Hotel in downtown LA
 

Any suggestions for two ladies for a hotel in a safe location near USC campus??
Someone said downtown LA is best but need advice. We will have to take cabs to and from the campus.

I wouldn't stay near USC and I'm not crazy about downtown either, for two women who are not familiar with the surroundings. I think I would stay over near the Grove and Farmer's Market, a mile or two longer by cab but worth it for the "safe feel" of the area. Sofitel, Farmer's Daughter or Park Plaza Lodge Hotel...depending on Budget.

I would not stay near USC...not a good/safe neighborhood at all.

Do you want or need to be near USC? The area has much improved over the last couple of years, but unless it's where you need/want to be there are nicer parts of L.A.

However, I wouldn't hesitate to stay in this hotel which is across the street from the campus:

http://www.radisson.com/los-angeles-...90007/cafiguer

Or, if you stay in downtown L.A., you can take the new Expo metro line and alight at one of the campus entrance gates (Exposition Park/USC stop).

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bu...images/806.pdf

I forgot to ask your budget.

Thanks for the input........
We will be attending graduation at USC Grad School in May. Unfortunately, The Raddison is already totally booked.
As for budget, it is just for two nights and I know we can't be too picky. We have no idea of prices yet. So we are open for suggestions.

I would go ahead and book something tentatively as there may be other graduations in the area that weekend. Maybe the Park Plaza Lodge just to have something, you can always cancel once you find something closer or that you like better, meanwhile you can breathe easier for the next few months knowing that you having SOMETHING booked.

The Wilshire Crest is also in a nice neighborhood not too bad of a cab ride away, not sure if they have any rooms with two beds however.

Definitely book something ASAP. I would start in downtown L.A. with the two Marriotts (L.A. Live location is closer to the Metro, but 4th St. will be cheaper), the Omni, the Standard, the Bonaventure, Hotel Figueroa, Millennium Biltmore, Hilton Checkers. All of these are within a reasonable walking distance of the metro.

Also near Little Tokyo are two other hotels, the Miyako is fairly reasonable. The Doubletree us the former New Otani/Kyoto Grand.

If prices are close the Omni is the nicest (altho corporafe style).

I think the new Marriott is UGLY!

You may think the new Marriott is ugly, but the views from the guest rooms are spectacular and the L.A. Live location is probably the best area for walking around. Lots of restaurants, the Grammy Museum, frequent free concerts on the plaza, etc. The Marriott's ground floor lobby is a popular indoor gathering spot.

The Natural History Museum right next to USC has one of the best dinosaur exhibits anywhere, and it has just been revamped so I envy you the opportunity to see it.

And the space shuttle Endeavor will be on display at the Science Center next door.

Great point! And those were amazing pictures of them moving it down the street.

Since last April, with the opening of the Expo line (phase 1) light rail system, you are no longer committed to staying anywhere near the USC campus and take a cab.

With the Expo line, which hooks up at 7th downtown, and stops directly AT USC, LA is your oyster, because at 7th, you have access to the red line, then the gold line, etc.

Expo goes all the way west to Culver City at Robertson.

So you have Culver City, Hollywood, Downtown, and even Pasadena to consider.