One of our employees needs to go to the Malaysian Cconsulate in Los Angeles. She's looking for either a hotel or even a neighborhood recommendation. Budget price range ($100 +/- if possible)and relatively close to 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, California 90071.
I love Pasadena, but am not sure if it is really that close to downtown.

Neighborhoods to avoid could also help.

Any ideas will be appreciated!

Downtown isn't a great place to be and Pasadena is very close if she has a car.

Whether she will have a car or be relying on public transportation is important. Also, what dates she is coming? If her dates coincide with at large event at the convention center, then downtown prices will be higher.

I read a review on the "O" hotel recently which seems decent and reasonable. www.ohotelgroup.com/

Otherwise, I would check www.travelzoo.com or bid on Priceline for a 3* or better in the downtown zone.

Even if she doesn't have a car, it would be possible for her to stay in Pasadena, just as long as she stays somewhere along the Metro Gold Line. www.metro.net

Hotel Figueroa on 9th and Figueroa, also check the Miyako in Little Tokyo.

It's easy to get around by DASH bus if she stays in Little Tokyo.

One to avoid which shows up on a lot of the websites is Hotel Cecil, it just isn't in the best part of town.

It might be worthwhile to look at betterbidding.com for the 3.5 and 4 star hotels. If the 3.5 is the Marriott, that's in a very good location. Any of the 4 stars would also be okay.

She'll be coming in mid-August, and renting a car. She'll have an assigned time at the Consulate, so traffic might be an issue if she has to get there during the early morning except for traffic.

Thanks for the ideas so far...I'll pass them on!

The above should have said:

so traffic might be an issue if she has to get there during the early morning or afternoon rush hours.

A reasonable commute would be okay if the nightlife near the hotel makes up for driving during the day.

Why is she renting a car? From both Pasadena and Hollywood, the metro is the way to go. Both traffic and parking can be a big headache. And if she stays downtown there is no need for a car.

being in downtown los angeles after 6 scares the living day lights out of me! It's a ghost town. It's really creepy in most areas. I'd stay somewhere more north of downtown...

She'll be flying into LAX and will want a car to get around. Metro migt be nice if it goes Pasadena= downtown though.

The Flyaway coach bus picks up from LAX terminals and for $4, the Union Station bus takes you to downtown station. From there you can catch a 20 min metro subway up to Hollywood, or up to Pasadena.

Vagabond Inn in Pasadena is a 5 or 6 blocks walk to the Gold Line metro, she could get off at Union Station and take a dash shuttle to hope st, or switch off to the red line metro and ride a little further to Hope Street. In Hollywood, the Motel 6 is cheap and well-located to the metro.

Downtown is not bad anymore. The Standard Downtown is cheap and hip. There's a pool and bar on the roof that is a scene after work. If you are staying there it makes it easier to get in.

There are also excellent restaurants downtown. The Water Grill is one of the best restaurants in LA and within walking distance of the Standard.

"... after 6. It's a ghost town." No longer the case. Yes, there are areas less attractive than others, but anywhere on/near the Figueroa corridor (Hope is only one block off) is busy all day, every day.

I agree with others, however, that Pasadena, Hollywood and even North Hollywood in the Valley are options. The Metro Gold line runs from Pasadena to Union Station where your employee would switch to the Red Line which runs from there to Hollywood and then to North Hollywood. The Malaysian Consulate is between the Pershing Square and 7th Street stops on the Red Line:

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/rail_map.pdf

Hey liezl maybe you should try taking the Blue Line downtown for one of your trips.

Thursday night is good as the three museums are open for free from 5pm to 8pm and Little Tokyo is very busy(JAMA, MOCA, and the Geffen).

www.moca.org

If you're also afraid of the Blue Line, there are some fairly reasonable lots behind the New Otani (which is now called Kyoto Grand).