Advice for Los Angeles & Las Vegas accommodation needed

[Bellebelle]

Hi all,

We’re (me, DH and DD’s (9 & 13)) going to California for 3 weeks this July and I’m looking for some advice on where to stay while we’re in LA and Las Vegas. We’ve got 11 nights in LA followed by 2 in Las Vegas before flying home (we’re starting in San Francisco for 4 nights followed by 2 nights Big Sur and 2 in San Luis Obispo) For the second half of the LA trip we’re going to be in Anaheim for the parks but I’m not sure where to book for the first 6 nights. I went to LA about 15 years ago and stayed in Hollywood which was fun but wouldn’t necessarily want to stay there now. I loved Santa Monica when we visited and always wanted to stay there the next time and I’ve seen some decent accommodation options, more in Venice Beach but I’ve heard that it’s a bit dodgy at night (happy to be corrected on that). Is there anywhere else I should be looking at? During that part of the trip we want a bit of relaxing time but will also be using it as a base to visit the walk of fame, Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Beverly Hills, do a studio tour etc. Not fussed about going around seeing famous folks homes or any of that stuff but would like to see the best of LA. Is Silverlake or anywhere else worth looking at? We’re up for a hotel or an Air bnb for this part of the trip.

For Las Vegas none of us have ever been and we’re just going seeing as we’re there, it was much cheaper to fly back from there than LA or back up to San Francisco. We may love it or hate it but thinking that 2 nights will be bearable and we will just embrace it in all of its glory! Any recommendations on hotels? We’d really like somewhere with a decent pool in case we decide that we just want to spend the last couple of days relaxing before the trip home.

All comments and advice gratefully received!

Most of the big casino hotels on the Vegas strip have pools. I've stayed at Planet Hollywood, NYNY and Caesar's Palace and would go back to any of them.

I would no longer stay in the Hollywood and Vine area; its far too tacky even by day there now. You may want to look at either the Sheraton or the Hilton hotels at Universal City which are opposite Universal Studios. A visit to Manns Chinese Theater can be done via Metro which stops there and at Universal City.

I would recommend the MGM Signature for you as a family as this is both a non gaming and non smoking facility. It also has laundry facilities and it is well appointed. You may also appreciate it for being quieter after the noise of the Strip. Each tower also has a nice shallow pool to swim in. Its air conditioned walkway will also lead you into the read of the MGM Grand with all its facilities.

Would second MGM signature, we stayed there 3 years ago with teens.

Me and DH have just been to California- we stayed in Hollywood for the walk of fame, Chinese theatre etc and I really wouldn’t recommend it as the minute you step away from the tourist areas it feels unsafe even in the daytime. We’ve stayed near to universal on a previous trip and that was much nicer.

Make sure you check the information about big sur and the rock fall as the road isn’t due to be reopened till the autumn

We stayed in Rodondo beach in LA, lovely beach, seeing the ocean at sunset, good places to eat on the boardwalk and drivable to Universal/Warner Bros studios

Thanks for all the feedback. MGM Signature looks idea for us so I think we’ll book that.

We aren’t going to be able to get all the way along PCH due to the road closures but we’re fine to get to our accommodation there and then drive inland to get to San Luis Opisbo.

I remember Hollywood not being particularly nice last time I was there either, anyone know if West Hollywood is any better as there are some lovely hotels coming up there.

We aren’t planning on going to Universal in LA as we were in Florida last summer and had 6 nights at the Hard Rock so right next door. We loved it but not that fussed about going again when it doesn’t look all that different but let me know if we’re making a mistake missing it out!

Redondo Beach looks lovely, definitely checking it out as hadn’t come across it before.

West Hollywood is lovely. Some very nice hotels near the most walkable areas in Los Angeles. Try to get something off Melrose Ave. The kids will love that, and anywhere around there is pretty safe, with lots of good places to eat, have coffee, and shop, shop, shop. Avoid Hollywood at all costs. I live there, and I know it very well. It takes years to know exactly which streets are safe and which are decidedly not!

We stayed at magic castle hotel just behind the Hollywood main road. Was lovely, free sweets and a magician!
Vdara suites also very nice, no casino so out the hotel room and onto the street in 2 mins. We had a washing machine in the room! And dryer! Connected to the bellagio by walkway

Santa Monica is expensive and Venice Beach is a bit dodgy on a night. Have you looked at Marina Del Rey? Some nice places there and not too far away.

We had a lovely apartment in West Hollywood in September and we stayed in New York New York in Vegas. Would do both again .

We stayed in Vdara too and can recommend it as pp. A non casino hotel but has a walkway through to the Bellagio so perfect for families.

We went in February and got a 2 bedroom air bnb in Beverly Hills. We loved it and would go back in a heartbeat! Area was safe, easy to find, a Starbucks 2 minutes away and an easy Lyft ride to West Hollywood, Melrose Ave, Beverly Grove, etc. Close to the Big Blue Bus route for Santa Monica. We appreciated having our own space as we were there for 10 days, we wanted somewhere we could have breakfast, etc before heading out, rather than spending a fortune every day, and the fact that we could park on our own doorstep.

Honestly, LA was the best trip that we've been on, and we enjoyed it that much that we are trying to figure out how to do a 6 month/ year long sabbatical there.

I would just avoid the tacky stars and walks. The best find was the Max Factor former factory which is now a costume museum. Also driving along Mulholland Drive and a visit to the Getty Centre is a must. The Getty Villa in Malibu is also lovely.

We stayed at a B and B in Santa Monica and the Mondrian in LA for the pool. The view is to die for. However the area was rougher than I thought.

We stayed in Santa Monica when we went to LA as DD was only 2 at the time. It meant we could walk down to the beach when jet lag had her up early the first couple of day, and walk to restaurants for dinner and not have to worry about getting taxis/driving. We stayed at the Oceana Santa Monica, it was lovely.