DeltaOne

We'll be spending one night in Long Beach, in mid-December, before our cruise. We're considering the following four hotels. Which one would you choose and why?
1) Coast Long Beach
2) Westin Long Beach
3) Hilton Long Beach
4) Hyatt Regency Long Beach

Thanks!

Houmom

The Westin had good bed, but hotel is pretty dated when you compare to other Marriots, Hiltons & Hyatts (other locations-only stayed one night at this Westin). Do not know how other hotels here compare. It is across the main blvd. from convention center & some famous ship? I would check out other hotels if I went back, believe Hyatt right on water? Not sure.

rjw_lgb_ca

The Hyatt is nice, right on Rainbow Lagoon, and has a very good restaurant. The Coast Long Beach is on the way to the Queen Mary, so it's the closest to the cruise ship terminal at the old Spruce Dome. The Westin is fine and the location is good. The Hilton is OK, except that its location is awful relative to the others (west edge of downtown LB, right at an onramp to the LB Freeway-- I-710).

For one night, the Hyatt would be my first choice, but either the Coast or the Westin would be good too. There's enough to do downtown to fill one night.

DeltaOne

The Hyatt sounds nice. One more question, it's within walking distance of the shopping and dining area called the Pike?

It sounds like we'll want to spend some time exploring the Pike area. I know the aquarium is there too. Anything else?

sugosun

I just stayed at the Coast Long Beach. Is your cruise on Carnival or RCCL? If it is Carnival, then that port is within walking distance to the Coast Long Beach. If it is RCCL, then it is a $19 cab ride to the pier.

Ours was RCCL, and I wish I had had this information prior to my cruise. We spent all of our Long Beach time across the waterway near the Hyatt and/or the Westin. Lots of restaurants, shopping and the aquarium.

If you stay at the Coast, you can take a water taxi across to the "good" side.

If you are all interested in seeing the Queen Mary (very old, dilapidated, not refurbished since God know's when) it is close by. There is a great restaurant near the Coast (I think it is called the Reef) - excellent food and ssrvice!!!

Don't order pizza from the place the hotel recommends - we did and it was awful!!

Have fun!

DeltaOne

Our cruise is on Princess. Princess is owned by Carnival, but I don't know if the ship (Sapphire Princess) will use the Carnival terminal or the "other" terminal. Anyone know?

Sara

I stayed at the Hyatt last year when I was attending a conference. I thought it was a very nice hotel - we had a great view of the ocean from our room. It is within walking distance of The Pike, but is also quite close to Shoreline Village, a nice area of restaurants and shops on a pier right on the waterfront, overlooking a marina. I walked over there to eat many of my meals because I found it so pleasant, and it had some good restaurants.

Sara

By the way, I don't know why sugosun refers to the Queen Mary as "very old and dilapidated" - yes, it is old and historic, but I didn't get the impression that it's dilapidated. Perhaps it could use some sprucing up, but I didn't notice that. We enjoyed touring it very much, and found it quite fascinating. We also had a very nice lunch at one of the restaurants on board.

DeltaOne

Thanks, everyone. I booked a room in the Hyatt today. Cost was a bit more than we usually spend, but it sounds like a nice hotel in a great location...so it'll be worth it.

We booked a harbor view room and requested a high floor...we're hoping for that great view!