PeaceOut-That's a very good price for the Holiday Inn Express. My only problem with this hotel is that the location will mean more driving for the OP. The traffic on the 405 where it intersects with the Marina Del Rey Freeway is always slow and in rush hour at a dead stop. I know you wouldn't have to get on the freeway to go to Santa Monica but you'd still use the 405 to get to Hollywood, Pasadena, downtown LA, etc.

I looked at prices for the Brentwood Inn for April and looks like a double/twin room is going for $189 a night and the room with 2 twins for $179 plus tax. Seems like a good price to me. They may offer Auto Club discount if you have it. I think I've used it there but not sure. The hotel Angeleno is running $169 a night or $152 with AAA but parking is $20 a night. So that puts it comparable to the Brentwood Inn. If I stayed at the Angeleno, I'd ask for a high floor and on the side away from the freeway.

You guys rock! We live in DC so we are used to traffic - 1 hour to go 10 miles is our life on the east coast too. I believe the Brentwood Inn is looking better and better. We like off the beaten path spots and usually stay at non mainstream/non chain spots when we go to NYC. Might stay in Marina del Rey the last night or 2 to put us closer to LAX the morning of our departure. With 7 nights, I have to problem moving hotels once.

Is the Angeleno at 405 and Sunset? Because there is construction there, right?

(Note I priced the Holiday Inn Express for just one person, so it would be more for two, I suspect, since breakfast is included.)

Maybe the Brentwood is coming out ahead? I want to stay there myself, the next time I go and have a car.

My visit in November I will be at the Inn at Venice Beach, and I will be relying on my son and his car (and borrowing his bike for my beach rides!)

You need help laying out your six-day itinerary, too. Perhaps a local can help with that. I am completely dyslexic when it comes to directions.

My son and I recently visited the Getty Villa, and we enjoyed it. Be sure to get on-line reservations in advance. They are free, but you might pay for parking (I don't recall). There is a nice outdoor cafe there, for a snack or lunch. The collection of antiquities there is amazing. Especially the art glass.

If you are interested in looking at colleges this early, you could visit Loyola Marymount University. A beautiful Jesuit campus above Marina del Rey. And UCLA is a world-class campus, of course. Also Pepperdine is a favorite of many.

For meals, our all-time dinner fav is the Charthouse, Malibu. Maybe because we have been going there since the early 70s! It has awesome views, food is good, prices are reasonable. A typical So Cal vibe. (Could be updated, but what the heck.)

Also Gladstones 4 Fish has a fantastic outdoor patio above the ocean, and is a great place for lunch.

C&O Trattoria at Venice Beach is a fun family place for Italian. I recommend it for anyone feeding teens, because its complimentary garlic rolls are crowd pleasers. Prices are very good. Not fine dining, but fun.

If your son wants to try surfing, Zuma Beach is above Malibu. There's a surf shop across from the beach, where your son could rent gear and give it a try. Not sure what kind of weather you will have, though.

Maybe your son is interested in the legendary Sunset Strip? The Roxy is still there, and some other classics for live music.

You could drive to the mountains, if you don't mind a long day of it. Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead would be a decent day-trip, if you leave early enough.

Have fun! We love L.A., even though it's crazy out there!

Yes the Angeleno is at Sunset and the 405. It's the same exit you use to go to Brentwood Inn but it seems the off and on ramps are OK. Someone who drives that way more often can give better info.

Like I said before, I love the Brentwood Inn but one downside is that there aren't any restaurants within walking distance. You'd have to drive to Brentwood, Santa Monica, etc for a meal and finding parking can be an issue. I'm not trying to talk you out of the hotel but wanted to let you know. The Angeleno would have the same situation. I am not really familiar with the Royal Palace in Westwood except for the location but I looked at their prices and reviews. It's an older property but great location, free parking and you could get a mini-suite for less than the Brentwood Inn. The advantage of this hotel is you could walk around Westwood in the evening for dinner. There is traffic getting in and out of the Westwood area but sounds like traffic isn't an issue for you. You might want to check out this hotel, also. Not as charming as the Brentwood Inn but seems like a good value.

Westwood is kind of a madhouse, though. Not sure I'd want to stay in the midst of it.

I was wondering about construction noise and dust at the Angeleno?

There is always the Inn at Venice Beach. They have a loft room. $7/day covered parking, free continental breakfast in the inner courtyard. The people who work there have always been really nice. Also for your teen, there are free cookies in the lobby. Also coffee.

It is one block from Venice Beach. Lots of restaurants within walking distance. Funky so cal atmosphere. Renovated and clean.

A week is a long time for two people to stay in one room even if you are out for most of the day. A separate living room is really great to have! I encourage you to at least look at the Le Parc website.

http://www.leparcsuites.com/

Also it is in a nice residential neighborhood while simultaneously being a short walk to many stores and restaurants.

Brentwood Inn is good, but keep in mind that the Sunset Bridge over the 405 is undergoing rebuilding, so you want to steer clear of that area if possible. Brentwood Inn, you could go down Bundy or Barrington to San Vicente, then east to Wilshire or West to the beach.

I agree that Westwood can be a madhouse but it looked like they could get a mini suite at the Royal Palace for a good price. Also good to walk around in the evening for dining options. I still favor the Brentwood Inn but thought the Royal Palace might be worth checking out.

I've heard some people say that the bridge rebuilding hasn't been a problem for getting on and off at Sunset. I've driven by an couple of times recently but honestly didn't pay much attention. Plus the OP is coming next April so hopefully the construction situation will be better then. Not sure when the project is supposed to be complete.

Thanks again. Checked out Le Parc but at $329 a night it is out of my budget range. We are big walkers so don't mind mind a mile walk to find a spot to eat. You all have given me lots to think about!

cnewsplaces-I don't think you'd want to walk far along Sunset Blvd. There are a few sidewalks but not all the way and it is a very busy 4 lane road. You might be able to use a side street but again there are not always sidewalks. Just know if you stay at The Brentwood Inn, you will need to drive to get most of your meals.

HI cnew----the B&B rate at Le Parc, including free parking *and* brkfst is only $239. Call and ask them if it is available for your nights. It almost invariably is, when you ask......

The Le Parc price looks good but I think the OP needs to figure out her itinerary at least a little bit. If she is spending most of her time on the West Side, Pasadena or the Valley, she is going to be doing a lot more driving if she stays in West Hollywood.

However, she did say that they are big walkers and WeHo, Beverly Hills and SM are the only areas where walking anyplace you want to go is even possible.

Whenever we stay at Le Parc, we always go to a salon in Venice to get haircuts. That is a hike, but w/o heavy traffic, we make it in ~30 min--admittedly 45 when traffic *is* heavy.

We actually find the Le Parc to be pretty centrally located, depending on where you are going. Of the places she mentioned it is close to the museums, Hollywood and not too far to the studio lots. It is also only a ~10 min. trip to the Grove and the Farmers Market. Even if you are not a shopper, those are fun places to go.

"Big walkers" would have absolutely no trouble walking along Sunset Boulevard from the Brentwood Inn to the village of Brentwood which begins (on the west side) at Sunset Boulevard and Barrington Avenue. Sidewalks all the way, about 1/2 mile, several dining options including one of my favorite Italian restaurants in L.A., Peppone's. If you decide to drive, there is parking on Barrington Court. You'll want a good map of this area because the streets are all off-grid.

"Big walkers" could also walk south on Bundy Drive from the Brentwood Inn to San Vicente Boulevard to the other commercial area of Brentwood. Sidewalks all the way, at least a mile one way, but fewer dining options.

Isn't Bundy Drive the street where Nicole Simpson lived? Where O.J. killed her?

If you like to walk, I'd suggest a place nearer the beach, because you can walk forever up and down the beach walks. My son did a fundraiser skateboard event, and I think they went from Santa Monica pier down to Hermosa Beach.

Jean-Looked at the satellite map and there are sidewalks heading east on Sunset, looks like it's as you head west that there are not sidewalks or it's sporadic for them. Also thanks about the tip for Barrington Court parking. I am always looking for parking when I am that area.

In doing more research, I found what I think is a great rental in West Hollywood. Near Fountain and N. La Brea. One block from Jones. Is this a good neighborhood. It includes parking, sleeps 3, has a kitchen and has gotten great reviews from previous renters. For the week, it looks to be about $875 and they have a parking space. Thoughts from you locals. Promise if you head east to DC or NYC, I'll offer you loads of advice.

One block from Jones?? What's that? Do you mean June St.? That rental sounds like it's either at the eastern-most edge of WEHO, or actually in Hollywood. I'm personally not crazy about the area, combo druggie/artsy college drop outs who think they're going to get "discovered" or become a rock n roll star. At least I wouldn't be walking alone at night in that area, although I would certainly walk around there in a group. I do have friends how have, in the past, lived in that area. High police patrol, but that includes the helicopters shining bright lights down in people's backyards.

I do know that WeHo has a good side and a not-so-good side. The hotel I told you about is in a lovely residential neighborhood on the good side. I will ask DS and DDIL who live in WeHo about that rental location, but could you verify the street name?