I am taking 2 teenagers to LA for 4 days and need a 2 bedroom suite. There are limited properties that offer 2 bedroom suites and one of them is the Summerfield Suites in Torrance. I had planned to stay at the SS in El Segundo and I actually like the El Segundo area... it has lots of stores nearby, including a mall and grocery stores.
Is Torrance bad? I see that there are lots of hotels in the immediate area, so it must be a commercial area.
Any help is appreciated!!!!

Oops, I meant 3 teenagers. 2 boys and 1 girl + myself.
Also, is you know other decent properties with 2 bedroom suites, let me know.
Thx!

Generally, I think locals would say Torrance is allot better area than El Segundo. The property values certainly seem to support that.

Torrance is a large city and very suburban. There are shops galore including Del Amo Mall which was once the largest mall in the US. Hawthorne Blvd. is miles of grocery stores, car dealerships, shopping centers, etc...

I lived in Torrance for a few years-- it's Suburbia, USA, but not at all awful. Being that it's not just south of LAX (like El Segundo is), the housing values are somewhat higher. It's basically exactly as RPV describes it (BTW, do you *live* in RPV? Lucky you!!). Not a lot of touristic interest. Happily, you're just a quick jaunt on PCH to Hermosa Beach or Redondo Beach. The hotel you're looking at is close to the I-405 (and, unhappily, near Amtrak tracks), and looks like a typical Summerfield Suites property-- clean and no-nonsense, in a basically safe area. You will be driving everywhere.

Thanks so much!!! I am planning to stay at the hotel only at night and I am totally willing to stay a few miles further down the 405 if I can have my own room and escape the kids at night
Thanks again...

Torrance is a bit better than El Segundo.

Better choices would be Quality Inn Hermosa Beach or Residence Inn Manhattan Beach.

I have to say clark has suggested two really good alternatives. Even if those two hotels don't offer two-bedroom suites, the better locations might offset the cost of an extra hotel room. And these two properties are only a bit farther from the 405.

Can you tell me why these properties would be better choices?
Location? Facilities? Attractions nearby? Security?
Thanks!

Except for shopping malls, Torrance is far away from anything you'd want to see. The other hotels are 5-10 minutes from the beach area where you and the kids would have more fun (and it's cooler).

Hey rjw... I stayed at the Queen Mary last week. I really enjoyed it, even though it was creepy when I checked in late Wednesday night. My family joined me Thursday and did not enjoy it as much as I. It grew on them when we did the self tour. It's like staying in a museum. In fact, we stayed on the Lexington once and it was a similar experience.
I still think it's cool and I am glad I went and experienced the history, but once is enough.
Your comments on a previous post helped me... thanks.

Just to clarify... we do not plan to visit this part of LA at all. My business takes me to the LAX AFB. Once I am finished working we will be driving all over and returning to the hotel at night to sleep and shower.
Last week we spent time in downtown LA, Malibu, Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, etc... I live in Dallas, driving is nothing to me, even in LA traffic... I know the city well enough to get around some of the problem areas.
So, the only way I would change from a 2 bedroom to a one bedroom is if the SS is a bad hotel. If I changed to a one bedroom, I would probably book the Oceana in Santa Monica.

Well, it looks like the Residence Inn mentioned above has a 2 bedroom for only 30.00 more a night.
So do you think I should change?
Thanks for the advice. Both hotels have 2 bedroom suites, just not many.
Thanks everyone!

I wouldn't call Torrance bad but if you look at a map you'll see it's just a few miles directly west of some of the less desirable areas of the city.

There are some very nice hotels near LAX and I'm not quite sure why a two bedroom suite is much better than two connecting rooms . If you're just gonna be sleeping there, the Summerfield is fine and security is good. The breakfast at the Residence is better but the property itself is a little old & worn.

At wyndham.com be sure to check if the "Webrates special" is available for the Summerfield.
Also there is a new Hawthorn Suites in Manhattan Beach that you might want to check for a 2 bdr.
www.hawthornsuites-lax.com

Thanks, Clark... Last week I stayed at the Hawthorn in Manhattan Beach. It is great!!!! I really would like to avoid reserving 2 rooms because the company will not pay for both! I can get a 2 bdrm suite for just about the same cost as a one bdrm and it has a kitchen, to boot and I can expense the entire bill.
Before everyone starts calling me cheap, consider that I travel almost every week and my family joins me 10-20 times a year. I can't afford to do this if I have a bunch of out of pocket expenses. My company is happy for me to stay the weekend because it reduces the cost of airfare significantly. The kitchen and free b'fast helps me contain costs too...
So now you have me worried, is the Residence Inn all worn out and tired?
Better b'fast? Is that the only reason you would pick it? I must say I would rather have stay at the hotel that is in the best condition.
Thanks for all the help...

Glad you had a good experience with the Queen Mary. And yeah-- once should be enough. But I still have fond memories of attending huge parties in their state rooms (early 90s)-- so much fun!!

Always glad to be helpful, you're quite welcome.

The Torrance vs. Manhattan/Redondo Beach issue is getting more complicated than it's probably due. As far as niceness of property, I'm sure the Summerfield Suites is just fine. My only caveat is that the area of Torrance you will be in, although safe, is a commercial zone with nothing around it. But since you're looking for a two-bedroom crash pad with kitchen, I think you'll be fine. The freeway is close, and PCH isn't too far either. As long as the kids know that the beach is a good 15-minute drive away, you should be all set!

I agree with rjw_lgb_ca. I wouldn't fret too much over where to stay. You've stayed at an SS before and they are all pretty standard + we've established the immediate area is just fine and obviously not a destination.

You'll have a car and be right by the 405, 15 minutes from the beach cities, and maybe 5-10 minutes from all the stores on Hawthorne to stock up on food or whatever. Book the SS, be done with it, and enjoy your trip.

TxTravelPro

I live near the Summerfield Suites in Torrance, and used to work directly across from it. It is a perfecty nice property in a business park which is quiet at night. It is clean, with pool and jacuzzi, and offers and reception in the afternoons. Nothing fancy, but very serviceable. We used to put all our business associates there, and no one has every complained..

The El Segundo SS, if I am not mistaken is on Rosecrans Ave. So technically one side of the street is El Segundo, the other is Manhattan Beach. There are many stores and tons of restaurants which are walking distance from that SS. Manhattan Mall (a pretty small mall with a lot of home furnishing stores) is nearby as well. The beach is only minutes away.

Other benefit to the S.S. El Segundo is that the freeway is pretty close, as you said you will be driving a lot. (Torrance freeways are close, but not as.) However Rosecrans Blvd has a lot of business, and that street can be pretty congested during the day (although it is not terrible).

If given a choice, I would take the El Segundo one. While the Del Amo mall is close to the Torrance S.S., there isn't a whole lot close by (although it is about 2-3 miles to Redondo beach). However, both areas are pretty safe. The "less desirable" areas east of Torrance are quite a few miles away, and I doubt you'll be heading that direction. S.S. Torrance is still considered West Torrance, and it is a pretty nice suburban area.