I'm going to be in LA for 3 nights and 1 of my friends is going to meet me for a couple of dinners. He is staying near the airport, Manhattan Beach....do you have suggestions on where I can stay? I'm going to ballpark about $100 a night (OMG am I being naive?). I don't know LA very well at all, so I'm a little lost on this. Safety & clean rooms are of course key; I don't need nightlife.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Stay away from the hotels on Century Blvd, right near LAX. Stick to the beach cities of Manhattan, Hermosa & Redondo, and you should be fine. Here are some that I have seen for around $100/night on weekends.

Doubletree El Segundo
Manhattan Beach Marriott
TownPlace Suites on Aviation Blvd.(includes breakfast)
SpringHill Suites on Aviation Blvd. (includes breakfast)
Holiday Inn Express, Hermosa Beach
Best Western Sunrise, Redondo Beach (across from Marina)

All of these are in areas that I would consider safe, close to the beach, LAX, freeways and shopping. Most offer free parking. Weeknights are generally more expensive because of business travel. You might want to check Travelzoo for specials.

WaveHotelMB.com would probably come in at under $100 if you want Manhattan Beach. It's formerly the Holiday Inn Express if you're looking for reviews to read.
I don't think that many of the hotels in MB have a free shuttle from and to the airport. Hilton Garden Inn El Segundo would be a good choice if you want something with a shuttle, yet not far from Manhattan Beach.

The great majority of places in MB (including the Wave mentioned above) are on Sepulveda Blvd., which is a very busy state highway/strip commercial arterial well over a mile from the actual beach. As such, staying there gets you - IMO - all the downsides of the Century Blvd. places - traffic, parking lot wastelands, hike to chain restaurants, etc. - with none of the upsides, like shuttle service to the airport or easy freeway access.

If you're splitting your time between MB and the ball park (assuming Dodgers, not Angels) then I actually think staying near the airport is a superior choice. You can use Priceline for a 4-star place at LAX and almost certainly break the $100-a-night barrier, and have much more convenient access to the freeway system as well as airport shuttles. (A taxi from the airport to MB will be in the $20 - $25 range each way; figure that into your cost of lodging, unless you plan to rent a car.)

If you do plan to have a car, then the MB or El Segundo places will be fine; but in that case the shuttle question is moot.

There is also a Holiday Inn Express Hermosa Beach, which is about half a mile to the beach and if you prepay should come in pretty close to $100.

What do you gain by staying in Hermosa or Manhattan? A safer location and walking distance to the beach. Yes, some of us Angelenos are capable of walking a mile or a half mile.

BTW there is a $5 shuttle bus called "Ocean Express" that runs in a loop thru Manhattan Beach and to the Century Blvd Hotels if you decide to Priceline it.

http://www.gatewaytola.org/index.cfm...ocean-express/

Wow. WOW!! Thanks, everyone, for the replies. These help a lot, you have no idea.

hahaha Gardyloo, sorry, I meant ballpark PRICE, not go to a ballpark! Also no need to be by the water since I live in Hawaii. But good advice, all of you. I'm going to research each item you gave me, right now. I'm so excited. and grateful.

hahaha Gardyloo, sorry, I meant ballpark PRICE, not go to a ballpark!



(There's a funny running thread on Flyertalk.com called "Misunderstand this post and reply" - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni/...ly-thread.html - that would seem to apply.)

The Marriott on Rosecrans in Manhattan is within walking distance to a number of restaurants (most of them chain, but upscale chain like PF Chang, Daily Grill, McCormick and Schmick, etc.) and there is a nice movie place across the street, Pacific Cinema 16. You might have to try Priceline to get it for $100 but on the weekend who knows?