When I vacation in California should I stay in Santa Monica, or Hollywood?
I am looking for a hotel that is less than 0 a night. Which ones do you recommend?
If in Santa Monica, I would love it to be on the beach.
Which city do you think has great restaurants?
Which ones specifically do you recommend?
Also, I love shopping, so which area has fantastic shops?
Thanks! – XOXO
3 Responses
Muppet
06 Apr 2010
Peedlepup
06 Apr 2010
Of the two choices you should stay in Santa Monica. Hollywood is not actually like you see portrayed on television. It’s a dirty section of L.A. full of prostitutes, homeless panhandlers, and "wanna be" actor kids.
Obviousman
06 Apr 2010
Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Orchid Suites, Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, or Hollywood Heights (formerly Holiday Inn Walk of Fame), all near Hollywood and Highland. In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. There is also a nice place in Burbank called the Best Western Media Center, very close to Warner, NBC, and Universal Studios.
I would pick Santa Monica. Most of Hollywood is kinda funky and gross. Hollywood also isn’t on the beach.
Try the Hotel California in Santa Monica. It’s on the beach and close to the pier and the Promenade which has lots of shopping. It’s a small property with a beach/rock n roll theme and has tropical landscaping. It’s not a full service hotel, if you want that than you gotta pay. Great location and less than $300.
If you want to avoid the tourists than go shopping on Main Street in Santa Monica or Abbot-Kinney in next door Venice. Abbot-Kinney has original boutiques and is popular with the young Hollywood crowd. Abbot-Kinney isn’t cheap though. You can get a cup of coffee and sit at a sidewalk table and look like a local though.
Main Street and Abbot-Kinney have great original restaurants, bars and shops. 3rd Street Promenade has chain stores and restaurants like you probably have back home.
On Abbot-Kinney Abbot’s Habit is good for sandwiches, Jin Patisserie is an awesome place where they make their own chocolates, be sure to try their macarons.
On Main Street Chinois on Main is one of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants and is probably good and expensive. For casual and fresh seafood try Enterprise Fish Company.
Closer to Hotel California is Ocean Avenue and they specialize in seafood and it’s a dress up place. It overlooks the ocean and even though they have a great view the food is actually good! Whist and The Lobster should also be good.
The websites below should help you. The Santa Monica visitors guide has a list of restaurants by the pier/Ocean Front Walk/Ocean. Quite a few of them get good reviews.