I went to SMB/Pier last time I was in LA because I’ve always wanted to see this iconic place you hear about so much in popular culture.

It was nasty AF.

Hobos and drug-zombies laying around everywhere. Panhandlers, sketchy looking people casing you, the whole place is filthy with trash everywhere. Walked to end of the pier to watch people fishing and see the surfers, and some vagrant wouldn’t leave me alone the whole time.

It was really disappointing. I have to travel to LA several times a year for work now, and it seems like the LA I was imagining, that I wanted to see - it doesn’t exist anymore. That’s a real bummer.

Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Great hotel.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it would make more sense for you to drop off your bags at a cheaper hotel near the airport, then go someplace for the day and cab or drive back at night.

I would do this. We stayed last year at the Hyatt Regency LAX which is actually walking distance to the airport (although they have a shuttle). Staff is really good - they have people coming and going at all hours to the airport. Maybe Uber to the Getty and then to Brentwood? Brentwood Country Mart is in a cute little shopping center. Palisades Village Center has some places to eat and a movie theater. That could be nice - seeing a movie!

We stayed at Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites once over Christmas a couple years ago and it was perfectly fine. We saved some money by not staying right on the beach, which I appreciated. I found Santa Monica to be a nice place to walk around and explore for a day. We rented bikes and biked along the beach, which was fun. The homelessness situation is not great but was not as bad as I had feared.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I plan on going on a day trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach since it's close to LAX where I will be flying out of, but I have read comments that it is not the same as it was (whatever that means, I have never been). Has anyone been there lately? Any decent affordable hotel recs for the area? (Only 1 person, preferably $300 or less/night). What are better alternatives if not that area? I prefer to stay out of DTLA but also I'm trying to stay close to LAX since my flight is very early in the morning. Thanks!

Hotels are not bad actually, you’ll find something in your price for sure. But the vagrancy/homelessness is wild, just zombies everywhere, we saw half naked psychos smeared in feces, messed up, sooooo gross.

Yuck, that is terrible. Do they not have public showers available near there for the homeless people to use? California needs to do better. Walking around covered in feces is a public health hazard, omg.

Does Laguna Beach have these issues too?

We stayed in a LAX airport hotel once-- there are a few IIRC, was fine (but honestly Manhattan Beach is almost as close)

I wonder if it would make more sense for you to drop off your bags at a cheaper hotel near the airport, then go someplace for the day and cab or drive back at night.

Anonymous wrote:I plan on going on a day trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach since it's close to LAX where I will be flying out of, but I have read comments that it is not the same as it was (whatever that means, I have never been). Has anyone been there lately? Any decent affordable hotel recs for the area? (Only 1 person, preferably $300 or less/night). What are better alternatives if not that area? I prefer to stay out of DTLA but also I'm trying to stay close to LAX since my flight is very early in the morning. Thanks!

Hotels are not bad actually, you’ll find something in your price for sure. But the vagrancy/homelessness is wild, just zombies everywhere, we saw half naked psychos smeared in feces, messed up, sooooo gross.

Anonymous wrote:What is it that you want to do on your trip? We had lunch and shopped a bit on AK last summer (Gjelina was amazing). Didn't feel unsafe, but I can see why you would at night.

OP here--I just mostly want to hang out and maybe people watch, have coffee and actually finish it (I'm a mom of small kids and rarely get to just actually sit and do nothing for longer periods), go for a leisurely walk, and generally vibe out on being in SoCal.

I did not think either town was that nice: a little dirty and seedy, lots of homeless people. Orange County beaches were a lot nicer.

SM/VB can be expensive for hotels. I haven’t been there in a few years but could also look at Manhattan Beach or Hermosa. Those are also very close to LAX too.

Anonymous wrote:What is it that you want to do on your trip? We had lunch and shopped a bit on AK last summer (Gjelina was amazing). Didn't feel unsafe, but I can see why you would at night.

Agreed- the safety issues are not significant during the day. Yes there are some homeless people around, more than pre-covid, but it's not like you will actually be in any substantive danger. If just wanting lunch, ye Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice is great, lots of good places to eat/drink. Santa Monica isn't so great actually right near the beach, because the main part of the city is up on the cliff above the beach, and downtown SM doesn't have a ton of great places, mostly mediocre touristy places. There are some nice spots in SM more inland, along Wilshire and Montana.

Manhattan Beach would also be a good option within close proximity to LAX for one day.

https://johnnyjet.com/manhattan-beach-the-perfect-lax-layover/

What is it that you want to do on your trip? We had lunch and shopped a bit on AK last summer (Gjelina was amazing). Didn't feel unsafe, but I can see why you would at night.

well, I'm a native and the crime is a problem. It's expensive. You can't get anywhere easily anymore. I won't go back. just google and you will learn.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SantaMonica/comments/15335od/santa_monica_is_not_safe_crowd/

I plan on going on a day trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach since it's close to LAX where I will be flying out of, but I have read comments that it is not the same as it was (whatever that means, I have never been). Has anyone been there lately? Any decent affordable hotel recs for the area? (Only 1 person, preferably $300 or less/night). What are better alternatives if not that area? I prefer to stay out of DTLA but also I'm trying to stay close to LAX since my flight is very early in the morning. Thanks!