Coming to LA in October - Suggestions of Where to Stay
 

We're going to head to LA in October, just wondering if you guys had some suggestions of where to stay?

We have some business to do downtown, so don't want to be too far. We would like to be near the beach with a nice view though :)

Any suggestions welcome, I haven't been out there since I was a little kid :1orglaugh

Just pick any hotel on the beach in Santa Monica (avoid staying in Venice) and you will be a happy camper. I always had friends and family stay at the Georgian which is not on the beach but is just a short walk away plus it is right by the 3rd street promenade so you have plenty of places to eat and shop. They are extremely pet friendly as well if that makes a difference.
http://www.georgianhotel.com/

Barelist, ******* is correct. Santa Monica is a great starting point. Minutes from the beach, if you are not already on it, and close enough to downtown LA (minus traffic commute times).

Hotwire and TravelZoo can offer up some good deals usually. Kayak is a great search portal, and Craigslist will get you in touch with vacation rentals. Mapquest Santa Monica, and see the cities just south of it. Consider VRBO and HomeAway to also find properties listed by their owners at pretty fair prices.

If you want to get by cheap and still be in a "nice" area of Venice then stay here.
http://www.veniceonthebeachhotel.com/

It is south of the crazy Venice boardwalk almost in Marina Del Rey. Staying there will increase your drive time to downtown by about 15 minutes.

Thanks guys, might stay one day in LA and the rest in Santa Monica :)

If you stay downtown for an extra night, it is more convenient to see Hollywood (tourist spots/studios) and Burbank (studios).

Thanks, I'll let me wife know... she makes all those choices lol

Beautiful Hollywood Condo w/pool and hot tub = No reason to rent a hotel, rent a home short-term
3 blocks from Graumans Chinese Theater and all the Hollywood Blvd entertainment. A few blocks from the Sunset Strip and nightclubs galore. A short jaunt to the beach a dozen miles away.

http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/100327

That is pretty interesting :)

Something bigger downtown for sure, maybe more of a boutique feel for the beach.

We visited LA in Mar/Apr this year and got a decent room at the historic mayfair, http://www.historicmayfairhotel.com/ 5min walk to subway, parking on site etc, not fancy but clean cheap and great location if you want to be in the downtown area..

I stayed at Venice for 6 weeks couple of years ago. I loved it.