I'm going to LA for a few days and I thought of staying near the LAX considering the prices are very good for very good hotels like marriott, sheraton, etc... Is it a good or a bad idea to stay around there? I'll be renting a car so commuting won't be a problem.

It's not a great area. Because the airport is busy, the hotels are often full and he shuttle and bus traffic is constant.

Just south, you can stay in Manhattan, Hermosa, or Redondo Beach, all good spots with ocean walks, piers and great restaurants just 15 minutes south of the airport. Your commute is about the same.

Not a good idea but depends on your itinerary/what you want to see and do.

"Commuting won't be a problem". Actually it probably will be. I would suggest taking a 3 star in middle of the action rather than staying by the airport just because you can get a Marriott at the same price.

If you can work around commute times - you would probably be ok - but it all depends on where you have to be when.

I would pick a hotel based on sightseeing plans, not nightly rates. (Be sure to include overnight parking charges when comparing hotels.)

I live in Manhattan Beach, work in Beverly Hills and drive past LAX in both directions every workday. I can tell you there is little to differentiate "commute times" from "non-commute times." And it's worse for those who are unfamiliar with traffic patterns and short-cuts.

The deals at airport hotels can be appealing, but the area is dull as dishwater and noisy as, well, an airport. At least the strip joint on Century Blvd. is gone.