LA and Palm Springs Hotels?
 

Any feedback on the St. Regis, Sunset Marquis, Beverly Hills Hotel or Penninsula in LA?<BR>Estrella in Palm Springs?<BR>Viceroy in Santa Monica?

any help??

The only place I've stayed in Palm Springs was the Marriott Desert Springs Resort. It was fabulous.

The Viceroy in SM wants to set itself up as The Hip 'n' Happening Place near the beach (which is a block away). It's an &quot;almost low-rise&quot; (seven or eight stories), which in a past life was a (barely) two-star motor hotel for budget travelers who wanted to be near the Santa Monica Pier. It was nasty. Now, it's REALLY cleaned up and rather nice. Rooms have been redecorated and the whole building freshened up. The bar and restaurant are trying to weasel their way into The Scene on the Westside-- and I've heard nothing but good things about the food and the whole vibe (including a stylish Happy Hour by the pool). Time will tell if they succeed.<BR><BR>In Santa Monica, they're competing against the sheer relaxed luxury of Shutters (on the beach) and the historic elegance of the Fairmont Miramar (on the bluff-- and this is a great hotel).

Estrella is ok. Best thing about it is location. Otherwise, it is an older property that got a makeover many years ago. Unfortunately, the makeover robbed the buildings of a lot of their historic architectural charm. If it were me, I would consider Villa Royale, Korakia, Casa Cody or even the Holiday Inn Mountain Shadows Resort first.

Anyone else on Estrella?<BR>Also, what about St. Regis Beverly Hills vs. Sunset Marquis?<BR>Would you spend one night in Santa Monica, two in LA and three in Palm Springs??<BR>By the way, coming from New York.

ttt