We've booked a place at Manhatten Beach through Priceline for $80, three star.

Have a look, you name your own price, but have to take what you are given at the price you bid.
Also see www.bidding for travel.com to see what others have got.

Are you coming to L.A. as a tourist or for a project or other specific purpose? What time of year?

I'm born and raised in L.A. and, personally, would find two weeks in Hollywood to be too much, especially in the summer months.

I live in Manhattan Beach (mentioned by Carrabella) which is safe, clean and in the heat of summer one of the more comfortable places to be. But if you're going to be spending time in a specific area for a reason, you'd want to find accommodations relatively close by.

So, tell us more...

Hi Jean, not coming for work, just some leisure time, catch lots of new movies, eat, shop, using LA as a base. We are great movie buffs and as we're not from the US it's pretty exciting going to the Grove on a weekly basis to catch the latest flick.

We've been to LA before and did the tourist bit (Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Universal, Santa Monica)and we also spent a lot of time near the Farmer's Market/ West Hollywood area but I'm not really sure where Manhattan Beach is. We will be arriving late October.

As I've mentioned before, we will be renting a car so the key issue is the price/ place.

Thanks for any suggestions you might throw our way.

There are some suite hotels in El Segundo, which is near LAX & Manhattan Beach, right off of the 405 freeway. For that long of a stay, having a refrigerator & limited kitchen might save you some $$. Most of these places have free breakfast as well. TownPlace Suites, Springhill Suites, etc. can be usually be booked for under $100/night. Another poster on this board had a terrible experience with Summerfield Suites, so you might want to stay away from them.

There is also a 16-screen Pacific Theatres in El Segundo. The Manhattan Beach Studios is where several TV shows (the OC, CSI-Miami, Boston Legal) and movies are taped/filmed, although I don't believe they have tours.

I'd call a few hotels directly to ask for a special 2-week discount rate (check on parking fees, too). Newly renovated Farmer's Daughter motel near the Grove is probably your best bet.

Holiday Inn Suites in Burbank may have a good monthly rate. Walking distance to many restaurants, shopping and 20screen theatre...and close to the movie studio tours, but a long drive (25 min?) to the Grove and Beverly Hills.

Hilgard House in Westwood, near UCLA, (a few miles west of The Grove)...is in a nice neighborhood with lots of dining, the University, and many grand old movie palaces. Very convenient to Beverly Hills.

I was going to recommend the Farmer's Daughter Motel, too--right across from the Grove! It is safe and clean.

Thanks- we actually have a booking with them however Farmer's Daughter is approximately $130++ a night, about $40 more than Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, and if you multiply that by a month's stay that's about $1000 difference which can go towards the rental car.

In LA, it really matters what part of town you need to be in. You don't want to stay in Hollywood if you have to go to Santa Monica or Venice a lot.

What is the cross street for your hotel on Hollywood Blvd.? Some areas around there are a real drag: ugly, filled with traffic.

If it's an unpleasant area, it might be worth it to look around a little.

In terms of theaters, check out the Egyptian, and the Vista in Silver Lake, and the Cinerama Dome, and the Nuart, and the New Beverly Cinema.

Hi Alibi13

Both hotels in Hollywood are behind the Kodak theatre, next to the Renaissance Hotel. I also wrote to Hilgard House, who has good rates but is fully booked for the first week of my stay. Does anyone know if there are any other budget motels/ hotels near the Grove besides Farmer's Daughter?
Thanks

Cabello, FYI, Manhattan Beach is about five miles south of LAX. A very different vibe from the Grove/Hollywood area, more laid back and casual.

If movies are your focus, many films make their West Coast premieres at the AMC-14 at the Century City/Westfield Shopping Center which is close to Westwood and Beverly Hills.

Also, try this hotel:

Holiday Inn Universal (Also called the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn)
Great location 10 minutes from the heart of Hollywood. Safe and nice. Close to Ventura Blvd with lots of restaurants and bars.

And the YAHOO RATE IS $100/night!


AAA Approved

255 rooms, 7 floors

Praised as an affordable luxury hotel in the heart of Hollywood by Bus Tour Magazine (April/May 2001). The internationally famous Beverly Garland Holiday Inn at Universal Studios Hollywood, a California mission-resort-style hotel on seven tree-shaded acres, is operated by Ms. Garland, star of 40 feature films including The Joker is Wild with Frank Sinatra and 700 television shows, including My Three Sons with Fred MacMurray. Located in the center of the entertainment industry, the hotel provides free shuttle to Universal Studios and CityWalk (over 60 shops and restaurants!). Also minutes away are all the other major Hollywood attractions: Hollywood Walk of Fame (Ms. Garland's star is in the sidewalk at the corner of Hollywood & Highland), Mann's Chinese Theatre, ABC's and NBC's Studios, Warner Bros. Studios, Disney Studios, Los Angeles Zoo, Dodger Stadium, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills as well as many stars' homes in the nearby Hollywood Hills. Scores of other Hollywood stars frequently visit the comfortable hotel. All rooms feature balconies, hair dryer, coffee maker, iron & board, work stations with telephones, data ports, and voice mail. And if you're not looking for glitz and glamour, enjoy the comfort of the cocktail lounge and pool or the pleasure of on-site tennis courts.

You might want to look at the BeverlyTerraceHotel, not nearly as nice as it looks on its website...but a decent budget choice in a very good area not far from The Grove, Beverly Hills, Sunset Blvd. Parking and breakfast is included and that's a big plus in the area. I imagine you could get a good rate staying a month, but you might want to see the room before paying for a full month...some of the rooms are very small.

It is not a particularly quiet area, and not luxurious by any means, but will do in a pinch.

Also in the aformentioned Burbank/Glendale (not too convenient to The Grove or the Beach) there is a Homestead Suites and an Extended Stay America, both in areas convenient to shopping and restaurants....info at www.extendedstay.com

Also take a look at the Jolly Roger. This is in Marina del Rey near the famous boat/yacht marina, north of LAX and south of Santa Monica. Maybe 20 min drive to the Grove? Nice area. Theatres and restaurants and shopping.

The Jolly Roger rooms are exactly as they look on their site...but older. If they look big enough to keep you comfortable, the area is safe, they have good weekly rates and microwave and fridge. Also HBO I believe. Definitely a budget place...yes that swimming pool is as small as it looks on the website!
www.jollyrgr.com