Hi,

My wife and I are visiting LA for 3 days. I was thinking of booking a hotel in Beverly Hills through Priceline and driving around the tourist areas (or take pre-arranged tours). Would this be advisable? Or is it better to stay in Hollywood and use public transportation? I have just heard that through Priceline, I might not get the best area in Hollywood, while I assuem Bev Hills would be safer. ANy suggestions are welcome.

stm,

Having never booked a hotel through Priceline, I'll leave that part of your question to the experts. I will say; however, that whatever you do, you'll want to have your own vehicle to get around the LA area.

AL

If it's a weekend you should get a car, traffic is a bit easier to handle than on the weekdays.

Thanks for your replies. I will now rent a car. Now, any preference between Beverly Hills vs Hollywood.

I would immediately start by poring over the Los Angeles area sections of this website. It sounds like you haven't done this yet. Southern California is huge, sprawling, complex-- the whole world in one place and like no other place on earth, I like to say.

There are areas of touristic interest beyond Hollywood and Beverly Hills. LA and Orange Counties comprise some 4,800 square miles, and there are some very, very cool things to explore. I'd hate for you to miss the beach, for example. Many miles from either Hollywood or Beverly Hills.

In terms of lodging, if you have the choice: Beverly Hills. No question. Central to shopping, entertainment, clubs, etc. Hollywood has more theatres, but is quite a bit grittier. I'd only recommend one hotel there: the Renaissance Hollywood. In Beverly Hills, you have the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Peninsula, the Four Seasons, the Wyndham Bel Age, Le Montrose, the Regent Beverly Wilshire, etc., etc., etc.

Summers get busy out here, so best of luck with the Priceline search!

Beverly Hills! Santa Monica is also a good spot to stay. You will NEED a car. Public transportation is extremely limited and cabs are expensive (just got back from a business trip -- although I get reimbursed for all expenses, I think cabs are more expensive in LA than any other major city in the US.)

If you aren't familiar with Beverly Hills, I'd be careful what hotel you book. Just because it has a BH address, it doesn't mean it's "Beverly Hills." We made that mistake a few years ago and ended up in a Crowne Plaza way way south. It was on a busy street and was not one bit special or nice. Rodeo Drive was a mile or two away but it still wasn't the experience I was looking for. On the other hand...we've stayed at the Hollywood Renaissance before and that made our trip. Fun fun fun. Both times we rented cars--LA is so spread out that you'll need one. We drove all over the place--Malibu, Santa Monica and Long Beach. Of course, we live in Nebraska where we think nothing of driving 100 miles one way for a nice evening out so this seemed like nothing.

Most of the hotels in Beverly Hills are on busy streets, and the Crowne Plaza isn't way, way south, it's one block from the southern of Beverly Hills, 4 or 5 blocks from Wilshire Blvd. (where there are all the nice shops)and it's in a really nice, mostly residential neighborhood. You can say the same about Lowes two blocks away to the west. Neither properties are particularly special, but they suit their purpose.

Yes, Beverly Hills would be safer. I wouldn't have issues walking around Beverly Hills alone at night (unless I was wearing big flashy jewelry, then you're not safe anywhere), but would be really uncomfortable walking around Hollywood alone at night.

We stayed one night in Hollywood last fall. I am thinking it was the Roosevelt? Very nice hotel. With a group we walked to the restaurant Cafe De Artist (wonderful, funky place, in an old house/bungalow type building). But we walked back, just three of us to the hotel. I did not feel comfortable on the street walking those few three or four blocks at all. Kept hugging my purse and just felt really strange. This was about 10 or 10:30. It is a great area, but just got to be careful.

If you stay in the area, check out the Grove shopping center. Beautiful place. Fun place to find a cafe and just sit and people watch for a while. Very nice shops. And it is right next to the Farmers Market, which I highly recommend as well. Very happening area, lots to do. But you have to drive.