[akCard]

So I've been unable to book a room online through Stanford's "travel partner" for the Rose Bowl and I sent them an email asking for assistance. But I just went to their site at about 3:15pm today to see if anything had changed and they've posted a noticed that the deadline to book a travel package has passed SO ... can anyone offer any guidance on picking a place to stay as well as a good way to get to/from the game??

I'm kind of pissed right now because the primary reason I was trying to book a pretty expensive room through Anthony's was for travel to/from the game. (Well, that and being surrounded by like-minded Stanford fans.....)

Right now I'm inclined to get a room near LAX because they're pretty cheap and readily available but from what I can tell, getting to the game will be a major pain from so far away.

thx.

[akCard]

So I've been unable to book a room online through Stanford's "travel partner" for the Rose Bowl and I sent them an email asking for assistance. But I just went to their site at about 3:15pm today to see if anything had changed and they've posted a noticed that the deadline to book a travel package has passed SO ... can anyone offer any guidance on picking a place to stay as well as a good way to get to/from the game??

I'm kind of pissed right now because the primary reason I was trying to book a pretty expensive room through Anthony's was for travel to/from the game. (Well, that and being surrounded by like-minded Stanford fans.....)

Right now I'm inclined to get a room near LAX because they're pretty cheap and readily available but from what I can tell, getting to the game will be a major pain from so far away.

thx.

[yvonne]

I've noticed that people stay all over the LA basin. We're going to be at a Hilton property. I'll discuss it more on the private board.

[yvonne]

I've noticed that people stay all over the LA basin. We're going to be at a Hilton property. I'll discuss it more on the private board.

[French Rage]

So I've been unable to book a room online through Stanford's "travel partner" for the Rose Bowl and I sent them an email asking for assistance. But I just went to their site at about 3:15pm today to see if anything had changed and they've posted a noticed that the deadline to book a travel package has passed SO ... can anyone offer any guidance on picking a place to stay as well as a good way to get to/from the game??

I'm kind of pissed right now because the primary reason I was trying to book a pretty expensive room through Anthony's was for travel to/from the game. (Well, that and being surrounded by like-minded Stanford fans.....)

Right now I'm inclined to get a room near LAX because they're pretty cheap and readily available but from what I can tell, getting to the game will be a major pain from so far away.

thx.

A hotel near LAX gets you to/from the airport free due to shuttles, but the cab ride cost is very high.  That's what we did in 2013.  Cab was roughly $100 each way.  In 2014 we tried something different, getting a hotel near Union Station.  There is a cheap ($8) FlyAway shuttle every 30 minutes between Union Station and LAX.  And the Gold Line of the metro goes between Union Station and Pasadena, with extra shuttles for the Rose Bowl, and is a few bucks.  We liked that option so we're going to do it again.  Union Station isn't perhaps the most touristy spot of LA, so if you're looking to make it a whole big trip with lots of sights it's not the way to go.  But it gets the job done if you're looking for a cheap way to get around LA and especially to Pasadena.

[French Rage]

So I've been unable to book a room online through Stanford's "travel partner" for the Rose Bowl and I sent them an email asking for assistance. But I just went to their site at about 3:15pm today to see if anything had changed and they've posted a noticed that the deadline to book a travel package has passed SO ... can anyone offer any guidance on picking a place to stay as well as a good way to get to/from the game??

I'm kind of pissed right now because the primary reason I was trying to book a pretty expensive room through Anthony's was for travel to/from the game. (Well, that and being surrounded by like-minded Stanford fans.....)

Right now I'm inclined to get a room near LAX because they're pretty cheap and readily available but from what I can tell, getting to the game will be a major pain from so far away.

thx.

A hotel near LAX gets you to/from the airport free due to shuttles, but the cab ride cost is very high.  That's what we did in 2013.  Cab was roughly $100 each way.  In 2014 we tried something different, getting a hotel near Union Station.  There is a cheap ($8) FlyAway shuttle every 30 minutes between Union Station and LAX.  And the Gold Line of the metro goes between Union Station and Pasadena, with extra shuttles for the Rose Bowl, and is a few bucks.  We liked that option so we're going to do it again.  Union Station isn't perhaps the most touristy spot of LA, so if you're looking to make it a whole big trip with lots of sights it's not the way to go.  But it gets the job done if you're looking for a cheap way to get around LA and especially to Pasadena.

[BostonCard]

I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

[BostonCard]

I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

[Rally]

This is always a problem.  The Best Western in Glendora ( about 12 miles away and not a great BW) had rooms for $379+tax.  Free breakfast but I don't recommend it.  We're staying at my mom's but don't ask . . . That bed is taken :). As a native southern Californian I have an inborn distrust of all forms of public transportation, shuttles, even cabs.  It's genetic I think.

[Rally]

This is always a problem.  The Best Western in Glendora ( about 12 miles away and not a great BW) had rooms for $379+tax.  Free breakfast but I don't recommend it.  We're staying at my mom's but don't ask . . . That bed is taken :). As a native southern Californian I have an inborn distrust of all forms of public transportation, shuttles, even cabs.  It's genetic I think.

[dabigv13]

Just as an aside, Uber has totally changed the game for transportation in Los Angeles the past few years. That 100$ cab ride is probably half that now, or better. Now, getting an uber out of pasadena could be a struggle, but you could probably take the Metro for part of it, or just head to the bars of old town Pasadena to celebrate our victory with some beers and wait it out.

[dabigv13]

Just as an aside, Uber has totally changed the game for transportation in Los Angeles the past few years. That 100$ cab ride is probably half that now, or better. Now, getting an uber out of pasadena could be a struggle, but you could probably take the Metro for part of it, or just head to the bars of old town Pasadena to celebrate our victory with some beers and wait it out.

[CowboyIndian]

The Metro train from downtown makes it really simple to get to Pasadena and there are buses to take you to Arroyo Seco from town. Now...finding a place to stay downtown may be a problem. We stayed at the Biltmore last time but I understand it's booked, although a call never hurts. G-D pig farmers! Good luck.

[CowboyIndian]

The Metro train from downtown makes it really simple to get to Pasadena and there are buses to take you to Arroyo Seco from town. Now...finding a place to stay downtown may be a problem. We stayed at the Biltmore last time but I understand it's booked, although a call never hurts. G-D pig farmers! Good luck.

[Mick]

I would stay at the Harbor View Inn or one of the many nice Inns on the beach in Santa Barbara (or Hotel Santa Barbara, if you want a little bit nicer place).  Those hotels are about three or four blocks from AmTrak.  The 768 Pacific Surfliner leaves at 6:49 a.m. and gets into the Los Angeles Union Station at 9:35 a.m., if you want to Uber to catch a little bit of the parade, or you can get an early breakfast in Santa Barbara  (Cajun Kitchen is a personal fave, divy kind of breakfast) and take the 9:22 a.m. 774 Pacific Starliner which gets into LA Union Station at 12:10.  2 hour, 45 minutes on the train, half hour to go the 10 miles between the train station and the Rose Bowl.

[Mick]

I would stay at the Harbor View Inn or one of the many nice Inns on the beach in Santa Barbara (or Hotel Santa Barbara, if you want a little bit nicer place).  Those hotels are about three or four blocks from AmTrak.  The 768 Pacific Surfliner leaves at 6:49 a.m. and gets into the Los Angeles Union Station at 9:35 a.m., if you want to Uber to catch a little bit of the parade, or you can get an early breakfast in Santa Barbara  (Cajun Kitchen is a personal fave, divy kind of breakfast) and take the 9:22 a.m. 774 Pacific Starliner which gets into LA Union Station at 12:10.  2 hour, 45 minutes on the train, half hour to go the 10 miles between the train station and the Rose Bowl.

[jacketree]

Do I have the place for you....

Stay at the Canoga Park Motor Inn where you're just 30 minutes from anywhere, including the most exciting destinations in California.

30 minutes from anywhere!  Anywhere!!

Hard by the scenic Los Angeles River in the heart of San Pornando Valley (Vanowen and Winnetka), this budget friendly motel offers loads of free parking, a bowling alley on the premises, rooms with an adventurous eau de ashtray, and intermittent neighborhood gunfire throughout the night.*  And at 3 a.m. on New Year's morning it really is just 30 minutes and 30 near-death collisions with drunken revelers away from the Rose Bowl.

*At the Y2k Grandaddy, I honestly thought it might all end before we hit The (being in LA) 210, thus I would indeed die before watching a Rose Bowl live.

P.S. But, the bowling alley was a hit with the kids, stores to buy ponchos for the next day (I mean really, wtf?) were abundant and the property does surprisingly well with reviews on TripAdvisor and the like.

[jacketree]

Do I have the place for you....

Stay at the Canoga Park Motor Inn where you're just 30 minutes from anywhere, including the most exciting destinations in California.

30 minutes from anywhere!  Anywhere!!

Hard by the scenic Los Angeles River in the heart of San Pornando Valley (Vanowen and Winnetka), this budget friendly motel offers loads of free parking, a bowling alley on the premises, rooms with an adventurous eau de ashtray, and intermittent neighborhood gunfire throughout the night.*  And at 3 a.m. on New Year's morning it really is just 30 minutes and 30 near-death collisions with drunken revelers away from the Rose Bowl.

*At the Y2k Grandaddy, I honestly thought it might all end before we hit The (being in LA) 210, thus I would indeed die before watching a Rose Bowl live.

P.S. But, the bowling alley was a hit with the kids, stores to buy ponchos for the next day (I mean really, wtf?) were abundant and the property does surprisingly well with reviews on TripAdvisor and the like.

[Mick]

Try www.airbnb.com, type in Pasadena, CA for the location.  I did 12/30 to 1/1, two guests, got 20 places for an average of $156.

[Mick]

Try www.airbnb.com, type in Pasadena, CA for the location.  I did 12/30 to 1/1, two guests, got 20 places for an average of $156.

[Rally]

I would stay at the Harbor View Inn or one of the many nice Inns on the beach in Santa Barbara (or Hotel Santa Barbara, if you want a little bit nicer place).  Those hotels are about three or four blocks from AmTrak.  The 768 Pacific Surfliner leaves at 6:49 a.m. and gets into the Los Angeles Union Station at 9:35 a.m., if you want to Uber to catch a little bit of the parade, or you can get an early breakfast in Santa Barbara  (Cajun Kitchen is a personal fave, divy kind of breakfast) and take the 9:22 a.m. 774 Pacific Starliner which gets into LA Union Station at 12:10.  2 hour, 45 minutes on the train, half hour to go the 10 miles between the train station and the Rose Bowl.

Good luck.

[Rally]

I would stay at the Harbor View Inn or one of the many nice Inns on the beach in Santa Barbara (or Hotel Santa Barbara, if you want a little bit nicer place).  Those hotels are about three or four blocks from AmTrak.  The 768 Pacific Surfliner leaves at 6:49 a.m. and gets into the Los Angeles Union Station at 9:35 a.m., if you want to Uber to catch a little bit of the parade, or you can get an early breakfast in Santa Barbara  (Cajun Kitchen is a personal fave, divy kind of breakfast) and take the 9:22 a.m. 774 Pacific Starliner which gets into LA Union Station at 12:10.  2 hour, 45 minutes on the train, half hour to go the 10 miles between the train station and the Rose Bowl.

Good luck.

[fullmetal]

I'm about to ping my friends and see who has a couch  ;D

[fullmetal]

I'm about to ping my friends and see who has a couch  ;D

[winflop]

I've noticed that people stay all over the LA basin. We're going to be at a Hilton property. I'll discuss it more on the private board.

Same here but not very close to Pasadena

[winflop]

I've noticed that people stay all over the LA basin. We're going to be at a Hilton property. I'll discuss it more on the private board.

Same here but not very close to Pasadena

[SUBuddha]

If it matters, my dad and I will be at the Hilton San Gabriel and will have a rental and be driving to Pasadena then taking a shuttle to the game from downtown.

[SUBuddha]

If it matters, my dad and I will be at the Hilton San Gabriel and will have a rental and be driving to Pasadena then taking a shuttle to the game from downtown.

[Papa John]

I recommend that folks fly into Burbank, not LAX. Burbank, also known as the Bob Hope Airport, is much easier to navigate than LAX and is closer to Pasadena. Plus there are public transportation options.

This advice might be a little late, so sorry about that.

[Papa John]

I recommend that folks fly into Burbank, not LAX. Burbank, also known as the Bob Hope Airport, is much easier to navigate than LAX and is closer to Pasadena. Plus there are public transportation options.

This advice might be a little late, so sorry about that.

[BobK]

The Normandie near downtown LA for us. 

[BobK]

The Normandie near downtown LA for us. 

[Hansenjohn]

I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia area is great if you are driving from the north.  We also stayed at the Hyatt Regency two years ago and it worked out great.  There were a fair number of fans from both schools. 

[Hansenjohn]

I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia area is great if you are driving from the north.  We also stayed at the Hyatt Regency two years ago and it worked out great.  There were a fair number of fans from both schools. 

[Mick]

Sound advice to fly into Burbank. 

We have a well-attended event in Irvine in March (approx 700 people), and the logistics person of our co-sponsor in Newport Beach is telling event attendees to fly into John Wayne, San Diego or LAX.  I told my team to fly into John Wayne, forget about San Diego unless there are no other options, and I'd rather drive from Detroit than fly into LAX.

[Mick]

Sound advice to fly into Burbank. 

We have a well-attended event in Irvine in March (approx 700 people), and the logistics person of our co-sponsor in Newport Beach is telling event attendees to fly into John Wayne, San Diego or LAX.  I told my team to fly into John Wayne, forget about San Diego unless there are no other options, and I'd rather drive from Detroit than fly into LAX.

[fullmetal]

I couldn't find a cheap flight into BUR, but YMMV. 

[fullmetal]

I couldn't find a cheap flight into BUR, but YMMV. 

[BostonCard]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=14060.msg148205#msg148205 date=1450137472]
I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia area is great if you are driving from the north.  We also stayed at the Hyatt Regency two years ago and it worked out great.  There were a fair number of fans from both schools.
[/quote]

Ha!  Maybe we transiently met.  There were certainly a good number of fans there, but it did tilt towards green and white over cardinal and white.

And yeah, Santa Clarita is great if you are coming down 101, Valencia or Oxnard if you are coming from Santa Barbara.  All are close enough to make driving in to Pasadena fairly simple (though once you get to Pasadena, it's another story), but still close to the edges of LA so you don't get bogged down in the basin coming in or out.

BC

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=14060.msg148205#msg148205 date=1450137472]
I drove in 2014, and picked up the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clarita (just on the LA side of the grapevine) for a reasonable price.  It was close enough to Pasadena to drive (spent more time in traffic within Pasadena than getting there or back), and a very nice hotel.  Plus it made the trip to and from the Bay Area much less arduous.

BC

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia area is great if you are driving from the north.  We also stayed at the Hyatt Regency two years ago and it worked out great.  There were a fair number of fans from both schools.
[/quote]

Ha!  Maybe we transiently met.  There were certainly a good number of fans there, but it did tilt towards green and white over cardinal and white.

And yeah, Santa Clarita is great if you are coming down 101, Valencia or Oxnard if you are coming from Santa Barbara.  All are close enough to make driving in to Pasadena fairly simple (though once you get to Pasadena, it's another story), but still close to the edges of LA so you don't get bogged down in the basin coming in or out.

BC

BC