LA and Vegas. Best way to do package deal

Fly into LA, hire a car, obviously not on arrival and drive to Las Vegas obviously, drive back to LA, keep car until you depart and fly from from LA.

No need for a travel agent for such a simple itinerary.

This. You can sometimes get reasonable value direct flights to LA, depending on time of year. Hire a car and away you go. Can visit Venice Beach / Santa Monica / SF / Golden gate bridge and Alcatrez / Yosemite / Bodie ghost town / Lake Tahoe / Death Valley / Hoover Dam / Vegas / Joshua Tree national park etc. Lots of options if you spread them out and plan depending on your timeframe. The traffic going to and from LAX can be a bit intimidating- heavy and numerous lanes but honestly just allow plenty time and once you get away from the airport you'll be grand. Some lovely scenery there too from Lake Tahoe down through Death Valley. There is also a stop in Death Valley called Rainbow Canyon / Jedi Transition (previously you could see some of the air force training flights going through there but I am not sure if that still happens - I think a plane crashed and they stopped using it). There is also plenty hiking trails if you wanted to see some of the grand canyon (Bright angel trail is one for example but there are more and better ones also). TBH with Vegas it is really personal choice, I had enough in 2-3 days there, but Old Vegas with the streets etc. was fun to see too. It really depends on your interests, etc. Wouldn't personally bother with a travel agent just plan it yourself, that's half the fun! That's what we did and it worked out grand.

It all depends on what you want to see and how long you want to spend in each place.

Earlier this year I booked flights with Aer Lingus (cheapest) and flew to Las Vegas via LA on a through ticket, switched to American Airlines in LA and only 45 mins to Las Vegas. In Las Vegas we stayed in the Jockey Club Suites as there wasn't resort fees and the location is excellent beside the Cosmopolitan and Bellagio and it was very good value. It was recommended to me.

Flew to San Diego and stayed with family north of it then after a few days got the bus to LA as train track was damaged. Spent 2 nights there so did a one day tour of LA and saw the main sights. Booked a Holiday Inn near the airport as we went on a cruise to Vancouver from LA.

I wouldn't drive LA to Vegas as there is a multitude of cheap flights between the cities every day and it's only about 35-40 minutes or so. You also have the option of flying Vegas to San Diego which is roughly similar distance and price though San Diego airport currently undergoing massive construction.