Hotel Accomodations
Our preferred hotel for all guests and wedding party is the Wilshire Grand Hotel, located on 7th and Figueroa in the South Park district of downtown. We've carefully selected this hotel for its closeness (4 blocks) to the wedding venue and its proximity to dining, nightlife, shopping, and the more lively part of downtown L.A.
We've reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate of $129/night. Please tell the reservations agent that you are with the "GILLILAND/DEL SOLAR WEDDING" when making your reservation.
Wilshire Grand Hotel
930 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Reservations: (888) 773-2888
If you have any problems making a reservation under our group name, please let us know and we'll be happy to assist.
Update 3/7:
The Wilshire Grand hotel has reached capacity for the weekend of March 17th. If you would like alternate hotel suggestions, please contact Karie (310)691-0208 or Alex (310)666-9374.
If arriving by auto, downtown hotels will add $20-30/day for overnight parking.
Airport Transportation
We recommend arranging flights that arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which is about 20 minutes from downtown LA.
To get downtown, you have a few options depending on your appetite for adventure and how much you'd prefer to spend:
Supershuttle
Supershuttle rides from LAX to the Wilshire Grand Hotel are $15/person. You may make reservations in advance at their website and they will pick you up outside of the baggage area. This is an efficient option, however you may make 1-2 other stops downtown with other people sharing the van.
Taxi
Taxi fare from LAX to any downtown location is a fixed rate of $38/per trip for a maximum of 4 people. The taxi stand is located outside of the baggage area.
Union Station "Flyaway" Shuttle/Metro
The Union Station Flyaway is a new $3 shuttle bus serving Union Station downtown and LAX. If you're comfortable taking the subway a couple stops and navigating Union Station, this is a good way to get downtown for under $5/person.
Take the "Union Station Flyaway" shuttle to Union Station. (Easy, it's the only stop. Just make sure you're on the Union Station shuttle and not the Van Nuys shuttle.) Once at Union Station, go underground to the Red Line subway stop (Buy a single-use ticket for $1.50) and ride three stops up to 7th St./Metro Center (all Red Line trains leaving Union Station are headed this direction). When you come above ground, you'll be right across the street from the Wilshire Grand Hotel.
Renting a Car
Southern California is land of the automobile, however If you're in town primarily for the wedding, and are comfortable with walking a few blocks, we recommend against renting a car. (What!) We've planned all wedding activities and lodging to be within the same 4-block area of downtown, and you'll be responsible for parking fees of about $30 a night for parking your car. You'll be happier without.
However, if you're planning on staying a couple extra days to take some excursions to Disneyland, the Beach, or other locales outside of downtown, a car is definitely recommended. Remember this golden rule of LA car travel: triple any time estimate to get to your destination.
There is an Enterprise car rental outlet inside the lobby of the Wilshire Grand, which is our choice if you're considering borrowing a car as you'll save on airport surcharges and hotel parking fees. You may also call them at: (213) 627-1487.
Additionally, there are the usual in-airport options located in the baggage area of LAX.
Getting Around Downtown
We've planned all our wedding activities to be located within the same four square city blocks, which are easily walkable, and within a safe area of Downtown L.A.
Download a larger/printable version of this map
Your best option at most times is to hoof it, however taxis are readily available at the hotel, and the Metro subway across the street (at 7th and Wilshire) will connect you with a few other areas of downtown, Hollywood, Universal Studios, and Pasadena.
Wedding Day Shuttle
We will have a 15-person chauffered van available if you would like a ride to the Wedding venue or back to the hotel on Saturday. Look for the van with the "A+K" logo on it. The schedule and where to catch the shuttle are as follows:
Pre-Ceremony Shuttle to Oviatt Penthouse
The van will pickup in the turnaround driveway area at the main entrance of the Wilshire Grand hotel. Pickup times are as follows:
-Every 10 minutes beginning at 2:30pm and ending at 3:20pm.
Post-Reception Shuttle to Wilshire Grand Hotel
The van will pickup curbside directly in front of the Lobby area of the Oviatt Penthouse. Pickup times are as follows:
-10:00pm
-Every 10 minutes beginning at 11pm
Parking
Wedding day parking is available at the Pershing Square parking structure located on the corner of 6th and Olive streets downtown (map) for a flat rate of $6.
Meters are active on downtown streets Saturday, so please be mindful of where you park your car.
Places to Go
For our guests who would like to drink, dine, and explore around the downtown area, here's a short list with some of our area recommendations and favorites. All of the suggestions below are a short walk from the WIlshire Grand hotel downtown, with a few more accessible by taking the Metro red line subway, which has a station across the street from the hotel on 7th & Figueroa.
Eats
Ciudad
445 S. Figueroa (between 4th and 5th)
Just five blocks from the hotel, highly recommended for their latin food and mojitos. A bit on the pricey side, but worth it mmm. $4 Mojito happy hour 4-7pm.
Olvera Street
Not a restauraunt, but a historic marketplace with several tasty and inexpensive mexican restauraunts, tacos, churro stands, mariachis and deals on blankets. Take the Red Line subway (catch at 7th & Figueroa, across the entrance to Wilshire Grand) three stops toward Union Station, exit Union Station on the Alameda Ave side, cross Alameda St. to get to the plaza.
Traxx Restauraunt
Fine dining within the historic art-deco Union Station, which is worth the trip itself. Try the Alaskan Halibut with corn chowder, smoked bacon, clams and crab or the Gorgonzola-crusted beef tenderloin. Lunch & Dinner. Take the Red Line subway three stops to Union Station. Traxx is located in the main concourse.
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
If you can find one of these illegal vendors on the side of the road in downtown or Hollywood sizzling bacon and hot dogs on a baking sheet, totally stop and treat yourself to this classic East LA treat. It's $3 of heaven on a bun.
Cheap eats close by:
Qdoba Grill (like Chipotle, but not) - 7th St. @ Hope St. The only Queso we've spotted outside of Austin.
7+Fig Center (food court, Starbucks, etc.) - Across the street from Wilshire Grand on 7th & Figueroa. Lots of cafes and casual restaurants, as well as shopping.
Drinks
Hotel Figueroa
Outdoor morrocan lounging, poolside. One of the coolest bars in LA, and only about 4 blocks south of the Wilshire Grand on Figueroa. map
Caseys Irish Bar
613 S. Grand (Between 6th & Wilshire)
Rooftop Bar at The Standard
Sceney, futuristic bar on the rooftop of the Standard. High celeb-spotting potential, also high $20 cover potential later in the evening on weekends.
more suggestions...
Art
MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
250 S. Grand Ave (at 2nd St.)
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave (at 2nd St.)
Just across from MOCA, worth checking out if just for the shiny Frank Gehry architecture
Beyond Downtown:
Hollywood & Highland
Ground zero of TV-land hollywood: Manns Chinese Theatre, Walk of Stars, Kodak Theatre, Jimmy Kimmel show, Hollywood sign, tons of tours+souvenirs (Metro red line to North Hollywood: Hollywood/Highland stop)
Universal Studios and Citywalk
(Metro red line to North Hollywood: Universal City stop)
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