Los Angeles is an incredibly large city. It’s made up of an awful lot of districts covering a VAST area of the city. This makes choosing the Best Place to Stay in Los Angeles quite a daunting prospect. Fortunately, many of the districts are of little interest to the average tourist, and most hotels are, clustered around a few areas of interest.
Our Guide on Where to Stay in Los Angeles will help you understand the city and help you choose where it would be best for you to base your trip to LA. We detail the Pros and Cons of each area and offer a few suggestions for hotels in the district. The Guide is Primarily for Tourist use, for those staying in the city to explore the amazing sights and attractions of the City Of Angels!
Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Los Angeles?
L.A. is over 469 Square miles and is made up of over 400 districts! And this is JUST the City. If you widen it to the metropolitan area, which is what most people consider L.A, then it’s a staggering 4850 Square Miles with more districts than we can reasonably count!
Fortunately, as this is primarily a Tourist based Blog narrowing this gigantic area down to just a few choice districts is surprisingly Easy. The Tourist parts of L.A. are all clustered in a few spots and staying in any of the following locations will provide easy access to all the tourist hotspots along with a wide choice of hotels and plenty of fantastic restaurants.
Don’t be daunted or overawed by the Ginagantic size of the City, choose from one of our recommended locations and you will be sure to have a great time.
Downtown
Downtown is not a great choice for a tourist visiting the City. The High rise business hub has very little to offer the tourist as a base. There are plenty of hotels so this district will often come up in searches for hotels but these hotels are mainly targeted at business guests here for different reasons. Of course, there is nothing wrong with these hotels, some are very plush high-end establishments. And there are plenty of dining options in the area so on that basis, there is nothing wrong with staying Downtown.
The issue comes from the fact it’s not really near any of the places of interest for a tourist. Any of the sights or attractions you may wish to visit will be a trek. Quite probably during LA’s notorious Rush hour. While most of Los Angeles attractions are quite spread out in our opinion it pays to at least be near one of them, So really we would rule out Downtown and look at one of our other options.
Budget
Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles – For such a historic and charming building the Biltmore has some pretty low prices. The competition at this price range are boring chain properties with zero character and charm that are nothing more than places to lay your head. The Biltmore couldn’t be more different. This period 1930’s L.A. icon can be booked for as little as $120 a night which is stunning value considering the style and elegance f the property and room that are one offer!
Moderate
LEVEL DTLA – A slightly out-of-the-box offering. LEVEL DTLA offers residential-style apartments for short-term rentals. Feel what it is like to live in L.A but at hotel prices. There are some stunning suites and apartments available in this complex for pretty affordable prices!
High End
InterContinental Los Angeles – set in the very recently built and newly crowned tallest building in L.A and West of the Mississippi, Wilshire Grand Center. The InterContinental Los Angeles provides luxury accommodation high in the L.A Skyline. Stunning Views and high-end appointments are delivered at surprisingly affordable prices for what you get.
Hollywood
Bang right in the heart of the action. Staying in Hollywood certainly has a lot of appeal what with the Walk of Fame and the Chinese theatre right on your doorstep, It’s a perfect base for a busy all-action trip. The world-famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel adorns this area along with other high-end offerings with prices to match but there are also a large number of very budget hotels here. They may not be the plushest of haunts but if you plan to be out seeing the city, not your room they can certainly offer everything you need!
You are a stone’s throw from the majority of attractions and you will never be stuck for anything to eat or drink. Sunset Strip is only a short taxi ride away should you crave a big night out. There is a multitude of cheap eateries right on your doorstep as well.
One thing not to like about staying in Hollywood is the intensity of the place: It’s not where we would go for a relaxing break. If that is what you are after maybe consider one of the beach districts below. Also, it is far from the most upmarket location. At night it can feel quite unsavory and there are likely to be visible signs of poverty. It is best suited to short stays and ones where not a lot of time is spent in and around your hotel! A Place to rest your head, as they say.
Budget
Pod Share Hollywood – A modern take on a hostel. The Pod share is about as basic as it gets and one step up from camping really. This is about as close to nothing but a place to lay your head as it gets. But the modern take ensures you are in clean, safe, and comfortable accommodation, not always the case in a hostel. These are really basic lodgings, but the price is unbeatable!
Moderate
Quality Inn – Nr Hollywood Walk Of Fame – A small step up from a hostel, but the location is superb the rooms are clean and comfortable if a little basic, and well did we mention the location? It has Free Parking too, a rarity in most Cities especially L.A. Essentially there is not much going on in the moderate price range in Hollywood so a standard Motel is about the best you are going to find.
High – End
Hollywood Roosevelt – A Stunning and Iconic Hollywood Hotel. Right on the Walk of fame with some great bars and restaurants inside this is a real Icon of tinsel town and on that is surprisingly affordable these days, unless you are eyeing up one of the suites!
West Hollywood
The hotels are mainly centered on or near the Sunset Strip and offer a similar experience to Hollywood. Both budget and High-end hotels operate in the area (and a few in-between) so there should be something for everyone. Perfect for the Party people who will spend their nights out and don’t wish to travel home afterward.
High – End
Chateau Marmont – Another Superb Iconic Los Angeles Hotel, this is where the Celebs and well-to-do hang out and stay when in Hollywood. Expect to spot Celebs by the pool and in the Bar/Club (well don’t expect, but it’s possible!) A real top hotel, expect to pay for it though!
Santa Monica
For a lot of people, Los Angeles Conjures up Images of Sun Sea Sand and Palm Trees. Santa Monica is the Embodiment of those images! Plush Ocean Front Hotels Line the Pacific coast provides spectacular views from the high-rise rooms. The prices vary from mid-range to high-end, with the odd budget hotel set back from the oceanfront.
Santa Monica is a beautiful, safe district. The Santa Monica Pier provides plenty of entertainment day or night. You will be spoilt for choice as far as Dining options go and there is plenty of nightlife. It’s a fair drive to Hollywood for a lot of the main attractions of the City but that’s the price you have to pay for the stunning beachfront location! Perfect for a longer stay as Santa Monica provides plenty of opportunity for Downtime! Be it at the beach or by the pool!
Budget
Cal Mar Suites – Really, Budget and Santa Monica do not go hand in hand. While Cal Mar Suites is not a cheap hotel you do get an awful lot of real estate for your money. Not the most luxurious or swanky accommodation, in fact, its well past its prime but if you are looking for cheap in Santa Monica you have to make compromises. The location is excellent, however.
Moderate
The Georgian – A wonderful and Iconic Hotel high up on the Palisades Cliffs over looking the Pacific Ocean the Geargeon is a fantastic option that doesn’t break the bank. Near to everything this historic Art Deco retreat is a hotel you are unlikely to forget in a hurry.
High – End
Shutters On The Beach – A real Celebrity Haunt. This Stylish Beachfront Hotel oozes sophistication and world-class service. It is the preferred Beachfront location for all the Celebrities and Who’s Who of L.A. when heading to the Beach and for several $100’s a night you could stay here too!
Venice Beach
Like Santa Monica, Venice Beach offers plenty of beachfront opportunities. The obvious downside being everything is a lot more down-market. While it’s a vast improvement from a few years ago it is still a long way from being considered an upmarket location.
Of course, if a more relaxed vibe is what you seek Venice beach could suit you perfectly. And as it is a more downmarket location, the prices reflect this. There are plenty of budget options should you want a Beach Front Hotel but can’t run to Santa Monica Prices.
Budget
Five Star Hostel – Yeah, erm it’s cheap. And you are likely to have a really memorable time. But pack a sense of humor as unless you like roughing it this will be hell. But if you don’t mind a little slumming it, mixing with the salt of the earth, and sharing your bathroom, the Hostel will provide a safe and comfortable place to stay that you will not forget in a hurry!
Seriously this is a large room filled with beds and you end up very close and personal with your fellow hostel mates. If that sounds like your kind of hell then run a mile! But this is about as cheap as it gets in Los Angeles.
Moderate
Venice Suites – A selection of nice suites right on the beachfront in the middle of everything. This is real Venice beach life and a great spot to stay for your Venice Beach getaway!
Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive
Fancy a few nights at the world-famous Beverly Wilshire? We don’t blame you! But this sort of luxury costs ($600+ dollars a night!). But what can be surprising is staying in the ultra-high-end area of Beverly Hills needn’t break the bank! There are plenty of budget options in and around Beverly Hills. Of course, the hotel will be a more budget offering and you lose the luxury of the Hotel but you are still in a beautiful, fun area right in the heart of the City.
Dining options are near endless and there is obviously copious shopping right on your doorstep. It really is one of our favorite spots in LA. Most sights and attractions are relatively nearby, and it offers a much more relaxed stay than the busyness of Hollywood. You will certainly pay for the privilege though!
High – End
Beverly Wilshire – Where Else!
Airport
Lots of hotels will come up near the Airport but really we don’t rate this as a place to base your trip. It’s not a nice area and pretty far from anything. The Glut of reasonably priced hotels is mainly there to serve 1-night layovers or pre-flight overnighters. They are all fine for this purpose but you wouldn’t want to stay any longer. You will have a much more enjoyable trip staying in one of the locations we have discussed above.
Long Beach
Long Beach is a city in its own right and pretty far from most Los Angeles Attractions. It is a great place for a beach getaway but really needs to be treated as a destination in its own right.
Check Out some Long Beach Hotels here. You could even stay on the legendary Queen Mary Cruise Liner!
Anaheim
Anaheim is right out in the middle of nowhere with very little to see or do. We really do not advise staying in Anaheim for any reason other than visiting a certain Mouse-Based Theme Park. Yep if you are heading to Disneyland then Anaheim is your location of choice. But really if you are planning on seeing the rest of L.A. we don’t recommend staying here. If you are doing both, consider a multi-Base trip. Anaheim for Disney and then one of our above locations for everything else.
There are tons of options in Anaheim itself, so many we did a dedicated Anaheim post!
Of Course, if you are looking for more info on Disneyland, Check out our Comprehensive Disneyland Guide!
Where to Book?
The internet is Awash with seemingly endless Comparison sites and booking sites that it can be nearly impossible to find the best place to book your trip. Everywhere offers the BEST price Guaranteed and often does its best to hide Hidden Extras like resort fees.
For our own trip, we normally start off with Booking.com Their interface is very clean and searching is a doddle. We then use the Map view to easily check the location of a hotel to make sure it’s the location we are looking for. The main reason we prefer Booking.com over most other Booking platforms is ALOT of the listed hotels offer FREE cancellation (up to 24 hours before) this means we can make rash decisions and get somewhere booked. And then reflect on them over the coming weeks. Find somewhere better? Found a Better Price? Scared off by poor Tripadvisor Reviews? It is all not a problem; Just cancel. We have even on a good number of occasions canceled bookings and re-booked on booking.com as the price has gone down!
As we say, this is normally our first point of call and we book It to assure we will have accommodation. But then we scour as many sites as we can to see if this price can be beaten. More often than not we tend to end up staying with Booking.com as they are invariably the cheapest! Try it for yourselves and see.
Like a lot of other sites sometimes the headline price is not quite the price you pay. Tax’s and Resort fees can be added on but the full price is always shown before you just need to check the final price.
Have Your Say
Where is Your favorite place to Stay in LA? Do you agree with our List? Anywhere we have left out that you really like? Or do you just have a burning question to ask? Please just drop us a comment. We really do love hearing from you.