Car Hire thoughts needed

[Lucyjane45xxx]

So I have visited the US a number of times but never to California and I have never hired a car/driven in the US before either so I am just looking for some advice.

We fly into LAX, spend some time in Hollywood before moving to Anaheim, then on to Vegas before finally San Fran and flying home from SFO.

Currently I have reserved a car for the full holiday but can easily cancel this. I keep reading more about Hollywood/Anaheim and San Fran and everyone keeps saying not to drive there so when also considering I would need to pay extra for parking, I am now considering only having a car for part of it instead.

Would you guys have the car for the full holiday, or is it worth picking it up from somewhere in Hollywood/Anaheim after we have finished the Anaheim part of the trip, use it to drive to Vegas, keep it for the Vegas part of the trip only, drive to San Fran and then drop it off as soon as we get to San Fran?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[Sew109]

I always have a car all the time and yes there is traffic and yes parking can be expensive but I find it easier than driving in any UK city by far.

Edit stop press there are two US cites where I don't have a car San Francisco is one and NY the other.

[landandword17]

I wouldn’t drive in SF. Public transit is readily available and it’s a walkable city. We kept the car because we had booked a motel with free parking but we never used it so I would happily return it and go car free in the city. It opens up accommodation options because you don’t need free parking and won’t be hit with crazy parking charges in hotels ($40-75 per night).

[400ixl]

I would land at LAX, then do Anaheim for Disney without a car. Collect one when you want to leave for Hollywood and keep it then until dropping it on arrival to San Fran.

[metalguru]

I drive in both San Fran and NYC. I use Spot Hero parking app for cheap pre booked parking which saves a lot. 2 years ago it cost $11 for all day parking at Fisherman's Wharf.

[danisleigh]

We are doing similiar starting in Vegas and finishing in San Fran and we have the car right up until San Fran then return it for our 2 days there.

[Sew109]

Originally Posted by metalguru

I drive in both San Fran and NYC. I use Spot Hero parking app for cheap pre booked parking which saves a lot. 2 years ago it cost $11 for all day parking at Fisherman's Wharf.

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I have always had a car in SF but would not now we just don’t use it we used and app in Denver and it saved us a fortune

[Peko]

I wouldn’t drive in SFO unless you can get very cheap overnight parking. Public transport and app-rides are cheap and plentiful.

For the LA area, it depends how much you will move out of Hollywood and / or Anaheim while there, and the cost of overnight parking. I like the flexibility of a car when in the LA area (despite the traffic), but probably wouldn’t bother in Anaheim, if I were not going to stray much beyond the theme parks while there.

[Lucyjane45xxx]

Perfect, thanks all for the different view points on this. Definitely think we will get rid of the car for the 5 days in San Francisco, but will continue to decide whether to keep it for the Hollywood part.

Is it easy enough to get around without a car? I am guessing Uber isn't the best idea if traffic is crazy?
We are staying at Loews Hollywood, which looks like it is right by the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Chinese theatre. We have booked to do the WB Studio Tour, we are planning HHN one evening and then we will mainly just want to wander around Melrose ave and go to Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign

[hideinpockets]

My experience of LA is that a car is definitely better. You can get around with public transport but it takes forever and a car would be much easier to see everything you wanted to!