Santa Monica Where To Stay In Los Angeles For Families
Nothing embodies Southern California quite like watching a Pacific sunset settle over the bustling crowds and twinkling lights of Santa Monica Pier. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, this beach city is bordered by Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, West Los Angeles and Mar Vista.
Some of the best shopping in all of SoCal can be found right here. Head to Montana Avenue if youre looking for boutique shops and trendy restaurants. By contrast, Santa Monicas Main Street District is the place to go for more eclectic shops and restaurants.
Thelively Third Street Promenade is an outdoor, pedestrian-only shopping district covering three blocks out to Wilshire Boulevard. If views are your thing, Palisades Park is a lovely expanse set upon crumbling bluffs overlooking the Pacific that should not be missed.
Show up to take some amazing photos in front of public art and totem poles. Of course, you cant show up in Santa Monica without zipping over to the famed Pacific Park amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier.
Games, rides, the historic Looff Hippodrome Carousel and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium offer fun for all ages!
Santa Monica is one of the best spots to cover by bike in the Los Angeles area. In fact, the city has a bike action plan with a bicycle-sharing system. It is also one of the rare cities to allow scooter-sharing companies to operate!
The city also has a good number of low-cost and mid-level hotels when compared to other parts of Los Angeles.
Where Not To Stay In Los Angeles
There are a few areas that youll want to steer clear of when it comes to staying in Los Angeles.
If you take a look at a map, in a very general sense, the most exciting destinations that youll want to check out are located within the areas from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica/Venice on the east and west, and Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire on the north and south. With that in mind, youll want to stay as close as possible to these areas.
Outside of the City Center
Some of the neighborhoods on the outskirts of the areas mentioned above are still fine places to stay, but you want to avoid straying too far away.
Staying in Malibu, Redondo Beach, Pasadena, or far north in the San Fernando Valley likely wont be the best options, as youll spend a lot of time in the car. Of course, use your own judgement here if you plan to spend your entire trip surfing and hiking in Malibu, then by all means, stay in Malibu!
Hollywood
Another area to avoid staying in is Hollywood. The image that people have in their head of Hollywood is a lot different than the reality of it. The center of Hollywood gets incredibly crowded with tourists especially during the summer and it definitely doesnt have the glamorous feel that a lot of people associate with it. On the outskirts of Hollywood, there are just apartments and homes nothing too exciting.
West Hollywood, on the other hand, makes a great home base thanks to its central location, which well get to in a second.
Best Hostel In Thai Town: Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hostel
Close enough that we are going to count it, the Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hostel is just across the 101 from the entrance to Thai Town. This hostel is full of cool vibes and has a great social scene.
Plus its where to stay in Hollywood on a budget if youre looking to get as close to Thai Town as you can get! Whats more? You can actually see the Hollywood sign right from their courtyard!
Also Check: Best Area To Stay In Punta Cana
Downtown La: Best For Short Trips + City Lovers
Downtown Los Angeles is a popular area to stay because its packed full of interesting attractions from Grand Central Market to Staples Center and bars, restaurants, and clubs. For that reason, it is one of the best places to stay in LA if you do not have a car.
While it is the historic heart of the city, the grand bank buildings have been turned into quirky shops and world-class restaurants. The number of skyscrapers in this neighborhood means that Downtown LA is the commercial hub of Los Angeles. This is the best place to visit if you want cool nightlife and some of the best eateries in town.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Downtown Los Angeles
Pros: If youre here for a short trip, then Downtown LA is a great home base because theres a ton to do and see in the area, and you can hop over to Hollywood, the Arts District, Chinatown, and Silver Lake pretty easily. Its also relatively cheap, with a huge selection of great hotels. If youre into art and culture, this is the place to be the Broad, Staples Center, and a lot of the music venues like the Philharmonic are here.
Cons: Its very much a concrete jungle, though there are a few green spaces. Its also adjacent to Skid Row, which is infamous and not the best place to be. Parking is hard, so if you have a car youll have to pay for parking.
Downtown LA Highlights
Where to Stay in Downtown LA
If you have a car, be prepared to pay a little extra for parking every day.
The Freehand Hotel
The Hoxton
Ace Hotel LA
Best Place To Stay In West Hollywood
Clean, chic, large rooms with fireplaces and views, perfect part of town, walking distance to great restaurants, starbucks, shopping. friendly staff, comfy beds, great linens, definitely stay here next time you’re in LA!More
- Trip type: Traveled with friends
- Value
Hey Scott R.I couldn’t agree with you more. Thanks for your great review and description of the hotel and location. Somehow Starbucks always gets a shout out…Hope we will see you again soon.Sincerely
0.3 miles
- Free Wifi
0.5 miles
- Pool
0.1 miles
- Free Wifi
0.6 miles
- Free Wifi
0.4 miles
- Free Wifi
0.5 miles
- Free Wifi
0.5 miles
- Free Wifi
0.4 miles
- Free Wifi
0.5 miles
- Free Wifi
0.2 miles
- Pool
8398442,103
I hate to write this because the staff were so great, and even tried moving rooms for us and they can’t really help this without a major change.I am currently in the room, but can hardly sleep because the carpet smell of this hotel is so strong, I have even put air freshener in the room to change it. I actually can’t believe there is only one other review here that mentions the smell. It is very strong, and staff say they don’t know what I am talking about, but I seriously doubt that because anyone breathing fresh air then coming back into the hotel would realise this. We moved 3 rooms and nothing changed, it smells like there was a flood in here previously.Other than that, good service, and spacious room, easy location.
- Trip type: Traveled as a couple
- Location
Read Also: Vrbo Houghton Mi
Best Hotel In Whitley Heights: Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles
The Hilton Garden Inn is right on the edge of Whitley Heights and offers guests a wonderfully comfortable stay that is perfect if youre wondering where to stay in Hollywood for one night. With onsite dining, a fitness center, a hot tub, and an outdoor swimming pool, the Hilton Garden Inn has all you need.
Is West Hollywood Ca Safe
The D- grade means the rate of crime is much higher than the average US city. West Hollywood is in the 11th percentile for safety, meaning 89% of cities are safer and 11% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to West Hollywood’s proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities.
The rate of crime in West Hollywood is 61.78 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in West Hollywood generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest.
Your chance of being a victim of crime in West Hollywood may be as high as 1 in 11 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 24 in the southeast part of the city. See the section on interpreting the crime map, however, because comparing rates for crime or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.
Recommended Reading: Cheap Hotels Near Bradenton Fl
Best Hotel In Downtown: American Hotel Los Angeles
Thanks to its hip and rustic décor, and fantastic location, this is one of our favourite hotels in Downtown LA. It has comfortable rooms with modern amenities, including cable and satellite TV and air conditioning. Guests will love lounging by the pool before a night on the town.
Best Hotel In Beverly Grove: Sofitel Los Angeles
The modern rooms at Hotel Sofitel include all you need for a great stay in Hollywood. The pool and their poolside bar only adds to the relaxation factor at Sofitel. Their giant outdoor patio is perfect to enjoy a glass of wine after a long day of exploring. This luxurious hotel is worth the splurge!
Read Also: Places To Stay Near Houghton Mi
Thai Town Where To Stay In Hollywood On A Budget
Thai Town is a six-block area, around 1.5 miles in length, that flanks Hollywood Boulevard between Normandie Avenue and Western Avenue. Both of the entrances of Thai Town are marked by two statues of half-lion, half-human angles that come from traditional Thai legends.
Thai Town is the heart for the Thai community in Los Angeles. Thai Town is also where there are an abundance of delicious Thai restaurants and sweet shops, mixed in with bookstores, markets, and other sundry shops.
Frederick Dennstedt
If youre looking for the best pad thai around and wondering where to stay in Hollywood on a budget, then look no further than Thai Town. From the beautiful Buddha statues to the omnipresent colorful garlands, Thai Town is a unique place to stay in Hollywood.
Thai Town is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Hollywood if youre looking for Hollywood accommodation deals and steals.
The London West Hollywood At Beverly Hills
2021 World’s Best Award-Winner “The Top 15 Hotels in Los Angeles,” Travel + Leisure The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills offers a tranquil urban oasis that epitomizes modern luxury for the most discerning guests. Our award-winning hotel offers sumptuous suites – including oversized bathrooms with walk in showers, deep soaking bathtubs, and private balconies. Enjoy our expansive rooftop pool, private cabanas and unforgettable views of the city.
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills is complying with the West Hollywood ordinance requiring vaccine verification for indoor dining, health fitness facilities and personal care establishments. For details on the ordinance and requirements, please visit
Read Also: Best Part Of Mykonos To Stay
Dont Miss The Museums
Los Angeles has many great museums. With low admission prices, this can be a cost-effective way to jump into some of Los Angeles finest cultural centers. Two of the best are the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Page Museum, conveniently located right next to each other in Beverly Grove.
As a music lover, I also thoroughly enjoy the Grammy Museum in DTLA.
Venice Beach Best Place To Stay In Los Angeles On A Budget
Venice Beach is a fun and funky neighborhood located on the Pacific Ocean. West of Downtown LA, this neighborhood epitomizes California cool. Famous for its iconic beaches and bohemian atmosphere, Venice Beach is the epicenter of LAs counter-culture, hippie living and vintage vibes.
Not only is Venice Beach one of the coolest and best areas to stay in Los Angeles, it is also our top choice for travelers on a budget. Here youll find a good selection of low-cost hostels and boutique hotels. With a wide variety of accommodations, this is where you will find great value not too far from the city.
You May Like: Best Place To Stay In Bologna
Make Time For Traffic
The layout of LA, combined with inadequate public transportation, makes having a car a must for any local, though visitors may well be more comfortable utilizing rideshares. Anyone who is not very comfortable behind the wheel will have a much more relaxing trip this way. In addition to being tricky to navigate, freeways can be nerve-wracking for new or nervous drivers.
Regardless of who is driving, expect to spend some time in traffic. This is unavoidable unless you are exclusively dedicated to one specific area. For example, if youre dedicating a weekend to just Hollywood, you may not need a car at all.
Things To See And Do In Downtown
- Watch top athletes battle it out at the Staples Centre, home to the LA Kings and LA Lakers hockey and basketball teams.
- Sample great craft beer at Angel City Brewery.
- Dine on amazing authentic sushi and sashimi at Sushi Gen.
- Sip on delicious whiskey cocktails at Seven Bar Lounge.
- See panoramic views of LA and enjoy DJs spinning the latest tunes at The Rooftop at the Standard Downtown LA.
- Dance the night away at Exchange LA.
- Good food and great music Resident has it all!
- Catch a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
- Enjoy great beer and a wonderful atmosphere at Boomtown Brewery.
- See great shows from famous bands at Club Nokia.
- Sip urbane cocktails at 7 Grand.
- Grab a spot at the Edison, a hip bar built in the basement of an old Downtown nuclear power plant.
Recommended Reading: Best Location To Stay In Mykonos
Best Hotel In Venice Beach: Hotel Erwin
If you want to stay as close as possible to the beach, you cant find a better place than this stunning hotel. You have unrestricted views of the sea, beach and promenade from your private balcony. Theres also a massive rooftop where you can have a couple of drinks with your friends. In addition to that, you can also make use of the in-house bicycle rental or head to the gym with your day pass, which is included in your booking. If youre getting hungry but dont want to go out again, youll be happy to hear that the hotel has its own restaurant as well.
Where To Stay West Hollywood Beverly Hills Area
Beverly Hills area vs Hollywood area? We will be in LA for 3 days and debating which of the above to base at? Read many of your posts which states that for someone without a car, most convenient would be Hollywood area. However, personally I prefer the hotels at Beverly Hills. Is it very inconvenient to travel from Beverly Hills to the various touristy sites like Universal Studios, Walk of Fame, Kodak Theater etc. Also, I would be bidding for rooms via Priceline and the likely hotels are Roosevelt in Hollywood. After reading the various reviews, I am not quite comfortable with this hotel. Renaissance seems to be out of their range. Please advise. Thanks.
The sites that you have mentioned , are either in Hollywood or a few minutes away. If you are not hiring a car, the drive from BH to these Hollywood-area attractions will be about 30 minutes each way by public transit. So, that’s an extra hour per day on the bus.
Hollywood has THE BEST public transit since there are buses and metro rail trains that stop there. How much are you looking to spend per night on a hotel? Have you considered staying in West Hollywood along the Sunset Strip or in the Beverly Grove area .
If you are using Priceline, to bid for a “Beverly Hills” hotel, you can end up getting a hotel on the Sunset Strip. or in Beverly Grove, Century City or West LA. There is no way to predict where your hotel will be within all of those areas. (There is no way to request “Beverly Hills ONLY”.
You May Like: Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Mykonos
Things To See And Do In Hollywood
- Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Dine on delicious Japanese food at Katsuya.
- See the hand and footprints of your favourite stars at Graumans Chinese Theatre.
- Savour innovative Mediterranean fusion at Cleo.
- Wander the iconic Hollywood Boulevard.
- See the final resting place of celebrities, like Judy Garland and Joey Ramone, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
- Spend a day at the exciting Universal Studio Hollywood, where you can explore film sets, ride rollercoasters, and step inside your favourite films and TV shows.
- Enjoy fresh and fabulous seafood at Providence Restaurant.
- Enjoy stunning views of the city from nearby Griffith Park, a great place for a hike.
- Tickle your taste buds with a famous In-N-Out burger.
- Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships, a quirky and interesting museum.
- Catch a glimpse of the iconic Hollywood sign.
Best Airbnb In Venice Beach: Guest Studio With Pool And Hot Tub
If you want everything during your stay and yes, we mean everything! look no further than this stunning Airbnb. Its located in a top area, offers a pool and a hot tub, multiple surfboards, a washing machine and dryer, skateboards, bicycles, a super comfy bed, a ping pong table do we need to go on? On top of all these cool things, the guest studio also has a sauna, which is pretty rare for Venice Beach!
Read Also: Cheap Stay In Los Angeles
West Hollywood One Of The Coolest Areas To Stay In Los Angeles
West Hollywood is one of the coolest and best place to stay in LA. It is one of the most fashionable parts of town known for its high-end boutiques and independent vintage shops. Here, youll also find a great variety of home décor stores and fabulous fitness studios.
A bit about West Hollywood: its built on a grid of wide and lush boulevards and easy to walk around. West Hollywood is also a hub for the LGBTQ communities and Hollywood up-and-comers.
Its colourful farmers market and world-class restaurants are great for sampling delicious dishes, sipping exotic drinks, and spotting a celebrity or two. West Hollywood is the best part of LA to stay in to tune into the decadent, gauche Hollywood spirit.