Need advice on where to stay in LA

Looking to bring the family out over Christmas. Have a 18 yo girl and 9 yo boy. Will probably hit Disney area. It's been years since I've been to LA. Just want to do the normal touristy things. Probably looking to stay in a Embassy Suites level hotel. Any recommendations of area would be appreciated.

 

DLand is 40 miles from west LA. You wanna trek down there or stay down there?

 

The OC/LA basin is too large to do everything in a single shot, so you take it in bite-sized pieces. If Disney is your focus, then staying in the OC makes sense. You don't have to stay in Anaheim, but maybe in Huntington Beach, which is a short drive to mouse central. There's a couple of nice hotels across from the beach so you can get that experience too. Short drives to Newport Beach or up to Long Beach for all sorts of activities.

 

Disney isn't the main thing. My daughter likes to think she's a Kardashian w/o the ho gene. I would imagine we would spend some time in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. I really don't know what we will be doing. It's probably been 30 years since I've been to LA. I can't even begin to imagine how much it's changed and grown.

 

montage in laguna

 

+1 for Montage Beverly Hills if you want to be in LA and close to Beverly Hills.

 

Ummm, no.
Montage $ > Embassy Suites $ (by a long shot.)

Give us an area, and you'll get some more help.
You may want to check out the Ace or Standard downtown or Standard Hollywood, but without knowing what you're looking for that's just a guess.

 

Montage is great..... unless you have some yahoo doing calisthenics in the room above you or want to make a cup of cofffee...

 

Maybe break it up into two different hotels/locations - one in LA, and one in OC and schedule your activities in the surrounding areas. It is a bit of hassle - but you really don't want to be driving from LA to OC or vice versa. Oh - and don't even think traffic will be a lot better on the weekends. It will be a gridlock for no apparent reason.

Below is a map of the Embassy Suites near Anaheim. I would avoid Santa Ana - even though it is on the edge of the city.
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Sounds like I should stay west and and in OC. I think we want to do things in both areas. I really don't know where to stay.

 

What's the big deal about driving down to Anaheim for the Disney visit? Especially if it's a 1 time thing.

Have you considered airbnb? I would definitely recommend staying in Beverly Hills or west of that. Downtown is nice to visit for a day but disgusting to stay there too long.

 

If you want the best food in the city, the best bars, the best art scene, sports, Disney hall, and good access to oc as well as the la basin, downtown is the place. It's urban though and not for everyone.

In Orange County you may want to check out the Fairmont Newport. Good location, nice rooms and a decent price point.


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Sorry Chris but I disagree with that. Best bars and food for me are definitely not in downtown. Best art scene, maybe. You have better access to the OC but only by like 20 minutes.

 

Don't care much for staying in DTLA, but there is no denying the restaurant scene. But you wouldn't know it if you only hang out on the west side.
Downtown L.A. Is Home to the City?s Most Delicious Restaurants | | Observer

 

I'm not denying there are good restaurants there, just denying the best are there. I'm sure there are a few top notch places but overall more in Beverly Hills and the West side.

Plus even if they had the best restaurants it's still not worth staying there for all the dirtiness and hearing/seeing crazy homeless people.

 

I live in the OC and agree 100%, DTLA is not the place for eating, people watching, families, bar hopping, what ever makes you happy. Beverly Hills, areas of Santa Monica, Melrose, Sunset, etc far better, in my experience and opinion.

To the OP, as for hotels, if you're a Hilton Honors member of just prefer Hilton's in general, the Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, slightly off Disney property, but in the heart of Disney and surrounding activities, they run specials all the time and if your kids don't mind staying in the same room, you might be able to pick up a room for less the the price of the nearby Embassy's...with far greater amenities.

As for LA hotels, every time the Mrs and me visit the LA area for an overnight, we stay at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, reasonably priced, very "old" Hollywood nostalgic. Two minutes to Beverly Hills, 10 to 15 minutes to Melrose, Sunset, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Brentwood.

MB

 

I you want to get a little away from anaheim, be close to the beaches and have a pricepoint in the middle, The Fairmonth near Newport beach is decent. If money is no object I reccomend the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, The Montage Lauguna or Surf and Sand in Laguna.

 

Agreed! I live on the West side and work near downtown and while downtown has come a long way within the last decade (for the better) and has some good restaurants, the West side is still offers the best

 

You could always consult Jonathan Gold's guide. 3 of his top 10 are downtown.
FWIW, I'm not saying the OP SHOULD stay downtown, I'm just saying it's an option given the criteria.

An argument about food could go on for a while though...

 

Be prepared and allow plenty of time for traffic delays in LA/OC. It's gotten really bad in the last few years. There are no rush hours, it seems it is all hours now.

 

+1...until a few years ago I could get on the freeway during the weekends and somewhat move. Now it's a rush hour all day unless you get on at 7-8 AM.

 

Don't listen to them....There are rush hours and trust me you don't want to be driving in them...Drive off hours and LAs highways and roads are great...

Sunset Drive in the Fcar at midnight is fantastic...as is PCH up through Malibu.

But seriously, regular driving is much better off rush hour times.

Have fun