Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [344]
To get to the Channel Islands National Park Visitors Center and the boat docks in Ventura from Hwy 101 northbound, exit at Victoria Ave, turn left on Victoria and right on Olivas Park Dr to Harbor Blvd; Olivas Park Dr runs straight into Spinnaker Dr. From Hwy 101 southbound, exit at Seaward Ave onto Harbor Blvd, then turn right on Spinnaker Dr.
Boating to the islands can be rough; those prone to seasickness should consider taking a 25-minute flight to Santa Rosa Island, from either Santa Barbara or Camarillo, with Channel Islands Aviation ( 805-987-1301; www.flycia.com; 305 Durley Ave, Camarillo; day trips adult/child $160/135, campers round-trip $250).
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Directory
CONTENTS
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Accommodations
Activities
Business Hours
Climate Charts
Dangers & Annoyances
Discount Cards
Festivals & Events
Food
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
Holidays
Insurance
International Visitors
Internet Access
Legal Matters
Maps
Shopping
Solo Travelers
Tipping
Tourist Information
Tours
Travelers with Disabilities
Women Travelers
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ACCOMMODATIONS
Southern California has all types of places to unpack your suitcase, from hostels, campgrounds and B&Bs to chain motels, hotels and luxury resorts. Reservations are a good idea for weekend travel year-round and all the time during peak season, that is, June to September everywhere except the desert and the ski areas where November to February are the busiest periods. Demand and prices also spike around major holidays Click here and big local festivals (mentioned throughout this book; see also Click here) when some properties may impose two- or three-day minimum stays.
This book lists accommodations as budget (less than $130), midrange ($130 to $280) and top end (more than $280) in ascending order starting with the cheapest property. Unless noted, rates do not include taxes. We have marked our top picks within the lists, but just because a place isn’t a top pick doesn’t mean it’s not good. Each property we recommend has been inspected and meets a certain baseline quality standard within its category.
Prices listed in this book do not – and in fact cannot – take into account seasonal variations or promotional discounts. Always check the property’s website for specials and compare it to what’s offered by the big players such as www.orbitz.com, www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com and www.hotel.com. For comparison, also feed your travel dates through www.onetime.com, which searches multiple websites.
Generally, midweek rates are lower except in city hotels geared to the suit brigade, which often also lure leisure travelers with weekend deals. Membership in AARP or AAA lops 10% off standard rates at participating properties.
Our budget recommendations comprise campgrounds, hostels and motels, but since midrange properties generally offer better value for money, most of our listings fall into this category. Expect clean, comfortable and decent-sized double rooms with at least a modicum of style, a private bathroom and such standard amenities as cable TV, direct-dial telephone, a coffeemaker, perhaps a microwave and a small refrigerator. Pools and shared Jacuzzi tubs are quite common as well.
Top-end lodgings offer top-notch amenities and perhaps a scenic location, edgy decor or historical ambience. Pools, fitness rooms, business centers and other upscale facilities are pretty standard, but unless you’re going to use them, it’s rarely worth spending the extra money.
Smoking rooms are becoming increasingly rare in health-conscious California. Where they exist, they are often in less desirable locations or are the last to be renovated. Be careful: some properties levy a hefty ‘clean-up fee’ if you light up in your nonsmoking room. Bed-and-breakfasts especially are often entirely smokefree, meaning you’re not allowed to smoke anywhere on the property, not even outside.
By law, all hotels must have at least one room compliant with the American Disabilities Act. Air-conditioning is a standard amenity except in some beachfront