Los Angeles
 

Taking my 14 yr. old son to LA for a week in April and looking for help with best location for our base hotel. Must dos are both Getty's, Hollywood, seeing a show or studio lot, other museums, beach and people watching. No real interest in power shopping and theme parks. Will have a car and might want to do a 2 - day coast drive up to the Hearst Castle or other spot north of LA. We've done the San Diego area before. When in LA, we would like a hotel that had free or reasonably priced parking. Safe and convenient location is the priority. Any ideas on how to lay out our 6 full days to make the best use of our time would be appreciated. We will arrive and depart on Sundays. Also, wouldn't mind doing a unique tour or a good hop on/off options that hits the major spots.

He's not interested in a theme park? Really? I'd offer him a day at one anyway. You might be surprised. I have three kids...they are top students but would all jump for a theme park in a heartbeat. Of course Universal Studios is both a theme park and a studio lot, so that could meet your criteria.

If I were to pick a museum for teens, on the science side first choice hands down is La Brea Tar Pits. For arts and humanities, the Huntington offers a wide variety of art, the gardens and also a Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio of Shakespeare.

What's your hotel budget?

Your list of sights covers a lot of geography, but central to most would be West L.A./Westwood/Century City. Santa Monica gets recommended here often, but I'm just not a fan and it's inconvenient for Hollywood, studio tours and museums other than the Gettys. West Hollywood is another option, but it's far from the Getty Villa and beaches.

I don't think you'll find free parking in any of these areas. What is "reasonably priced" is your call, and you'll have to check the hotels for their rates.

IMO, Hearst Castle would be a little far for a 2-day trip unless it's all about the drive. It's nearly 5 hours each way. If you have your heart set on Hearst Castle, look into flying home from Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. In fact, even if you don't drive all the way to Hearst Castle, look into flying home from SB or SLO. Don't drive back to LAX unless you must.

Thanks for the tips. Would like the hotel to be under $200 per night since we need to stay 6 nights. I'm ok with Century City/Westwood or West LA for location if those areas are more affordable and still safe. Also, ok with splitting the nights at 2 hotels.
Any other ideas besides the Hearst Castle? Heart is not set on it. We're also good with spending all the time in and around LA (Pasadena, etc) as it sounds like we could easily fill 6 days. Thanks!

There's a Residence in on Beverly Blvd. which is pretty centrally located and should fit within your budget. I agree with Jean that you won't find a centrally-located place with free parking.

As for the studio show tapings, there are very few which allow kids under 18. Check www.tvtickets.com and www.tvtix.com. Other than that, the Warner Brother's Studio Tour might be interesting.

The California Science Center has a Mummy exhibit right now- not sure if it lasts thru April, though. Other suggestions: La Brea Tarpits, Peterson Automotive Museum, Griffith Observatory, Autry Museum of the American West.

A Bicycle ride along the beach is also a fun SoCal experience: http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-bay-bi...l-santa-monica

I can't add to the hotels question, but I always recommend my favorite seafood place whenever I hear of someone driving north from LA! Malibu Seafood is half a fish shop selling fresh fish and half a casual eatery with picnic tables outside. The tuna burgers are one of the best things I've ever eaten. :)
www.malibuseafood.com

For free parking, you probably need to be out of the Hollywood area. We have stayed a few times at the Marriott Courtyard, Marina del Rey location. It has free parking and would probably be about $159 lowest rate. Definitely a safe neighborhood.

Another one I like personally is the Inn at Venice Beach. It is more characteristic and more "L.A." and young in style. Should be under $200, parking is only about $8/day, continental breakfast included. From there, you can walk at the beach for long distances.

Have you checked to see if you can get free tickets to any of the shows taping when you are there? Problem is, many of them are limited to age 18+.

I forgot another show taping website www.on-camera-audiences.com/ Most of these sites only release 30 days worth of schedules, so you may have to wait until March to see what's available. The Disney Channel and other shows that allow the under-18 crowd usually "sell" out fast. I think On-Camera allows you to sign up for email alerts to notify you when certain tickets become available.

With that budget, a 14 year old, and safe and convenient factor, two places come to mind that would work and have free parking, other than the Residence Inn at Pico & Beverly previously mentioned in this thread: the Holiday Inn Express on Olympic at Century Park West (Century City area)and the Royal Palace Westwood on Tiverton in Westwood Village. Both areas have possibly the lowest crime in the City of Los Angeles. The Westwood property is, in my view, better located, since it's full of UCLA students walking around late at night, decent restaurants for whatever the purse allows (from the student budget up). The area is surrounded by multi-million dollar homes, and young and old alike make this area relatively vibrant. You will see the Bruin and the Village historic movie theatres, where there has often been premieres (in fact there's going to be a rather big spectacle coming up soon for the soon to be released 3D Harry Potter). The outside of the Royal Palace looks like a dated apartment complex, but it is a choice place for parents visiting their kids and parents & kids touring UCLA, and I understand the rooms are pleasant and updated, and they have complimentary breakfast.

The Holiday Inn Express is on a noisy street (Olympic), is in a great area, but not convenient to walk anywhere other than the Westfield Century City mall and the Ralphs Supermarket across the street. It is, however, 2 blocks from Beverly Hills, and right in the middle of all the places you want to head to: Santa Monica to the West (12 minute drive); the Getty to the Northwest (12 minute drive); Hollywood to the East (20 minute drive). 20th Century Fox Studios is virtually behind the property. There's a hop-on, hop off bus that goes down Pico 4 blocks away. I haven't looked at the route, but I think it goes through Century City, and I know there's a stop at Pico & Selby, across from the Westside Pavillion shopping mall.

Look at the Hotel Angeleno which is at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and the 405 freeway. It's very near the Getty Center although not walking distance to any restaurants or shops. Brentwood and Westwood are close, and Sunset Boulevard provides great access east to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood and west to the Getty Villa and beaches.

Thanks for all the great info. I'm leaning towards the Residence Inn on Beverly but was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the Brentwood Inn? I've read some good reviews - sounds like it might be a good option for us but would like a little more feedback.

The Le Parc in West Hollywood is where we always stay now that DS and DDIL live in WeHo. It is centrally located and the rooms are suites w/a separate LR and tiny kitchenette. If you ask for the B&B rate, you can get free parking and a full daily (very good!) breakfast for $239/nt. Close to the price you want, esp when you consider the included brkfst.

We just came back from staying there last week, and since this was ~ our 5th time staying there, I began to realize that we were recognizing familiar faces among the employees. When one woman brought our room service brkfst (a luxury I *love* that is only an extra $3 fee over eating in the rstrnt), I mentioned the familiar faces. She told me that many of them have worked there for upwards of 20 years. A good recommendation for a place is low staff turnover!

Note to Surfergirl.....we stayed for 3 months in a VRBO rental directly across Olympic (from that Holiday Inn you mention) and it seemed that it would be hard to imagine it being 2 blocks to any part of Beverly Hills from that location. It *was* very convenient to one of the Big Blue bus lines that went down Olympic and let you off on streets like Camden or Rodeo that were just a 2 or 3 block walk up to Wilshire and the main shopping areas of BH, but that was only after you had taken a 10-15 minute bus ride to get into BH.

@socialworker: Rodeo Drive is in the middle of Beverly Hills. West end of Beverly Hills is directly east of Century City at Spalding Drive. Beverly High School playing field is at the corner of Olympic & Spalding, about 2 blocks east of Century Park West on Olympic, 1 block east of Century Park East. Roxbury Park is one more block at Olympic & Roxbury.

It may be a 10 - 15 min. bus ride to get into the well-known commercial part of Beverly Hills, but it's also a five minute bike ride or 10 minute walk from the Holiday Inn Express to the boundaries of the City of Beverly Hills.

The OP wasn't looking for "the main shopping areas", but even in a car, it's not going to take 10 to 15 minutes to get to those shopping destinations from the Holiday Inn Express, unless stuck in Friday afternoon traffic.

You asked about the Brentwood Inn. Their website looks great.

I have noticed this property for years, as it is on my favorite stretch of Sunset Blvd, and we have thought of staying there but haven't yet. It is definitely on my list of places to try. Talk about a safe neighborhood! Gorgeous homes in this area.

It is laid out like a motel, and you park in front of your room, more or less.

You would need a car in this area. But it would be a very cool part of town to show your son. UCLA is close by, as is Rodeo Drive, Malibu isn't too far, the ocean is reasonably close, etc. Hollywood would be a drive, but nothing is close to EVERYTHING in L.A.

I prefer the Brentwood Inn location over the others mentioned. Are prices good there?

P.S. Free parking at the Brentwood Inn, too.

I am a huge fan of the Brentwood Inn. I stay there when I need an overnight for work in that part of Los Angeles (live in San Diego County). Parking is free and it's very convenient to be right in front of your room. They have a continental breakfast in the morning and the staff is so nice. It's close to Santa Monica and the west side of Los Angeles. Very convenient to the Getty Museum and the 405 Freeway if you want to go to Burbank for a taping or to Universal Studios. They are doing construction on the Sunset Blvd bridge at the 405 so not sure how that is affecting the on and off ramps. I don't think it's a problem.

The main advantage of the Residence Inn on Pico is that it puts you a little bit closer to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the museums on Wilshire Blvd. There can be heavy traffic leaving the Westside heading east so you'd have a few less miles to deal with that. That said, I'd probably go for the Brentwood Inn.

When I was talking about heavy traffic going east that would be the afternoon traffic. You'd get the same traffic heading west in the morning. So if you were at the Residence Inn and were going to the Getty in the morning, you'd get the traffic there. If the Brentwood Inn gives you a good price, I'd go for it.

I'm an L.A. native and work in Beverly Hills. I'd take the Brentwood Inn, the Angeleno, the Palomar or the Thompson over the Residence Inn on Pico... in a heartbeat. I had not mentioned the Brentwood Inn, Palomar or Thompson because of your $200 budget, but, if you can stretch it a bit, you'll find many more options. Just keep taxes and possible parking fees in mind.

This may be too down market for you, but the Holiday Inn Express- Marina del Rey has been renovated recently. It is the same ownership as the Inn at Venice Beach, where I like to stay because of its beach location.

This Holiday Inn Express has free parking, free in-room wi-fi, free hot breakfast buffet, and an outdoor pool/spa (probably rooftop). Rates are very good, definitely under $200.

I just priced it for my visit in November, three nights for one person, and a queen was $142 w/ the freebies.

Might be a good place for a teen. He can fill up on breakfast, and can walk to Venice beach and/or Marina del Rey.

Also bike rentals at the hotel.

Just thought I'd mention it.

It's on Washington Blvd. which is a busy street, but other than that, it is a good location.

http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...questid=217862