Jim

Doing a trip from San Fran to San Diego in May. Staying 1 night each in Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Laguna. The other night will be spent in the L.A. area. Not sure where though. Want to spend the day seeing the sights, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, etc, but not sure if want to stay right in L.A.. Any suggestions??? What about Malibu or Santa Monica??? Never been to L.A. so unfamilar with surroundings.

Thanks again!!

Jim

Thyra

I think for your itinerary I would pick Santa Monica, there are a lot of things in a close area and it is pretty much inline with your route down from San Francisco, (for a longer visit I would recommend Hollywood its a fun neighborhood that is really undergoing some serious urban renewal and is close to the new Metro)
However in Santa Monica there are lots of shops and restaurants, you can take a stroll along the 3rd Street Promanade. It's a safe neighborhood (Parts of Venice, which is south) can be a bit dodgy... but you should be just fine in Santa Monica.

sally

Sorry Thyra, posted incorrectly - you're famous. Anyway Jim - Thyra's idea of Santa Monica would be my choice and I was just asking her if she could recommend any reasonably priced hotels.

Thyra

Jim and Sally...
Wow my own thread... Anyway, I found a website that has a lot of great hotels.. I had no idea Shutters was SOOOO much!!!http://www.santamonicahotels.com/smhotels.shtml
I checked several of the hotels on the list I didn't even bother with the posh or the budget... The ones that looked the best to me (in order of preference) were the
Ocean View Hotel Best Western
Holiday Inn in Santa Monica
Carmel Hotel

All seemed resonable and I called to get the cross streets all were well located, I will try to do a drive by this weekend (my spouse works close to that area) Best Western is facing the water near a little strip of green for running.
Great pubs in that area, it's kind of a hub of UK expats...
Email me directly if you need more info.

Hank

What's your budget?
Carmel and SB and, of course, LA/BH, all have some very nice lodgings. If you're not too limited, check out the Highlands Inn or Carmel valley Ranch in the Carmel area. In SB, B&B's are the best option, though a new large resort named Bacara just opened a couple months ago...right on the oceanfront.
Personally I find much of Santa Monica a little touristy/disheveled/earthy. You mentioned BH...my favorite non-resort hotel in all of CA is the Peninsula...an amazingly well run and beautiful hotel. But there are several other good choices nearby. Downtown LA is not a great choice unless you're there for a convention or business IMO.

Christina

I used to live in West LA and Santa MOnica for many years and I would recommend another location myself based on the fact that you only want to be there one day (?) and want to see Hollywood and Bev Hills. SM has, unfortunately, been ruined by tourists which is why I moved, and it is very expensive. It is a beautiful location, though (the ocean and bay), but why stay in such an expensive area that is so touristy when you are only there one day and want to see other sites? YOu'll get the expensive beach scene in the other places. Maybe you don't know how spread out LA is, but that's a lot for one day. I drive to San Diego from LA down highway 5 which is from central LA, anyway and quicker I think, but the coast route is certainly an alternative. So, my suggestion would be more central, probably West HOllywood, or maybe Bev Hills if money is no object or even Fairfax area, so you will see something other than touristy/expensive beach places.

M

I spent a lot of time searching for a neat place in Malibu .. and found it ... Casa Malibu at 800-831-0858, located on Pacific Coast Highway about 1/4 mile south of the Malibu Pier. If approaching from the south, take I-5N, onto 405N, onto I10W. Take the short tunnel to PCH, and go north 10.5 miles. On your left. I found they were very nice over the phone, and they offer beach front rooms with private patios. This was in the 50's the Lana Turner hang-out. Enjoy LA.