This is my first time in Los Angeles, let alone California. I'm looking for a nice hotel to stay. I have multiple places to go; some are in burbank, some are in santa monica, some are in hollywood, some down town, some are in melrose. I WILL have a rental car, I'm just looking for someplace to stay in the middle of those areas. Thanks!

www.sunsetplazahotel.com

www.renaissancehollywood.com

www.magiccastlehotel.com

Thank you so much tracy! Any other suggestions from anyone else?

I'll vouch for the Renaissance! A good hotel.
In Santa Monica, the Casa del Mar looks great but expensive, and the Fairmont gets a lot of praise too.

Once again, thanks for the help! Other comments still welcome.

I stayed at a very nice hotel in Burbank when I was visiting my kids a couple of years ago - Annabelle's. Very pleasant staff, nice rooms, reasonably convenient location in terms of where you need to go.

While the Renaissance is a nice property, the streets surrounding it are not so nice. I generally go up Highland past it about once a week. Last week, I went by at about 9:30 a.m. on a weekday, and half a block to the north (at Franklin) there was a prostitute picking up a drunk who was unable to sit up after spending the night lying on the sidewalk. Nice gesture, though.

I would stay at one of the following
Hollywood proper or West Hollywood is not as nice as these locations below. There is alway driving in LA you should just stay somewhere nice where you will enjoy yourself. You didn't mention budget. Here are a few ranges in price.

The Avalon Hotel
9400 w olympic blvd.
beverly hills, CA 90212
310-277-5221
Cool Contempory Hip Hotel. Easy access to all areas. rates start at 169.00
or
maison 140
140 south lasky drive
beverly hills,
310-281-4000.
rates start at 169.00

or

Viceroy
1819 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
260-7500
rates start at 249.00

> Farmer's Daugher Hotel, www.farmersdaughterhotel.com

If you stay at the magic castle hotel (per tracys2cents' post) be sure and have dinner and an evening of up close magic at the Magic Castle itself. This is a club for magician's and staying at the hotel is one of the few ways for non-members to attend. My husband and I did it and had a great unique evening.

We have stayed at the (Westin) Century Plaza many times and find it to be a really great hotel. The regular rates are high but if you check their direct website, sometimes there are unbelievably cheap specials. It is very near Beverly Hills and quite close to Santa Monica--so not quite in "the middle" of the places you mentioned but there is just something about it that makes it a very relaxing place to stay. www.centuryplazala.com/