Los Angeles: Accommodation

Depending on your preference in decor and location, Los Angeles has many bed & breakfast options for the traveller looking for a homey feel to their stay. From cosy 1920’s cottages, romantic & elegant inns, eclectic bright coloured bungalows, to modern hip homes in the Hollywood Hills or down by the marina or beach – Los Angeles is as diverse in its bed & breakfast accommodations as it is in its culture. Do your homework and select one based on where you plan to do your most sightseeing. This will reduce costs and time spent in traffic.

Amenities will vary but all will include basic services like breakfast if not more meals or snacks, internet services, parking, pool/spa, and a friendly host knowledgeable about the area. Booking is best done directly with the proprietors either by phone or by email. Most B&B’s will have their own websites with photos, guides, and booking instructions. Rates can vary anywhere from $80 per night to $250 per night.

There are many famous hotels in Los Angeles for travellers wanting to stay at a legendary place only seen in the movies. From The Roosevelt, Chateau Marmont, The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Wilshire Beverly Hills, to the Millennium Biltmore hotel, visitors are thrilled at the chance to see a movie crew in their lobby. These hotels are full of ambiance, picture perfect scenery, and Hollywood trivia to dazzle the most sophisticated traveller.

But Los Angeles is more than the glitz of Hollywood when it comes to hotel and resort accommodations. From the height of the Hollywood Hills down to the sandy beaches of Santa Monica, Los Angeles has a hotel or resort for every visitor’s taste and budget. Choose the L.A. experience you want and your hotel will become obvious. If a mellow beach vacation is what you seek, look to a booking at The Ocean View hotel, Shutters on the Beach resort, or the Venice Beach Hotel & Suites.

Online travel sites offer you the best deals on your L.A. hotel or resort of preference while giving you the most information on hotel details and amenities. Rates will vary with the peak summer months being the highest priced at anywhere from $70 per night for your basic discount hotel up to thousands of dollars for the most luxurious suites at the finest properties.

Staying in a motel in Los Angeles is not just for the traveller on an economy budget although that is the most popular reason. Many L.A. motels offer accommodations in great locations convenient to popular sites or the airport or other transportation. Spending less on accommodations will leave more funds for seeing sites, which for many visitors is the top priority in Los Angeles.

Motels like Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Comfort Inn, and Super 8 are just a sampling of popular franchise motels known for comfortable, clean, safe rooms for the weary traveller. Depending on the location and time of travel, motel rates in Los Angeles can range from $20 to $60 per night.

Although decor and amenity service are quite basic, motels still offer Cable TV, access to a pool, and with some, coffee/tea or continental breakfast on a first come/first serve policy. Bookings a best made online on discount travel sites or directly on the motels website. Abundance of motels and room availability is fairly prevalent throughout the year and many visitors can book last minute and still find a suitable room.

Only in L.A. will hostel stay be considered a scene and become as trendy as the latest fashion. That’s exactly how popular hostels are with young travellers looking to meet up with young Hollywood. There are many hostels to stay in Los Angeles and you may want to stay at several different ones during your visit. This will allow you to experience distinctly different areas of Los Angeles such as downtown, hip & popular neighbourhoods, and beach accessible areas.

Do your homework online and select the one best suited for your needs. Popular hostels are USA Hostel, Hi-Santa Monica, Hi-Los Angeles, Southbay, and the Venice Beach Cotel. Beds range from $20 - $30 dollars and amenities vary. Summer is obviously peak travel time so book early. Many hostels in Los Angeles offer activities and excursions to popular sites and attractions – most are for an extra fee.

For travellers in larger groups or those staying for longer trips, you may want to think about taking advantage of booking at a vacation home, apartment, or condo. These types of accommodations are very popular in Los Angeles and California because many families spend their longer summer holidays here and it is more economical than booking at a hotel.

Almost all will be self-catering which allows flexibility for many families and visitors. Standard self-catering amenities for vacation rentals and apartments include free parking, internet and cable TV service, utilities, standard kitchen wares, linens, pool access, and a washer/dryer. It is also common for vacation rentals near the beaches of Southern California and Los Angeles to provide lawn chairs, beach toys, and bicycles.

Many online rental sites provide competitive information – so do your homework and choose the self-catering apartment or home with the location and amenities you prefer. Rates are usually per week and can range anywhere from $800 to $4000 depending on rental. Location and travel time are the biggest factors in pricing self-catering accommodations. Be sure to book as early as possible since loyal travellers reserve the best rentals years in advance.