My husband and I are Australians who are travelling to the US for the first time. We are starting our trip in LA for 5 nights in May. I have booked a motel in Hollywood Boulevard near Mann's Chinese Theater. Since booking, several people have advised me Hollywood is a dangerous area to stay in. Is this true? I am concerned that I have made a poor choice.

Janet:

That part of town is not exactly Beverly Hills, but there's nothing really wrong with it. Mann's Chinese is on the western end of Hollywood, near West Hollywood and Sunset Strip, where there are an abundance of clubs and restaurants. Hollywood Blvd. is undergoing constant rennovation and there are several other rennovated theaters near the Chinese Theater. Some parts of Hollywood are still rather seedy, but I don't consider it "dangerous," just sad.

There are just so many nicer areas of LA to stay in as opposed to Hollywood. Consider staying in Santa Monica or Pasadena.

Janet,
What is the name of your motel? I live in Hollywood/Los Feliz. It isn't dangerous,but parts of it are seedy. The boulevard itself is undergoing rennovation and it looks prett promising. The only place I would recommend staying is the Hollywood Roosevelt, which is across from the Chinese theatre. It is completely restored and has a lot of old Hollywood atmosphere. What are you planning to see in LA? This would determine where to stay. Santa Monica , which has its own share of seediness, is great for the beach and the Getty, but a drive to the studios. You might want to consider West Hollywood, sort of in the middle of LA. I know there is a thread here withe some enthusiastic recommendations for some moderately priced lodgings.

I agree with the previous post. I suspect your problem comes from simply equating the famous "Hollywood" with what LA is all about. Unfortunately that isn't true. Your place may be OK, but not really the most logical destination for your base in the LA area unless you are really on a low budget and into "adventure" travel. I always stay in West Hollywood (this is actually a separate "city" within the boundaries of LA and right next to Beverly Hills on one side and Hollywood on the other. What is you budget, and what are you looking for? We stay at Summerfield Suites, part of the Wyndham group. It is a small "apartment" building with little apartments, including a fireplace and a small kitchen. A very nice breakfast buffet is included, and they have indoor, secure, self parking. It should be around $149 a night in May for a Queen suite. If that's a little high, let us know and I'll bet one of us will come up with a better idea. Welcome to US; I only hope we can make you feel half as welcome as the Australians made us feel on our trip there.

Janet I live in Hollywood and I can honestly thing of no better place to stay!!! It's free way close, and they have really REALLY seriously regenerated it, in the past few years, all of the old buildings are being restored and it brimms with history and is as centrally located to everything as you can be in Los Angeles.. (now you can use the convenient Hollywood Blvd. Metro stop to get to either Universal Studios or Downtown for $2.70 RT per person it beats the heck out of parking.
There are several hotels I would recommend.
Upscale: The Hollywood Roosevelt, where the First Academy Awards were held, they have a nice quiet bar and restaurant, also they are currently featuring an exhibit of Hollywood memoribilia on the second floor of the lobby... (also this hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe who had one of her first photo shoots by the pool, by Rudolph Valentino and by Montgomery Clift who stayed at the Roosevelt while rehearsing for a movie.
I will try to get you rates if you are interested.
Another good bet if you are on a budget and are looking for someplace nice and clean, but budget is the Holiday Inn Express on La Brea.. two blocks away from Mann's Chinese. Double run $79.00 per night USD.
The only dangerous parts of Hollywood these days are far... FAR east of Highland.
You will note a great deal of construction goin on around the Mann's theatre though as they finish the new Oscar Center... that will house next years Academy Awards. They are designing the center to be a replica of an old silent era DW Griffiths movie set for Babylon that used to be off of Sunset Blvd. When Sunset bvld was lined with orange groves... it's looking really fantastic so far.. 40 ft high "bablyonian elephants" and Etruscan style art, complete with retail space etc... so very L.A.
If you stay in Hollywood also during summer you can walk up to the Hollywood Bowl on Tues or Thurs, pack a picnic dinner and a bottle of wine and see a philharmonic classical concert for as little as $1.00.
There are also a wide variety of restaurants and shops and easy acccesability to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the La Brea Antiques district or the Museum district... I would definately recommend you stay in Hollywood. Please email me directly if you need any more info.
OOps just reread your post.. what hotel did you book???? I can check it out for you if you like.