3 days in LA with 11 and 14 yr olds- NO DISNEY
Jun 16th, 2005, 05:51 AM
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3 days in LA with 11 and 14 yr olds- NO DISNEY
Hello:
First time visit for my boys and we have three full days. No interest in Disney or Universal. Very confused on where to stay!! Beach or Hollywood area. I know they want to do some Hollywood for a day and then stay by the beach with shopping and good food. But what beach? thanks for the help
First time visit for my boys and we have three full days. No interest in Disney or Universal. Very confused on where to stay!! Beach or Hollywood area. I know they want to do some Hollywood for a day and then stay by the beach with shopping and good food. But what beach? thanks for the help
Jun 16th, 2005, 10:39 AM
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I guess that depends on what your idea of overpriced is. Since you ruled out Disneyland, I think given it's proximity to Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, Marina Del Ray, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Santa Monica Mountains it's fairly reasonable.
Jun 16th, 2005, 10:39 AM
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Santa Monica lodging is expensive, yes. But it's NOT "overpriced" overall. The rates reflect what the market will bear in a very popular tourist area. Which is also why oceanfront apartments lease starting at $4.4K a month.
One of the last deals of the ocean view hotels is the Georgian. Hollywood Déco-era property, recently renovated. Tourist class, but immaculate and in an ideal location. Rates have been rising due to its popularity.
If you can stand being a block or two away from the beach, the Huntley is a good hotel (used to be a Radisson-- I think it's gone independent again). Business-class.
The Loews is fine for what it is, albeit a little anonymous for my tastes (all the Loews have this characteristic). A notch up in class.
The Fairmont Miramar, Le Mérigot (a JW Marriott), Shutters at the Beach and Casa del Mar are all luxury-class hotels, and the rates reflect it. Might be a bit too stuffy for the kids.
The Best Western down in Venice Beach gets great reviews on the travel sites, but you may find Venice a bit too Bohemian and not so "touristy". The BWs in Santa Monica are not worth the money.
There's a Four Points Sheraton a few blocks from the beach. Looks kinda nice. A Holiday Inn at the base of SM Pier suffers from semi-seedy surrounding businesses (a McDonald's with an omnipresent homeless clientèle the most obvious).
Of the one-off properties, the Viceroy is probably the nicest, but I dislike the location. The Cal Mar Suites (I think that's the name) is supposed to be pretty good. The Bayside is so nondescript I've driven by for 17 years and never really noticed it-- but it's also supposed to be nice. I'd be leery of other properties in downtown SM (some ARE dumps).
One of the last deals of the ocean view hotels is the Georgian. Hollywood Déco-era property, recently renovated. Tourist class, but immaculate and in an ideal location. Rates have been rising due to its popularity.
If you can stand being a block or two away from the beach, the Huntley is a good hotel (used to be a Radisson-- I think it's gone independent again). Business-class.
The Loews is fine for what it is, albeit a little anonymous for my tastes (all the Loews have this characteristic). A notch up in class.
The Fairmont Miramar, Le Mérigot (a JW Marriott), Shutters at the Beach and Casa del Mar are all luxury-class hotels, and the rates reflect it. Might be a bit too stuffy for the kids.
The Best Western down in Venice Beach gets great reviews on the travel sites, but you may find Venice a bit too Bohemian and not so "touristy". The BWs in Santa Monica are not worth the money.
There's a Four Points Sheraton a few blocks from the beach. Looks kinda nice. A Holiday Inn at the base of SM Pier suffers from semi-seedy surrounding businesses (a McDonald's with an omnipresent homeless clientèle the most obvious).
Of the one-off properties, the Viceroy is probably the nicest, but I dislike the location. The Cal Mar Suites (I think that's the name) is supposed to be pretty good. The Bayside is so nondescript I've driven by for 17 years and never really noticed it-- but it's also supposed to be nice. I'd be leery of other properties in downtown SM (some ARE dumps).
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