Choosing the right accommodation is the key to having a great holiday. Traffic in a city as big as Los Angeles can make travel a long and tedious affair. We strongly recommend you stay as close as possible to the neighborhoods you’d like to visit. Stay in different places during your trip. For example, if you plan to stay four nights in the City of Angels, stay in different places close to things you want to see.
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Fortunately, there are many options to choose from. There is plenty of choice depending on your budget, needs and who you’re traveling with.
Type of accommodation
Hotels: the most practical and popular choice. There are a wide variety of hotels in Los Angeles, but they are relatively expensive. Discover Los Angeles, the official tourist website of LA, has a selection of hotels sorted by category (hip, family, chic, …)- Apartment rentals directly from owners: if you don’t count Airbnb there are other platforms such as Wimdu, Homelidays and VRBO which allow you to rent an apartment or a room at a more reasonable price.
- An apartment or house swap: this involves swapping your own home (tenant or owner) with someone elses. It’s an interesting way to vacation while saving money. Book with Intervacand Homelink.
- Youth Hostels: for those of you on a shoestring budget who like the social aspect and are happy with just the basics. Book at HiUSA, Hostelz or Hostelworld.
Book your accommodation as soon as possible because demand is high and prices rise fast!
Santa Monica and Venice
By choosing to stay as close to the water as possible, in the Santa Monica, Venice Beach or Marina Del Ray neighborhoods, your LA vacation will be geared towards the beach, surfing and LA’s counter-culture – street artists, artisans, skaters and tourists mingle together under the sun.
Decent price hotels in this area are hard to find. It’s worth mentioning the Hostelling International Santa Monica youth hostel as it’s very well located, the Sea Shore Motel for its high quality at low prices and the Cadillac Hotel, which is located in the liveliest part of Venice Beach. Reach for the sky and enjoy the breathtaking view from the rooftop of the Hotel Erwin. For those of you on a bigger budget, hotels Shutters on the beach and Casa del Mar are beautiful and right on the waterfront.
West Hollywood
Photo : Andaz West Hollywood
West Hollywood is known as the hub for LA’s LGBT communities. This lively district is also renowed for its fashion, gastronomy and entertainment, of course. Famous for its assortment of independent shops, eclectic hotels, the best restaurants in town, cafes and nightclubs, West Hollywood is definitely one of the hippest neighborhoods in LA.
There’s a reason why the trend setting hotel, Mama Shelter, opened its doors in nearby Hollywood. It adds a touch of French style to the neighborhood!
Other noteworthy hotels are the Mondrian, The Standard, the Andaz hotel with it’s rooftop pool, the newly renovated Chamberlain, the Jeremy Hotel and the famous Chateau Marmont.
Downtown LA
Photo : Ace Hotel
Downtown LA is Los Angeles’ business district. The historic heart of the City of Angels used to be a ghost town after the offices shut and workers went home. Over the last 15 years, the area’s nightlife had given it a new lease of life as THE coolest neighborhood (with the exception of Skid Row – the homeless neighborhood you should avoid).
The best establishments are the Ace Hotel or the legendary Millenium Biltmore Hotel. Both are worth a little detour if only to catch a glimpse of the architecture. To rent an apartment, take a look at Eastern Columbia and LEVEL, which operates an open-air cinema on certain summer evenings! Attractive rates are also offered by the Freehand
Between Downtown LA and West Hollywood, The LINE in Koreatown is also a sought after address.
We recommend staying two nights in Downtown LA/West Hollywood and then two nights in Santa Monica/Venice Beach.
Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park
Photo : Los Angeles Off Road
Further afield are the chilled out neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park. Far from the hustle and bustle of the chic boulevards, the ambiance is more residential, calm and rather alternative. Artists and young hipsters fill the trendy vinyl shops, concert bars and vintage thrift stores.
If traveling as a couple or with friends and family, you’ll enjoy staying here for a few nights. Digital nomads might want to settle for a longer period of time. A great option is renting a room or apartment.
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