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Los Angeles Hotels, LA Hotels, LA Hostels, LA Accommodation, LA Lodging
 

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LOS ANGELES, CA Previous Page Next Page
   Hotels  
There are thousands of hotels in the Los Angeles area ranging from basic rooms all the way to high end West Hollywood and Beverly Hills resorts. If you have your own suggestion for LA area hotels, please email dave@pon.net & reference this page in your email. We will consider all recommendations - and you must have stayed at the actual hotel you are recommending.
 
  These hotels are unique, are a good value for the price, have excellent customer service or have additional desirable characteristics that set them apart from the competition.
 
  These are hotels that based on our stays lack customer service, are overpriced and or have other noticeable faults.
 
Luxury Accommodation
 
  Andaz (West Hollywood) will put you right in the heart of all the action and nightlife along the "Sunset Strip" at 8401 Sunset Blvd. When you walk in the hotel you will immediately be greeted by any one of a number of the
hotels concierges - they have an intimate knowledge of the area and are available to offer assistance, or quickly connect guests with neighborhood happenings including admission to certain nightclubs in the area (and there are many).

Arriving later in the afternoon? Enjoy a complimentary glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay upon check-in. WiFi is available throughout the property and complimentary breakfast items are served in the morning. RH, a market to table restaurant on the first floor, specializes on regional and seasonal ingredients (with a South Western French cuisine focus). This is a Michelin starred restaurant. An exciting selection of seasonal plates vary throughout the year and are prepared in their open kitchen.

The rooms are spacious and include a mini bar - ask for rooms overlooking downtown Los Angeles in the distance - large glass windows allow for easy viewing as well as spying on people walking along Sunset Blvd. Not to be missed are the views from the Sun Deck as well as the rooftop pool. After swimming relax with a loved one in one of their oval semi-covered "cabanas" which provide one great views of the city and beyond. This hotel is all about the elegant luxury combined with a personal touch.

Along with nightclubs this part of Sunset Blvd truly has a wide range of dining options. For the shopper, the well-known The Grove outdoor Shopping center is located about 3 miles away. Parking is either self service or valet in the parking garage directly behind the hotel (accessed from the first driveway directly next to the hotel (west side).
Visit:
http://westhollywood.andaz.com
         
     
  Millennium Biltmore (downtown Los Angeles) is located directly downtown on the edge of Bunker Hill just below the famous US Bank Tower building. This is one of LA's best examples of old world elegance and style (built in 1923). We recently attended a private
event here - and were impressed with the grandeur and elegance that is part of this hotel.

The  "gallery bar" located on the first floor across from the lobby is a great place to come for high end wines, and exclusive liqueurs.

We have not yet stayed here but from what we saw, this would be our top choice for downtown lodging.

We will stay here during one of our next visits to town.

 
www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumlosangeles
   
 
  Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa (Hollywood) is our pick for staying right in the heart of all the action in Hollywood. You cannot get much more central than this; its location is ideal as it adjoins the famous
Kodak Theatre shopping center and you can easily walk to most of the main attractions on this part of Hollywood Blvd. This hotel also boasts an excellent spa, a rooftop pool on the 5th floor (often frequented by beautiful bronzed bodies) and deluxe suites on the upper most stories. World class shopping and restaurants as well as a number of Hollywood's most famous sites are well within walking distance of the Renaissance.
  Valet or self service parking is available - a huge underground garage is part of this shopping center. The rooms are very spacious (executive), each comes with a large flat screen TV. Be also sure to walk out to the overlook of the Kodak Center on the 5th floor.

On a clear day as you look down from this floor onto Hollywood Blvd you also have excellent views of downtown Los Angeles. For more information and to make reservations, visit: www.renaissancehollywood.com

Shutters on the Beach (Santa Monica) is a fabulous luxury hotel located just south of the 10 freeway at 1 Pico Blvd. Shutters is a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World" and is located within minutes Santa Monica's 22 mile long bike trail, the famous Pier, Malibu, Venice Beach, restaurants and some of the best shopping in Los Angeles. Shutters also has a world class spa. We have not yet stayed here but it has been recommended to us. Visit: www.shuttersonthebeach.com

 

Moderate Accommodation

Beverly Garland was built in 1972 by Fillmore Crank for his wife, well-known Hollywood actress Beverly Garland. The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, designed to evoke Hollywood glamour, is nestled on seven lush acres that Beverly’s husband purchased from entertainment icon Gene Autry.  Influenced by the California Mission and Spanish Hacienda styles of architecture, each guest room and executive suite includes private balconies overlooking Hollywood’s Santa Monica and Verdugo mountains. In addition to the pool and fitness center, amenities include tennis courts, a children’s playground, Tula’s California Café and Decoy Lounge. 
 
The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn is just minutes away from many of Hollywood’s most popular destinations, including Universal Studios, Universal CityWalk, Hollywood and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Dodgers Stadium and the Warner Bros Studios. The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn is located at 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood. For guestroom reservations, please call 1-800-BEVERLY or visit www.beverlygarland.com

  Los Angeles Athletic Club - (downtown Los Angeles) We recently stayed here (a private membership only club but with hotel rooms available to the general public - the first private club in Los Angeles, founded 1880). We
stay in a fair amount of National mid to higher end chain hotels and it is very refreshing to find a hotel such as this one with its uniqueness, elegance and history.

As soon as we arrived we shot up to the rooftop for some relaxation with a cold one in hand. This is about as downtown as you can get in Los Angeles - there are great views of the US Bank Building (the tallest building west of the Mississippi River) and one of the identifier buildings you see in every panorama of Los Angeles. The location is fantastic - only a few minutes walking to the heart of downtown, next to the jewelry and fashion districts as well as Pershing Square and Angel's Flight (one of the shortest trains in the world). Don't want to fight the 110 and the 101 to Hollywood - LAAC is only about a block to the nearest metro stop (the red line).

This year the LAAC celebrated their 130th year - names such as John Wooden, Vince Scully and other sports celebrities grace their walls or plaques. Some of the finest Athletic facilities in the city are here. Two floors boast a sauna and spa - separated by sexes, there is a large lap pool, basketball court and more exercise facilities. The club and hotel underwent a major renovation which was completed in late 2009. Each of the 72 rooms are spacious, well appointed and include an exercise bike, free Wifi and a complementary breakfast. Use of the sports facilities are also included in the cost of a stay here. Parking is next door in the garage.

History, elegance, value and location define this beautiful club and hotel. www.laac.com
         
 
 
Budget Accommodation

Cadillac Hotel (Venice Beach) is an 'art deco' type hotel located right next to the ocean in Venice Beach at 401 Ocean Front Walk. This is a 4-story hotel - parking is tight, but they do have spaces in a small lot behind the hotel. If you stay in one of their private rooms you are given a card to put in your car for this parking lot - parking for dorm room stays is not provided by the hotel. Very friendly helpful backpacker type hotel - great access to the local beach scene. Hostels and private rooms available. Internet in the lobby or across the street at Henry's market. Many unique and interesting sidewalk vendors call the "strip" in front of the hotel on the beachside home - this strip runs for a long ways all along the ocean in Venice Beach. Note, typically its a little cheaper to reserve a room at this hotel using an online reservation company rather than contacting the hotel direction. Winter tends to be less crowded here, summer can be nuts! More information visit: www.thecadillachotel.com

Couch Surfing (Los Angeles area) - we've done this successfully several times and have stayed with some very nice people throughout the LA area. Basically people allow you to sleep on their couch or floor for a few nights for free. Its a good way to meet people and sometimes allows you to see Los Angeles from their point of view especially if you end up going out to dinner or touring with them. The website we use for this service is: www.couchsurfing.com

Currently CLOSED. Gershwin Hotel (Hollywood) is a reasonably priced 5 story hotel located at 5533 Hollywood Blvd just minutes east of the 101 freeway and across the street from and very close to the Hollwood/Western Red Line Metro stop (only 1 and 2 stops from the main part of the touristy Hollywood). This hotel certainly has character. The 5th floor is the hotel part of this building, there is also a hostel and the other floors are rented apartments. The rooms are spacious with private bathrooms - hard wood floors but nothing too fancy. If too many people are using hot water at the same time, your shower might be a cold one.

Very wide open entrance and walkway past the pool table leading up several steps to the antique elevator. The only downfall of this hotel is parking is terrible. Parking is either in neighborhoods behind the hotel, on Hollywood Blvd or on nearby large side streets. All parking in these areas is metered during the day - typically just 1-2 hour limits. This hotel has a 24 hour check in and often has rooms even if the nearby hotels are filled up. Security guard supposedly hangs out around 11pm and checks all guests entering to make sure their names are on the list. We often entered around 1am and never had a problem with the "name checking".

The Gershwin underwent a renovation through the end of 2007. Hopefully this article won't scare you away from the Gershwin: www.laweekly.com/general/features/pirates-pimps-artists-and-anarchy/711

     
Main Entrance, Gershwin Hotel                              Pool Table, Gershwin Hotel

Hostelling Int'l (Santa Monica) is in an excellent location at 1436 Second Street within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier, the beach and the famous 3rd Street Promenade Shopping area. This is an upscale hostel which was recently renovated with 2 million US dollars. Besides the usual groups of younger backpackers we've also seen a number of older folks staying here. A parking garage is located across the street - a digital sign shows how many spaces are available in the garage at any one time. This hostel is clean, safe and well organized. Lots of local information is available in the lobby - the hostel's travel center is located next door and they can line up tours to pretty much anywhere in the "southland". Internet access is reasonably priced and is located upstairs near the movie room. Dorm rooms sleep 6 each with 3 bunk beds. All sheets, towels and pillows included. Very clean bathrooms. Continental breakfast is also served. About 20 minutes to LAX - a shuttle is available. Our stay has always been good here. More info? Visit: www.hilosangeles.org or call: (310) 393-9913

Stay Hotel (downtown Los Angeles) is located at 636 S. Main Street. This energetic and youthful hotel has 138 rooms - most with shared bathrooms and external showers - several small dorm style rooms are also available. Overnight parking is just down the street towards 6th Ave (same block) and is a rather steep $15/night. The hotel is clean, modern and comfortable. There are 4 Apple Internet stations on the second floor and a variety of cereals to choose from for a light breakfast. The rooms are small, each has a colorful "hand" which serves as a seat, a small sink, radio, tv and comfortable bed. Stay's elevator is shared with the larger Hotel Cecil next door (be sure to get off at M to enter the Stay Hotel lobby otherwise you will end up in Hotel Cecil's lobby. Visit: www.stayhotels.com

   

Vibe Hotel (Hollywood) is located right next door to the Palms Thai Restaurant at 5920 Hollywood Blvd about 3/4 to a mile from the main action in Hollywood. This is an interesting hotel - the staff is extremely friendly and helpful - there are signs posted in the rooms saying if you are loud or are fighting the police will be called. There are some shady looking people hanging around this hotel. It has an interesting vibe - some of the people look like out of work actors. There is a parking lot that divides both sides of the hotel. If you don't know where this hotel is located, its extremely hard to find - as there is one small very narrow entrance and exit between the two parts of the hotel. Often traffic backs up on Hollywood Blvd and you have to wait in order to turn into this hotel.

Sometimes it can be hard to track down the front office attendant if the door is locked and they are elsewhere in the hotel.

A dark lounge near the main office has Internet. Sometimes this is open to the parking lot, sometimes this is closed. There is also an Internet station upstairs. Smoking is prohibited from some of the rooms, but people smoke inside anyways. Private and hostel rooms available. Website: www.vibehotel.com 

 


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