Has anyone stayed in or heard about Hollywood Downtowner Inn, 5601 Hollywood Boulevard, LA? Didn't find any user reviews in tripadvisor.com.

How is the neighbourhood?

It is very reasonable, only $52 a night.

http://www.hollywooddowntowner.com

Sean

I am trying to find info on this hotel too. Anyone?

Looks decent from what little I've found, but I'm wondering if hookers hang around there and if the area is unsafe?

I don't know this hotel specifically, but I looked it up on a map and it's about 14 blocks east of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, which is kind of the heart of tourist Hollywood. It is probably pretty basic; there ARE more
things going up in Hollywood all the time; and it may be just fine. Haven't been there late at night.

For about $10.00 more per night you can stay at the Days Inn Hollywood at 5410 Hollywood Blvd., which is nicer than the Downtowner...the rooms are clean and nicely decorated (ask for one facing the outdoor pool) and you get a continental breakfast of cold cereal, rolls, pastries, orange juice, etc. included in the price...free parking is also included...the neighborhood is okay and there are people around at all times...you can walk to Mann's Theater, and in the other direction (about 1 mile) is the Los Feliz section of LA, which has some nice cafes and restaurants.

Sean, if what the earlier poster said about it being 14 blocks east of Grauman's (and it would seem from the street number that Days Inn isn't much better) then it would appear that the Downtowner isn't very close to anything you'd want to see. When we were in Hollywood last Christmas we stayed at the Liberty Hotel. For $55 a night we got a suite for four people (it's at the back of the building, so ask for it), complete with kitchen etc. The Liberty is just at the back of Grauman's Chinese in a little cul-de-sac which has the side of the new Academy Awards Theatre at its end. Any closer to Grauman's and you could listen to the movie. The Asian proprietress is lovely and kept giving our kids little treats every time we stepped outside our room. It's a great deal.

There's a reason it's reasonably priced -- the neighborhood is not very good.

I suggest using Hotwire or Priceline and getting yourself a nicer hotel for the same price.

The only place to stay in Hollywood is the Roosevelt Hotel.It's right across the street from Graumans and the Hollywood and Highland. It's safe and worth the extra $.

Try the hotel properties at Universal City. Close to the studios and shuttles to Hollywood.

The Downtowner is in a bad neighborhood. Do not stay more than a few blocks east of the Chinese.

We are staying at the Renaissance Hollywood, it's in the Hollywood & Highland block, looks great on the website. How unsafe are you talking about of certain parts of Hollywood, is it okay to drive thru to get to other areas of LA?

The Days Inn on SUNSET is a decent budget choice, but don't stay on Hollywood Blvd.

The Motel 6, around the corner from the Chinese theatre, on Whitley, is also a good choice.

www.motel6.com

The Renaissance is a luxury hotel, an easy drive to Beverly Hills, Warner Brothers, Farmers Market, Beverly Center, The Griffith Park Observatory. It is also right at the subway line to Universal.

Susan, the Renaissance should be nice. The Hollywood and Highland intersection is smack dab in the middle of the "revitalized" part of Hollywood. Don't get us wrong, Hollywood Blvd is not a slum at all. It is a mediocre neighborhood, with a few main thouroughfares that boast a lot of clubs and bars, and is just a gathering point for kids. The problems start after hours, when the good kids go home, and the bad ones are still out patrolling the streets and making nasty. You should have no worries whatsoever driving in, out, and through the area... I'd just warn against walking the area after midnight, and don't leave the valuables in sight in the parked car because of the heavy foot traffic in the area.

Thanks for the good word on the Renaissance Hollywood & about the neighborhood, we'll take your advice about locking up our car & walking late at night. We are staying at this hotel 3 nights to do our Hollywood stuff, Universal, Warner Bros, Beverly Hills, drive down Sunset Blvd. to the beach, & our LA stuff like the Getty Center, Griffith Park, etc. Then we are going to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm & Queen Mary, so we have a room at the Candy Cane Inn for 3 nights. But now we are sort of stumped on where to stay the other 2 nights of our 8 night trip to LA. We'd like to go to Catalina for a day & maybe the Laguna Beach area, any nice-moderate priced hotels on the beach in this area?

Catalina would be nice, and I think you can find a reasonable place to stay there but you really have to make a reservation as early as possible. The island's lodging is kind of a family monopoly kind of thing, and there are often waiting lists if you don't book in time. I don't know the exact name of the org that does the reservations there, but I believe it is the Catalina Company. There are a few private hotels on Catalina that are a bit more pricey, I stayed at one recently that was quite nice, the Hotel St Lauren in Avalon. Paid $205 (high season rate) for a "standard" room. You might get half that rate during the winter. website: stlauren.com

Laguna has a multitude of choices, and I'm afraid I can't pick out one with any kind of authority. Might want to try the American Auto Association for some listings. Happy Travels.

Catalina would be nice, and I think you can find a reasonable place to stay there but you really have to make a reservation as early as possible. The island's lodging is kind of a family monopoly kind of thing, and there are often waiting lists if you don't book in time. I don't know the exact name of the org that does the reservations there, but I believe it is the Catalina Company. There are a few private hotels on Catalina that are a bit more pricey, I stayed at one recently that was quite nice, the Hotel St Lauren in Avalon. Paid $205 (high season rate) for a "standard" room. You might get half that rate during the winter. website: stlauren.com

Laguna has a multitude of choices, and I'm afraid I can't pick out one with any kind of authority. Might want to try the American Auto Association for some listings. Happy Travels.

The Renaissance is very nice..and that neighborhood is absolutely revitalized.. (we own a house 3 blocks west of Highland) Generally speaking the further east you go, the dodgier it gets. You should have no problem going to a movie or dinner and walking back to your hotel. Musso and Franks, Michelis, are great choices. Also you have acres and acres of hillsides to visit, plus horseback riding sunset tours and a host of other activities right in that area.