Ohana Festival hotels and transport?

tomccfc87

Can anyone advise on places to stay with good transport links to the festival?

I will be flying in from the UK and would rather not have to rent a car so was thinking I would stay somewhere within reasonable public transport/affordable uber range but I am struggling to find any reliable information on metrolink timetables of when the last trains of the night will leave (all the official timetables seem to cut off at about 7pm which seems insanely early).

All the nearby hotels in Dana Point are mostly booked up or incredibly expensive.

For now I have somewhere booked somewhere in Laguna Hills for $100 a night which is an hours bus ride or a 20min Uber away but the busses seem to stop at 9pm (7.45pm on the final day) and I expect getting an uber when everyone is trying to get one at the same time will be expensive and difficult. If I can find somewhere similar priced or cheaper that has decent transport links to and from the festival I might change my booking. 

Not looking for anything especially luxurious or comfortable as all I will be doing is sleeping and showering there. Price and location are the main factors.

Go Animal

Howdy! So, you're not going to find any deals near the festival at this point. Most regular attendees book almost a year in advance, and even then, the local hotels know to keep late September at a high price. 

So, you did well by booking in Laguna Hills. You have 2 choices from there: rent a car, or Uber/Lyft to Doheny Beach each day. Nothing wrong with that! But certainly not walkable, and a bus transfer would/could take over an hour.

Regardless of how you get there, it's worth it. Always a good time at Ohana🤙

tomccfc87

Go Animal said:

Howdy! So, you're not going to find any deals near the festival at this point. Most regular attendees book almost a year in advance, and even then, the local hotels know to keep late September at a high price. 

So, you did well by booking in Laguna Hills. You have 2 choices from there: rent a car, or Uber/Lyft to Doheny Beach each day. Nothing wrong with that! But certainly not walkable, and a bus transfer would/could take over an hour.

Regardless of how you get there, it's worth it. Always a good time at Ohana🤙

Thanks, I figured even if there were hotels available locally they would just ramp up the prices for the festival weekend anyway. 

Tbh I don't mind travelling an hour or two by bus/train if it's a relatively straightforward route (i.e not having to make multiple transfers) and if the connections are actually running after the festival ends each day. I Regularly travel up to 2 hours by train to and from concerts in the UK so I have no problem doing that. 

I would sooner avoid renting a car so I can have a few beers each day. Don't mind getting an Uber each day if that's the best option but I would be concerned with the availability and affordability of ubers after the festival ends each night. Looking at the Uber fare estimator it would be $40 dollars each way when they are not experiencing high demand surge pricing which would still be minimum $240 over the 3 days. 

gotthebottle

Look at Oceanside... less than 30 min drive. 
We in Southern California don't do public transport well... 
Dana Point does have a free local shuttle around town... look at the city website

tomccfc87

gotthebottle said:

Look at Oceanside... less than 30 min drive. 
We in Southern California don't do public transport well... 
Dana Point does have a free local shuttle around town... look at the city website

Yeah I have been looking at Oceanside to the south and Irvine/Costa Mesa to the north as it looks like theres a few cheap hotels in each but wasn't sure how viable it would be with public transport. Really want to avoid driving if at all possible and Ubers are only a viable option within 15-20mins drive before the culmulative price over the full weekend becomes easier to just pay more for a nearer hotel.

I have been looking at places near stops along the metrolink lines but can't really find any information on how late they actually operate. I don't mind sitting on a train for a couple of hours but would rather not get left stranded after the festival closes each night.

TA243471

The last 2 years we found that the difference in price of the hotel still doesn't add up to enough to make it cheaper than Uber, and staying farther away.  This time we are staying half way closer, so hopefully the Uber is close to half the rate from last year.  We stayed near the John Wayne airport, and the uber was roughly $100 each way, but that was for 6 people, so was worth it to us to get the $450 hotel rate total for the 4 nights.

tomccfc87

TA243471 said:

The last 2 years we found that the difference in price of the hotel still doesn't add up to enough to make it cheaper than Uber, and staying farther away.  This time we are staying half way closer, so hopefully the Uber is close to half the rate from last year.  We stayed near the John Wayne airport, and the uber was roughly $100 each way, but that was for 6 people, so was worth it to us to get the $450 hotel rate total for the 4 nights.

Yeah I am travelling solo so whilst ride shares may be an option, I don't want to plan for them just in case it doesn't work out and I get left having to pay for a full solo uber ride for a much longer journey.

Actually half tempted to rent a bicycle as route doesn't look too hilly and would only take about 90mins each way. I would even consider bringing my longboard and riding that down from the hotel to the festival if 1) getting it on a flight wouldn't be a pain in the ass and 2) I would be able to store it safely during the day.

Go Animal

tomccfc87 said:

TA243471 said:

The last 2 years we found that the difference in price of the hotel still doesn't add up to enough to make it cheaper than Uber, and staying farther away.  This time we are staying half way closer, so hopefully the Uber is close to half the rate from last year.  We stayed near the John Wayne airport, and the uber was roughly $100 each way, but that was for 6 people, so was worth it to us to get the $450 hotel rate total for the 4 nights.

Yeah I am travelling solo so whilst ride shares may be an option, I don't want to plan for them just in case it doesn't work out and I get left having to pay for a full solo uber ride for a much longer journey.

Actually half tempted to rent a bicycle as route doesn't look too hilly and would only take about 90mins each way. I would even consider bringing my longboard and riding that down from the hotel to the festival if 1) getting it on a flight wouldn't be a pain in the ass and 2) I would be able to store it safely during the day.

San Juan Capistrano, maybe. But biking from laguna hills? I don't think it connects (and you REALLY don't want to be biking on these main roads that bleed in & out of the highway). 

You don't have to say the hotel, but can you give us a more specific area of where you booked? Maybe some cross streets, or a landmark? There might be another option with the Metrolink + ride share...

gotthebottle

tomccfc87 said:

gotthebottle said:

Look at Oceanside... less than 30 min drive. 
We in Southern California don't do public transport well... 
Dana Point does have a free local shuttle around town... look at the city website

Yeah I have been looking at Oceanside to the south and Irvine/Costa Mesa to the north as it looks like theres a few cheap hotels in each but wasn't sure how viable it would be with public transport. Really want to avoid driving if at all possible and Ubers are only a viable option within 15-20mins drive before the culmulative price over the full weekend becomes easier to just pay more for a nearer hotel.

I have been looking at places near stops along the metrolink lines but can't really find any information on how late they actually operate. I don't mind sitting on a train for a couple of hours but would rather not get left stranded after the festival closes each night.

No trains near Dana Point, public transportation in Orange County is non-existent. Www.metrolinktrains.com
There will be nothing in way of trains in OC when festival over

tomccfc87

Go Animal said:

tomccfc87 said:

TA243471 said:

The last 2 years we found that the difference in price of the hotel still doesn't add up to enough to make it cheaper than Uber, and staying farther away.  This time we are staying half way closer, so hopefully the Uber is close to half the rate from last year.  We stayed near the John Wayne airport, and the uber was roughly $100 each way, but that was for 6 people, so was worth it to us to get the $450 hotel rate total for the 4 nights.

Yeah I am travelling solo so whilst ride shares may be an option, I don't want to plan for them just in case it doesn't work out and I get left having to pay for a full solo uber ride for a much longer journey.

Actually half tempted to rent a bicycle as route doesn't look too hilly and would only take about 90mins each way. I would even consider bringing my longboard and riding that down from the hotel to the festival if 1) getting it on a flight wouldn't be a pain in the ass and 2) I would be able to store it safely during the day.

San Juan Capistrano, maybe. But biking from laguna hills? I don't think it connects (and you REALLY don't want to be biking on these main roads that bleed in & out of the highway). 

You don't have to say the hotel, but can you give us a more specific area of where you booked? Maybe some cross streets, or a landmark? There might be another option with the Metrolink + ride share...

I am staying in North Laguna Hills. It looks like the number 90 bus does directly from there to Dana point so thats my plan for getting to the festival site each day. My concern is getting back again in the evening. It's not too far to get an Uber but I am concerned with the availability and affordability of ubers when presumably thousands of people leaving the festival will be trying to get them.

tomccfc87

gotthebottle said:

tomccfc87 said:

gotthebottle said:

Look at Oceanside... less than 30 min drive. 
We in Southern California don't do public transport well... 
Dana Point does have a free local shuttle around town... look at the city website

Yeah I have been looking at Oceanside to the south and Irvine/Costa Mesa to the north as it looks like theres a few cheap hotels in each but wasn't sure how viable it would be with public transport. Really want to avoid driving if at all possible and Ubers are only a viable option within 15-20mins drive before the culmulative price over the full weekend becomes easier to just pay more for a nearer hotel.

I have been looking at places near stops along the metrolink lines but can't really find any information on how late they actually operate. I don't mind sitting on a train for a couple of hours but would rather not get left stranded after the festival closes each night.

No trains near Dana Point, public transportation in Orange County is non-existent. Www.metrolinktrains.com
There will be nothing in way of trains in OC when festival over

I was hoping getting the metrolink to/from San Juan Capistrano and just getting an uber between the station and festival would be a viable option. Better a $10 metro ticket and a $20 uber ride than a $100 uber ride for the full trip. But from what I can see the metro services end incredibly early.

gotthebottle

Yes ... you'll just have to do uber back. It will be a wait but it will be fine.  

mpuente

I'm curious if experienced attendees could share their experiences with ridesharing after the shows. I have a room in Laguna Beach that is 30% cheaper than any other option close to the venue—trying to determine if the cost savings are worth it if the rideshare experience is negative. Any input would be very helpful. Thank you.

GlowGirl

mpuente said:

I'm curious if experienced attendees could share their experiences with ridesharing after the shows. I have a room in Laguna Beach that is 30% cheaper than any other option close to the venue—trying to determine if the cost savings are worth it if the rideshare experience is negative. Any input would be very helpful. Thank you.

I only went to Ohana last year so others may have more experience. In my limited experience it’s a bit harder to get a car right after the show. But we walked over to Del Taco and got some food and then ordered the Uber and the wait was minimal. I can’t remember the cost though. I am sure it was a bit jacked up. But we were staying only about a 10 minute drive from the festival. 

ST66483

Did Uber last year on the first night. A bit of a wait and jacked prices for sure. Did the shuttle the other two nights and was much smoother and stress free.

Gern Blansten

GlowGirl said:

mpuente said:

I'm curious if experienced attendees could share their experiences with ridesharing after the shows. I have a room in Laguna Beach that is 30% cheaper than any other option close to the venue—trying to determine if the cost savings are worth it if the rideshare experience is negative. Any input would be very helpful. Thank you.

I only went to Ohana last year so others may have more experience. In my limited experience it’s a bit harder to get a car right after the show. But we walked over to Del Taco and got some food and then ordered the Uber and the wait was minimal. I can’t remember the cost though. I am sure it was a bit jacked up. But we were staying only about a 10 minute drive from the festival. 

This is the way to go....just walk away from the festival and find something to do for a bit then Uber