I am planning to visit my daughter at UCLA along with my two teenage sons. Can you recommend a hotel either near UCLA that is clean and not too expensive or possibly in Santa Monica near the beach. Perhaps all the hotels on the beach are expensive. How long does it take to get from UCLA to the beaches? I think I will rent a car while in LA.

Not sure if they have rooms big enough for an adult and two sons, but baysidehotel.com is reasonable. Also check out hibrentwood.com, very close to UCLA with free shuttle. They sometimes have a coupon rate available from roomsavers.com

UCLA is about a 12 min drive to the beach. The UCLA house is a great place to stay,right on campus, but you must qualify. I believe that visiting a student might be acceptable. You should check it out.

Tracy's ideas were good. The closest hotel to UCLA not on campus is the W on Hilgard. The second closest is the Doubletree on Wilshire.

You should rent a car while in L.A., but if you don't, you can take the blue bus along Wilshire to the beach. I'd say 12 minutes is a little underestimating the drive unless you're going there around midnight. 15 to 20 minutes is more like it, with traffic lights, to the beaches in Santa Monica.

We recently stayed at the Holiday Inn express on Olympic About 1-2 miles east of Westwood. I would guess it's about 10-15 minute drive to ucla. About $100 with a common discount (AAA etc). It's not as close to the campus as you might want to be but it is a consideration if you have availability or price problems closer in.Hotels on Ventura boulevard in the "valley" area are also a consideration; but those too are at least 15 minutes out. There is a holiday Inn right on the 405 near UCLA that might be the right price. (amazingly noisy with the freeay though!)
There is a Best Western in Santa Monica on Santa Monica near 20th or 30th street i believe that was about $95.
I don't see how you can do la without a car.
good luck.

Hilgard House is a small hotel directly across from the W in Westwood - 1/2 block from UCLA. About 160 including continental breakfast. hilgardhouse.com The Doubletreee is another option. I'm not sure what/if either hotel charges for parking.

Also, don't rule out Beverly Hills - there are many hotel options there.

Has anyone stayed at the Century Wilshire Hotel in Westwood? I've been meaning to check it out (100 bucks a night on Expedia).

Or, at Hotel Reeves in Beverly Hills? The location is fabulous but I haven't been inside.