Well that depends on where you’re planning to head. Downtown Los Angeles, about 11 miles from Santa Monica, CA Airport (SMO-Santa Monica Municipal), can be a little daunting to drive in. Make things easier by picking something small, fuel-efficient, and a cinch to handle. That said, Los Angeles is a popular base for exploring many of the sandy shores around Los Angeles County. If your getaway is more about hitting the wide open road, then you may prefer something with more trunk space and room to move about. What about a full-size car or a standard SUV?