Solo Trip - Accommodation & Travel Advice

[clappyclaps]

Hi all,

First time poster here and apologies in advance as this post spans both Disney and LA, but I was hoping to get some advice relating to my trip as a whole please.

I'm considering doing a solo trip from the UK to California in March 2025. Main aim is to do Disney, but while there it would be rude not to do more if I can! So I'm thinking of staying in Anaheim for 3-4 days to do Disney, and then heading up to LA for 2-3 days to do Universal and a whistle-stop tour of the city.

I'm looking for recommendations/advice on the following if possible:

• The best/quietest time to visit in March - I know it's spring break time but this is the only time I can go
• Reasonably priced & safe places to stay within walking distance of Disney - not fussed about perks like breakfast, pools etc, just looking for clean & safe
• How best to travel from Disney to LA - not 100% confident driving abroad so would rather avoid hiring a car if I can
• Reasonably priced & safe places to stay near to Universal/Hollywood and for getting into LA

I've just got back from my 6th trip to WDW/Orlando so would like to think I'm fairly clued up on the workings of Disney & Universal, but I've never been to California before and this will be my first ever solo trip, so any advice or other thoughts on my trip would be very much welcome. Thanks

 

[Tinkaboo]

You should look up @BadPinkTink2.0 posts...she comes annually from Ireland and could give you lots of great info! She, too, does both Disney and the city and she files great trip reports that I'm sure you can find by doing a search of this forum.
I am always amazed at how she gets around...better than many Americans who come to LA!

 

[Pluto468]

Hi all,

First time poster here and apologies in advance as this post spans both Disney and LA, but I was hoping to get some advice relating to my trip as a whole please.

I'm considering doing a solo trip from the UK to California in March 2025. Main aim is to do Disney, but while there it would be rude not to do more if I can! So I'm thinking of staying in Anaheim for 3-4 days to do Disney, and then heading up to LA for 2-3 days to do Universal and a whistle-stop tour of the city.

I'm looking for recommendations/advice on the following if possible:

• The best/quietest time to visit in March - I know it's spring break time but this is the only time I can go
• Reasonably priced & safe places to stay within walking distance of Disney - not fussed about perks like breakfast, pools etc, just looking for clean & safe
• How best to travel from Disney to LA - not 100% confident driving abroad so would rather avoid hiring a car if I can
• Reasonably priced & safe places to stay near to Universal/Hollywood and for getting into LA

I've just got back from my 6th trip to WDW/Orlando so would like to think I'm fairly clued up on the workings of Disney & Universal, but I've never been to California before and this will be my first ever solo trip, so any advice or other thoughts on my trip would be very much welcome. Thanks

What a fun adventure!

I'd go with the first couple of weeks in March. Alot of schools aren't on spring break until late March or April.
~
There are some great hotels right across the street from the Disneyland entrance on Harbor. These are all a 2-5 minute walk.
Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn
Best Western Park Place Inn
Park Vue
Tropicana
~
I'd look into uber or a car service since you're only going from Anaheim-LA one time and not driving back and forth. "Anaheim town car services" goes between Universal and Disneyland but I'm not sure about the cost.
~


What do you want to see in LA? That could effect where you stay. LA is very spread out and you'll need to decide how you want to get around the city. Uber might be the best option.

 

[clappyclaps]

You should look up @BadPinkTink2.0 posts...she comes annually from Ireland and could give you lots of great info! She, too, does both Disney and the city and she files great trip reports that I'm sure you can find by doing a search of this forum.
I am always amazed at how she gets around...better than many Americans who come to LA!

Will do, thank you!

What a fun adventure!

I'd go with the first couple of weeks in March. Alot of schools aren't on spring break until late March or April.
~
There are some great hotels right across the street from the Disneyland entrance on Harbor. These are all a 2-5 minute walk.
Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn
Best Western Park Place Inn
Park Vue
Tropicana
~
I'd look into uber or a car service since you're only going from Anaheim-LA one time and not driving back and forth. "Anaheim town car services" goes between Universal and Disneyland but I'm not sure about the cost.
~


What do you want to see in LA? That could effect where you stay. LA is very spread out and you'll need to decide how you want to get around the city. Uber might be the best option.

Thank you. Those hotels look great although admittedly maybe a little out of my price range. I'm not averse to a longer walk to the parks (20 mins or so maybe), if there's any good and cheaper hotels a little further out that are recommended.

To be honest other than Universal, the main things I want to see in LA are the main tourist sights - Hollywood Sign/Griffin Park observatory, Kodak Theater, Beverly Hills etc. I am debating whether to stay in Anaheim for the full week and just travel up to LA for the day to do Universal and then maybe get a tour from Anaheim that does the main LA sights for a day too - while I'd like to see more of LA, Disney is the main reason for this trip and getting to see anything else is just a bonus!

 

[Aspencreek]

Thank you. Those hotels look great although admittedly maybe a little out of my price range. I'm not averse to a longer walk to the parks (20 mins or so maybe), if there's any good and cheaper hotels a little further out that are recommended.

We like the Desert Palms hotel, which is on the corner of Harbor and Katella. Seems like a much nicer hotel than many of the closer ones, but has better rates than the super close hotels. Still very walkable at about 10 minutes, plus has stores (CVS, Walgreens) and restaurants right next to it which can cut down on walking or uber rides. Not a great pool maybe but does have good free breakfast.

As for rides to LA/Universal, I'm not much help there beyond just taking Ubers. A few years back there use to be a nice double-decker bus that you could reserve spots on that would take you from near Disneyland up to Universal for the day and then back. That was pretty reasonable price and guaranteed a ride both ways, but I think they shut down during covid as I can no longer find them as an option.

 

[starry_solo]

If you’re ok with taking public transportation from Disney to LA, take an ART bus to the train station in Anaheim and take the Metrolink from Anaheim to Union Station. You can then take a Metro train from Union Station that will drop you off at the station next to Universal Studios. Ultimately it will depend on how much luggage you have and your comfort level, but you’re going to want to find a place (hotel or motel) near there that you can drop your luggage off with.

There is a hostel near El Capitan (Hollywood) that rents per beds for like $40/per person or has private space for around $120-150

 

[irlandaise]

There is a hostel near El Capitan (Hollywood) that rents per beds for like $40/per person or has private space for around $120-150

@clappyclaps if you aren't aware, the El Capitan is a Disney-owned movie theater right on Hollywood Blvd. It's a restored movie palace from the 1920s and is where "Citizen Kane" premiered. Sometimes there's live organ music before a screening. There's also a small gift shop and a Ghirardelli soda fountain.

https://elcapitantheatre.com/

 

[disneychrista]

I've traveled a few times solo. I always stay at the Desert Inn & Suites. It is a basic motel but has always been clean and right across the street. March is Spring Break but I say the early in the month you can travel the best.

 

[Geemo]

Desert Inn & Suites will book fast because they usually have the lowest rates.
Especially for a room with 2 queen bed.
The earlier you book the lower the rate will be. As arrival date nears the rate will increase.

 

[Chupaca bruh]

So you may want to look at the below locations to stay in Anaheim. They are still walkable but a bit less cost. I have stayed at a few of them and read consistently decent reviews of the.
Best Western Pavilions
The Alpine Inn
The Majestic Garden
The King’s Inn

 

[Keladry84]

If you’re ok with taking public transportation from Disney to LA, take an ART bus to the train station in Anaheim and take the Metrolink from Anaheim to Union Station. You can then take a Metro train from Union Station that will drop you off at the station next to Universal Studios. Ultimately it will depend on how much luggage you have and your comfort level, but you’re going to want to find a place (hotel or motel) near there that you can drop your luggage off with.

I second this suggestion. I took the ART bus/train solo from LA to Anaheim and back. It was easy/safe and worked well. It does take time (2 hours or more) but is more than doable. Personally, I felt safer solo on the bus/train than I would doing something like an ueber or car hire solo.

 

[pirate33]

My current favorite off-property hotel is the Residence Inn Anaheim Resort. A short walk to the main gate, probably comparable to, or only slightly longer than, the trek from Disneyland Hotel. A plus is that there is a CVS next door plus a Starbucks across the street.

The Westin is on the other corner of Disney property and is very nice. I recently stayed there for the first time and enjoyed it; the walk back and forth is much more peaceful. The walk from Residence Inn to the park entrances is a bit more urban in atmosphere. But the Westin is pricier, and I enjoy the full kitchen at Residence Inn plus convenience of nearby shops.

 

[pirate33]

Amtrak service to DTLA (the “hip” term for downtown LA) has worked very well for me in the past.

 

[mel2014]

We recently stayed at the Desert Palms (in November) and the Clarion Hotel (September), both on Harbor Blvd. south of Disneyland. Both were places I would stay again for the right price. Desert Palms was immaculately clean, had comfortable beds, a well-stocked breakfast and is closer to the parks. The Clarion is definitely more of a budget option, no breakfast included, more worn down but still very clean (our rate was under $100 per night).

My friend stayed at the Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim at the Park for a night in November and that was a serviceable option as well with easy access into Downtown Disney and the ability to shortcut the walk somewhat but leaving out of the Grand Californian or the exit that leads to the Pixar Place hotel. I personally would prefer being on the Harbor side as a solo traveller, as there are more people consistently walking that way at all hours.

 

[clappyclaps]

Thank you all so much for the advice and suggestions. I'll look into all of these hotels and also appreciate the public transport advice too, no issues with bus/train from my side so good to hear it's safe and works well.