Los Angeles hotel advice for April
 

Anyone have experience with the Hilgard house or the Elan or similar properties that are in safe, quiet neighborhoods. I am coming with my son in April for 7 days and usually stay at residence inns or starwood properties but would like to try something different. Thinking of spending 5 nights at one of these hotels (we will have a rental car so free parking is a big plus) and then moving to Manhattan Beach for 2 nights. Also tips on getting tickets to the taping of a show? He's 14 so would like to get to see something that would interest him. Also, does anyone know of any special graffiti art tours? We'd like to spend a couple of days doing the usual spots and the rest of the time exploring and seeing/doing more off the beaten path things. I'd like to keep the hotel to $200 per night including tax, parking, etc.
Thanks

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...el-Los_Angeles

Pretty nice great loction rooms in the addition are on the
smallish side but fine with a car for conferences at UCLA Wilshire area when I was there last.

These days honestly prefer to pick up great deals bidding
www.priceline.com www.betterbidding.com good tips for this.
Recently for me the Westin Bonaventure $69.

Manhattan Beach a nice area usually go with the Emabassy
Suites has a nice vibe great rooms a few blocks from the beach
great price for a suite hotel with all the perks also
pretty close to LAX,

Happy Journey,

No Embassy Suites in Manhattan Beach, but there is one in El Segundo on Imperial, just south of the airport.

I like the idea of a suites hotel in El Segundo or Manhattan Beach. There are actually a bunch of them, and they should have free parking.

Free parking is going to be a hard find in areas like Westwood or West Hollywood, so just factor it into the total per night cost. I also like Hotel Palomar Westwood, and the Hotel Angeleno (not really in a neighborhood, though).

You might look into staying downtown. It has changed a lot in the last 10 years. You can find often a good price at a downtown LA hotel especially over a weekend. The Millenium Biltmore is one to try, and parking at the Pershing Square garage would be less than the hotel rate.

For a mother/son it is not a good idea to use Priceline since you cannot guarantee two beds. Hotwire does I believe allow you to customize your request. I often find specials on Expedia or Orbitz that beat the hotel's website.

There are really no "usual spots" to visit in Los Angeles, it is a huge city filled with everything you can imagine from the fossils at the Page Museum/La Brea Tarpits to the plastic-faced fossils shopping on Rodeo Drive. Two days is not nearly enough time for a city with so much to offer, so I would get an itinerary down pat and then select a hotel that is convenient to your plans. You don't want to spend all your time in traffic.

If you can plan so that your "city" days are Sat and Sun and your beach days during the week, it would help a little since traffic is easier to handle on Sat and Sun, especially in the mornings.

Griffith Observatory is a must, have your son watch "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Charlie's Angels 3" to get an idea of the awesome setting. It's very convenient to a day visiting Hollywood or Universal or Warner Brothers...then ending up at Griffith around sunset. The Wild West Museum nearby is rated by tourists as the most unexpectedly enjoyable attraction in L.A.

Hilgard House is older and basic and even a bit drab, but notable for the neighborhood, you'll get a real feel for the hustle and bustle of the westside and are a hop skip jump from both Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. (Hotel parking is for smaller/mid size cars only, vans are tough to manage in their compact parking lot.) If you can get Best Western Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood in at under $200 (I think parking is $14 here)...it's another good place to consider, but again...it depends on your final itinerary.

www.discoverlosangeles.com
www.seeing-stars.com

There are a couple of hotels I enjoyed staying at with my son when he was about that age. They are both at the top end of your budget, but they are fun, have pools and are near tourist areas.

One is the Farmer's Daughter Motel. It's right across the street from CBS, and an easy walk to Farmer's Market. http://www.farmersdaughterhotel.com/

Another is the Magic Castle Hotel. http://magiccastlehotel.com/ It's next door to the famous Magic Castle private magician's club. You can only go there by invitation from a member, or if you are staying at the hotel. This is a wild and mysterious melange of old magicians and lots of magic shows in the variety of dramatic rooms. Under 21 year olds can only go for Saturday and Sunday brunch. http://www.magiccastle.com/visiting/menus/brunch.cfm

Up the hill from the Magic Castle is a historic Japanese restaurant with an incredible view, Yamashiro. http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/about/

The Magic Castle is also walking distance from Grauman's Chinese Theater and Hollywood and Vine, where is it easy to pick up tickets to be in the audience for shows, not the best ones, though. You'll have to check on age limits for audiences, it's usually over 18 now, although it didn't use to be.

The Magic Castle Hotel is also quite near the Hollywood Bowl, which is lots of fun for music and picnicking. http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/index.cfm

Near Manhattan Beach, there are several economical suite hotels, which include free parking and breakfast. Check the TownPlace Suites and the Springhill Suites on Aviation blvd. There is also a Residence Inn on Sepulveda in MB. All are Marriott properties.

For TV Show tapings, check
www.tvtickets.com
www.on-camera-audiences.com/
www.tvtix.com
Most of the shows have a minimum age requirement of 18, but some of the Disney Channel shows allow younger kids.

My sister and I stayed at the Elan hotel about a year and a half ago. It was in a pleasant neighborhood- mostly residential, and only a few blocks from the beverly center. Great breakfast buffet in the morning and wine/snacks in the evening.

The room was not huge, but quiet and immaculate. We had two very comfortable beds and the shower was great. Loved the soaps and shampoos. Staff was very helpful. You can park in the building for a fee, but we found street parking right outside the building.

I'd stay there again in LA.