Visiting LA in July with husband and 3x 20-somethings. We want to visit the beach, and the major touristy things throughout LA. 20-somethings want night life too. We are trying to decide which area to stay in for a 4-night visit and are looking for a house/apartment that won't break the bank - have been using all the major booking web sites. We are considering Venice, Oakwood area of Venice, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. While we love the beach, it seems very circus-like. While we love the views from the hills, is it too far from the beach? We would love private outdoor space to hang with a glass of wine. Which area would you choose and why?

Hi - From what it sounds like you are looking for, you might concentrate on a rental in Santa Monica ( or Marina Del Ray.) It's at the beach but also near enough to the LA hotspots and tourist attractions. Just a short drive up i10. Plus you'll be able to trek the famous Santa Monica Blvd all the way from the ocean to L.A. area through all the districts you mentioned to see everything.
Have a great vacation!

I'd stay at or near the beach if your budget can handle the price tag (what is your budget per night?).
Just FYI, short term rentals (less than 30 days) are illegal in Santa Monica,West Hollywood and the South Bay beach cities. So if you are set on a house or apartment look at maybe Marina del Rey. Venice has some sketchy parts, and the pervasive marijuana subculture as well.

We like the Marina del Rey area, because we want to be by the water. The Jamaica Bay Inn is very nice. We've stayed there twice.

Next visit, I booked a new place, The Kinney. It's near the Abbot-Kinney area, which 20-somethings would enjoy. It's reminds me of Berkeley, actually, with funky boutiques, etc. Only a block or so to the ocean.

I think this area, including Santa Monica is a good place to park with the young adults. There's lots to do for them, and they could take off on their own.

They will want to see Venice Beach, no doubt. The pier is at Washington Blvd. You can rent bikes anywhere near there, and ride north or south as far as you want. Around the pier it's tacky, but if you walk toward Marina del Rey from there, you will see some amazing beachfront homes to drool over.

We like to eat at Coast, in Shutters on the Beach. Great beachside patio, as well as indoor views.

Have fun! Stay off the freeways. Ha

If you go,to Malibu, the Charthouse is an old standby for us, to sit Oceanside. Also Moonshadows is good.

Manhattan Beach is nice area, very beachy, California feel.

It depends on your itinerary. You probably don't want to be in Marina del Rey if you're plans are WB Tour, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, and evening at The Hollywood Bowl, a Dodger Game.

Why is West Hollywood in the mix, are you planning to spend most of your time by the beach, or enjoying views of the beach, or is that not actually a priority?

You'll be hard pressed to find a nice house available booking just a few weeks out, I would think. Maybe if you squeeze into a 2 bd apartment. West Hollywood is illegal, and Santa Monica is illegal for anything other than room-stays with the owner onsite. Venice has some very sketchy corners so check the reviews carefully and only consider places with at least a dozen reviews.

Manhattan Beach is the same problem as Santa Monica, Debit, apartment & house rentals are illegal. It also might be a little too-far depending on what their plans are.

The OP never said they intended to spend all their time at the beach, they just said they wanted to go there at some time during this trip, but they had other sightseeing plans in addition. Nothing wrong with West Hollywood at all, it's a pretty central location and a good area. It isn't that far to the beach from there.

I used to live in SM near Venice and think Marina del Rey is the pits, but I don't think tourists should care that much as if you were going to live there. It just has no character.

I think any of those locations would be fine, you have pretty specific requirements (ie, private outdoor space), I'd focus on finding a place with what you want that you can afford. Any of the areas mentioned would be fine in terms of location IMO

What about El Segundo? I realize it is wedged between the airport, refineries, industry, and a sewage plant, but other than that rather central?

Which "main touristy things" were you thinking of?

It doesn't sound very glamorous, but Culver City/Palms is in a very central location. It's an easy drive to Beverly Hills, LACMA, the Peterson Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pits and The Grove. It's also easy to take the train to Santa Monica, and, in the other direction to the Exposition Park museums, USC, DTLA (Grammy Museum, Staples, Disney Hall, Grand Central Market, MOCA, etc.). In DTLA you can connect to a train to Hollywood/Highland and Universal City or, in the other direction, to Union Station and Olvera Street. Culver City itself has a small but fairly lively downtown area.

If your four nights are a long weekend, be aware that parking/traffic at the beach in Santa Monica on Saturdays and Sundays is a zoo.

"Nothing wrong with West Hollywood" except that rentals are illegal there. You'd have to stay in a hotel. Or search rentals nearby in zip code 90036 which is legal/Los Angeles bordering West Hollywood.

Maybe don't narrow it down until you see what kind of rentals you can find in the various neighborhoods?

Any of those areas work and all have pros/cons. 4 nights is a short stay so maybe develop the itinerary of what you actually want to see and do and map it out. Figure out what area is best for your activities? Cross reference what's available at your price point.

No to El Segundo, I used to work there for a lot of years and parking in downtown is a royal pain and when businesses are closed on the weekends it is dead. Only a small handful of decent restaurants. Dockweiler Beach is not that great and is close to the Hyperion sewage treatment plant.

I guess you haven't been to ES recently. I can think of a dozen or more decent restaurants and a lot of evening and weekend shopping. We live in Manhattan Beach and often choose ES over MB for dinner (including last night) because the parking is easier. If you didn't know, there are three new shopping centers with many new restaurants and shops. One has an outdoor "living room" in the center.

The LA metro area is so spread out, you'll not be able to lodge close to all the sights, unless you restrict yourself to one area.

My advice is to stay someplace you like, so you can relax in that neighborhood, without having to get in your car to get somewhere else. A place where you can walk, bike ride, and see the ocean.

That's why we like Marina del Rey. I recommended two hotels above. There's also a very basic Marriott Courtyard there, that has a wonderful large outside pool and patio. We have stayed there.

We have also lucked into staying twice at the Ritz Marina del Rey, for conferences. They have a spectacular waterside eating area, if you want to splurge on brunch or something.

"... without having to get in your car to get somewhere else."

That's why I recommended Culver City. You can train to several of the "main touristy things" and leave the car parked at least half of the time. (And you do want a place where there is no overnight parking charges.) Fare is $1.75 one way per person on the Expo Line train to Santa Monica or DTLA (no transfer fee to continue to Hollywood and Universal City). Plus, CC is a nice town in and of itself.

moo, if you really rather stay at the beach but need a less than frantic atmosphere, see if the 2 bed/2 bath apartment at the Sea View Inn in Manhattan Beach is available. Ocean view, two blocks to the beach, pool, bikes, restaurants and shopping within walking distance.

http://www.theseaviewinn.com/pages/a...e-sea-view-inn

My point was that you should stay someplace you don't want to escape every morning, in a car or otherwise.