LA Hotels and attractions
 

Going to LA for the first time this coming spring for a girls weekend (ages: 40) where would be the best area to stay in order to do all the tourist attractions like Walk of Fame, Universal, Star Homes. We would also like to go to a beach one day and also do you think a trip to Catalina Island is worth the time? Thanks for all the input. We also might want to try Priceline for hotels, anyone had any luck with good hotels?

Well, you're planning well in advance, so good for you! Spring in the LA area is a good time to visit as you won't have the mad crush of tourists that you do in summer (believe me, I know it's summer by the number of rental cars tying up the streets and highways).

My first recommendation is to hit Fodor's LA section on this website. You'll get some more ideas of what to see beyond the few you've noted (and there are some pretty wonderful things to see around here). I'll comment on the things you have noted:

-- Walk of Fame. Kind of interesting, but Hollywood itself is a pretty grimy neighborhood. It is going through a slow revitalization, but you still have to pass a lot of head shops, T-shirt emporia and hookers to get anywhere nice. There are two quite nice hotels (Renaissance Hollywood, Hollywood Roosevelt), but I don't recommend staying there, honestly.

-- Universal Studios. Its main focus has become the theme park, de-emphasizing the studio tour part (except if you opt for the much better VIP tour). The Warner Brothers studio tour is superior. I wouldn't stay up in Universal City, if only because everything else becomes a longish to long drive away.

-- The Stars' Homes. People have some idea that as the tour buses drive down the streets in Beverly Hills, you'll see Madonna in a housecoat and curlers dumping ashtrays into her trash cans at the curb, in front of her fabulous Roxbury Drive estate. Odds are that won't happen (besides, Diane Keaton now owns that house-- I saw her there one afternoon). The majority of those "star homes" of the past are now owned by wealthy private citizens and/or severely altered (Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball's Paul Williams-designed house was victim of a particularly bad, banal redesign) and/or demolished (Jimmy Stewart's house) for one of those faux-Tuscan wedding cake monstrosities taking over the flats of BH (money doesn't buy class or good taste, it turns out). The best homes of celebs (David Geffen's, Aaron Spelling's) are behind high walls. You won't see much, unfortunately. A lot of the movie people now live in Hollywood Hills, Bel-Air and Pacific Palisades. However, there are some lovely homes in Beverly Hills, so it's worthwhile to see how pretentiously the wealthy can live.

I would suggest that you look for lodging in Beverly Hills. Rates tend to be surprisingly reasonable (except for the destination hotels like the Peninsula), and it will be central to just about everything.

Weather in spring can be cool-- or can be surprisingly warm-- but a trip to Santa Monica's beach could be nice. If you want a more locals-only vibe, head down to Hermosa Beach and hit the Strand-- the bike/inline skate/jogging path that runs from Torrance Beach all the way into Venice. Lots to see and do there.

Catalina is a day trip, and if you were planning a longer trip, I'd say go. For a weekend, it's too much.

Since I live in the area, I can't comment on using Priceline for LA hotels.

We prefer to stay in Santa Monica.

Just returned - stay in Santa Monica - right near beach, promenade, great for people watching. You can day-trip to anywhere in L.A.

Sorry, I meant that we would be staying a week not weekend. Would you still go to Catalina Island? If you stay in Santa Monica, what is the best way to get around. I know if you do tours, they will pick you up at your hotel. Has anyone had any luck with Priceline?

If you want to check out what Priceline hotels and what prices people have been getting for LA (or any area for that matter) check out betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com.