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Northwest Airlines Flights from Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
As part of booking roundtrip flights which depart from US airports,
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Northwest Airlines, which operates a daily non-stop flight from Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) to Los Angeles (LAX) regularly scheduled to depart at 8:00am and arrive at 9:28am. Usually a Boeing 737-900 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Guadalajara, Mexico to Los Angeles, CA is 3 hours and 28 minutes.*
* Some flights must connect with additional service on this airline.
During your Los Angeles vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Los Angeles Zoo
The L.A. Zoo, which shares its parking lot with the Museum of the American West, has been welcoming visitors and busloads of school kids since 1966. In 1982, the zoo inaugurated a display of cuddly koalas, still one of its biggest attractions. Although it's smaller than the world-famous San Diego Zoo, the L.A. Zoo is surprisingly enjoyable and easy to fully explore. As much an arboretum as a zoo, the grounds are thick with mature shade trees from around the world that help cool the once-barren grounds, and new habitats are light-years ahead of the cruel concrete roundhouses originally used to exhibit animals (though you can't help feeling that, despite the fancy digs, all the creatures would rather be in their natural habitat). Highlights include the Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains habitat, where visitors can see plenty of primate activity; the Red Ape Rain Forest, a natural orangutan habitat; the entertaining World of Birds show; the Pachyderm Forest (climate-controlled digs for the elephants and hippos, complete with an underwater viewing area); the new mandrills exhibit (the world's largest and most colorful baboons); and the silverback gorilla exhibit. The gargantuan Andean condor had me enthralled as well (the facility is renowned in zoological circles for the successful breeding and releasing of California condors, and occasionally it has some of these majestic and endangered birds on exhibit).The zoo's latest attraction (and one they're rightfully proud of) is the Winnick Family Children's Zoo, a fantastic and forward-thinking children's zoo that contains a petting area, exhibition animal care center, Adventure Theater storytelling and puppet show, and other kid-hip exhibits and activities. Tip: To avoid the busloads of rambunctious school kids, arrive after noon.
Farmers Market and The Grove
The original market was little more than a field with stands set up by farmers during the Depression so they could sell directly to city dwellers. Eventually, permanent buildings grew up, including the trademark shingled 10-story clock tower. Today the place has evolved into a sprawling marketplace with a carnival atmosphere, a kind of "turf" version of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. About 100 restaurants, shops, and grocers cater to a mix of workers from the CBS Television City complex, locals, and tourists, brought here by the busload. Retailers sell greeting cards, kitchen implements, candles, and souvenirs, but everyone comes for the food stands, which offer oysters, hot donuts, Cajun gumbo, fresh-squeezed orange juice, corned beef sandwiches, fresh-pressed peanut butter, and all kinds of international fast foods. You can still buy produce here -- it's no longer a farm-fresh bargain, but the selection's better than at the grocery store. Don't miss Kokomo (tel. 323/933-0773), a "gourmet" outdoor coffee shop that has become a power breakfast spot for showbiz types. Red turkey hash and sweet-potato fries are the dishes that keep them coming back. The seafood gumbo and gumbo ya ya at the Gumbo Pot (tel. 323/933-0358) are also very popular.At the eastern end of the Farmers Market is The Grove, a massive 575,000-square-foot Vegas-style retail complex composed of various architectural styles ranging from Art Deco to Italian Renaissance. Miniature streets link The Grove to the Market via a double-deck electric trolley. Granted, it's all a bit Disney-gaudy, but the locals love it. Where else can you power-shop until noon, check all your bags at a drop-off station, get a spa treatment at Amadeus Spa (tel. 323/297-0311), see a movie at the 14-screen Grove Theatre, have an early dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy (tel. 323/965-9665), and be home by 7pm?
El Alisal
El Alisal is a small, rugged, two-story "castle," built between 1889 and 1910 from large rocks and telephone poles purchased from the Santa Fe Railroad. The architect and creator was Charles F. Lummis, a Harvard graduate, archaeologist, and writer, who walked from Ohio to California and coined the slogan "See America First." A fan of Native American culture, Lummis is credited with popularizing the concept of the "Southwest," referring to New Mexico and Arizona. He often lived the lifestyle of the Indians, and he founded the nearby Southwest Museum, a repository of Indian artifacts. Lummis held fabulous parties for the theatrical, political, and artistic elite; his guest list often included Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt. The outstanding feature of his house is the fireplace, which was carved by Mount Rushmore creator Gutzon Borglum. The lawn has been turned into an experimental garden of water-conserving plants.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Los Angeles area, including:
New Otani Hotel and Garden
Most of the guest rooms in this anonymous 21-story concrete tower are nothing special -- fine if you score a low weekend rate, not good enough for the money if your rate starts inching to close to $200. The best reason to stay here is to experience one of the handful of wonderfully unique Japanese-style suites, which recreate an elegant Far East hotel room in every detail: futon beds elegantly dressed and laid out on tatami floors, sliding rice-paper shoji screens, ofuro bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs, and a prime view of the half-acre rooftop classical tea garden. One- and two-night Japanese Experience cultural packages include suite accommodations, welcome sake, shiatsu massages, dinner, and in-suite breakfast.Even if you opt for a more mundane Western-style room, you can enjoy the beautifully sculpted Japanese Garden; the five restaurants and bars, including Senbazuru (A Thousand Cranes) for Japanese cuisine elegantly presented by kimono-clad servers (go for breakfast for the ultimate culinary adventure), and the Garden Grill for superb teppan yaki steak and seafood; and the terrific Japanese-style Sanwa Spa for shiatsu massages. The location is close enough to the prime business district to be convenient, yet far enough to be peaceful. Little Tokyo dining options are nearby, and Downtown shuttles and free taxi vouchers make exploring easy. Expect a clientele that's split between Japanese and Westerners.Facilities: 2 Japanese restaurants (including a Tokyo-style teppanyaki grill); California-style bar and grill; 2 cocktail lounges; full-service Japanese-style spa (www.sanwahealth.com) w/saunas, baths, and shiatsu massages; fitness center; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; courtesy shuttle; business center; shopping arcade; salon; room service (6am-11pm); in-room massage; laundry service; dry-cleaning service; executive-level rooms; Japanese garden.
Best Western Ocean View Hotel
This ocean-facing chain hotel, located just across the street from Santa Monica Beach and amusement pier, offers welcome price relief in high-rent Santa Monica. The clean and modern property offers terrific bargains to those willing to forego an ocean view from their room. But even the deluxe-view rooms, which all have private balconies looking out across Ocean Avenue to beach and pier, are a steal for this area. Rooms are comfortably outfitted in chain-hotel style; all have coffeemakers, while oceanview rooms have fridges, too (microwaves are available upon request). Don't pay extra for a balcony, though, unless you know it has an ocean view, or you may end up overlooking the subterranean parking lot. The staff is courteous and professional, and many fine restaurants are within walking distance. Heck, they even offer complimentary continental breakfast.
Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites
This 35-story, 1,354-room monolith is the hotel that locals love to hate. The truth is that the Bonaventure is a terrific hotel. It's certainly not for travelers who want intimacy or personality in their accommodations -- but with more than 20 restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, a monster health club, a Kinko's-size business center, and much more on hand, you'll be hard-pressed to want for anything here (except maybe some individualized attention). And with a $35 million renovation recently completed, this convention favorite has never looked better or felt fresher.The hotel's five gleaming glass silos encompass an entire square block and form one of Downtown's most distinctive landmarks. The six-story lobby houses fountains and trees (and, surprise, a Starbucks). A tangle of concrete ramps and 12 high-speed glass elevators lead to the extensive array of shops and services. Among the highlights is the rooftop L.A. Prime Steak House and revolving BonaVista lounge, both offering unparalleled views and even a Krispy Kreme Donut Stand (Well, that settles it!).The pie-shape guest rooms are on the small side, but a wall of windows offering great views, and Westin's unparalleled Heavenly Bed -- the ultimate in hotel-bed comfort -- make for a very comfortable cocoon. With an executive workstation, fax, and wet bar, guest office suites are great for business travelers, while tower suites -- with a living room, an extra half-bathroom, a minifridge, a microwave, and two TVs -- are ideal for families.Facilities: 17 restaurants and fast-food outlets; 5 bars and lounges; outdoor heated lap pool; 15,000-sq.-ft. full-service spa w/exercise room, running track, and access to adjacent 85,000-sq.-ft. health club; Westin Kids Club; concierge; tour desk; Dollar Rent-a-Car desk; full-service business and copy center; shops; salon; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry-cleaning service; executive club level.
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