Maybe LA bound - what hotels
 

What are good hotels to stay at in LA that would be near beaches, universites, Disneyland, etc. Would like to have a kitchen

There are dozens of universities in the LA metropolitan area. Which ones are you interested in? If you give us a short list, we can start suggesting hotels. Most of the universities are well inland, as is Disneyland, so would you rather be closest to the beach, a particular university or Disneyland?

I would strongly recommend you NOT stay in Anaheim, a rather unattractive stucco-covered Orange County suburban Generica except for Disneyland; and much of the area around DL is pretty grimy and ugly.

SeaSpriteMotel in Hermosa Beach is tidy and has kitchenettes....you'd have a half-hour to 45 min drive to Disneyland or USC or UCLA.

USCL and USC would be the schools we would be interested in - would like to see whatever sports would be going on there, maybe a day at Disney and Universal, lay on the beach, side trip to San Diego, Hollywood, etc. We are a water loving family so is there something near or on some body of water that is fairly close to the above? Thanks

LA is big. There is nothing that is close to all the above. USC is east, in an iffy part of town, don't stay there. Universal is in the Valley, which is the most central to your desired attractions (very close to Hollywood too). Prices will be better there. If you want to stay by the water, you'll pay more and be very far from USC (totally across town), far from Hollywood and Universal. The good side is if you are looking for later in Sept, prices may be down and yet the weather is now very warm. Google for kitchenettes, beach, Southern California. In any event, be prepared to spend a lot of time driving. Try not to drive during rush hours.

I assume you mean UCLA. Both schools are freeway close to beaches; Santa Monica is most popular with tourists. USC and UCLA are about 13 miles apart; UCLA, the farthest west, is about 7 miles from Santa Monica. Just so you have some notion of distances here:

-- Santa Monica to Disneyland (in Anaheim): about 40 miles, all freeway.

-- Santa Monica to Universal Studios Hollywood (in Universal City): about 22 miles, freeway or surface streets.

-- Santa Monica to the heart of Hollywood: 15 miles, and I'd do surface roads (you see more).

-- Santa Monica to San Diego: 130 miles or so.

joesorce's suggestion of the Sea Sprite Motel puts you some 15 miles farther from everything you want to see except Disneyland and San Diego (where you would be slightly closer). Otherwise, it's an offbeat but good idea. Hermosa Beach is a great town.

I cannot think of any hotels I'd recommend in Santa Monica with kitchens, but I know they exist-- the Shangri-La, across from my office, has them, but that place is so worn-out I can't recommend it. Other posters have recommended a place called the Cal-Mar Hotel (converted apartments, all with kitchen), very close to the heart of Santa Monica-- I've never stayed there, but it sounds good.

Anyone else...?

The Del Capri is a funky 50s style motel in Westwood so would be very near UCLA. It has kitchenettes in the one bedroom units. Not on a beach though but as others said, can't have it all. Not a far drive to Santa Monica.

San Diego is 1- 2 hrs away from LA!! Maybe you should split your trip and stay in 2 places. Plenty of places in San Diego on the water if you're interested.

Spliting the trip might be a good idea. Don't really need a full kitchen, just a frig so we will not have to eat out all meals. I always use priceline for my hotels so we probably could get a nice one.