Driving from LAX to Palm Springs

Will be undertaking this trip in August

How easy/difficult is the journey, bearing in mind that I have NEVER driven on the right-hand side of the road in my life!

Would it be advisable for the California Highway Patrol to issue warnings to other road users prior to my departure?

Honest, I%26#39;m a good driver (on the other side of the road!)

Driving from LAX to Palm Springs

Simple solution, put the car in reverse and you%26#39;ll feel like you are on the left side of the roar. Use surface streets the whole way.

If I was able to drive on the left in the Cayman islands, you%26#39;ll have no problem driving on the right. It%26#39;s freeways all the way between L.A. and P.S.

Driving from LAX to Palm Springs

You%26#39;ll be on a divided freeway most of the way so you will be with other lanes all going the same way as you are.

The hardest part will be getting on the freeway from LAX and when you get to PS you%26#39;ll be used to it.

Palm Springs is quiet in August, and very hot.

So there won%26#39;t be a lot of traffic when yuo%26#39;re just going around town.

We have visited the States several times and as my husband is the only driver we rely on mapquest from the start of our journey to the finish so I can %26#39;hopefully!%26#39; guide him on the right road. Yes, we have got lost a few times but we do get there in the end! LA is a surprising huge city but once out of the suburbs driving is a pleasure on the long straight roads. Turn on the air-con and cruise control and just go! Have a great time.

We have a second home in Palm Springs but almost NEVER go there in the unbearable summers. Many locals leave if they%26#39;re able to. The heat is similar to a blast furnace and ,besides, the area is dead off season. Some restaurants and attractions close down during this %26#39;dead time%26#39;.

I love PS but not in the summer.

Sorry, I disagree. Many locals do not leave, they would not be locals if they left. The Coachella Valley is HOME to many tens of thousands who work and have our lives here - year round.

We are very happy when the Seasonal visitors go home and we have our quiet village back.

The only places that close are some high end shops in El Paseo and a few restaurants, but it really isn%26#39;t a problem. I don%26#39;t know of any ';attractions'; that close- the Tram and the Indian Canyons are open.

HOT, yes. Dead- no.

Traffic is non -existent. We can get from downtown Palm Springs to Indio in 20 minutes. Can%26#39;t do that during season.

Rates are much lower in the Summertime. Lots of people come here June-September and get great deals on hotels and condo rentals.

We have never gone anywhere for dinner in the summer and found it to be closed. You learn to adjust your schedule to the heat and do things early in the day or in the evening.

Thanks for all your responses .... I was in Palm Springs last September for a few days before leaving for the Grand Canyon .... it was 104 degrees at the poolside then.

Being from the UK, we never reach those temps ... if we get anywhere close (i.e. 2003 @ 99 degrees) it is a very humid heat. Made more uncomfortable by the fact that very few homes have any kind of air conditioning (including mine).

Personally, I found the conditions last year in Palm Springs great ... it is definately a different ';type'; of heat .... I didn%26#39;t go on any wild treks or over-exert in any way - just relaxed.

That%26#39;s what I am returning for .... relaxation away from running two businesses ..... I just loved the ambience and friendliness of PS so much, I just have to go back.

Unfortunately, my partner is afraid of flying so I will be traveling solo for the first time.

I don%26#39;t really need a car for the first 3-4 days in PS as I intend to chill ... but will need one for the last 3 to get used to driving as I am visiting friends in Altadena and staying in West Hollywood for a week.

Should I decide not to hire a car on the first day from LAX, what other options are open to me? Greyhound Bus?

Greyhound Bus might be difficult, I dont know if they have a LAX terminal and it would take hours ( probably )

Couples of ideas

1- United Express Airlines www.united.com

2- Park Avenue West Chaffeur www.parkavew.com

3- LAXSEDAN.com 888-544-4222

Thanks PsP2SfO ........... the chaffeur option looks most appealing

Rick