Where is the best place to stay in Los Angeles? Hotel names, areas, places of interest??

Question

I am visiting America for the first time at the end of September..flying into Vegas then moving onto LA and San Fran....any hotel names, tourist attractions, best areas would be very helpful.....books are good but i like to hear personal real experience of places.....top points for helpfull stuff...cheers guys xx

Answer 1

Here's my top ten list of things to do in LA. Been to all of them

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. September is an EXCELLENT time to go, by the way... the crowds are way down.

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Check out eBay. You can find some discounted tickets there. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.

Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann's Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I have also added the Hollywood & Highland complex to my top ten list… it has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.

Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.

Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.
Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.
Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from:

Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind).
After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.

Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.

Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.
Farmer's Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.

Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.

Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.

Places to eat:
In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.
Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. Might see a celebrity.
Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. Original location at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.
Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, might spot a celebrity.
Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station, Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot.

Places to Stay:
In Hollywood, I recommend the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel and the Farmer's Daughter Hotel.
In Anaheim, I recommend the HoJo (Howard Johnson)Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience. If you don't need to stay by the park, then stay at the Doubletree on Harbor, or even the one in Orange on Chapman.
In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.

Places to Shop:
South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
Fashion Island, Newport Beach
Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
Citadel Outlets, Commerce
Beverly Center, Los Angeles
The Block at Orange, Orange
Ontario Mills, Ontario

Answer 2

depends on where you want to be in LA . I have only been there once and stayed at the Crowne Plaza outside the airport . I couldn't of asked for a better hotel around everything (Santa Monica , Del Rey Marina , Venice Beach!!)
and near the airport when it's time to come home PERFECT!

Answer 3

Lucy try some of these---

Here is some stuff you might do in the area...
Try these things to see in L.A.---Have Fun----->>>>>>>>>>>>

1.Eat at Pinks or Pinkberry or In and Out burger-In and Out has really good chesseburgers.
Their totally fresh French fries ironically I don’t like because they are too “crumbly”? I like McDonalds crispy French
Fries better (even though they are not fresh and are flash frozen. Pinks is OK but not worth a real long wait. They need to clean up and freshen up the street area a little.
2.Farmers Market at the Grove. Go to Charley’s Café in the Farmer’s Market. Go the closest booth to Fairfax. Charlie and Bob are great. Reasonable food at a reasonable price. Charlie is about a 50 year old female…..
(@ Fairfax and W. 3rd)
3.See a movie at Graumin’s Chinese theater
4.Griffith Observatory, note--reservations now required. The new Oschin Planetarium show is the best part of it.
5.Getty Museum in town off 405 (reservations- NO LONGER REQUIRED) First Class Art of many periods and interesting Architecture. Cool Tram Ride and great city pics if it is not smoggy or cloudy.
6.Getty Villa Malibu (reservations)
7.Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)
8.Hollywood Bowl concerts (arrange parking first)
9.Walk of Fame/Stars (3 ½ miles round trip 10.Rodeo Drive, (via Rodeo)-walking Rodeo
11.Trolley tours of star homes, Hollywood or downtown
12.Ivy, Kitson (on N. Robertson) , Hotel Marmont,
13.Santa Monica pier (Pacific Park), Mariasol Mexican Restaurant on Pier ****** and 3rd St. promanade, ride ferris wheel (Pacific Wheel) kiddieland, Ivy by the sea… ii…dinosaur/arbors…
14.Bicycling Venice Beach (street performers, muscle beach)
15.Catalina Island (concerts) (catamaran to Avalon) out of Long Beach or Newport beach..the casino.
service now available out of Marina del Rey (Helicopter Service $150. now available out of San Pedro)*****
16. Studio tour (Universal/City Walk or Warner Bros.)
17.check out Disney, Dreamworks, Paramount, NBC
18. Dodger stadium baseball game
19.Downtown L.A.-Lummis house, Angels flight
20.Club at Hyde, Area, Teddy’s, Priviledge, Les Deux, Parc, Mood
Skybar, Roxy, Tryst, Whiskey (a-go-go), The Spyder Club,
The Viper Room, House of Blues.
21.Beverly Hilton, Trader Vics, Sparkles
22.Beverly Hills City Hall and Fritelli’s donuts (Canon Dr., BH)
23.Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf + Tito tacos (Culver City)
24.Huntington Beach Surfing and Surf Museum
(they spend a lot of time and money on constant activities)
25. Disneyland (Anaheim)
26.Knotts Berry Farm, 6 Flags/Magic Mountain
27.Lebrea Tar Pits and Page Museum on Wilshire @Fairfax
( It’s OK, less interesting than anticipated)
28.Lakers basketball- Staples arena
29.L.A. Open at Riviera Country Club
30. L.A. Equestrian Center
31.Big Bear skiing
32.Palm Springs golf and tram ride
33.River Walk and L.A. River Gardens
34.Eat at Mr. Chow’s or Koi or Yamashiro
35.Visit Zuma beach, pier at Malibu and Paradise Cove
36.Foose Auto Design (See Overhaul’in TV Show) and Huntington Beach boardwalk
37.Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) and Queen Mary ii
38.Los Angeles zoo (parking site for Griffith Observatory/Hollywood Bowl)
( not up to L.A. standards frankly)
39.Gene Autrey western museum + Travel Town (railroad museum)
40.Hike up Mt. Lee and visit Bronson (Batman) caves
41. USC. UCLA football, LA Colusium or Rose Bowl
42.Petersen Auto Museum (car “rallys” from Huntington Beach) OK,
see the stars cars and the ferarri collection
43.Hollywood Park race track
44.Dana Point whale watching (75 milles south)
45.San Simeon (250 miles north)
46.Huntington library and gardens (San Marino)
47.Hollywood Wax Museum and Kodak Theater tour
48.Drive Mullholland Drive
49.Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum (across from wax museum)
50.Commerce Casino Club, Commerce, CA.
51.Santa Anita race track, and L.A.. Botanic Gardens -Arcadia, CA.
52.Fred Segal (this is mostly for women and gay guys I guess)
53.Redondo Beach and Pier
54.Beverly Hills Hotel, Polo Lounge
55.Bicycle Club Casino (Bell Gardens, CA.)
56.Mt. Wilson observatory-(UCLA astronomy-Cal. Rt #2))
57.Hollywood sign hike and pics, L.A.pics
58.Beach bonfire—monthy special
(free wood and hotdogs)
59.Drive on Pismo Beach-mention u saw this ad...lol
60.Helicopter tour of L.A..(cheaper than you think and cool too)
61.Gondola ride at Naples Island (Alimitos Bay)
62. Renaissance Festival
63. Haunted Hollywood Tour
64. China town, Korea town
65. Rockwalk at the Guitar Center..
66. Graumans Egyptian Theater
67. Melrose Trading Post (Saturdays only)
68 El Capitan Theater
69. Dominator ship wreck hike
70. Tilmann Japanese garden (San Fernando Valley)
71. Little Tokyo
72.Fashion district-(11th St. + Santee))L.A. Fashion week (bargains)
73. Volley ball and tournaments (Huntington Beach)
74. San Bernadino Route 66 classic car show (Sept.13-16)
75. Descanso Gardens (La Canada)
76. Exposition Park (USC)
77. Brand Park/Glendale library
78. Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles Diner
79. Canter’s Deli or The Pantry
80. Museum of Tolerance
81. Eat at Mortons (Pam is closing at the end of the year)
82. LACMA
83. San Antonio and Temecula winery tours
84. Lake Arrowhead
85. Malibu ocean kayaking (also at Mothers beach- Marina del Rey)
86. Hike Joshua Tree National Park
87. Horse back riding (in the Santa Monica mountains)
88.Water parks-hurricane harbor, soak city, raging rivers
89. L.A. barhopper mystery bus
90. Mission san fernando, mission hills (north 5/405 intersection)
91. Papa Christo’s Thursday Greek Dinner (pico/normandie) Real Store with restaurant attached. This authentic experience including belly dancer and classes for the ladies won’t last in it’s present shape too long as it is sold out on Thursdays now, it’s inexpensive and Chrys’s Daughter graduates from business school next year and if she has any sense will turn this into something bigger. (butI like it as it is). Make sure to make reservations for the Big Fat Greek Thursday Dinner and not just plain dinner **********
92. Mel’s diner (Hollywood and highland)
93. Bob’s Big Boy—Toluca Lake-Riverside Dr.-(Friday nights only 5 to 10:00)******
94. Marina Del Rey Dinner Cruise-Hornblower Co.
95. Segway rentals at Segway L.A. on 1660 Ocean Blvd.—Santa Monica.-Ask for Gianni or Tresa*****
96. Ford’s Theater (across the 101 from the Hollywood Bowl) smaller shows than the Bowl.
97. Spago-Beverly Hills---Great Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Great service, Great professional waiters, Great food
try the Cobb Salid or Lobster Club sandwich…You might meet Wolfgang…*****5 stars
98. Bob Morris’s Paradise Cove Café—Sunday Morning Brunch…the best food ever, right on the beach if you want.****** (North of Malibu maybe 5 miles—look for Paradise Cove signs)*****


Please send good ideas i have forgotten…Thanks