Which Area To Stay In Los Angeles

Best Areas To Stay In Los Angeles

For a comprehensive look at the layout of LA, check out this neighborhood map put together by the Los Angeles Times. 26 neighborhoods may seem intimidating, but not to worry! Ive narrowed that down to 12 key areas for travelers. You can also check out my article on the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles for even more info on each area.

Within these areas, youll find all of the big LA attractions and several local gems.

Best Place To Stay In Los Angeles With A Car

If you choose to get a rental or bring your own car, then your best options on where to stay are Venice Beach and Marina Del Rey.

These bohemian neighborhoods have a lot of attractions for you to explore.

They are also conveniently located near other Los Angeles hotspots like Santa Monica.

Having your own car here also comes in handy as the two locations are not very well connected as far as public transportation is concerned.

Buses are available in Venice Beach but take twice as long to get you into the city

The Inn at Venice Beachis incredibly popular for having spacious rooms that are surprisingly super cozy.

At first glance, this hotel is definitely something unique .

If you are planning on renting a car or traveling with yours, you will definitely appreciate their onsite parking which is a real blessing in this part of L.A.

• Hotels: Samesun Venice Beach
• AirBnb & Holiday Homes:

A must-visit spot, if you are a huge fan of craft brews, is the Venice Ale House.

They also serve amazing American cuisine on their aesthetic boardwalk-side setting.

You will also want to drive to Eggslut which is a new and hip breakfast café.

You can grab your egg and ham sandwich here as you head off to the beach for a nice midmorning picnic.

West Hollywood A Good Place To Sleep In Los Angeles

West Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles with a wide variety of attractions. A lot of celebrities live here, so you can see large mansions with lovely gardens.

West Hollywood Park is one of the busiest and safest places in the district. If you want a good option to sleep in Los Angeles, this place is the one.

6. West Hollywood, a good place to sleep in Los Angeles

Staying in this area of Los Angeles isnt expensive because you can get cheap and beautiful options, especially if you book in advance. In addition, its one of the most comfortable areas of Los Angeles. These are my favorite accommodation options:

• Low-cost option: Alta Cienega Motel

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Final Thoughts On Where To Stay In La

There is a reason LA traffic and the 401 are so famous. Famously awful, that is. When youre planning your trip to LA you want to book accommodation in the best area for your interests so you can avoid the traffic at all costs. The best areas to stay in LA are spread across the city and each has its own character.

And there is plenty to do in LA, whether you want to be close to healthy restaurants, LAs best nightlife, sunny side beaches, or the original skate culture in Venice Beach.

This guide has covered the top areas in the city of Angels. That said, if youre still not sure where to stay in LA, I highly recommend Orange Drive Hostel.

If you need some more inspiration about where to stay in LA, consider checking out these motels in LA for a truly authentic and affordable experience.

Do you own or run a kick ass hostel? Want to be featured in this list? Get in touch at

The Best Hotels In The Hollywood Area

The Kimpton Everly Hotel

The Kimpton Everly Hotel is conveniently located near all of the attractions, but just distant enough to provide a respite from the day’s activities. Views of the L.A. skyline or Hollywood Hills, a 5th floor pool, inviting restaurant, and rooftop bar enhance the experience.

1800 Argyle Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028, 279-3532, everlyhotelhollywood.com

To book: expedia.com

Dream Hollywood

In the midst of Hollywood’s lively atmosphere, the Dream offers luxurious rooms, a penthouse suite, and a rooftop pool with cabanas, California fare and beverage service, and 360-degree views. The pet-friendly hotel welcomes your furry friend with a treats and toys.

6417 Selma Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028, 844-6417, dreamhotels.com

To book:expedia.com

The Garland

The Garland offers 257 guest rooms, including Family Suites and Kids’ Rooms with bunk beds and kid-friendly amenities. Courtyard family games, poolside “dive-in” movies, and a complimentary trolley to Universal Studios, along with its Front Yard restaurant make this an ideal family hotel.

4222 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602, 980-8000, thegarland.com

To book: expedia.com

Sheraton Universal Hotel

The Sheraton Universal Hotel is convenient for visiting Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk with its shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. It’s a pet-friendly hotel and welcomes your favorite furry family members. The newly renovated outdoor pool and terrace offer a place to relax with a snack or beverage.

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Where To Stay In West La

What is loosely called the Westside of Los Angeles begins immediately beyond Hollywood in West LA which contains some of the citys most expensive neighbourhoods.

Bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Santa Monica Freeway to the south, Hollywood to the east and the beach cities the west, this section of the city best embodies the stylish images that Los Angeles projects to the outside world.

Highlights include the restaurants and boutiques of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and the outstanding Getty CenterDropdown content, positioned high above the LA basin.

Best for Midwestern kitsch: Farmer’s Daughter

Conveniently located across from the Farmers Market, this is a handsome boutique property with elements of country styled Midwestern kitsch.

Best for unbridled luxury: Bel-Air

The poshest hotel in LA bar none, built in 1946 and now owned by the Sultan of Brunei, in a lushly overgrown canyon and themed like an Arabian oasis.

Best for celebrity living: The Beverly Hills

Known as The Pink Palace, this luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard features the full-service La Prairie Spa and a beautiful outdoor pool.

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Where To Stay In Los Angeles For Luxury

For the best hotels in Los Angeles, you can’t beat Beverly Hills. In a lush residential area about five minutes by car from the designer stores of Rodeo Drive, the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills exudes elegance and sophistication. You can enjoy pampering packages at the hotel’s luxe spa or in a poolside cabana, and dining is equally extravagant. Feast on modern Italian cuisine in the hotel’s restaurant or enjoy breakfast amid lemon trees and hummingbirds on a sun-dappled patio. If you want to experience some of the top things to do in LA, the hotel’s Rolls Royce shuttle will whisk you at will anywhere within a two-mile radius.

Surrounded by lush gardens, The Peninsula Beverly Hills is one of the top hotels in Los Angeles. If you’re wondering where you can stay in Los Angeles for a one night splurge, this is the place. Choose from a range of unique experiences such as the Young Chefs Academy and private piano lessons with a famous pianist. Other perks include an elegant afternoon tea, rooftop garden, and luxury spa. Sumptuous guest rooms and villas come with features like chandeliers, oriental rugs, garden-view balconies or patios, fireplaces, and fresh flowers.

Where To Stay In Venice Beach

midrange
• Inn at Venice Beach Inn at Venice Beach has some seriously funky interiors going on. With a retro-modern vibe, including 1960s style chairs and black and white flooring, the rooms are a design lovers dream. These come with coffeemakers, flatscreen TVs, and their very own balconies. As a bonus, guests can enjoy a free continental breakfast in a charming little courtyard area before exploring the city. The iconic beach itself is just a few steps away from this hotel as are the many vibrant eating and drinking establishments of the area.

budget

• Venice Suites The clean, minimalist and sea-themed rooms at Venice Suites really make sense when you consider the location of this 3-star hotel: its practically on Venice Beach itself. Fans of soaking in the sun, playing around in the sand, and paddling in the sea will love where this hotel is situated. The world-renowned Muscle Beach is just around a 15-minute walk from here, too. Theres a communal rooftop where you can enjoy barbeques as the sun sets all of that overlooking Venice Beach Boardwalk.

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Should You Rent A Car In La

LA is the second most populous city in the USA, and the third most populous in North America .

It is sprawling, covering over 500 square miles, and has no real public transportation system which means youre probably going to be tempted to rent a car to get the most out of your stay.

Wed recommend not renting a car and spending that money on rideshares instead. Parking can be a nightmare plan on budgeting an extra ~$30 a night if youre staying at a hotel with a car.

Pin this Post for Later!

Our main takeaway from our time in LA is that it is an ENORMOUS city. Even though we spent a full week exploring this last time, we didnt make it to every place on our list. Or even close, really. Thats why its super important to carefully choose where you stay in LA it can have a huge impact on your experience. And youll have to plan a return trip to hit all the stuff you missed on your first one!

More to Explore in California

Heading to the great state of California? Here are some other posts you might like.

Where To Stay In Los Angeles: The 4 Best Places To Stay

If you are staying in LA for more than three or four days, our advice would be to stay in two or three different areas. You could spend a few days by the beach relaxing, a few days getting your adrenaline rush at the theme parks, and the rest of the time in Downtown LA or West Hollywood so you can explore the city.

In this guide to the best places to stay in Los Angeles based on our time exploring the sprawling California metropolis youll get the information you need to choose a place to stay in LA and find a perfect home base for your visit.

Here are the four neighborhoods we think you should focus on in your search. Each has distinct pros and cons, which well cover below, and it kind of depends on what youre looking for.

In most cities, we usually have a best for first-timers recommendation, but we dont have that here. It totally depends on the experience youre looking for in Los Angeles.

Dont have time to read the whole post? Heres a quick summary .

• If you want to stay near the beach, stay in Santa Monica.
• For a quick weekend trip , stay in Downtown LA.
• If you want to stay in one of the coolest neighborhoods in LA, stay in Silver Lake.
• If you want to stay in an area with amazing nightlife, stay in West Hollywood .

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The Best La Neighborhood To Stay In For Sand Sun And Surf: South Bay

This beachfront area just south of LAX includes the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, all with expansive shorelines, restaurants, shops, and walkable downtown areas. Surfing, paddle-boarding, volleyball, swimming, sunbathing, and people-watching will keep everyone busy. A 22-mile oceanfront bike path begins at Torrance Beach in the south, winds through beach towns, passes the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and ends at Will Rogers Beach in the north. Manhattan Beach boasts restaurant choices from upscale to casual, and its Pier includes the Roundhouse, a free aquarium.

Where To Stay In Los Angeles Without A Car

Downtown. Downtown LA is the best place to stay in LA without a car. Here is our selection of the best accommodations for a first trip to Los Angeles without a car.

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown: Located right in the city center, this hotel is not far from subway stations and interesting places to discover in Los Angeles. This is a good place to stay in Los Angeles without a car as a couple, alone, or alone.

Freehand Los Angeles: a cool hostel where you can stay in Los Angeles without a car to party, meet people and visit the citys must-sees.

Kawada Hotel: located not far from public transport and the metro, this hotel offers rather affordable rates for cheap accommodation in Los Angeles.

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Plan Your Next Trip To California With These Resources

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO.

Travel Insurance: Don’t leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• World Nomads – Digital Nomads or Frequent Travelers.
• Allianz – Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet – Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

Downtown La Where To Stay In La For Nightlife

Downtown LA is the best place in the center of the city. It is a busy metropolis punctuated with high towers, tall buildings, bustling streets, and lively shops. Its where youll find some of the best restaurants in the city and a myriad of cuisines to enjoy and explore. Downtown is one of the top places to stay in Los Angeles if you want to be in a central location and save a few bucks.

Downtown LA is also home to some of the most vibrant nightlife in Los Angeles. From trendy bars to lively clubs to celeb-filled hotspots, this is where to stay in LA if youre looking to drink, dance and party the night away.

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A Quick La Geography Overview

If youve never visited Los Angeles, there are two key things you need to know: Los Angeles is big, and yes, the traffic can be as bad as youve heard.

With these things in mind, it is crucial that you consider exactly what you want to do in Los Angeles before deciding which neighborhood to stay in.

Its not impossible to get from, for example, Pasadena to Santa Monica for the day. However, youll want to stay closer to the majority of your activities to limit the amount of time you spend in the car.

The layout of Los Angeles is a bit different than some other cities, because there isnt really one central hub. LA is a collection of different neighborhoods, each with their own unique characteristics, personalities, and offerings. That means that all the Los Angeles points of interest arent centralized to one area.

Of course, this means picking the best places to stay in Los Angeles can get a bit complicated. That said, if you take into account the top spots you want to check out, youll be able to settle on a neighborhood that works for you.

Where To Stay For Luxury: Beverly Hills

These two wordsBeverly Hills are known in even the most remote parts of the planet. Synonymous with rich and famous, Beverly Hills boasts some of the worlds poshest hotels, the fanciest restaurants on the planet, and some major league gawking at all the six-figure automobiles cruising the wide roads and the mansion-flanked streets.

And then theres Rodeo Drive: studded with some of the most expensive shops and boutiques in the world, this street has been emulated in posh neighborhoods around the globe. If you want to feel like a wealthy celeb, this is the place to do it.

Best Places to Stay in Beverly Hills

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Best Hotel In West Hollywood: Grafton On Sunset

Grafton on Sunset is a luxurious and modern four-star hotel and one of my recommendations for West Hollywood as well as favorite places to stay in LA. It has a beautiful saltwater swimming pool, concierge service, and a great on-site restaurant and lounge. It is centrally located and ideal for exploring West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and beyond.

Things To See And Do In Hollywood

• Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• See the hand and footprints of your favourite stars at Graumans Chinese Theatre.
• Spend the day at Universal Studios where you can ride rollercoasters and step inside your favourite films and TV shows.
• 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 Warner Brothers Studios, where you can explore film sets and TV sets.
• Take a sightseeing bus around celebrity neighborhoods.
• 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.

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