We originally booked a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport in preparation for our cruise departure. After reading extensive reviews, I switched our hotel booking to the Crown Plaza,
Once I realized that we were due to sail out of San Pedro, about 30 minutes south of the airport, it seemed easier to get ourselves there for our two night stay.
We arrived later in the evening on the first of a two night stay, too tired to explore the amenities but a fresh room awaited our exhausted bodies. Forgive the photo of our room, I forgot to take the picture when it was all put together.
We wouldn’t realize how very close to the cruise terminal we were, until the light of the next morning. Many of the upcoming World Cruise passengers were also staying there. It was a great way to meet them before setting sail.
We chose to rent a car so we could do some sightseeing on the way to the hotel. There was a drop off point just outside the hotel, which made it easy for us to have a one way car rental. It is also possible to get an Uber or Lyft from the airport for about $35 USD.
The main draw of this hotel is the approximation to the cruise terminal. We could walk a mile to get there if we chose, but handling 6 pieces of luggage across several roads might have been a challenge.
Even though the cruise terminal is within view and walking distance, it is far easier to take the shuttle. I knew that we ourselves had 6 suitcases to handle for the trip, so I imagined how challenging luggage was going to be for the many passengers who were doing the entire world tour!
When cruises are in, it is highly recommended to book your time slot the evening before or as soon as you check in. You will be given a departure time if the shuttles are very busy. The cost of the shuttle is $5 a person and runs every 15 minutes.
When I asked about handling all of the luggage, I was told the 35 passenger busses had had 10 seats taken out to accommodate the extra bags. There was plenty of room for all of us and since the cruise terminal is only 1 mile away, the shuttles make quick delivery of passengers to the terminal.
There are many amenities within walking distance, including a great restaurant called the Green Onion. How could I say no to some of the best Mexican food ever? Especially when it was only 350 feet from the door of the hotel! The area appears safe both day and night. Of course for those guests who don’t want to venture out, there is also on-site dining in the elegant hotel restaurant if you so choose.
All in all, this was an adequate hotel for our needs for the couple nights before we set sail.
If you are interested in this location, I would suggest booking through booking.com. We were able to get our room for under $200/night (including taxes).
