Please recommend a hotel to stay in Santa Monica, moderately priced.

The board is littered liberally with Santa Monica hotel recommendations, and I'm guessing that's one reason this request is just sitting here.

As framed, it's a little vague as well. Santa Monica covers a fair amount of land, and if you want to be anywhere near the beach you'll pay for the pleasure. Without an idea of your budget, it will be a bit difficult to suggest anything. I think the Fairmont Miramar is a great hotel and fairly priced for the area and the level of amenities; but I will imagine you'd find $329 a night (current best rack rate) to be a bit steep. Bear in mind: Southern California is a fairly popular vacation destination.

I'm going to list some hotels near the Fairmont in downtown SM (which is actually the coastal area near the SM Pier-- where my office is located). These will not be super-expensive:

-- Best Western Ocean View (not super-luxurious, but acceptable and clean)
-- Georgian (classic Hollywood Déco-era hotel)
-- Viceroy (Brit-chic boutique hotel)
-- Sheraton Delfina (a bit off the coast, but perfectly fine)
-- Huntley (independent property, open for years and years, recently freshened-up)
-- Doubletree Guest Suites Santa Monica (reasonably nice hotel, with one fairly big drawback: next to an on-ramp to Interstate 10)
-- Bayside Hotel (not the very best, but perfectly acceptable)
-- Hotel Oceana (just north of downtown, very nice)

This list should get you started. Sites like Tripadvisor will steer you to a lovely place called the Ambrose, but beware: This (admittedly) nice hotel is 20 blocks from the beach, entirely surrounded by the campus of St. John's Hospital and its associated medical facilities and offices.

Good luck choosing!

thank you

I just booked a room at the Loews for $269.00 a night, web special. Close to the beach, not sure how it is but it looks nice.

Do your homework (lots of it) before you choose. I've stayed at several of the hotels that rjw mentions (with stays at the Huntley and Sheraton for extended periods of time) and all of these hotels have their quirks. Some are noisy due to being right on the street. Some, like the Huntley, are old hotels that have been renovated, but the bldg. is really old so you get quirks with that (like really loud elevators and if you are anywhere near them, it is hard to sleep). Some are much more near the action at night, some are more remote.

As rjw said, these are not super expensive by Santa Monica standards. But they are not what I consider moderately priced when I travel on my own dime. Santa Monica hotels are relatively expensive. So "moderately priced" takes on a new meaning there and may not be what you are thinking.

Donna, that's a good rate for Loews.

you mentionned the Sheraton....how was it? Safe area? should I park at hotel or cheap place close..

anything in he $250 range during high season is "moderately priced" in Santa Monica. The popular options are Loews, tthe Viceroy, and the Fairmont.

The Sheraton is across the street from Santa Monica High School, and about the equivalent of 4 blocks from the beach. Free underground parking for guests- the parking was a little tight sometimes but the attendant will park your car once you get down into the underground lot. Very quick and easy access to the 10 hwy.

A lot of people don't like the area at night. I walked to and from Main St. for dinner and shopping and had no problems. You need a cab or drive to get to the promenade shopping and dining area at night.

I liked the Sheraton, stayed there several long stretches last year for 7-12 days at a time. Some people think it is too remote from the hopping area of the Promenade. And if you are going because you want to be very near the beach, there are hotels that are better located. Sheraton dining room is pretty empty at night, everyone goes out to eat dinner, but the bar is pretty good.