Can anyone recommend a hotel in/around Venice Beach or Santa Monica?

[Cherrypie32]

And also which area would be preferable. It's a two night stay this coming weekend. Thanks!

Friend just back from California last week was shocked by open drug dealing in Venice Beach. If you've got young DC maybe consider one of the hotels near Disney? If no DC whatever floats your boat.

Leaving DC's at home so just DH and me

What's your budget? I'd opt for Santa Monica over Venice. I don't know Venice that well but it always seems to have a just ever so slightly seedy feel to it. If you'll have a car, I'd stay at the Channel Road Inn. In fact I did with DH back in our pre-DS days.

www.channelroadinn.com/rooms.htm

Otherwise there's a Loew's, very nice but $$$$ and only a quiet street from the beach, or a Holiday Inn pretty much across from the pier. The Channel Road Inn isn't very walkable to things, IIRC while many others are. Budget is really the deciding factor. Most hotels will be $200+.

Enjoy your weekend!

Will you have a car? About an hour down the coasts is way nicer than either Venice beach (really tatty) or Santa Monica -weird as the town is up on the cliffs and the beach is cut off from town by the pacific coast highway. What about staying in laguna beach which is lovely small town with good beach and interesting shopping in one off boutiques - it's arty without being sleazy. There's also a tasteful seaside mall next to crystal cove, which is itself a stunning nature reserve. And don't miss Balboa which has the coolest pier with fifties style diner on the end - we saw whales and seals cruising past last time we were there. You can hire bikes and pedal up and down the beach broadwalk. Amazing. There's a good marriott hotel at Newport villas or smaller hotels in laguna too. Tripadvisor is quite sound on it.

Honestly dh and I have been to that coast loads of times and unless you're going to the Getty (well worth it but easy to drive to from anywhere) or the studio tours I think LA itself is well worth avoiding!

Hth

Thanks for tips so far. DH has business meeting on either Friday when we arrive or Sunday before we leave so around that we are quite flexible. Hiring a car not out of the question but don't want to be too 'busy' as want to relax (alot!) in small space of time. I went to LA on family holiday years ago and have done the tourist things which is why I thought Santa Monica good idea as has shops/restaurants/beach all in one place. But all other suggestions entirely welcome. Quite frankly 11 hours peace and quiet on the plane will be luxury

Marriott Newport beach (not actually on the beach but never mind) has special rate this w/e of 149 dollars a night which is pretty good. Your jet lag will be savage. Has good spa. v close to balboa and/or laguna. Fashion mall is huuuuge for shopping with apple store etc etc

Reason I like both places is they don't feel as anonymous as Santa Monica etc. But u wd need a car...but y,ou do almost anywhere in California! Or the us come to that...