jlsct

Poodle:

You might want to read some of the TripAdvisor comments on Figueroa (and Standard)

The Fig has oodles of negatives on TA from service to cleanliness. I know that more people write in to punish than praise, but that still doesn't explain all the seemingly rational people who complained.

As for the Wyndham Checker: Do you mean the Checker Hilton?

Rooms at the Checker Hilton were going for $135 a night on discount when I booked our room at the Omni for $104 a night...

Jean

For anyone considering the Hotel Figueroa and/or the Hilton Checkers Hotel:

My sister-in-law has "lived" at the Hotel Figueroa 3-4 days a week for the past year while working on part of the L.A. Live project nearby. We met up with her many times for dinner downtown and occasionally we went up to her room (different every week). The hotel does have attractive public areas; however, it is a redecorated but unrenovated old building and, as far as the guest rooms/bathrooms go, a painted pig is still a pig. If someone else (your employer, for example) is paying for it, it's OK; but for your own money you can do better.

Another relative stayed at the Checkers a couple of years ago, and we checked it out. The hotel is very boutique-y with small but nice spa facilities. The roof-top swimming pool is especially nice. The public areas and rooms are elegantly decorated. The basic double rooms (that we saw) are rather small. The location of the Checkers is much better than that of the Figueroa. Checkers @ $139 a night is available on their website.

Jean

I should clarify that "location" comparison.

The Hotel Figueroa is very close to Staples Center, the Nokia Theater and the Convention Center. (This area is the L.A. Live project, and construction will continue for the next couple of years. Eventually, there will be a Ritz Carlton Hotel.) Closest metro is the Blue Line near Staples.

Checkers is close to the Music Center, Disney Hall, the Cathedral, 7th Street Marketplace, MOCA, Central Market and the L.A. Library. Olvera Street, Little Tokyo and Union Station are nearby. Closest metro stops are the Red Line at Pershing Square and the Blue Line at 7th and Figueroa. The Gold Line to Pasadena begins at Union Station.

Surfergirl

You will have a great time and congrats on the Omni rate! I have never stayed there, but go there once a month for my Bar lunch and it's nice and well kept up, and adjacent to the office towers. It's also half a block from Disney Hall, an amazing venue, and you can also walk to our wonderful City Hall, see the huge Christmas tree in front, and walk around inside (ah, so beautiful, if you like art deco!), as well as take the elevator up to the top for a bird's eye view of the City from the Tom Bradley room. Tell them Councilman Tom LaBonge suggested you go up there.

During the week day, you can take a 25 cent DASH shuttle to all downtown places -- that's how the downtown workers get around for lunch and that. It will take you to Olvera Street and downtown shopping at 7th. You can also take the Metro (more expensive) that will take you all the way to Hollywood & Vine and points west (a few points west).

Have a great time!

mlgb

There's a Dash stop right in front of City Hall. The "rotunda" in City Hall (the space with the multi-colored granite columns) was the Vatican in the Thornbirds, if anyone here is old enough to remember that.

That ugly building diagonally across from city hall is by the Pritzker-Prize winning architect Thom Mayne. Supposed to look better at night.

http://www.pritzkerprize.com/full_ne...5/caltrans.htm

uga1015

jlsct,

How did your booking through Skoosh go? They have such a much cheaper price on the hotel we are looking at in Los Angeles, but I am trying to find out more about them. I had not heard of them before, but found the deal through Sidestep. I am anxious to book if they are legit, as it is almost half.

Thanks