Is downtown L.A. really that bad?
 

I just booked a room for my wife and I for 4 nights at the Hilton Checkers over New Years. My only concern is that we will be bored in downtown Los Angeles. We have a rental car, but I'm not crazy about driving around every night.

I've still got time to book another hotel, so any thoughts, advice and tips are welcome. Thanks in advance!

You might be bored in downtown and you will probably find it necessary to drive no matter where you stay, unless it is in Santa Monica or West Hollywood.

That's ridiculous.

Here's a link to a listing of Downtown venues, events and restaurants. Hopefully you will find something of interest.

http://www.downtownlascene.com/

Btw, you can use the Red line to get to Hollywood and Universal Studios, and the Gold Line to get to Pasadena.

I guess it all depends on you are planning to do while in L.A. If most of your activities are taking you to points west and south, you will spend lots of time in traffic to get back to your hotel every night. However, there are plenty of good restaurants downtown, as I am sure mlgb's link will show.

I don't understand why you think you'll be bored. LA is an amazing city.

But yes you will need to drive most nights to fully enjoy Los Angeles. It's a city based around cars and driving. Just a fact of life there.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I certainly didn't mean to touch a nerve with "bored." As someone who is not familiar with L.A., I just want to make sure the wife and I (we're 30-something urbanites) are in a well-located launching pad for exploring L.A. during the day and night, as well as a busy-enough locale to come back to that has some good places near the hotel.

Again thanks for the help so far, and keep it coming.

JP, Downtown closes up fairly early and you will end up driving every night to get to the action.

Santa Monica or West Hollywood (Sunset Blvd) would be a better location if you want some night life.

Gail

If you are going for fun, downtown is not the best place to stay. It's fairly desolate at night and you'll end up driving pretty far at night to enjoy some nightlife.

That being said, the Hilton Checkers is a great hotel.

You might be stuck there and not be able to find anything else for New Year's weekend.
Downtown is fine if you're there for a convention or business or maybe a Staples concert, otherwise it's not the place to stay if you want to enjoy 4 days in Los Angeles. Yes you can metro up to Hollywood or Universal or even down to the Long Beach Aquarium, otherwise you will most certainly get that "why did we stay DOWNTOWN?" feeling as you explore the rest of the area. And you won't want to "wander" very far from your hotel in the evenings. There is a difference between a place that is generally safe, and a place that "feels safe to a tourist". Downtown is definitely not the latter. Hotels downtown are cheap on Priceline on weekends, but there's a reason for that.

Maybe you can get into the Best Western Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood, the W in Westwood, The Sofitel near the Grove or the Renaissance in Hollywood?

I stayed in downtown L.A. once on business and at nights, it did feel pretty dead, especially compared to other places I've stayed, like Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. When I stayed downtown, my friend would come pick me up and we would drive out to BH for dinner, quite a far drive.

I wouldn't stay downtown if I were visiting as a tourist, unless I had no other options. I'd recommend West Hollywood or Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica if you'd like to be closer to the beach.

Based on the sage counsel here, I've moved hotels to the W in Westwood. Costs more, but it sounds like that may be a little closer to the action, even walkable to some places.

Thanks again for the advice. Still time to make another move, if this was a bad one. Thanks!

Too bad you didn't look thru the entertainment listings in the downtownnews guide. Most folks really aren't familiar with what's available and post based on their own limited experience. While you won't be in the middle of the strip, there is plenty of nightlife if you know where to look.

Consider staying in Pasadena in the Old Town Pasadena area or a little closer to Lake Street. There are lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance of various hotels. The Gold Line fixed-rail train takes you right to Union Station near downtown LA, if you feel the urge.

I love LA, but downtown is probably one of my least favorite areas of the city. I used to be surprised that so many people gave LA a bad rap, then I found that nearly all of them stayed downtown (and usually without transportation) for a convention or business.

Sure you CAN find plenty to do downtown, but it sure lacks the flavor and "excitement" of areas like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and even Hollywood.

People going to NYC could stay in Brooklyn or Queens, and yes they would find plenty to do. But is that the main place you'd send someone going to NYC as a tourist?

One final thing: Century City has entered the mix. More specifically the Intercontinental Century City. Thoughts on the area?

Century City, Downtown, or Westwood, is I guess what I'm looking at.

Again, thanks for all the help, the discussion has been incredibly helpful. And I'm really looking foward to visiting L.A. for the first time in 20 years! (Inexcusable really.)

(mlgb, I did look at the guide - quite helpful. Indeed, I think we will spend some time downtown. Thanks.)

I'm not sure exactly where the IC is, but I think Century City would be fine. It's sort of between BH and Westwood and easily accessible to both.

CC is not far from the Beverly Hilton, which is the last place I stayed in L.A., and that was convenient.

If you want to be bored, stay in Century City. There's a reason you found a good rate.

Staying downtown is fine if you're going to a convention, but that's about it. There are so many better places to go, and as a tourist, Westwood or Santa Monica are ideal because you can walk around, shop, eat and people watch. If you want to hit somewhere on the Sunset Strip or Beverly Hills, just cab it.

Intercontinental is the Park Hyatt on Avenue of the Stars, overlooking 20th Century Fox. Nice hotel, centrally located. You will need a car to get you to the "action", but it's all within a 5 to 15 minute radius from the hotel. You can walk to the Westfield Century City Mall, which has a number of new and interesting restaurants; close to the Pico restaurants about a mile to the west; Beverly Hills, 1/2 mile to the east; and clubs on Sunset Strip a 10 to 15 min. drive (depending on time of day).

You are right that there are places within walking distance of the W and perhaps more to the point, it is a very pleasant neighborhood to walk in. I would suggest looking online at the David Geffen Theater and see what plays, if any, are being presented at that time. It is a gem of a theater!! You could very easily walk to the Geffen from the W.

May I be so bold as to ask what rate you were quoted for the W?