Chilled area in LA?

[brightonbird]

Next April we are going to LA with our two kids aged 16 and 10. For our first two nights we’d like to stay in a reasonably priced hotel (ideally with pool) where we can chill and recover from the jet lag. Any recommendations for a suitable area please? Near the beach would be nice but not essential. We’ll have a hire car so can drive a little out of the city. Thanks

Santa Monica, definitely. It's a great base and now has the metro which will take you all over LA. Hotels are quite pricey and there's one, name escapes me, right on the front with a pool, opposite the pier. Lots of shopping for teens and plenty of restaurants in the area too. If I remember the hotel I'll com back and let you know.

I wouldn't have a hire car in LA. We had 5 days there and didn't need one, just used metro and taxis. Much less stress and saving of time in the horrendous traffic there.

Stayed at the Oakwood apartments in Marina Del Ray. It was fab. Nice size apartment with balcony and a communal pool/gym. It was a gated development so very secure. Walkable to many restaurants and the beach was just a few minutes away. You could be in Venice Beach in under 10 minutes and walkable to Santa Monica pier in about 25 minutes. Lovely area.

Second Santa Monica!

Santa Monica isn’t cheap! It’s lovely though. Shutters on the Beach stands out but it’s pricy. You do need a car to get to the best places in and around LA. No one would spend 5 days just in central LA - surely? There’s so much to see and having a car makes it easier.