Los Angeles , San Francisco and Las Vegas where to stay?

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Both my husband and I are 60 next year and thinking of going to a 3 centre holiday. Problem is we don't know where best to stay in the cities .
We went to a travel agent today came home and checked the hotels she would have booked for us. SAN Francisco and Las Vegas looked okish but the Los Angeles one looked decidedly dodgy .
Can anyone recommend where to stay ?

Stayed in NobHill in SF, city centre is fairly compact and easy to navigate.

In LA we stayed in someone my brother knows million pound apartment. Which was lovely but the area nearby was dodgy, though we had car and secure car park.

I would recommend Nob Hill area in SF. The best hotels are up there. The cable cars are nearby and they get you to lots of places. Fishermen’s Wharf is the kiss me quick of SF! Ok for 5 minutes! Other areas are much nicer!

We stayed at the Vdara in LV. No casino but soulless. It’s a fairly grim place in my view.

LA is better than people are suggesting. You do need a car though! The horrible bits are the walk of the stars and Hollywood Boulevard. Cheap, tacky and grubby. Views to die for at the Getty Centre. It’s a fantastic building and few Brits bother to visit. It’s one of the best buildings I’ve visited. All white stone with superb landscaping. The other area worth driving to is Mulholland Drive. It follows a ridge above LA and has great vistas. You can drive around the Canyon areas where Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, James Taylor et al lived when the West Coast music scene was in its heyday. We also liked Santa Monica but stayed in a B&B but Shutters on the Beach would be great.

If you don’t have a car, how are you getting around? One of the greatest drives is from SF to LA. Who needs LV?

We were in LA about 5 years ago and stayed in the Farmer's Daughter hotel near the Farmers Market. I didn't really like LA but loved that hotel, it was really quirky and I enjoyed the Farmer's Market-a bit like Borough Market in London.

farmersdaughterhotel.com/rooms/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu_eYzJ2H5AIVmK3tCh2a1QYqEAAYASAAEgJjePD_BwE

The four seasons in vegas is amazing - its just a hotel, not a casino, so it's really calm and serene which is what you need I think! It's a lovely little escape, but still on the strip so you're right in the centre of it all.

We stayed at the Fairmont, Nob Hill, in SF. Great spot and beautiful hotel. We had a tower suite with high up views out over city, over the Bay and out to Alcatraz, amazing!

I stayed at the Lowes hotel in LA
Perfect location practically right next door to were they do the Oscars and attached to the shopping mall
You walk out and your right on the main Hollywood walk of fame
We got the bus to Santa Monica and Venice Beach and farmer market is fabulous

Vegas I’ve stayed at the Flamingo the Venetian and the Bellagio
The flamingo I think had the best location
But the other were much more glamorous
Don’t forget that room tax / resort fee is generally not included and can easily be an extra 30-40 dollars a night

All the hotels in Vegas charge this separately so roughly an extra 40 dollars per room per night is added on to your bill even when you have paid in full for that holiday in the uk
My bill for 2 weeks in Vegas was an extra £450 approx

And we didn’t have a car in LA we used the train /tube local buses and the big red bus tours which were fun and we saw loads we spent 5 nights there
With car you have to often pay for parking which can be very expensive
Like I mentioned the Lowes hotel had the best location literally everything was 1 mins walk
Viva Holiday and Escape World Wide I would defiantly recommend for tailor made 2/3 centre holidays

SF we stayed at the Hotel Vitale near the Ferry Building. Lovely hotel in a good location

I would opt for Fisherman's Wharf. It is touristy but you can early morning walk by the sea or even join the swimmers further along, convenient for Alcatraz, cable cars, ferry building food market etc (Union Square is not pretty at night). If you want to add a third option on it would be easy to do a couple of nights from there in Sonoma or Napa if wine appeals. We did a Greyhound day trip to a winery, fizzy winery & brandy place. Good food too!

We stayed at Parc55 by Hilton ion San Franc which was lovely, near the tram stop for access to the waterfront and walking distance to China Town, has valet parking for if you have a car (we were doing a road trip) but we didn't drive in the city.

OP if you’re on Facebook there is a good group called California Dreamers and West Coast wanderers.
We were in SF, LA and Las Vegas 2 years ago, although with a 12 year old probably had a different type of holiday.
In LA we stayed in Anaheim near the theme park, so not suitable in your case. In San Francisco the hotels around Fisherman’s Wharf tend to be more expensive depending on your budget. In Union Square there are some reasonably priced hotels. We didn’t have a car as parking can be a challenge. We bought the hop on hop off bus ticket which was fantastic as it took you to all the sights.
Las Vegas we stayed in The Luxor and as a special treat 1 night in The Venetian, beautiful but really only slept there as out sightseeing all day. Las Vegas, even for non gamblers is brilliant.
To get an idea of prices, reviews check out Hotels.com.

Santa Barbara and Santa Monica are great places to stay .
We loved both . In Vegas we stayed in a huge apartment just off the strip behind Paris . No casino or smoking was the attraction .
What time of the year are you thinking of and will you be doing a road trip ?

We stayed at the Marriott at Marina del Rey in LA and I liked that location. Although you really need a car for LA. Vegas stay on the strip and go midweek and just see which has the best deals. In San Francisco go for Nob Hill.

You can take a day trip to LA from Las Vegas for about £160. Not cheap and only a few hours in LA but the trip does the usual tourist sites and the drive itself is lovely.

I can't remember what hotel we stayed in in San Francisco but it was by Union Square, august can be cold there so that's one thing to consider - we all bought sweatshirts! It was fun, the cable cars are fun and Alcatraz is a must - we did the evening tour and although it was over 10 years ago my children still talk about it now, very atmospheric.

In Las Vegas we stayed in the Venetian, it was very reasonable considering and the suite was incredible, very large sitting area and huge bedroom with luxury bathroom. There isnt a coffee machine in the room though and if you touch anything on/in the mini bar you'll be charged. I also got lost trying to find our room, it was a journey up two lifts and along a corridor. The hotel is unbelievably huge! It does feel luxurious though and despite the extra taxes it was a good deal. We had a room credit which we used on breakfast. We spent 3 days there in September last year and it was incredibly hot.

I'd second the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco, we found it to be an excellent location, right near Union square and the trams. We found we could walk or take the tram to almost everywhere from the hotel.
We also used the hop on hop off tour bus which you can easily pick up in Union Square- if you get a tour to go over the bridge make sure you get one that stops at the little village on the other side of the bridge- a lovely place to spend a few hours.

In Las Vegas it's all about how much you want to spend; it's better if you can avoid a Saturday night as rooms can be double the weekday rate. We LOVE the Wynn but it is at the top end of our budget. Another top of our budget option is a room at the Cosmopolitan with a wrap round balcony and fountain views.
Good mid price options are Bellagio and Ceasers .

We're going on a budget at Easter and will either stop at the MGM Park or the Palms (this is cheaper because it's off the Strip). Bally's and The Link are decent, clean options.

I'd avoid Flamingos- the pool is so busy it looks hellish; Luxor- it looks shabby to me; Hurrahs- very tatty and anything downtown (buts that's because I dislike Freemont Street)

If you search on youtube lots of bloggers put room walk rounds so you can see what they look like

In San Francisco I would recommend the hotel Kabuki in japantown . Felt very safe and was really nice hotel and room. Bus stops nearby etc and staff were good . I didn't like the area around fisherman's wharf at night so I was glad I didn't stay there . Other top tips . Do the love tour on the first day which is in a 70s van . You get to go down Lombard street in it and it's run by locals so really interesting tour . Also great for getting your bearings . Also if you can get to Napa for a night or two it's great . Enjoy your trip .