Hi Everyone:
We will be in Los Angeles for 2 days, where would be the best 5 star hotel to stay at? We are 40 ish and like to browse shops, dine at good restaurants, use the spa and pools. We were thinking of the Peninsula Hotel. Or Marina del Rey Ritz. Price limit is 400 per nite.
Thanks!!

Have not stayed at either of your choices but would recommend the Regent Beverly Wilshire for location. You walk out the door & you're on Rodeo Drive. (think Pretty Woman)

The Peninsula is my favorite in Beverly Hills. If you can possibly swing it, reserve a villa suite. They're very different from the rooms in the older part of the hotel and really create a special experience. Suite reservations used to come with a complimentary Audi A8 for your personal use. I haven't seen that promotion recently, though. There is still complimentary chauffeured Rolls Royce service within the BH area, regardless of the room type reserved.
The RC MDR is not as well located if you want proximity to nice shopping and restaurants. No beach either.

Thank -you, I appreciate your input!
Helen

Others to consider: Beverly Hills Hotel-gorgeous grounds, right on Sunset and the Bel Air-secluded in the hills of Bel-Air- Very romantic, love the swan pond.

The Ritz is Marina del Rey is so-so. The location is not that accessible to happening parts of town. If you are set on staying in Marina del Rey, you might as well save some and choose the Mariott. You won't go wrong with the Peninsula and the Regent. The St. Regis is good. But absolutely stay away from the Park Hyatt. It's a dump.

No doubt about it - the Bel-Air Hotel on Canyon Rd., just a long block off Sunset Blvd. Simply in a world of its own. But have you considered going in a different direction and trying a really funky place on the beach in Malibu?

The downside to the Bel-Air is that each of the rooms is different, and some are downright disappointing. The hotel has loads of cache and history. But the lower priced rooms are not always what you'd expect in terms of quality, and certainly not as nice as some of the other hotels mentioned above.

I have a question about what author itleyen was suggesting in staying in Malibu in a funky hotel. Does anyone have any advice about staying in Malibu, where to stay and what the area offers??
Thanks!

I don't think there are hardly any lodging options up in Malibu-- a few motels, a mid-level inn, but that's about it.

What people seem to forget is that LA is not some giant Disneyland, exclusively set up for the tourist trade. It is this that seems to most disappoint first-time visitors. LA is NOT Orlando, thank the zoning gods!!!

Malibu is a RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD-- a very, very rich one. It's set up for the convenience of its citizens. This means that zoning for hotels was not a priority.

The closest high-rated hotels to Malibu will probably be in Santa Monica, and there are a few very nice properties there.

rjw's exactly right. There are a couple beachside inns in Malibu, but they're not high end places, and they're small-ish and somewhat plain.
And people in Malibu want it that way. They pay a lot of money for their privacy and relatively unspoiled surroundings and the last thing they want is tourists hanging around. Would actually diminish property values if some nice hotel opened up there.