I am visiting the LA area and palm springs for 1 week in april while also visiting relatives.I have multiple reservations and I am getting overwhelmed with a final decision.Please help me decide between Rancho Las Palmas or The Lodge at Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage.And between The Mondrian,The Fairmont or Marriott in Santa Monica,otr the Residence Inn in Beverly Hills.Thanks

I don't know about Palm Springs, but in the LA area, your choices are kinda all over the map.

The Mondrian is self-consciously hip, up there in the tony part of Sunset Blvd. It's also past its "Use By" date-- that is, it's not The Place To Be Seen that it used to be. You might get a deal there, but be prepared to deal with Schrager Hotel Attitude.

The Residence Inn in BH is, well, a Residence Inn-- extended-stay, mid-level lodging by Marriott. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

The Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica is high-end, historic, beautiful (I love this property and send my clients there, as it's a block from my office). If you have the money, I'd stay there.

The only Marriott property I know of in SM is the Merigot (a JW Marriott hotel), and it's also on the luxury end of the spectrum; it's also a very new hotel, new building, so you don't have the history of the Miramar. Still, probably not a bad choice, for the money. Shutters on the Beach is around the corner, and is a stylish, wonderful alternative-- for quite a bit more money.

Thanks rjw...I'll skip the Mondrian.My daughter lives in West Hollywood and I have a free night at the Residence,so maybe i'll take one night there and then head to the Fairmont.

RJW is right on the money. In my opinion. Funny, the B.H. Residence used to be -- a hospital! What we LAians (rhymes with "aliens" for good reason) can't do with just a little plastic surgery! The Residence Inn is a wannabe B.H. property. It's actually in Beverlywood, one block away, but a very nice neighborhood.

For Palm Springs - can't be much help but families rave about Las Palmas here and The Lodge used to be a Ritz property - I stayed there way back then and thought it lovely.

Sounds like you have LA squared away - Fairmont is perfect.

If you want a more luxurious experience, then The Lodge would be a better choice than RLP.

for a real l.a experience, stay in the standard on sunset.

How do you compare the Fairmont in Santa Monica with the Viceroy?

jasper, you are right-- the Standard is a fun, funky place. It would also be close to 1234's daughter's place. Have you checked it out?

travelers, the Fairmont Miramar (most locals just call it the "Miramar") is a grand old hotel-- the bungalows surrounding the hotel tower are, I believe, from the 1920s. It's a lovely property on a bluff with great views of the Pacific, pretty good restaurants, and that nice Fairmont level of service. The Viceroy is a 60s-era motor hotel, semi-low-rise (maybe 8 stories), that has been turned into a British-style boutique hotel. The vibe is more Hip and Trendy, with a bar/resto that is working really hard to become part of the Watering Hole Scene on the Westside. It's much, much nicer than what it used to be, but I can't comment on the service. I send clients to the Miramar, so I'm more familiar with that property; older, less hip, more opulent vibe there.