<p>LA native here.</p>
<p>1/2 hour from LAX to USC is not a safe cushion. Dream, you’ve been lucky or as Zelda said, the shuttle had an advantage. Still, you need to leave more time for something this important.</p>
<p>Culver City to USC, because someone asked, is a great alternative. It’s not as close as downtown, but much closer than LAX and a straight shot on surface streets if the freeway’s bad. And you don’t have to deal with Hollywood. Just not sure which hotels are in CC.</p>
<p>NCmom, the water should absolutely not smell. Yikes!</p>