Los Angeles Travel Forum

Hi,

It's a little tricky trying to put this together so I may as well ask someone who may have some great ideas based on their experience!!

I will be attending a two day meeting in Ontario, CA on June 11 and 12th..so was thinking I'd stay the 13th (Saturday) and fly back up to San Francisco on the 14th sometime (Sunday). I will be staying in Ontario the night of June 10th and the 11th (Wednesday and Thursday) but was thinking I'd find a hotel along the ocean somewhere for Friday night and look for a place to eat overlooking the ocean on Friday night and then maybe look for some nightlife.
Then I thought it might be fun to take a daytrip to Catalina Island on Saturday..find some more nightlife on Saturday (hey, I'm single) and head out to Ontario on Sunday for an afternoon flight back to San Fran (actually Oakland airport).

Sooo....I was thinking it might be easeir since I'm flying into Ontario to just get a round trip ticket out of Ontario..rent a car Friday night...drive to somewher like Huntington Beach or Long Beach and stay Friday night...maybe stay near where I can take a Catalina express ferry (I think downtown Long Beach has a harbor) at 8:30 on Saturday morning..stay the day arriving evening back in Long Beach. Then Sunday I'll grab breakfast somewhere..maybe after a drive or a jog or both...(maybe head down south a bit?)..before driving back to Ontario airport to depart....

If this seems doable, can anyone suggest a cheaper to medium priced hotel in the Long Beach area that is near the departing port for the Catalina express?? Or if there's a better idea or port to depart from, that's ok, too...just trying to maximize the time I have and having never been to Catalina I thought it might be a good day trip in June...

I'd like to find a hotel in the $50-$80 range...medium priced in that area...

Any suggestions would be appreciated...oh..also I just figure it's eassier to fly in and out of Ontario in stead of having to pay extra for dropping off the rental car back at LAX ..not to mention that I figure LAX will be croweded and more hassle trying to dump off the car and then shuttle to the airport...seems Ontario would be less hassle despite the hour or so drive back there on Sunday...

Your input will be greatly appreciated!!

Sounds doable if you stay in the town from which you catch the Catalina Express. See website: http://www.catalinaexpress.com/
Long Beach is about an hour away from the Ontario Airport. The Days Inn is around $70 a night and a short distance to the Long Beach Downtown landing. See website: http://www.daysinnlongbeach.com/
Catalina is 22 miles across the sea from Long Beach and about 1 hour by Catalina Express.

You may also want to look at flying in and/or out of Orange County Airport (SNA). It's a lot closer to Long Beach and they have flights to Oakland.

Well, my two day meetng is at the Ontario Marriott so definitely easier to fly "into" there..my only question was whether to fly "out" of somewhere else, but then with the rental car they charge ya more because you don't drop it in the same place....sooooooo...thus the dilemma... ;)

Colin, I see what you mean. Renting a vehicle at Ontario Airport and you have to bring it back to Ontario (1 hour drive from Long Beach). Renting a vehicle at John Wayne and you drive to Ontario(50 minutes) but from Long Beach on Sat/Sun back to John Wayne is only a few minutes. Saves the return drive so you stay relaxed and on time to the airport.

Oops. I was thinking of Long Beach Airport. Still, John Wayne is right in the middle of Ontario and Long Beach, so it splits the time in half on driving.

Another suggestion: Plan on taking the Catalina Express out of Newport Beach. You could stay nearby like at the Days Inn in Costa Mesa ($79.00) a night. The nightlife in Newport Beach is great. You could then fly out of John Wayne airport which is only a few minutes away. The Newport area would be nice to walk or jog around on Sunday morning--great bike path along the beach and Balboa Island is fun. Newport is a few minutes closer--about 52 minutes from Ontario and maybe easier traffic-wise if you take the 55 fwy. John Wayne is much easier and less hassle than LAX.