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.
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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. |
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These are hotels
that based on our stays lack customer service, are overpriced and or
have other noticeable faults. |
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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 |
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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
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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
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
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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 |
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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Dave's Pick