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    Island Express Helicopter Service

    4.3 (24 reviews)

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    Gail P.

    For people who just cannot take the time or survive the ordeal of taking a boat or a catamaran over to Catlaina Island. we have this very useful helicopter landing used by Island Express. Island Express offers short, 15-minure hops over to Avalon. Departures are from heliports in either Long Beach adjacent to the Queen Mary or from San Pedro at the Catalina passenger terminal. The Catalina heliport is out on Pebbly Beach Road, adjacent to the Buffalo Nickel restaurant. Prices for the ride range from $125-195 each way. Children under two years old ride on their parents lap are free. The choppers are six-passenger helicopters that are turbine powered, sound proofed, with leather interiors for comfort. 4 YELP STARS for an easy way to go 26 miles out to sea. 1 YELP STAR DEDUCTED for high prices.

    After receiving poor directions and being on the phone with them this is how close we were.
    H P.

    Well, we're out $300. We take responsibility for getting stuck in two hours of LA traffic. But we talked to 3 different people on the phone and they all said we'll be fine. We told them our GPS said we'd be there right on time and we were but the final person we talked to on the phone directed us to the WRONG parking structure. We circled around and weren't able to get any sort of coherent directions from them. We were IN the parking lot on the phone with them, as we saw the helicopter take off over over our heads just a few minutes after the hour. I get it that they want to leave right on the dot, but even major airlines were nicer than these people. No refund, no discount, no kindness. Definitely not recommending this company to anyone.

    Shawn H.

    We fly with Island express every August when we head the island. We headed out on July 11th with our grandson. The ground crew was awesome, as well as our pilot. Very cool dude from South Africa. They made it especially special when they put myself and my five-year-old grandson in the front seat. I know they got new owners if you years ago but I just want to let you know this crew is still the same amazing crew they have always been and we appreciate them so very very much. There was a pod of dolphins at our pilot circle back so everyone on board could see the pod of dolphins swimming. Only took an extra minute but wow what an experience. Thank you for your amazing service and we will see you next August.

    So my husband surprised me with a catalina trip and we used this helicopter service to get there. Amazing staff amazing pilot wonderful trip to Catalina. However; shuffling my baby and my 12 year old daughter my wallet fell free and made the great escape to islandism in a failed attempt to never see the mainland again. Yeah I left it on the helicopter! The mechanics that clean and maintain the chopper found my wallet and the following morning on the way back to Long Beach, which is about when I noticed I was missing my wallet I returned to the helipad where our truck was and where we took off from the guy on the inside informed me that they did have my wallet and it was turned in and I could get it from the hanger. Moral of the story; not many people would turn in a wallet! This shows the integrity and awesomeness of the people the employ. Hats off to you guys and will definitely be using you again.

    Our ride to Catalina
    Amber S.

    For my husbands birthday, we decided to go to Catalina Island. What better way to get there than a helicopter! Island Express was awesome! They were super easy to book, helpful, nice, professional and all around the best! Smooth ride, and very exciting! Thanks for helping my husband have the best birthday!

    What a great experience!
    Tanya C.

    This was soooooo much fun! Such a fast fun way to get to Catalina! We will definitely do this again!

    My toddler enjoyed the chopper ride back to LB
    Maya K.

    We arrived at island express 20mins before our scheduled flight. We were greeted by a very pleasant and cheerful guy that works for the company as soon as we got out of the taxi cab. He helped carry our luggage (which was a ton since we tend to overpack when traveling with our child) and he weighed them on the scale. There was a quick video explaining how to use the safety vest etc that we had to watch. Even before I inquired about availability of a safety vest for our toddler, the guy had it out and ready for us and instructed us on how to apply and use it. The chopper ride to the mainland was quick - about 15mins. This is the best way to get to and from Catalina island! We will always go this route and use this company for our future Catalina island trips. No more hour long awful ferry rides esp when a better travel option is available!

    Chris P.

    The absolute best way to get to Catalina! Beat the crowds, save yourself a ton of time and energy and enjoy the views. Great professional team in both Long Beach and Avalon. We will definitely use you time and again!

    Check out their bday Special. The Franks hit Catalina Island.

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    Bought an instruction ride for my mother in law. What a fabulous experience. A thrill of a lifetime she said.

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    8 years ago

    Professional and helpful! Enjoyed our rides to and from Catalina.

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    Ask the Community - Island Express Helicopter Service

    Review Highlights - Island Express Helicopter Service

    I have been coming to Catalina since I was a kid and I loved seeing the island from a different perspective.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Tri Shuttle - Airport Transfer

    Tri Shuttle

    4.9(179 reviews)
    33.8 mi
    24/7 Availability
    On-time commitment

    Had a great experience with Tri Shuttle this past week! We needed to get to LAX from north Orange…read moreCounty and didn't want to take an Uber, deal with the hassle of driving/parking at the airport, or burden a family member with the stress of LAX. We decided to try Tri Shuttle after seeing the positive reviews, and we were glad we did! Unlike Uber, this is a small business, and so it's much easier to be in direct contact with your driver. Tien was our driver both ways. He was friendly, prompt, and a good driver. He texted to confirm our pickups both times, and when we were coming back, he had tracked our flight so he was ready to pick us up at the curb. Getting a rideshare pickup at the airport can be a big hassle, and you usually have to go to a separate area. Then you have to wait for your ride, which your driver may cancel for whatever reason. But with Tri Shuttle, you get picked up in Arrivals as if you're having a friend or family member pick you up. Their customer service and professionalism were excellent (if you use rideshare, you know those qualities can be REALLY hit-or-miss), giving us more peace of mind to enjoy our trip. Would certainly use again!

    I had a great experience with this shuttle service during our recent trip to Disneyland. Traveling…read morewith my 18-month-old daughter can be stressful, but the entire process was smooth and reassuring from start to finish. Our drivers, Tien and Tony, were both professional, punctual, and incredibly kind. They made sure we were comfortable, helped with our luggage, and were especially patient and accommodating with my toddler. Their friendly attitude really made a difference after a long flight and busy park days. The vehicles were clean and well-maintained, and both pickups--at the airport and for our return trip--were right on time. It gave me peace of mind knowing we had reliable transportation, especially traveling alone with a young child. I truly appreciate the excellent service and would absolutely use this company again. Highly recommend to anyone traveling with family, especially with little ones!

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    Tri Shuttle
    Tri Shuttle - 56 seater coach

    56 seater coach

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    Sprinter limo

    Airport Rides

    Airport Rides

    5.0(10 reviews)
    58.2 mi

    Great communication. Prompt service. Very affordable. Highly recommend this service…read moreDid early morning as well as let pickup at congested LAX.

    I contacted numerous shuttle companies to obtain a quote for transportation to LAX for a group of 9…read morepassengers, including adults and teenagers, plus luggage and one bass drum. I was quoted prices from just ok on the high end to WHAT!! Are you kidding? I was desperate and continued searching for other options here on Yelp. I found Airport Rides and read the positive reviews, so I requested a quote. Within two minutes of sending my quote request, I received a phone call from a gentleman named Anthony. I provided Anthony with pertinent information, including the date, location, number of passengers, luggage information, and return transportation details. Within 15 seconds, Anthony provided me with a round-trip quote, tax, and tip for his drivers, which was hundreds of dollars less than what other shuttle companies had quoted me for one-way transportation. I had to confirm three times during our phone conversation whether there were any additional fees, since his price was sooo much better than anyone else's. Anthony advised me that he was the owner of his new shuttle company and that, as a new business, excellent customer service and competitive pricing were the keys to its success. I agreed to the price, and Anthony directed me to please make the reservations on his website, which I did. Within minutes, I received my email confirmation and a follow-up phone call from Anthony, thanking me for the business and the opportunity to transport my family and friends. Needless to say, I am thrilled and grateful to Anthony for the GREAT customer service and for saving me hundreds of dollars.

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    Airport Rides
    Airport Rides
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    Curbside Express LAX - The Ford Transit van fit our 8 person party plus luggage.

    Curbside Express LAX

    4.6(227 reviews)
    49.1 mi

    Excellent friendly service by Jonathan, as well as a great confirmation phone call the night before…read moreto confirm our next day morning pickup. Great car, friendly driver, a lot of space and curbside pickup at LAX is effortless. Highly recommended for sure, thanks!

    I'd look elsewhere for airport transportation (there's a lot in LA). Received an email with my…read moreflight being tracked for an earlier arrival (9:22pm about 25 mins) and was told the driver would be there early as well with this info (yayyy!) That wasn't the case. Received a text from the driver that "I'll start making my way in" to LAX at 9:41pm ( he had info that my plane was landing at 9:22pm), no biggie, luggage takes time. Went out to curbside at 9:44pm. He ends up showing up at 10:18pm...I waited 34 minutes at curbside (an HOUR after I landed) for a pickup that was supposed to be on time (remember, they knew HOURS in advance that my arrival would be early). And the kicker? There's a tray with a vape and small torch that my daughter trips over on the vehicle floor and a dirty plastic fork as well. I get that things happen and sometimes there's traffic, but when you know when and where you're supposed to be hours in advance, you plan. I even tipped the driver because the company must not be training their drivers correctly, and I'll expect some type of compensation from this mishap. This is professionalism at its base for a private car service that charges hundreds of dollars. Like I said, look elsewhere, there's tons of competition. I'll update this review if everything is handled correctly from the office.

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    Curbside Express LAX
    Curbside Express LAX - Nice vehicle for the airport ride home

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    In Style Transportation - Newport Beach Car Service in our 2021 Cadillac Escalade SUV

    In Style Transportation

    4.9(233 reviews)
    36.5 mi
    24/7 Availability
    Established in 2013

    I cannot say enough great things about this service! My family and I had a vacation planned and all…read more7 of us wanted to arrive at the airport together. In Style provided me with 2 child seats for my kids and the most pristine luxury sprinter vans. They communicated with me throughout the day before and the day of travel, were on time, and our drivers (Jesse to the airport and Mike coming home) were both so kind and professional. I 10/10 recommend this company and will definitely be using them again for all of my transportation needs!

    We used to utilize In Style Transportation for every trip and always appreciated their punctuality…read more However our last drive to the airport was unsettling to say the least. Our driver, John, was revealing identities and residence locations of other clients within the company as though it were casual conversation on the drive. We were uncomfortable hearing private information including locations of other clients and tried to redirect the conversation. John repeatedly cut us off while talking, multiple times, to continue discussing details about other clients of the company. He also told us we caught him on a good day and that was why he was carrying our luggage out of the vehicle and off the curb. John was casually disrespectful by interrupting our private conversation as well only to discuss what was interesting to him, and even when we responded, he ignored us and continued talking in a manner than seemed only to amuse himself. A quiet and professional drive is what we had hoped for. John's insistence about revealing other clients' identities among other details, along with being very casual to interrupt our private discussions with random thoughts that would come into his head made us feel differently about In Style. We asked for a supervisor to call us to discuss our ride, but we were never contacted. Steven our driver back from the airport, on the other hand, was very professional and courteous.

    Photos
    In Style Transportation - Los Angeles and Long Beach Car Service Escalades.

    Los Angeles and Long Beach Car Service Escalades.

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    Discounted Ride 2 Airports

    Discounted Ride 2 Airports

    4.5(12 reviews)
    56.8 mi

    Highly recommend! Needed an (very early) ride to the airport and contacted them via Yelp messages…read moreand got a reply right away. Received driver information the day before the ride and the entire booking process is very smooth! The driver was on time, the car was clean, and prices were fair (no hidden fees)! Highly recommended if you are exploring alternative options to Uber/Lyft!

    I couldn't be happier with Discounted Ride 2 Airports! They are now my new go to car service to get…read moreto and from LAX. They are reliable, efficient and friendly and their prices can't be beat. There are also no hidden fees. (Be still my heart!) My pickup time was very early in the morning and my driver, Ronnie arrived early, which I love, and sent me a text to let me know that he had arrived. When we met he was professional, warm and friendly. We had a lovely chat on the way to the airport and he simply dropped me off and I was on my way. The whole experience was stress-free. For which I am very grateful as I tend to get a smidge anxious when I fly. Upon my return trip, they had it set up that Ronnie would also be driving me home. Which I thought was a really nice touch because I knew who I was looking for and we had already had established a great rapport. Which, again made everything a little less stressful after a long international flight. I had setup their "meet and greet" service as well and Ronnie was in constant contact with me once my flight had arrived. Even though we had arrived 30 minutes early he was there waiting for me. He also sent me a photo of where he would be waiting. Again, I loved it! I gotta tell you, for me, there is nothing better than having someone waiting for me after a long flight and enthusiastically taking my luggage off my hands while we enjoy a nice chat as we walk to the car. And finally, I find the whole LAX-it system to be just abysmal. So to have Discounted Ride 2 Airports as my go to car service is definitely going to make my life much easier. I'm really happy that I found them!

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    Discounted Ride 2 Airports
    Discounted Ride 2 Airports
    Discounted Ride 2 Airports

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    Go Ride - 9_GO RIDE Transportation_Luxury Limousine Experience.jpg

    Go Ride

    4.9(187 reviews)
    52.6 miEast Hollywood

    I researched a couple transport options and different car companies before settling on Go Ride as I…read moreneeded to transport 3 kids which all required a car seats as per California Law. Uber car seat didn't seem to be a reliable option and ride hailing services required a super far transfer to another pickup location. The bus was also triple the time to our destination near the cruise port. Go Ride was very clear about their pricing and they were detailed when answering a follow up question I had about pickup time which was fortunate as our flight ended up getting in 30 mins earlier than scheduled. Our driver, Oscar, arrived early to pick us up - I received an iMessage from him before landing using my airline's in-flight wifi - I was able to send him updates as we got off the plane and got our bags. He pulled up within 5 mins of my last message when we had our bags conveniently right outside the terminal. It was so easy I didn't even need to rent the $8 USD luggage cart and my kids didn't have enough time to complain about any wait. Oscar was really helpful with our bags and had all the car seats already installed correctly! All seats were facing the correct direction, solid, tight and the only adjustment needed was for the actual seat belts themselves to secure the kids. Oscar offered us bottles of water and we were off to the hotel. On the way we had a nice chat and he was totally OK with the youngest child crying for a bit while navigating LA's notorious traffic (he said it was light but to me it was busy). Drop off at the hotel was smooth and we tipped in cash for great service - he impressed us! Definitely would recommend to anyone especially families looking for a smooth experience getting anywhere from LAX airport. I will be using them again for future travel. Pricing: reasonable and competitive for door to door private car service with car seats. Communication: from booking to actual day of it was the right amount of detail Quality: car and car seats were super clean Safety: our driver Oscar was safe while navigating LA's freeway and street traffic. Car seats were properly installed and well maintained. Convenience: Door to door service was amazing and easy - I had bags but didn't require a luggage cart at all. Time saved = more relaxation time = less whiny little ones Thanks again Oscar and Go Ride!

    We received a text from our driver, Rich, to know when we unboarded the plane. He was very kind,…read moreknowledgeable, and a great driver. We usually rent cars when we're in the area, but if we are looking for shuttle service, we will use Go Ride again.

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    Go Ride - Stunning Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland! Blue spires and golden flags create magic. Visit with GoRide LA for a perfect trip!

    Stunning Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland! Blue spires and golden flags create magic. Visit with GoRide LA for a perfect trip!

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    11_GO RIDE Transportation_Corporate Travel Made Easy.jpg

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    Catalina Island Company

    Catalina Island Company

    4.6(731 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    On a one day visit to Catalina Island, there is so much to do, see and eat…read more To start, rent a golf cart or wear good walking shoes because this port is not too big for tourist exploration. There is also a "Circuit" ride share that will take you around the island for $2 per person. Coming in by tender from a cruise ship is great. The docking area is in town and so close to everything. I exited the tender and walked along the waterfront where I passed a few children's playgrounds with a pirate theme. Then on to where the golf carts are rented. I walked to the pier (Green Pier) where there are bathrooms and many small shops all hoping for the tourist business. They carry the typical port souvenirs. After a long walk on this short pier I got to the end where there is many people fishing with poles and the little set ups they will sell you for a few dollars and the bait too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the boat come in and out of the harbour. There is a small beach area that has lots of pretty colored little rocks along the shoreline. The walk to the round Casino Building is pretty much the end of the road before a mountainside resort. I passed by some waterfront restaurants that were even crowded on a cloudy day. My walk back to the tender was quick and the ride back to the cruise ship was also pretty nice and calm.

    Catalina island interior is the best place to experience nature without having to travel far. We…read morehave toured the interior quite a few times. We booked a tour once to see bisons but didn't get to see animals cause it was raining. The tours we went by ourselves were much better! We saw many wild animals including bisons! The interior vineyard is so beautiful. The trips were very enjoyable but a bit of too much sun for me. Wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent sun exposure! Keep in mind that it takes 20 years to be able to buy a real car on island. Only one golf cart is allowed per residence. There are no spaces for real cars and more golf carts in Avalon. Our family and friends live here so they have a real car to take us to interiors. Yes you will need a real car to do that! Avalon has enough restaurants and bars to hang out. Casino is also a movie theater to show older movies on certain weekend evenings. They offer tours of this historic casino too. They host NYE gala every year. Beach club is great for summer times. Museum is small but still worth taking a tour. Too bad the spa has closed down, we used to go there all the time. This island has so much to offer. It's the best place for a lot of fun just a ferry ride away!

    Photos
    Catalina Island Company
    Catalina Island Company
    Catalina Island Company

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    Island Express Helicopter Service - airport_shuttles - Updated June 2026

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