Quick Summary
- Los Angeles is spread out, so a week in the city usually involves long distances between sights, beaches and your hotel.
- For solo travellers who stay central and move only once or twice a day, rideshare apps can work, but families and active visitors often save money with a rental car.
- Booking in advance with Hola Car Rentals gives you predictable costs, wide vehicle choice and strong insurance options for a full week in Los Angeles.
Think in journeys, not just days
A week in Los Angeles can easily include airport transfers, commutes between your hotel and neighbourhood restaurants, beach days in Santa Monica or Malibu, studio tours and side trips to theme parks. Distances between these areas are larger than many visitors expect, and public transport often requires multiple changes. If you already know you will be out exploring most days, arranging your car hire for the full week often works out cheaper than paying for rides one by one.
Add up how often you will cross town in peak traffic, how late at night you expect to be out and whether you are comfortable waiting for drivers after a show or match. Once you know that pattern, it becomes much easier to compare a weekly rental with a mix of rideshare trips and occasional taxis.
What a week of rideshare really costs
In Los Angeles, airport runs, freeway hops and late night pickups add up quickly when you pay per trip. A single ride from LAX to popular areas such as Santa Monica, Hollywood or Pasadena can cost as much as an entire day in an economy rental, especially if you land during a busy time. Add daily journeys to attractions and evening dinners and the total for a week can easily rise into several hundred dollars for two people.
Rideshare does have advantages. You avoid parking fees, do not have to navigate unfamiliar freeways and you can use your phone or relax between stops. For travellers who prefer not to drive or who only have two or three planned outings during the week, this convenience can outweigh the higher per mile price. The key is to be honest about how many rides you will really request once you arrive.
When a rental car usually wins in Los Angeles
As soon as you travel with more than two people or want to explore multiple neighbourhoods in a single day, a rental car tends to come out ahead. A couple of return trips to the beach, a theme park visit and a night in downtown can be cheaper as petrol and parking than as a string of rideshare fares, particularly during surge pricing. Having your own car also makes it easier to change plans when the weather shifts or you hear about a great viewpoint at short notice.
Many visitors choose to collect their vehicle at the airport, drive straight to their accommodation and then use it for day trips around the region. With Hola Car Rentals you can arrange a smooth Los Angeles Airport pick up and keep the car for the whole week, often with unlimited mileage. Add in the value of being able to store beach gear, snacks and shopping in the boot and the practical benefits become clear.
Picking the right car and keeping stress low
For most weeks in Los Angeles, a mid size saloon or small SUV is ideal, offering enough space for luggage while still being easy to park in garages and shopping centres. Families or groups staying near LAX can browse dedicated SUV hire options if they want extra room for strollers, surfboards or road trip detours along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Hola Car Rentals helps you filter by class, supplier and insurance level in one place, including All Inclusive style rates with maximum liability cover and roadside assistance. If you prefer to combine a few car free days with driving days, free cancellation up to forty eight hours before pick up on many deals gives you the flexibility to tweak dates once your flights and hotel are confirmed. For a fuller picture of how LAX pick ups work, the detailed Los Angeles Airport rental guide in the Hola Car Rentals blog is a useful companion.
FAQs
Is driving in Los Angeles very difficult for visitors? The road network is busy, but lanes are wide and signage is clear. If you avoid rush hour where possible and use a good navigation app, most visitors adapt quickly.
What if I only want a car for part of my stay? Many travellers rent for three or four days in the middle of a week to cover day trips, while using rideshare at the beginning or end. Hola Car Rentals lets you test different date ranges so you can see how the cost changes.
Is parking too expensive to justify a rental in Los Angeles? Central hotels and attractions do charge for parking, but a weekly rental can still work out cheaper than multiple daily rideshare trips, especially for families or small groups sharing the vehicle.
When do rideshare apps make more sense than a rental? If you are travelling alone, staying near the Metro and mainly moving between a couple of central districts, rideshare may be simpler and cheaper than paying for a car you seldom use.
Why book my Los Angeles week with Hola Car Rentals? Hola Car Rentals offers competitive rates from trusted brands, clear fuel and mileage policies and local support, so you can choose confidently between a full week rental and a mixed plan that blends driving and rideshare.
