cheap is better. It'd actually almost be cheaper to actually rent a place, which is pretty bad.

Yikes! Sounds pricey. :-/

Don't happen to know of any place I could just live for a week or so do you?
*said in a kindof sorta joking way*

Sorry, can't help you there.

But if you don't mind a 30-40 minute commute (by bus), there's a hostel in Huntington Beach that's only $18 a night. :)

Well... I'll be in the LA/Orange County area Sun-whenever (hopefully forever:)) Have a hotel that's not too bad price wise.

Anyone know if you can generally get things delivered (food) to hotel rooms, and if so, any places that could do so (irvine area)?

Pizza? :D

Are there any pizza places that can be trusted?

Pizza Hut's thin crust without cheese is vegan, so long as you keep the meat off it. ;)

Cali people-

I will probably be in LA for a Sunday (before leaving for Tokyo on Monday) in March. Is anyone willing to meet me for lunch/dinner? I'm going to get a hotel near LAX, but I could take a cab somewhere, maybe.

I wanna go to Tokyo! Can I hide in your suitcase!? I'll be quiet and play my Gameboy...no one will know. :)

Rare Hero

hello-
I am near Los Angeles but closer to Santa Barbara. Really grey/overcast today. In regards to the earthquake a few weeks ago...we all felt it here, felt like being on big boat. Lots of swaying action.

BTW Muzicfan- I grew up in Northern cal, in Auburn!

oh hello old neighbor. :)

I have always grown up in Sacramento... you were just up the hill.