annetti

I think either downtown LA or Santa Monica would be a great choice, but inexpensive they are not. I have no idea what the Biltmore charges, but I've had lunch there, and I know it must be high. Just guessing, but I suspect there may be more inexpensive hotel options in Santa Monica, but for someone coming from New England, they may get sticker shock when they see the cost of hotels in LA. When you say you don't want to break the bank, what do you mean? What is your budget? I think some of these hotels suggeted above may be pretty pricey.

paula1470

When I said don't stay downtown, I was thinking more that the OP would be there with 2 teenagers. There is no doubt that downtown LA is much better and there are certainly many venues. However, unless they buy tickets to a show at the Ahmanson or a sporting event at Staples Center, it's very quiet in the evenings.

I also know that my daughters wouldn't want to spend the whole time in museums. I just think that teenagers would like Santa Monica, Hollywood & Highland, Melrose Avenue, Venice Beach and The Grove a whole lot better than downtown LA. That doesn't mean you couldn't stay downtown and take the bus or train to those locations.

I did say that since they live in New England that Santa Monica might not be that special to them. However, the coast in that area is definitely very different than what they see at home.

I agree about the Getty. If there was one museum to see that would be the one and they would have much easier access from Santa Monica or Westwood.

preciousbane-Where you stay might depend on where your friend is going to take you once you hook with her. Since your friend has a car and lives in Sherman Oaks, she would probably be taking you to locations on the West Side of LA (Santa Monica, etc). In that case, you could see different sites in downtown.

The Staples Center is just an arena that is home to the LA Lakes, Clippers, Kings and a few other teams. They also use it for concerts.
You can go to www.musiccenter.org to see what's playing at the Ahmanson, Mark Taper forum, etc.

scluvsrain

I used to work downtown and I know the Biltmore well, but I agree with some of the posters here that you should NOT stay downtown, especially with 2 teenagers. You could always stay at Universal Studios and probably get a better hotel rate there, then you can do City Walk, Universal Studios, AND have immediate access to the Red Line which can take you in a matter of minutes straight to Hollywood AND even downtown if you want to see the museums, etc. Then you can get a super shuttle for your son to the airport from the hotel, if needed. If you really want to go to the beach, a bus would be cheapest. If you want to stay at the beach, I would suggest the Doubletree Guest Suites on 4th in Santa Monica which are nice and alot cheaper than Loews. Besides the beach there, you can visit the 3rd Street Promenade which has shopping, restaurants and movie theatres, plus Venice Boardwalk is within walking distance as is the Santa Monica Pier.

socialworker

Listen to your friend who gave you good advice. Don't stay downtown!! SM Doubletree Guest Suites is a good suggestion. Look up the website (Hilton, as Doubletree is a Hilton property) and click on special offers to see if you can get a good rate and/or free breakfast.

preciousbane

I am back from LA and wanted to say thanks for all the incredible advice given on this site. We ended up in Santa Monica at the Cal Mar (which was a great deal and perfect for a family.) We also had a couple nights at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City close to my friend which was run-down, and well, icky, starting off with getting stuck with a smoking room when we had requested non-smoking etc. you can imagine the rest.

I really appreciate your help!!

tracys2cents

Thanks for reporting back!
Glad to hear that Cal Mar is still worth recommending as reviews are mixed on the place (I guess some people expect the Ritz.)

Sportsmen's is sometimes-recommended here (but not by me!)...I suppose it would do if you have friends nearby or business in the Valley, but for touring L.A - no way.

socialworker

HI precious..--could you tell me if the Cal Mar has AC? I looked at the website and ceiling fans were prominent which made me wonder...I know that sometimes, esp in SM, it is not necessary for temperature control, but I would want it just in case and for noise issues. We will be in CA on the last wknd in July and would like to consider this hotel. Thanks!

preciousbane

Social worker,(which I am too by the way), there wasn't air-conditioning that I could find! The ceiling fans seemed to do the trick, and by the way, while in the Valley it was blistering, there was a noticeable difference in temperature and humidity when we got to Santa Monica. Of course, I have no idea what July would be like.

Cal Mar suites did the trick for us. Yes, there are cracks in the concrete and it looks Floridian in a sixties kind of way, but that was charming too. My daugher and I were really happy there.

schnauzer

preciousbane,
Interested in your post. My 16 yr old son and myself and going to go to LA for 3-4 days in January. We are looking for something central to do the main touristy things and like you I do not want to drive. can you give some more details please about what you saw and how you got there and back. Did you use public transport and were you near a metro line? Any info would be helpful, we are only in the planning stages. we are looking to do: Warner Bros studio tour, maybe the Universal studios as well. Disneyland for the day? Is it too far by public transport? General LA looking around for someone who has never been to the states before (my son) I have done a few things in LA but hired a car (was with others, made for easier navigating and staying on the proper side of the road - we are coming from Australia.)

LadyOLeisure

I would suggest staying in Beverly Hills or Westwood near UCLA. In Beverly Hills we have stayed at a really fun little "boutique" hotel, which is likely to have a deal in January for under $200/night.

Maison140
Address: 140 South Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
Website: www.maison140.com

At a small place like this, the concierge desk is wonderful and will help you do whatever you want.

We went for a long weekend with our two grown kids (our cson was stationed at Camp Pendleton in SD at the time) and we really had a blast.

We spent a fun morning at Venice Beach one day, and the "kids" rented roller skates on the Boardwalk while we just sat and "people watched."

We also enjoyed Santa Monica. A friend of ours manages a fun and inexpensive restaurant on the Pier, called Rusty's. which was another fun poace but there are better restaurants for eating in, unless you just want pizza or burgers.

tracys2cents

Schnauzer...considering what you want to do in LA, I would hop the Flyaway bus to Union Station and then the metro up to Hollywood. hotelcelebrity or Magic Castle Hotel or the Comfort Suites on Highland. From here you can catch the metro to Universal, and can get a guided tour bus trip to Disneyland. You can also catch City bus to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Fairfax (Farmer's Market/ The Grove).

The hollywood hotels are also just one 20 minute bus ride up to the front door of Warner Brothers.

schnauzer

That's a great help tracey2cents. I have read so many posts re LA, and am totally confused. Seems like there is really no where close to everywhere - of course in such a large sprawling city that would be impossible. (nice but impossible. I tried Lady O'Leisure's suggestion about 140Maison, but they appear to either be closed or completely booked out for January, seemed a bit odd. I will look at your suggestions. thanks so much.

preciousbane

Schnauzer:

After my experience, I'd recommend Santa Monica. You've already read how I felt about the Cal Mar suites- we were very comfortable, it's a good place for a family, and having a kitchen was a great feature. ( but I wasn't looking for a "glam" experience . . . nor could I afford it!). It looked as if you could arrange bus tours of the studios through the concierge, and you have the advantage of being right on the Pacific, or two blocks away, which was wonderful. Also the air quality was totally different, about 5 - 10 degrees cooler than the Valley. We didn't even get to explore Venice and I hear that's lots of fun. I spent an afternoon in Beverly Hills and found it quite dull actually. Just a lot of impossibly expensive stores, or so it seemed (my kids were bored to tears), and again, proximity to ocean really sends me. All the best, preciousbane

schnauzer

Preciousbane, I should probably start a new thread on this but if you are still reading.... Did you use public transport? You didn't say. Was it easy from Santa Monica. We will be there in January so escape from the heat will not be a problem.

Tracey2cents Celebrity Hotel in the Hollywood area looked OK but the other two (sorry Tracey) had terrible reviews. It does appear to be a more central area but what does Gritty mean? It is a kin to Grotty? We live near the beach in Australia so the beach thing is not important to us, location, but safe location is. My son wants to go shopping - don't really know why he hates shopping at home, but he thinks Amercian shops will be different. We don't want designer stuff (read Rodeo Dr) but a normal good shopping mall. He is into military things in a big way - army cadet at school here. Did you find any good shops on your travels?

If the travelling to places like Warner Bros and Universal are easy from Santa M, then it sounds like the place. Taking tours is an option but I don't like being tied to other people's agendas. Did you find it easy to get around? That is my big question. What other things did you do that might appeal to a 16yr old boy? thanks for your help or to anyone else who can chip in.

paula1470

Schnauzer-I would have to go along with tracy2cents recommendations as to the area to stay. Just look at some of the other hotels on tripadvisor. I was just looking there and saw reviews for a Hollywood Orchid Suites. They have kitchens and although sounds like the furniture is somewhat dated, overall the reviews were good. Seemed like lots of Australians had stayed there judging from the reviews.

As much as I love Santa Monica (and you will see that I recommended it to preciousbane), it you won't have a car and want to go to Universal, Warner Bros and shop with your son, then the location around Hollywood and Highland is probably your best bet. I always have a car when I am in LA so am not sure exactly how you would get to Universal from Santa Monica but I don't imagine it would be easy. In Hollywood you can pick up the metro or the bus to go to everything you want to see.

For your son shopping I think he would like Melrose Ave, The Grove and the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. If you live close to the beach now that it isn't the big fasination for you as for others. Your son probably would enjoy Venice Beach just to people watch.

Hollywood is pretty gritty although the area around Hollywood and Highland where you would be staying isn't bad. It is certainly very convenient to get to the sights from there without a car. If you had a car, then I would say to stay in Santa Monica. Maybe someone else on this forum knows of an easier way to get to Universal and Warner bros from Santa Monica.

AprilA

Not exactly sure why I am answering this since you were so mean to me on another post but I am not like that so here is my info.

Santa Monica would still be your best base. It is beautiful, it is clean and your teen would love it! Santa Monica is the best of LA!! The beaches are great and public transportation is very convenient and easy.

Many hotels are expensive here but there is a hotel called Hotel California and it is in a super location and has rooms with enough space and privacy for you. Only drawback is no air but most likely you will be out sightseeing most of the day and at night you don't need it because it is right on coast and coastal CA has so much lower temps than just barely inland.

Driving in LA is not bad at all. I live in the mtns of NC (I am 9 miles from a traffic light). If you want take a shuttle from LAX to your hotel and then rent a car close to the hotel for a day or two, turn the car back in and take the shuttle back to LAX. Loews Hotel (right next to Hotel Califonia has a Hertz desk). You can drive up the PCH to Malibu, beautiful easy drive! Lots of beaches to just pull off the road and enjoy. Sunset at Pointe Dume is awesome. It is also very easy to get to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach.

The pier at Santa Monica makes for a great place to hang out at night. Some rides, shops, arcades. Lots of teens here.

Hope you have a good trip, again, driving in LA is not that bad. My first trip, I felt like you and I took the shuttle and rented a car for a couple days at the Hotel. Two weeks ago, we were back and drove everywhere, including the airport and it truely was no problem and I am not a city person. Any of the hotels can give you a nice map with easy driving directions. We used it and went everywhere we wanted and never got lost for felt awkward.

Your son will love Thailand. I took my daughter there for spring break and we both agree, we would go back in a heartbeat.

AprilA

Sorry about the above mis-post, you were not mean to me on another post, someone else posting on this was and I saw their name and it was farther down and I thought I was at the top.
Again, I hope you have a nice trip and sorry for saying that on the wrong persons post.

paula1470

April-Not sure if you are answering preciousbane or schnauzer. Preciousbane already had her trip, stayed in Santa Monica at the Cal Mar Suites and was happy with her choice. The thread has now switched to schnauzer who is coming from Australia to LA next January. Although I always tell people to try driving in LA because it's not that bad, I can understand schnauzer's reluctance since she would not only have to deal with directions and traffic but also driving on the other side of the road.
If she can find an easy way to get to Universal and Warner Bros from Santa Monica, then she should stay there. If not, the Hollywood area would work best for what she and her son want to do. She also lives near the beach in Australia so that's not as important to her. Schnauzer-Santa Monica definitely has better scenery but the Hollywood/Highland area is a pretty safe area with plenty of tourists walking around.

schnauzer

Thanks Paula, I think we will go with the Hollywood area.

April, I got really worried when I started to read your post, I didn't think I had ever been mean to anyone on this forum, let alone really mean . I was glad to see you correct yourself - phew!!

I have been reading the new Lonely Planet Guide to California and it claims the freeways in LA are the worst in the USA!! Not for me, as Paula says not only the traffic but on the wrong side of the road to boot!

Thanks everyone for your help.

Shea

Good choice schnauzer. tracy2cents is right on the money. Comfort Inn (there's also a Best Western across the street)is nothing special but it's clean & the location is great. Just a short walk of a couple of blocks to the Metro that will get you to the front entrance to Universal Studios. Also just a couple of blocks to the Kodiak Theater, nice facility where the Academy Awards are presented. Nice restaurants & shops in the complex, plus a terrific photo op of the Hollywood sign. Mann's Chinese Theater is just down the street from the Kodiak facility along the star studded sidewalk. Paramount Studios is a longer walk, but we did it at 70 years old, via the Hollywood cemetery stopping at Pinks on the return for a hotdog break. The Beverly Center is a short & easy drive that is loaded shopping possibilities. The Hollywood Bowl is just a short walk up the hill. I could go on & on but I will end noting that the area was clean & safe.