Santa Monica - Loews or JW Marriott - please help me decide
 

After spending more hours than I care to admit,I have finally narrowed down our 2 night stay in LA to Santa Monica. Now, I need to decide between these two hotels. I want to be very close to the beach as we will be traveling in August, but also want to visit Hollywood to check out the sights. Originally, I booked the Renaissance in Hollywood but a friend who lives in Fullerton thought that Hollywood should be more of a day trip in August!

I know the Georgian is well liked but it is now the same price as these two hotels and I would rather be closer to the beach and have a pool/spa. Shutters and the other high end resorts are completely out of our price range.

My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversay so we want something nice, laid back, but still a beautiful, fun area. We are also visitng San Diego for a couple of nights first. Please help, I've now got computer square eyes from all this researching!!
Thanks, Jayne

I have stayed at the Loew's and it is nice - room was very small though. I could stretch a bit out my window & see the ferris wheel on the Pier which was nice. However, last time in L.A., (have been many times) -- stayed at the Doubletree on 4th St, I think. Room was wonderful (huge) & much cheaper than Loew's....If I remember correctly, $205 vs $160. Loew's is right on the beach however.

I've stayed at LeMerigot and the Renaissance and preferred the Renaissance. I thought the JW Marriott was overpriced. But the Hollywood renaissance has gotten much higher $$ lately too, and Santa Monica is a nice place to stay...so I'd pick the JW over Loews. Don't overpay for an ocean view; ours was very limited and definitely not worth the extra dough!

Check out the Hotel Oceana - very pretty, smaller hotel beautiful rooms view of the beach. Check out their website. Also, a bit nicer and pricier and closer the Promenade is the Fairmont. These hotels are much nicer than the onesyo mentioned. Also go to tripadvisor.com for reviews.

We have stayed at the Loews in Santa Monica, and honestly I would not go back. The pool area IS really nice. However, the rooms are small, and the beach area itself is not that nice.I just don't think its worth the price. I will suggest the Beach House in Hermosa Beach as a special place for an anniversary, and its not all that far from Beverly Hills and Hollywood. You can check it out at www.beach-house.com . It is located on a great stretch of beach.

Thanks for all the quick responses!!

Nnrobnz: The Doubletree is now more money than Marriott or Loew's. $318 in August as opposed to $229 Marriott!

Frankie: Why do you think Marriott over Loew's?

GLM Designs: Oceana has not come out with rates, but looks expensive based on this year's prices. Fairmont is $320 plus tripadvisor reviews are mixed.

Jd: Beach house starts at $315 per night for basic standard room, while Loew's partial view with balcony is $269.

Any other thoughts?? I really want to book soon to get the best room available!

hi again, haven't stayed at Loews, but I do think it's a small step up from Loews; they're right next to one another and the JW is definitely more attractive, the Loews looks more generic.
Plus, I think Marriott overall is a better chain than Loews.
If you want to stay somewhere really special for your 25th

oops posted too soon; I was going to suggest the Beverly Hills Hotel for a really special hotel experience!
But if you want the beach, again, Santa Monica's a great location.

If you chose Loews, and a balcony is important to you, ask if it is a full balcony. I think most of the partial ocean view rooms only have a step out balcony, and it seemed to be about 2 feet wide by 5-6 ft long.

Check out Channelroadinn.com.
I've bookmarked this for ages as a place to try for a special occasion.....cheaper, lovely and near the ocean. So far, no special occasion....what can I say?!

Thanks again! Both Beverly Hills Hotel and Channel Road Inn look great for a unique experience! I'm checking into both. Is there a good scenic drive from San Diego to Santa Monica? Thinking of flying into San Diego and flying out of LA! Any thoughts?

RE: Scenic drive between SD and SM. Not the entire length. Portions of I-5 heading north out of SD will afford views of the Pacific, but Coast Highway is a bit hard to navigate IMHO heading out of SD. You could do the following:

-- Take I-5 north out of SD into southern Orange County.

-- Exit in San Clemente and head to El Camino Real, which will become Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1).

-- Take PCH up into Seal Beach. There are some beautiful stretches of ocean vistas, especially through Dana Point and Laguna Beach.

-- Once you cross the county line into Long Beach, take a right on Westminster, then a left onto Studebaker, then catch I-405 north (to Santa Monica). PCH goes through some ugly portions between Long Beach and Palos Verdes.

-- Take the 405 north into west LA, then take I-10 west into Santa Monica. The 10 turns into PCH again at the McClure Tunnel.

The BH Hotel, as its name suggests, is in Beverly Hills, well inland. Great place-- just no beach nearby. I'm not familiar with the Channel Road Inn (which would be a turn off of PCH, incidentally)-- but I agree it sounds great.

Of your first choices, I'd lean lightly toward le Mérigot (the JW Marriott)-- without either being my choice. I'd prefer the Georgian (historic) or the Fairmont Miramar (fine property).

Thanks rjw, very clear, helpful driving directions!!